< PreviousCover feature commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 30 Department – now everybody (and every business) is well-aware of the importance low-carbon power. From UAE governmental entities to commercial shops, corporate offi ces and even small family-owned businesses, everyone in the UAE is doing their part to help our planet." NEW NOMADS Quooker is seeing more interest than ever in energy saving, particularly from those living in Dubai's fi rst net-zero energy development, adds van der Loo. "Many of our customers in and around Dubai, especially in Sustainable City, are specifi cally asking us to share technical sheets which come to show how much energy our tanks use," he explains. "Whereas in the past, we used to invest in appliances to only re-sell them or leave them behind to be thrown away when we move out – this is quickly changing. The new generation is one of nomads, who seek change and move a lot. If they are going to invest in a smart appliance for their kitchen, they will seek one that they can carry to their next home, hence it will be an agile appliance that you can actually pack up and take with you to your next home or rental. This means no more wastage, and better protection of the environment." RISK OF GREENWASHING Sustainability is a commendable cause, but sustainability specialist Philine Kriependorf cautions against adding companies adding 'green sheen' without merit to their business practices. NGO Greenpeace defi nes greenwashing as the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefi ts of a product or service. The practice could lead to problems for design professionals who fi nd clients more cynical about green products – and who face the risk of becoming misled themselves. Kriependorf, project leader for sustainability strategy at Danish textiles brand Kvadrat, says: "As the hype Companies feel pressure to jump on this journey... Classic fl ooring type linoleum is popular again P h o to : A le xa n d re Z ve ig erCover feature 31 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com around sustainability is increasing and many companies feel the pressure to jump on this journey we also see an increasing number of greenwashing and misleading information being shared. It is a new domain for many organisations and therefore a challenging time to fi nd the right words and language that can describe all those new processes, materials and social aspects it touches." Kvadrat, which has a showroom in Dubai, focuses instead on "educational effort" and product development. Kriependorf adds: " It will require an educational effort to ensure we create an inclusive transformation. Sustainability experiences major attention, however, we should not underestimate the many people that are not yet part of this agenda. "Every new product development is a challenge. However, when we speak new sustainable materials a layer of complexity is added to the development. Often new materials are not performing with the same strength as the industry is used to or carry new health and environmental risks, such as hazardous substances in recycled materials. It is our task to identify healthy materials for planet and people, that can last and be reused for a second life. "What we have learnt and experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic is the potential of collective action for change, which people and nations can initiate. We need to make use of this potential to drive the industry fast enough towards the needed system transformation." THE ACADEMIC Vanessa Northway, associate head of school at the School of Textiles & Design, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, says 2020 has changed the way we look at interiors: "The world is becoming increasingly aware of the signifi cance of ecologically responsible interiors. This has resulted in a massive shift in how spaces are designed. Interior design professionals looked to provide aesthetic enhancements with sustainable elements to an interior space. But with a much greater focus on sustainability, it is now forming the core of most design aspects. In recent years interior designing has gone on from being reactive to being reimagined from the initial stages onwards. The sustainability factor of interior designs has a tremendous impact on how we can contribute positively to the environment." RECLAIMED MATERIALS Wellness and sustainability can be achieved by using products made from recycled or reclaimed materials and that are non-toxic and non-polluting, organic and not treated with pesticides. "Materials used for sustainable interior design are usually made with fewer chemicals than traditional materials and may also come from renewable resources," Northway adds. "As a result, these materials are more environmentally friendly and often also healthier for human beings. In addition, society is beginning to recognise the link and interconnectedness between buildings, people, and community in creating an environmentally responsible built environment." Making a return, says the senior teaching fellow, are reclaimed wood, glass and metal, natural material bamboo and the classic flooring choice of linoleum. Northway adds: "Linoleum is making a come-back after being extensively used in offices and other commercial spaces years ago. Nearly every office in the early 1900s would have linoleum flooring. But it came Kvadrat materials for the upholstery sector Ph o to : Al ex an d re Zv ei ge r P h o to : I D O A R T A ge n cyCover feature commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 32 in limited colours and designs, and it was not attractive to look at. As a result, its usage was decreased with the introduction of vinyl in the 1940s. However, it is now reemerging due to its qualities and built- up. Linoleum is made from all-natural, renewable materials, including linseed oil, cork powder, pine resins, and wood flour. Some manufacturers also limestone dust for hardness and durability. Another recent addition to the new wave of linoleum is the colours it now comes in due to the addition of various pigment dyes. It has long durability with some warranties ranging up to 25 years. Linoleum is biodegradable, fire retardant, and water-resistant making it a flooring of choice instead of the more traditional carpets." THE DESIGNER Hospitality expert Justin Wells, CEO of Wells International, formerly of HBA, says there's now a green thread of sustainability running throughout hospitality design and F&B in the region. "Sustainability is a big issue, because with the pandemic we care about cleanliness, hygiene and touchless everything. What we see certainly in supply chain, if we can't receive the products because of borders closing, you're looking locally and trying to keep it as local as you can. It's great for the environment if you do that and it's certainly an on-going trend that has changed the way a lot of owners and operators have thought about their business models - what can I do more locally that's better for the planet and better for the bottom line? "Sustainability is the right thing to do and as an architect and designer, you have to think about the planet. It's omnipresent right now in terms of health and hygiene, but how can we be creative and clever to make sure it's going to come through in each of our hospitality projects? It might be through the regeneration of material; refurbishments are becoming quite prevalent in some sectors, certainly hospitality – it goes right through hotels to resorts to F&B and spas, refurbishment is top of mind. So what can we do sustainably? Can we reuse materials? Can we source locally? Are there different things we can do? Even in the operations sense, in the size of operations are there interesting ways to work with the owners and operators to have methodologies to have a better sustainable outcome? Maybe we are growing produce on site, instead of sourcing it. It's defi nitely an interesting time ahead. "Because of the pandemic, sustainability became right here, right now rather than a stretch goal. A lot of owners and operators thought that they really needed to act and we need to act now and there were demands to do so. It was probably already in the back of people's minds to think about how we can have a more sustainable process, whether it's through the materials we specify, the way we operate on how we reduce waste, but now, the bottom line is the bottom line and we're really trying to get business going again, so it brought it to top of mind in implementing straight away. We think, ultimately, it [the pandemic] brought it forward and it's here to stay. THE END? A stark prediction from the World Meteorological Organization is that "2021 is a make-or-break year for climate action, with the window to prevent the worst Justin Wells, CEO of Wells InternationalCover feature 33 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com impacts of climate change — which include ever more frequent more intense droughts, fl oods and storms— closing rapidly." According to the UN, the cities that will grow the most in the coming years are mainly located in hot climates, bringing additional challenges for designers. French materials fi rm Saint-Gobain spent 2019 investigating transformations and trends taking place in architecture and commercial interior design. Reanalysing these following the unexpected events of 2020, its experts conclude: "To avoid an energy catastrophe, architectural design must begin to address these issues as a priority and an architectural design that does not consider its repercussions on a local and global scale, and that does not adapt to a changing future, becomes unfeasible and a problem for subsequent generations." In conclusion, they warn: "Individual comfort will only endure if it is achieved collectively and with a sustainable consciousness on a larger scale, feeding each other back. It works in the same way as herd immunity: a vaccine taken by just a few will not kill the disease." The message is uncomfortably clear. Across the region, the seeds of sustainability have been sown – now it is up to us to nuture them to maturity. We must address these issues as a priority... Wells used upcycling in designs of this Dubai hotel while at HBAFirst look commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 34 FIT AND SHE KNOWS IT Studio EM translate the empowered and trendsetting spirit of Dubai activewear store L'CoutureFirst look 35 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Im ag es : A lin Cons ta n tin Online shopping was a safe space for spending during the pandemic and it's a notable trend in retail of COVID having accelerated the prevalence and importance of he virtual high street. In order for retail to survive post pandemic in a world where e-commerce has boomed, retail interior designers and brands need to change the narrative or to create concepts that help to offer things that e-commerce can't. That's why with luxury activewear brand L'Couture Studio EM wanted to create a truly experiential outlet for the fl agship store in Al Wasl Road, Dubai, with a glam room, fi lled with mirrors and shelves of skin products, and a yoga and photography studio that allows the brand to test new drops, plus have open days with their top clients, as well as allowing the in-house social media and marketing team to have their own studio for product shoots, campaigns and press days. Founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and fi tness enthusiast, Lyndsay Doran, L'Couture is focused on creating a community and empowering women to embrace a brighter, healthier and more fulfi lled lifestyle. The project was one of the fi rst retail interior design projects taken on by Studio EM creative director Emma Stinson and her team post-pandemic. As such it gave them the chance to really make a statement, The mirror-lined glam room awaits Neon signs add playful touchesFirst look commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 36 as well as to put their theories as retail interior design specialists to the test, as to what the future holds for retail design. Ironically enough L'Couture began life as a digitally native vertical brand, but this new store allows the brand to offer their customers so much more in terms of customer service and experience than any website ever could. The lounge area and changing room was designed as an antidote to "souless, shoddy lit changing rooms," says Emma, so groups could shop together, women could go into the store with their girlfriends and try on the clothes, sit in the lounge, have some refreshments and relax, not feeling rushed or pushed as per traditional changing areas. Emma was delighted to take a laser focus on a local brand, which made her "fall in love with retail design all over again." She says: "I loved this project from the moment we fi rst met the L'Couture team. I've always been a fan of the brand in terms of their product and their values, as well as their advertising, most of all for being a truly inclusive brand in the female fashion space. "I love working with clients who are strong, bold and who have a real idea of what they want. As they go out and get it, with a little help from us along the way. With Lyndsay and her team, this is exactly what we got." Taking inspiration from the team, as well as the product and the overall brand, Emma and her designers sought to create a design that celebrated strength, that rewarded conviction and, in their words, "badassery" amongst woman, but still retained a charming femininity about it, hence deciding to use materials and fi nishes that really encapsulate this. Emma explains: "We used materials such as the gorgeous terrazzo fi nish; it's such a strong, vigorous material but fi nished the way it is in this store, it has a really chic and feminine vibe to it. It was completely poured and seamless, which takes the weight out of the feel and visual identity of the material, whereas a tiled fi nish would appear heavy and restrictive, Racks of clothes in signature shadesFirst look 37 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com this has a beautiful fl ow to it. "When you mix this with the brass fi ttings, again a gorgeously strong yet visually soft material, you start to get this sense of duality, a sense that I feel the brand really embodies in its messaging and tone, especially when juxtaposed to the real feminine centerpieces such as the fl ower installation above the cashier area or the sleek and stylish mirrors. "L'Couture has created some beautiful pieces, that are really robust and can take on any of the day's challenges without stretching or pleating or threading. They also create this beautiful silhouette around the female form. This is something that I wanted to really translate into the design. The L'Couture woman can take on anything and still look amazing doing it! We purposely used curves in our design to refl ect this silhouette removing all hard edges or hard corners from the fi xtures and fi ttings. Again, drawing ourselves back to the idea of fl ow, function and fl uidity, core elements of the clothes. Added to that, with the team's spirit and personality, we wanted to have a lot of fun with the project too. It's a cool brand, it's born in Dubai and it celebrates female empowerment and solidarity by championing the 'LC Girl Gang.' "With this fl agship store we wanted it to be a place that really captures the brand's spirit and foundations too. Hence the more playful touches such as the neon artworks, the beautiful fl ower feature wall and of course the overall palette. "The trees and the use of blossoming fl owers are a subtle nod to the brands growth throughout the years. It's there to remind them of their journey and how far they have come, what they have given life to and what more they can do. "L'Couture is a brand for every woman, this inclusivity sets it apart from others in the market; it's for fi erce fi ghters and for those who love to feel and look great and those who want to celebrate their femininity, this is what I love about it. "A thousand lbs of fl owers still weighs as much as a thousand lbs of bricks. This is a saying that I have in my head when I think of the L'Couture team and the brand." L'Couture founder Lyndsay adds: "I wanted to create a unique space that really captures the essence of the brand for both customers and my team, and that's exactly what we have done – the boutique is feminine and Instagrammable." Lots of curves and carpets by EgeIREP Power is behind the lighting A fl ower wall creates a feminine centrepiece Contractor 6Inch also worked on the projectSpecial Report commercialinteriordesign.com Month 2021 38 SPECIAL REPORT The Marwari bed bench by HästensSpecial Report 39 Month 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com WOOD Furniture with personality, values and uncommon designs that create new classics PAGE 40 Generational Swedish furniture artisans earn a further seal of royal approval PAGE 42 Learn about the latest trends with a CPD from British furniture leaders Connection PAGE 44 When Finns collide – bold and brutal pieces defi ne a new vernacular Im ag es : H äs te n s FURNITURE GOOD WITHNext >