< PreviousPartner content commercialinteriordesign.com May 2022 10 H and-blown Bohemian crystal has a long heritage of more than 300 years, practised by Bohemian artisans until today. Bearing this long tradition is the Czech Republic-based company Hunat Glass – a luxury boutique designer and manufacturer of Bohemian crystal installations. The company prides itself on using the highest calibre crystal components that come together in bespoke designs. The team is involved throughout the creation process, from the initial design stage up to installation, ensuring each of its unique features are of the fi nest quality. With over 25 years of experience in the glass industry, owner Jan Hunat founded the company in 2007. He has laboured on various projects during his long career – from ancient stained glass restoration to contemporary sculptures. BRINGING BOHEMIAN ARTISTRY TO THE MIDDLE EAST always been a part of his family's tradition, and he started crafting glass at a very young age. "Crystal is my life!" he exclaims, "I believe that an art piece's uniqueness is determined by the designer's vision, the artisan's hands, and the client's story that the piece tells. "We focus on the quality of our components. Moreover, all of our craftsmen Commercial Interior Design sat down with Jan Hunat to know more about the company's bespoke sculptures in the region and the story behind his passion for Bohemian crystal. "Our vision is to bring back the crystal sculpture to its authentic bespoke self. Bespoke is about showcasing luxury, artistry, and the client's personal relationship with the product. This can only be achieved when the artisan can bring his passion for beauty to each crystal component," he says. Jan's success in the glass industry earned him the honour of representing his country at Expo Milano 2015, with his sculptures – handprints of famous people such as Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and Prince Albert II of Monaco – which are now kept at a dedicated museum in the Czech Republic. Jan says that Bohemian crystal has Intricate view of the sculpture Photo credit: Adam Pavlícek Katara Plaza – Desert Hyacinth Partner content 11 May 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com have been in the industry for decades and are true masters of this rare art. Each component produced by them is rigorously checked for internal glass tension to ensure absolute safety and we never compromise on the quality of our product," Jan adds. "We are able to infuse our creations with that magical sparkle that only Bohemian crystal can offer thanks to the combination of masterful design, skillful execution, and tireless attention to detail during the installation process." Hunat's foray into the Middle East Jan's fi rst foray into the Middle Eastern market came through his collaboration with interior designers working for members of the European aristocracy. On the kind of projects they envision in the region, Jan says: "We perceive a demand for exclusivity, unique artistic value, and a strong sense of detail from our clients in the Middle East. In fact, we believe so strongly about this market that we felt compelled to open a new offi ce in Dubai to cater to this demand." Throughout the years, Hunat Glass has worked on some of the most extraordinary projects, with royal palaces, luxury villas, and fi ve-star hotels amongst them. Some of its newest features can be found in the Marq Residence in Singapore, the Park Lane Luxury Collection by Marriott in Cyprus, and the Katara Plaza in Qatar, among others. Elaborating on the Katara Plaza project, Jan describes they created 27 large crystal sculptures shaped in the form of Qatar's native desert hyacinth plant. He adds that the Katara Plaza's walkway feels like a wonderland populated with Hunat Glass' installations, specifi cally designed to withstand the outdoor weather conditions. "Each crystal sculpture is built of rich bunches crystal fl owers hand-shaped by our skilled artisans and created with layers of colour. Each component has several colour gradients – one serves as the primary colour, and the others seamlessly fl ow into one another – just like the desert hyacinth's natural shades. "During the prototype development, Adam Kohout, our design director, and I experimented with the colours and glass patterns of various densities. Afterwards, during the production stage, we had to closely monitor the creation of the metal- bearing structure that would carry the crystal components to make sure that each fl ower fi ts perfectly. Weatherproof internal light sources were fi tted within each sculpture to provide stunning light refractions at night. Lastly, each crystal element was given a special coating to protect it against sand, and a drain was created at the bottom to prevent any rainwater stagnation. "Adam and I personally took part in the installation to guarantee a smooth and fl awless delivery," clarifi es Jan. He says that the company's goal is to continue sharing its vision of the art of Bohemian crystal with its present and future clients. "Our esteemed clientele understands the genuine quality of our product and sees the value it adds to their projects. We hope to bring our traditional craft to those who appreciate its unbridled artistic potential and, like us, admire and respect its centuries-old history." Jan at the Hunat factory Marq ResidenceTrending commercialinteriordesign.com May 2022 12 Images: INDEXTrending 13 May 2022commercialinteriordesign.com Visitors check out the installations A re we ready for another instalment of INDEX? The trade fair for interior design professionals in the Middle East comes back for 2022. Last year was the long-running happening's fi rst in-person event since the global pandemic. The 2022 showcase will also welcome visitors to attend Dubai World Trade Centre for three days of networking, sourcing and development. Sectors covered include residential, commercial Interiors and hospitality interiors, and products on show range from furniture and lighting, to textiles and contract kitchens. Returning this year are cornerstones of the event, including INDEX Design Talks conference in association with Geberit, which is an unmissable source of knowledge for the A&D community; The Work Design Summit fuels conversation and debate around commercial interiors and attracts commercial interior designers and offi ce fi t-out professionals, and for 2022 the designer installations will return with new themes created by acclaimed WHAT’S NEXT FOR INDEX? The region’s favourite design fair is re-opening and re-energised Trending commercialinteriordesign.com May 2022 14 design names including Kristina Zanic, Cosentino and ODG – demonstrating the region's design skill as guests enter the event through towering archways. As always, INDEX welcomes new and returning visitors and seeks to attract fresh suppliers and manufacturers to its halls, as well as supporting the local A&D community and being a guiding authority that grows the region's economy through facilitating trade. We hear from the INDEX team on what's awaiting visitors at 2022's edition. About INDEX INDEX is a long-established international interiors exhibition and one of Dubai's and the Middle East's fi rst large-scale trade exhibitions. Created 30 years ago as a gateway for global interior furnishing businesses to capitalise on the booming real estate in the Middle East, the event remains the region's largest showcase of furniture, furnishing, decorative products, textiles, surface materials and lighting for interior designers and procurement managers to source from. INDEX offers a simple but powerful proposition: connecting designers, buyers and architects to interior design brands, products, and services from across the region and the globe so that beautiful spaces can be created that suit all styles and budgets. It's unique in its position globally as a melting pot of design styles and inspirations for the regional interiors industry alongside new furniture brands Lighting products on showTrending 15 May 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com and manufacturers from Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Every year, 30,000-plus visitors utilise the Dubai-based exhibition to discover new and innovative products from across the globe in addition to exploring showcases from local designers, brands and manufacturers. INDEX also runs a brand extension in KSA called INDEX Saudi and is co-located with sister events The Hotel Show Dubai, HITEC, The Leisure Show and WORKSPACE. The combination of events offers an excellent proposition for business professionals in the home, hotel, offi ce, and leisure sectors, resulting in the ultimate destination to learn, network and source quality products from all around the world. Why does INDEX exist? Designers need to fi nd new and interesting products that make interiors stand out in an extremely fast-paced region for new projects that deliver to specifi c project locations in the Middle East region. Retailers need to fi nd manufacturers that have the logistics to supply to specifi c requirements and be innovative enough to sell out in store to new consumer trends. These people need to be able to build long term relationships with suppliers they trust, and touch/feel products in person to understand technical specs, quality, colours, and textures. INDEX is the only way they can do that, all in one place, at one time – refreshing little black books of buyers and specifi ers from across the region; unearthing new designs that will put their business at the cutting edge. INDEX has the power and infl uence to transform the interiors of an entire region, existing only to make connections between people and product. Visitors include Dubai dignitaries 24 – 26 May 2022 World Trade Centre Register at: www.indexexhibition.com Need to knowFirst look commercialinteriordesign.com May 2022 16 Images: Design Partnership Australia IN GOOD TASTE HUNTER & BARREL IN ABU DHABIFirst look 17 May 2022commercialinteriordesign.com First look commercialinteriordesign.com May 2022 18 T he latest addition to the Yas Island's luxurious coastline, Yas Bay is Abu Dhabi's newest destination for leisure and entertainment. The masterplan of Yas Bay features three districts: The Waterfront, residences, and a dedicated media zone. Located within The Waterfront district are a lineup of exciting dining options with stunning views of the UAE capital's skyline. High-end casual dining restaurant and lounge famous for its carnivorous feasts, the Australian steakhouse operated by Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, recently opened its doors there for 'foodies' who have a penchant for design. Designed by Design Partnership Australia and fi tted out by Bond Interiors, the restaurant's new branch changes up its rustic design roots by adding opulent elements with varied textures and installations. The design draws inspiration from the geography and history of the location and is touched up with gold for visual continuity. Following the popularity of branches at Yas Bay Waterfront and Vida Hills in Dubai, Hunter & Barrel has announced a third UAE venue at the new Millennium Hotel, Mirdif, also in Dubai. Commercial Interior Design spoke to Callie Van Der Merwe, founder of Design Partnership Australia and Rob De Villiers, managing director for Seagrass BHG Middle East, to know more about the collaborative effort that resulted in the eclectic interiors of Hunter & Barrel at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi. Commercial Interior Design (CID): What was the initial design brief? Callie Van Der Merwe (CVDM): The brief was to design an iconic brand for the Middle East that would be clearly differentiated from its competitors visually in order to frame the differentiated customer service and food offer. The client was mindful of the stiff competition and wanted to ensure that the brand would be able to stand on its own and be able to compete equitably with all the incredible hospitality brands that the region has to offer. CID: Who were involved in the design process of the project? CVDM: All projects of great result are always an effort by a team of great people. The best designs are born from a collective creative mind. Creative cognition is to a large extent always a group activity. Nobody thinks alone. An incredible book released on this topic last year called 'The Knowledge Illusion - Why we never think alone,' written by cognitive scientists Steve Sloman and Phil Fernbach, beautifully expands on the incredible outcomes of group thinking. To this end whilst I may lead my team all designs are fi rstly born from the texts and words of the client, which in turn is shaped by the conditions of the host site. Informed by the functional needs of the brand and the emotional needs of the core audience, answers and solutions are then tabled by a team of creatives, all of which are prototyped in sketches, 3D drawings and physical mock up details before the fi nal built project. Apart from the collective creative input Golden scale walls and wall carpets Woven rope lightsInspired by sea and desertFirst look 19 May 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com into the brand development we need to thank Calvin Janse Van Vuuren for quality controlling the intent and specifi cally conceptualising the beautifully sculpted golden scale walls and 'Womb Couches,' as well as Roberto Zambri for the creative woven rope lights inspired by the traditional fi shing baskets and colour of the coral reefs, and creation of the various printed wall carpets interpreting classic visual scenery from the area, narrating the story to the visitor. CID: Were there any changes to the original plan and schedule? CVDM: All of the designs and ideas go through multiple stages of iteration. Apart from all the exploratory sketches, layouts and 3D drawings we have a team of artists led by John-Henry and Mimi Roberts that build maquettes, as well as life size prototypes of most of the visual touch points, before full scale production commences. All colours, materiality, tonality, tactility and potential impact on the space as a whole is explored this way. Many changes and pivots happen during this process before the store is fi nally built. CID: What are three specifi c design highlights of the new project? CVDM: We have three parts of storytelling. The fi rst is the scale wall that wraps around the total space linking the bar with the dining and the central private spaces. These are fi nished in a combination of gold painted fi nishes including gold leaf. The entire wall is back lit with the shape of the scales allowing dappled light to fi lter between them creating a magical wall of dancing colour and light. The second part are the printed carpets bookending the space on the far left and right. The far left tells the story of the desert and the far right the story of the sea – the ying yang of the Middle East. The third is the story of fi shing with the brightly hombre rope lights taking its inspiration from the traditional fi shing baskets and the vivid coral reefs. CID: What new facilities are being offered to the market? Rob De Villiers (RDV): We are catering to the broader community of Yas Bay and surrounding suburbs. Although the venue adjoins the Hotel and Etihad Arena, we believe that our offering is family centric yet allows for late night dining for groups. The proximity to the local business community is also an advantage. CID: Who is the target audience? RDV: Corporates – business people that are discerning about where they go for lunch and dinner; tourists – local and international travelers that are dining out as part of their overall experience; locals and expats – men, women, singles and families that enjoy dining out and appreciate premium food and service as it complements their lifestyle; group dining – families and large groups celebrating life's many memorable moments from birthdays to anniversaries to family gatherings to work and social groups. CID: How much was invested in the project, in time and/or money? RDV: We fi rst looked at this project in early 2020 and always believed the venue would be a success. We had taken some learnings from Hunter & Barrel in Dubai and used those to create this sophisticated and elegant space. Spending time to get things right always costs money in the long run, so Hunter & Barrel Yas Bay is a sizable investment for us. Designed for large groups to celebrate Light and colour Partners at a glance Project Management: Compass Project Group Fit-out: Bond Interiors Kitchen suppliers: TSSC Lighting: Unique lighting Furniture: Volume Space Flooring: Nordic Kahrs Sound: LevelsNext >