< PreviousCover story commercialinteriordesign.com July 2022 30 Shaw Contract Sustainable fl ooring S haw Contract EMEA's range of commercial flooring solutions includes carpet tiles and resilient flooring. The company, which makes selected products in Scotland, has worked with big names in the UAE and Oman, with Mastercard, Emirates NBD, and Muscat Insurance Company among those to have used its sustainable flooring products. Shaw Contract sits on the World Green Building Council's Corporate Advisory Board and is actively involved in Cradle-to-Cradle design for more than 20 years, having created the first C2C flooring product. In 2019, the firm opened a showroom and office in Dubai Design District (d3) as the company said at the time that it sees "long-term growth potential" in Middle Eastern art and design. Suite 108B, Building 6, Dubai Design District, UAE 971 4 584 6956 samantha.dawe@shawcontract.com www.shawcontract.com/en-gb Baituti Home For designer homes A division of BinHendi Enterprises, Baituti Home holds a rich heritage in the UAE. Currently Baituti Home continues to consolidate its partnership with B&B Italia utilising a monobrand regional presence, also incorporating Maxalto, Azucena, Flos and Louis Poulsen. One of the iconic pieces of furniture of B&B Italia is Camaleonda sofa, designed by spectacular Mario Bellini in 1970. The fundamental characteristic of Camaleonda is its unlimited modularity, a geometric nature that allows each element to become a sort of enormous pixel through which to defi ne any home environment. Thanks to the tie-rods and rings, the modules can be unhooked and recombined at will, allowing the sofa to adapt to an evolving taste and to the dynamic needs of those using it, while always maintaining its unique identity. Baituti Home, Jumeirah 3, Dubai, UAE 971 50 393 4054 y.tullina@baitutihome.com www.baitutihome.com RESIDENTIALCover story 31 July 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com Artemide The 'Human Light' philosophy F ounded in 1960s, well-known brand Artemide is known for its "The Human Light" philosophy, and boasts high skills in light design and innovation, with products originating from research and high- quality manufacturing. The brand has always collaborated with the most famous international designers – most recently architects Foster + Partners for the IXA LED Lamp launched at Milano Design Week 2022 – and actively promotes workshops with design schools in order to find the best young talents. Latest Artemide collections convey a unique mix of values: the approach to human and responsible light goes hand in hand with design and material savoir faire, combining next-generation technology with ancient wisdom, to perfectly express sustainable design. Acoulite Lighting the way A coulite is a distributor of lighting and acoustic solutions in the Middle East. Starting from humble beginnings, launching in Dubai in 2005, it now employs over 60 people with offi ces spanning several Gulf states and Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia. Taking a human-centric approach has been a key ingredient in Acoulite's rapid expansion and success to date. The modern, stylish and eco-conscious solutions it offers are perfectly positioned to help meet present and future needs for commercial projects, which include Emirates NBD in d3 and Reiss stores. Acoulite's unique approach to understanding exactly what its clients want makes it a go-to authority on lighting and acoustic products, which has attracted partnerships with some of the world's leading suppliers and designers. Union National Bank Building, Khalid Bin Waleed Street, Dubai, UAE 971 4 359 2184 info@acoulite.com www.acoulite.com Offi ces A307, Building 6, Dubai Design District, UAE 971 4 425 0213 info.dubai@artemide.com www.artemide.com/en/home RETAILCover story commercialinteriordesign.com July 2022 32 BAGNODESIGN Your very own spa B AGNODESIGN is the leading own-brand from Sanipex Group. Since 2000, it has provided high-quality, on-trend bathroom products with an extensive range that includes a spa selection. Initial expansion saw BAGNODESIGN introduced into Europe, Asia and the wider Gulf before extending to showrooms and representation across 30 countries. Combining directional design trends with expert craftsmanship, ranges include on-trend industrial with products like Revolution, timelessly traditional Biarritz, ultra-modern minimalism with M-Line, and urban luxe with Toko. Bathroom solutions from BAGNODESIGN can be found in high- end spa projects including the fi ve-star InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort and Spa. Sanipex Gallery, Exit 45, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE 971 4 507 6000 info@sanipexgroup.com www.sanipexgroup.com/brands/bagnodesign Hansgrohe German engineering F or almost 120 years now, Hansgrohe has been using the art of German engineering and an eye for detail to develop innovative products, technologies and functions with a long lifetime. Over recent years, to the emerging demands of spa and bathroom users, Hansgrohe has developed and released a number of new products. At Aqua Days – the annual showcase from Hansgrohe Group that heralds a new range of products from the German manufacturer's AXOR line – the solutions supplier revealed innovative ways to bring sustainability into your projects without compromising on aesthetics. Newly released for 2022 are: The AXOR Starck Nature Shower; AXOR Conscious Showers, and AXOR Black Editions, an extension of AXOR products in the highly popular matte black fi nish. 1904, Swiss Tower, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE 971 4 448 0291 sales.mea@hansgrohe.com www.hansgrohe.com SPA & WELLNESSCover story 33 July 2022commercialinteriordesign.com Ceramiche Refi n Stoneware solutions A n Italian company, Ceramiche Refi n has been active in international markets since 1962. The company is part of Gruppo Concorde, one of the largest ceramics manufacturers in Europe, and made its debut into our region's market in 2015 at design showcase INDEX. Producing more than seven million square metres of tiles per year, Ceramiche Refi n offers a wide range of porcelain stoneware solutions for the residential and contract sectors, developed in the DesignTaleStudio creative laboratory. Its latest collection, Cortina, combines the strength of stone with the appearance of wood. Inspired by wood recovered from traditional Alpine huts, the porcelain tiles are designed to look like planks and have markings that appear on wood due to time and weather. NGC Nafees Walls, fl oors & fabrics N GC Nafees was formed three decades ago to offer a comprehensive retail experience for people to buy wallpaper. As alternative markets developed, so did the model of the business. What started off as a warehouse offering wallpapers for the residential market started to extend its focus towards the commercial market, prompting the addition of more products. From wallpapers, NGC Nafees now carries a style-packed diversity of wall coverings, fl oorings, and fabrics that cater to all types of needs. Currently, it holds more than 50 trusted brands in interior furnishing under its portfolio. With a rise in hospitality and government sector projects, the company added new product lines for all commercial applications. Over the years the name has become a strong and established brand within the industry. Salvaterra, Casalgrande, Italy 39 52 299 0499 info@refi n.it www.refi n-ceramic-tiles.com Salahuddin Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE 971 4 269 7272 sales@ngcmiddleeast.com www.ngcmiddleeast.com SURFACES & FLOORINGAre the expanding UAE economy and attractive developments in visa regulations creating a plethora of opportunities for fi t-out fi rms? SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 36 Findings from a research report by fi t-out experts ISG on the 'The Power of Place' and how the return to workplaces is growing PAGE 38 Fahad Ali Siddiqui, Director of Operations at AMAQ, on why clients in KSA are rushing in for fi t-out projects PAGE 38 The tension between aesthetics and Capex, by Gabrielle F. Mather, CEO & Founder, Restaurant Secrets Inc. commercialinteriordesign.com July 2022 34 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTESTPhoto credit: Chris Goldstraw FIT-OUT An international client's Dubai offi ces by ISG 35 July 2022commercialinteriordesign.com Special Report commercialinteriordesign.com July 2022 36 OPINION M ore employers are realising that there is no going back to the work model that prevailed before the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The call for flexibility is here to stay and many are embracing hybrid working. Findings from ISG's research report 'The Power of Place' show that the rise in hybrid and remote working may have changed the world of work exponentially, but when it comes to encapsulating brand, creating a sense of belonging among talent, and inspiring people to be creative and productive, the physical workplace still has a big role to play. A recent study by real estate consultancy Savills revealed that nearly 70% of employees in Dubai had returned to their offi ces in some capacity after the pandemic. Another study by tech fi rm Cisco concluded that the majority of employees surveyed in the UAE – around 90% – would prefer a hybrid work model. Quality workplaces The UAE's trends are in line with ISG's global data that shows that though remote working has been widely adopted, the role of the physical workplace in the hybrid mix has not diminished – rather, workspaces remain an essential ingredient in overall performance. Survey results demonstrate a strong correlation between employee engagement and quality workplaces – with those reporting a good-quality workplace Physical workspaces are the heroes of hybrid working and here's why... Steve Ramsden, ISG Managing Director for Southeast Asia and the Middle East being almost twice as likely to believe their organisation is a better place to work in. So, in a competitive landscape for attracting and retaining the best talent, smart employers should offer fl exibility and also invest in places that respond to the aspirations of their employees – both current and future. Maintaining this balance is key and here's why; fl exible working options, offered by employers, for both work-life and performance reasons, are increasingly common and a differentiating factor for employers. Comm Photo credits: Chris GoldstrawSpecial Report 37 July 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com Flexibility here means catering to employees who prefer a more structured offi ce-based environment and others who prefer to work remotely and a varying degree of both, based on the individual needs of the workforce. But how do businesses entice people to join their organisation, or even take a leap into an entirely new industry? Forward- thinking organisations will continue to look to inhabit spaces that appeal to the world's most gifted people. ISG's data showed a feeling of disconnection from the physical workplace aligns with a 10% dip in professional pride in just six months, which is an eye-opening statistic if organisations are to avoid a potentially slippery slope toward transactional relationships with their people. Offi ce as culture Our latest fi ndings at ISG also show that quality workplaces continue to play a pivotal role in instilling a sense of pride and positivity in people who work there. Employers who wish to inspire such feelings must look beyond fi nancial recompense and focus on the unspoken psychological contract with their people. After all, an offi ce is the physical embodiment of a company, its culture, ethos, and values. At a more practical level, in a physical offi ce, communication is simpler and more effi cient. It is far easier for employees to build relationships, brainstorm and collaborate when they are within close proximity of each other. Another advantage to having a physical offi ce is that everyone has equal working conditions and can share experiences that are integral to professional and personal development – this directly supports a positive company culture. Ultimately, the way we work is experiencing its fi rst major shift in almost 100 years, and so the pace and degree of this change must align with the needs of each organisation and its employees. Recent history has demonstrated that brands cannot expect to fl ourish if they ignore disruption and neglect to embrace fl exibility in the way they do things. How the new hybrid work culture ultimately shapes up remains uncertain, but what is certain is the offi ce environment is here to stay, though yesterday's iteration of it will never fully return. Steve Ramsden Open collaborative workspaces at an ISG client's Dubai offi ces Communication is easier in a physical offi cePartnered Content commercialinteriordesign.com July 2022 38 A MAQ Contracting Company (AMAQ) was established 18 years ago as a mid-sized contracting company that has today evolved into one of the top names in the construction, renovation, and fi t-out of retail and commercial spaces such as banks, offi ce facilities, brand outlets, and showrooms, among others. Commercial Interior Design sits down with Fahad Ali Siddiqui, Director of Operations at AMAQ, to learn more about Saudi Arabia's fi t-out industry, current trends, and the fi rm's outlook for the next few years. Siddiqui begins by saying that the trend is clear – it is to build green and build fast. He points out that the fi rst LEED-certifi ed building in KSA was in 2018; however, since then, there have been 941 structures that have achieved the green building certifi cation from USGBC (US Green Building Council), while new gigaprojects target to achieve a minimum of Gold certifi cation. 3D printing is the upcoming trend in construction and fi t-out, predicts Siddiqui, adding that he is seeing more clients now shift towards "rush-nature project." He explains: "Clients are analysing how early can projects be delivered without compromising on quality, price, safety, sustainability, and fl exibility – that's what's winning projects in today's market, and rightly so. With the fast-forwarding of technological advancements across all Riyadh Bank corporate offi ces major fi t-out | Olaya Tower, Riyadh AMAQ ON PARTNERING WITH CLIENTS TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE Build green and build fast ambitious Vision 2030. He adds: "We plan to be a part of this revolution by offering our top-of-the-line fi t-out services to fi ne-dining restaurants, which are witnessing a behemoth growth in the kingdom. However, there are challenges, as expected. We plan to overcome these challenges with our ultra- fl exible customisation of client experience during each step, beginning with the client sectors, project timelines have comfortably reduced by about 50% from what they used to be." Aligning with Vision 2030 Coming to AMAQ's plans in the kingdom, Siddiqui says that the short-term goal is to keep growing at about 10% annually with a prime focus on the non-oil private sector, directly in sync with KSA's Partnered Content 39 July 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com Al Arabia News Studio and back offi ces major fi t-out | Diplomatic Quarters, Riyadh SABB (HSBC) major fi t-out and facade works | Diplomatic Quarters, Riyadh RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACES Fahad Ali Siddiqui, Director of Operations at AMAQ Contracting Company based on ground realities and did our best. In addition, post-Covid, we have been blessed to have partnered with clients that have trusted us with direct-award projects where they have treated us as a partner as opposed to a contractor or a vendor." He summarises that while the economic after-effects of Covid are still being felt across industries, the Saudi market is a trendsetter in terms of spending considering that it is the biggest market regionally, affi rming that these trickle-down effects are felt across the MENA region eventually. "The non-oil private sector in Saudi Arabia is growing at 4.3%, while the kingdom's Public Investment Fund intends to invest $2.66 (SAR 10tn) on new developments over the next decade. In addition, the construction sector is targeted to contribute 10% of GDP – currently at 4.3% – indicating the vibrancy of Saudi Arabia's fi t-out market as absolutely robust and oozing potential," Siddiqui concludes. call to when we hand over the keys to their new premise. "The long-term goal is to develop from scratch or partner up with an e-commerce entity to launch a new B2B construction materials e-commerce portal in Saudi Arabia serving only the SME sector, addressing their pain points. We can provide them with real-time pricing, same- day delivery, guaranteed quantifi cation and quality checks, and a full refund policy in case of errors. Once successful with the launch of this endeavour, we will be pioneers of this in KSA!" "In fact, we are currently on a hiring spree," Siddiqui claims. He says that even though the pandemic did catch them off guard, due to their strong supply-chain, employee loyalty and client-trust, they did not need to size down. Siddiqui adds: "We have stood by our employees, and it has, by far, been the best investment. During the pandemic's peak, we tactically faced the problem Next >