NOVEMBER 2023 VOL.19 ISSUE 11 COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION VOL. 19 ISSUE 11 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION RAISING THE BAR How elevated workplace design is drawing employees back to the offi ce N O VEMBER 2023 V O L .19 I SSU ES IG N NOVEMBER 2023VOL. 19 ISSUE 11 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION ER CI AL TEWWW.SANIPEXGROUP.COM RRIA SOSOFTFTCCCCCLOLOLLELELEECTCTTCTTTTTTCTTTTTTTTIOIOOOOONNNNNN3 commercialinteriordesign.com NOVEMBER 2023 CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2023 40 LUXURY AT WORK Workplaces have never looked this good, so what’s driving the new standard in offi ce design? IN THIS ISSUE 12 DOWNTOWN DESIGN Your ultimate guide to the region’s leading contemporary design fair 22 THE COLOURS OF 2024 Global colour experts share their predictions on the colours that will defi ne the year ahead 26 DEFINING ‘RESIMMERCIAL’ Exploring the growing infl uence of residenital design on commercial interiorsNOVEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 4 CONTENTS 30 14 REGULARS 06 DESIGN NEWS The latest updates from the world of commercial interior design 08 NEW RECRUIT Get to know the new studio director at Designsmith 10 IN THE STUDIO Inside the Dubai outpost of global design fi rm Woods Bagot 14 DESIGNER’S GUIDE Explore Dubai Design District with tips from a local design expert 30 COMMENT Is wellness the new luxury in hospitality design? 46 RESIDENTIAL SPOTLIGHT The new project from C’est ici Design brings Japandi style to the desert 50 DESIGN ICON The Eames executive chair graces offi ces all over the world - discover the history of the classic chair 10EDITOR'S LETTER 5 commercialinteriordesign.com SEPTEMBER 2023 I’ve been looking forward to Dubai Design Week since I fi rst landed in the UAE and fi nally it is upon us – a gathering of not only the region’s brightest and emerging talents, but also the chance to see and experience the work of creatives from across the globe. The headline event, Downtown Design, is celebrating its 10-year milestone and it promises to be its biggest yet. You can fi nd a CID curated guide to the fair from page 12. If you are heading to Downtown Design, director Mette Degn- Christensen shares her advice to discovering the best of D3 from page 14, including the best places to eat, shop and explore. I’m personally hoping to see a resurgence of bold and vibrant colour palettes on display, and according to the leading paint experts we’ve consulted, that’s exactly what 2024 has in store. On page 22, we take a look at the emerging colour trends as determined by global colour experts and designers. A bright palette isn’t the only big shift we’re seeing in design though, as our evolving work habits have ushered in a rapid enhancement of offi ce design. The modern workplace is no longer a sea of cubicles or static desks but a dynamic, fl exible environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and well- being. Our exploration of offi ce design from page 32 showcases how designers are reimagining work spaces to align with the changing nature of work – and to draw people back to the offi ce. This Special Report is fi lled with expert insight from designers, academics and suppliers who know the offi ce best. Hotel suites, restaurants and cafés are undergoing a shift of their own, as residential design is proving to have a growing infl uence on the interiors of commercial spaces – discover what’s being called ‘resimmercial’ design from page 22. A gym with sketches by Bono and works from Picasso is almost enough to make exercise appealing. Whether it’s making a workout sound tempting or luring you back to the offi ce, design has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Hopefully I’ll be seeing many of you in D3 this month to celebrate exactly that. Holly Byrne Editor DESIGN DISCOVERY Published by and © 2023 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi MANAGING DIRECTOR Martin Chambers EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Holly Sands EDITORIAL GROUP EDITOR Paul Clifford EDITOR Holly Byrne ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL DIRECTORSally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 Email: sally.whittam@itp.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Richard Mobbs Tel: +971 4 444 3592 Email: richard.mobbs@itp.com COMMERCIAL MANAGER Georgia Littlefair Tel: +971 4 444 3562 Email: georgia.littlefair@itp.com COMMERCIAL ADMIN EXECUTIVE Janet Comia Email: janet.comia@itp.com ART HEAD OF DESIGN Rita Ghantous SENIOR IMAGE EDITOR Emmalyn Robles GROUP VIDEO EDITOR Bharat Tahiliani VIDEO EDITOR Hana Morsy MARKETING EVENTS & MARKETING MANAGER Eleanor Ashton EVENTS & MARKETING EXECUTIVE Kate Galaktionova EVENTS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Aronn Pureza PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Denny Kollannoor PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Manoj Mahadevan DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Avinash Pereira CIRCULATION EXECUTIVE Rajesh Pillai ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader's particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.NOVEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 6 DESIGN NEWS A round up of the latest news from the world of design TR Studio was entrusted with the design of the new holistic space which combines contemporary art, architectural form, and fi tness. The collection boasts work from artists including Picasso, Ed Ruscha and Bono. ART MEETS EXERCISE A NEW FOOD HALL IN THE FIRST MALL Jumeirah-based boutique fi tness studio Reform Athletica has opened the doors to a new space inside the prestigious ICD Brookfi eld Place in Dubai’s DIFC district. London architecture and interior practice Dubai’s fi rst shopping mall Al Ghurair Centre has shared its major expansion plans, with the opening of 25 new shopping and dining additions, including a diverse and expansive food hall called Flayva, designed by LXA Associates. With an overall capacity to seat almost 500 people, Flayva will span across 3,318 sq m. “Flayva’s vibrant concept draws inspiration from urban street scenes and industrial design for its fi nishes, textures, and colour scheme,” says Rana Aoun, Senior Interior Designer at LXA Associates DMCC. ENVI LODGES LANDS IN OMAN UAE-founded eco-lodge group, ENVI Lodges has partnered with Oman’s Ministry of Defence Pension Fund to develop a sustainable mountain lodge at Al Jabal Al Akhdar. Marking ENVI’s fi rst foray in Oman, the eco-lodge will provide a mountain stay experience while promoting environmental conservation, a brand proposition aligned to the Oman National Tourism Strategy 2040 target of 11.7 million visitors and 80,000 hospitality keys focused on sustainable initiatives. When it opens in 2025, ENVI Al Jabal Al Akhdar will feature 40 luxury expedition tents designed by Tenthouse Structure, a renowned South African architect of tented wilderness developments.NOVEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 8 NEW RECRUIT Introducing the new studio director at Designsmith MEET VIJAY NAMBIAR T o start, tell us about yourself… An interior designer with over 15 years of experience across sectors like workspace, residential, hospitality and education, I’ve had the opportunity to work for some of the top interior design studios in the region since my move to Dubai in 2014. In my new role as the Studio Director at Designsmith, I will play a key role in developing the studio’s portfolio aligned to its vision for 2024 and beyond. How and why did you get into the design industry to begin with? As a child, I always had a strong fascination towards built environments and the experiences they offer. I could always remember the location and context of memories from my childhood in great detail. That instinctive curiosity combined with an early realization that I had absolutely no interest in being a doctor or an engineer helped steer me towards a design career. Tell us how any previous roles have helped get you where you are today? Without a doubt, every opportunity that I’ve had in my career has added layers to my design sensibility, but more importantly I have consciously focussed on developing my individuality by learning from some of the most successful and respected leaders in the industry. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the generosity of so many friends, mentors and colleagues. Have you had any mentors? There have been many including some of the well-known design experts in the region like Martin Baerschmidt, Matt Sexton, Laila Al-Yousuf and Pallavi Dean but I wouldn’t have been in the industry or as passionate as I am about it without the contribution of two special people who guided me by setting very high standards for themselves. The fi rst mentor was my arts teacher Mr. Pingle, who helped me prepare for admission into design school. He helped me at the age of 18 to overcome my lack of confi dence and helped me believe in my abilities. The second one is architect Fabian Ostner who I feel is not only one of the most passionate and meticulous architects that I have ever worked with but is genuinely one of the nicest human beings I have known. These two have, probably unknowingly, played a big role in shaping my career. What excites you most about your new role? I believe in collaborative growth and this role allows me to explore exactly that. Mihir and Dhaval have shared their vision for Designsmith with me and I am excited to work alongside them towards that goal. The chance to work with an extremely young and enthusiastic team of over 40 design professionals will certainly make the experience even better. What do you think defi nes a good leader, and why are these traits so important? Empathy and patience are two key qualities that are critical to the role. It is important to understand that, especially in a beautifully diverse city like Dubai, the sum is greater than the parts. Leaders sometimes spend a lot of time modelling replicas of themselves but this to me is a very restrictive approach. Design is about the coming together of ideas, personalities, and cultures; a good leader is like a good chef who knows how to use the qualities of the many different ingredients and create something spectacular with them. What will you bring to the table at Designsmith that no one else could? As I mentioned before, I have learnt from the best in the industry, and I am keen on sharing that knowledge with the team at Designsmith. My intention is to help enhance the business and the ethos at the studio and I feel my ability to build bonds and be a mentor will push the young studio in the right direction. Tell us about any upcoming projects you’re excited to be working on? There are a lot of very interesting projects in the pipeline at Designsmith and it would be diffi cult to choose between them. We’re working on the concept design for a sports-based facility, a few out-of-the-box workspaces and some high-end retail design projects to name a few. Each of them has the potential to add great value to our portfolio.www.glaze.ae/ SINTERED STONEPORCELAINMARBLEQUARTZONYXPRECIOUS STONE Now Open at Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Presenting top brands of flooring & countertop solutions.Next >