JANUARY 2024 VOL.20 ISSUE 01 COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION JANJANANUARUAUARUARY 2Y2Y 2Y02402402VOVOVOVOL.L.L.L.202020ISSISSISSISSSUEUEUEUEEUEUUUEUEEU010101010100101 AN NANITPTPTPTPMEMEMEMEDIADIADIADGRGRGRGROUPOUPOUPOUPOUPUPUPUPUPUUBLIBLIBLIBLILIBLILILILILILBLICATCATCATCATCATCATCACCATCATCAACATCAAIONIONIONIONIONOIONONOOONN CHILL FACTOR The latest innovations in air cooling technology In partnership with Midea RACwww.glaze.ae/ MARBLE | PORCELAIN |ONYX|SINTERED STONE| QUARTZ|PRECIOUS STONE Discover the ultimate selections of Natural Stones & top brands ofPorcelain Slabs.3 commercialinteriordesign.com JANUARY 2024 CONTENTS JANUARY 2024 24 BOLD BATHROOMS A deep-dive into the design of commercial bathrooms IN THIS ISSUE 10 A GUIDE TO PR Design strategist Esra Lemmens shares her top tips planning your PR and communications agenda in 2024 12 GLOBAL DESIGN CALENDAR A curated guide to the best and biggest interior design events this year 18 FUTURE FOCUS The region’s design leaders share their predictions and thoughts on the year aheadJANUARY 2024 commercialinteriordesign.com 4 CONTENTS 40 10 REGULARS 06 DESIGN NEWS The latest updates from the world of commercial interior design 10 IN THE STUDIO Join the founders of Estilo Blanco inside their Al Quoz workspace 40 RESIDENTIAL SPOTLIGHT Nakkash Design Studio has created the ultimate urban oasis within Dubai’s The Meadows 46 WORLD VIEW Explore the interiors of the Ace Hotel Group’s fi rst Canadian outspot 50 DESIGN ICON Napoleon’s favourite, the swan faucet swoops back into style 06EDITOR'S LETTER 5 commercialinteriordesign.com JANUARY 2024 Pantone may have announced Peach Fuzz as the colour of 2024, but I have a feeling that the year ahead will bring us more of a kaleidoscope than a single shade or hue. The beginning of the year brings a unique opportunity to refl ect on the previous twelve months while simultaneously looking ahead and imagining what the next has in store - you’ll fi nd what the experts are predicting from 2024 on page 18. Spoiler alert: Maximalism has arrived, and AI has offi cially entered the chat. Personally, the idea of bold, brave maximalist style and spaces brimming with colour and pattern excites me so much more than artifi cial intelligence ever will, but I do look forward to seeing how both of these movements shape the trajectory of design in the year ahead. I’m sure we’ll see both of the above come to life at many of the interior design events that take place across the globe each year - we’ve compiled a complete calendar from page 12 for your consideration and travel planning, followed by an interview with Julia Uherek, Vice President Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH in which she shares her insights into why UAE- based designers have become such a core demographic at Ambiente, as both visitors and exhibitors. Another place we’ll witness the maximalist aesthetic reawaken is the bathroom. In fact, we already are - see it for yourself from page 26 as we reveal the fi rst ten washroom renovations to take place across Dubai Mall. Emaar Developments enlisted the help of many local fi rms on a mission to create 29 completely different bathrooms across the mall that each leave an impression. Selfi e-worthy, even. Not sure what I mean? You’ll fi nd my op-ed on the topic on page 36. As always, happy reading. Holly Byrne Editor TRUE COLOURS Published by and © 2024 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 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An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.JANUARY 2024 commercialinteriordesign.com 66 DESIGN NEWS A round up of the latest news from the world of design and contemporary peach with depth whose gentle lightness is understated but impactful, bringing beauty to the digital world,” the company said. “The colour we selected to be our Pantone Colour of the Year 2024 needed to express our desire to want to be close to those we love and the joy we get when allowing ourselves to tune into who we are and just savour a moment of quiet time alone. “It needed to be a colour whose warm and welcoming embrace conveyed a message of compassion and empathy.” PANTONE’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR: PEACH FUZZ INTRODUCING AMAN INTERIORS After much speculation, Pantone has announced its colour of the year for 2024 as Peach Fuzz. The gentle hue evokes feelings of kindness and tenderness to convey a message of caring and sharing, according to the colour experts. The shade is intended to usher in a new approach to softness, inspiring a sense of belonging, recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing. “While centered in the human experience of enriching and nurturing the mind, body, and soul, it is also a quietly sophisticated Hospitality and lifestyle brand Aman has expanded into the interior space with the launch of its range of furniture, Aman Interiors. Each collection will be produced to order, handcrafted by skilled artisans in locations across the globe and designed by either the in-house team or through collaboration with celebrated architects and designers. There will be a limited number of editions of each piece, guaranteeing the exclusivity and provenance of each item for decades to come. “Design and architecture, including furniture design, have long been true passions of mine, and it was Aman’s elevated design aesthetic which fi rst drew me to the brand as a guest,” says Vlad Doronin, Chairman, Owner and CEO of Aman Group and Chairman of Aman Interiors. “This multi-faceted business will provide direct access to an interior design team that is fully immersed into the world of Aman, both to facilitate the seamless furnishing of Aman Residences and Aman Hotels, as well as to bring bespoke furniture designs to the market which have been created through the lens of the Aman experience.”7 commercialinteriordesign.com JANUARY 2024 DESIGN NEWS MR CHOW IN THE MIDDLE EAST COSTENTINO CAPSULE COLLECTION RETURNS SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING Allen Architecture Interiors Design (AAID) has revealed the process behind desiging the Middle East region’s fi rst outpost of the iconic Mr Chow restaurant in KAFD, Riyadh. Working alongside MJS Holding, one As the world gathered in Dubai for COP28, retail and leisure conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, announced that three of its shopping malls in the region have been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certifi cation, the highest level in the LEED green building rating system. The LEED Platinum Certifi cation for City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Deira and City Centre Muscat have been awarded for Operations and Maintenance for the Existing Buildings (LEED O+M: Existing Buildings) category and bring the total number of LEED-certifi ed Majid Al Futtaim malls in the region to 20. The latest certifi cations join Mall of the Emirates, the world’s largest operational mall to receive it. “We believe it is our duty to help protect our environment for the future. says Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – Asset Management. Two years after architectural surfaces supplier Cosentino released its fi rst Capsule Collection, the company has announced a second edition is in the works through a collaboration with fi ve leading designers from the Middle East. Nadine Kanso, Omar Nakkash, Rabah Saeid, Omar Al Gurg and Thomas Trad have been tasked with creating a limited-edition furniture and home accessories range using to Dekton Slim, a 4mm ultrathin, ultra- compact surface material, under the theme ‘dare to play.’ of the fastest-growing restaurant ventures in Saudi Arabia, the AAID team wanted to bring the essence of Mr Chow to the Middle East, with a timeless aesthetic and a modern touch.JANUARY 2024 commercialinteriordesign.com 8 IN THE STUDIO IN THE STUDIO WITH ESTILO BLANCO INTERIORS Join the studio founders Claudia Granberg and Gema Blanco inside their workspace D ubai based interior design studio Estilo Blanco was founded in 2021 by Claudia Granberg and Gema Blanco. The fi rm was born from the union of two independent, established design practices: Estilo Space and Gema Blanco Interiors, and it’s new name Estilo Blanco meaning “White Style” in Spanish, alludes to the studio’s modern minimalist approach and design philosophy grounded in simplicity and the timeless elegance of materials. Here, we join the founders in the studio. Tell us about where your studio is located … We are based in Al Quoz, one of Dubai’s hidden gems, where you can fi nd an ecosystem of creative talents and entrepreneurs. Describe your studio to us… We are part of a community of women entrepreneurs and creatives. Our studio is a loft space with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. What is your favourite space here? It’s our meeting table, a collaborative area where we have all the materials and we sit together as a team to create and share many happy and challenging experiences. Talk us through a typical day... Our mornings always begin with a cup of coffee (no compromises on that). We are both early starters, active and ready to begin work by 6.30am. That’s the time we use to coordinate our schedules, review our agendas (which has most likely changed since the evening before). Most mornings we do site visits then head either to meetings with clients or manufacturers. Afternoons are spent in the offi ce. We try and reserve three full days a week in the offi ce to focus only on design with no other commitments. What’s on your desk right now? Our desks are usually very organised with minimal clutter. You’ll always fi nd our water bottles, laptops and our partner-in-crime... iPads, an essential and practical tool. Where do you fi nd new inspiration? We look towards international designers who are setting trends but a lot of it comes from our travel. Sometimes our clients and spaces inspire us to come up with unexpected solutions.Distinguished by exceptional design and exquisite attention to detail, Armac Martin has specialised in the manufacture of luxury brass cabinet hardware for over 95 years. Available in an array of striking designs and subtle finishes, the brand’s collection includes cabinet knobs, t-bars, and pull handles in striking, tactile finishes, from lacquered and plated to living patinas. WWW.SANIPEXGROUP.COMNext >