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New York’s whimsical colour wash
Live it out: the alfresco movement
Casa Cavalli: Tuscan light and lace
Designs worth their weight in gold
Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority
R ALPH
Home
LAUREN
HARVEY NICHOLS DUBAI M A L L O F T H E E M I R AT E S 04 4098888

BLOOMINGDALE’S HOME THE DUBAI MALL 04 3505333
A L TAY E R I N S I G N I A
Z A ’ A B E E L ROA D, T E L : 0 4 3 3 7 7 8 2 5
A L TAY E R I N S I G N I A
w w w. B A R B A R A B A R RY C O M PA N Y. c o m
Moody Design the one and only Italian Display changing:
furniture store in Dubai with exclusive rights to
Moody design provides the clients the option to
Warner Bros DC comic characters and the custom create their own wardrobe. Just provide us
with a picture or select one from our wide range of
beloved Hello Kitty character. Moody Design images. The distinctive technique of our wardrobe
products can be customized to create a allows the customer to continuously change the
look of his/ her wardrobe and room.
unique piece of furniture that will bring joy to
your living space.
Flag bookcase:
We also showcase our

one and only flag
bookcases, with shelf
doors that rotates 180
degree, you can
constantly change the
way you display your
belongings.
Rally Yume:
Inspired by the ancient Greek saying “Everything

flows…” this patent furnishing system components’
can move at the touch of a finger.
D
O O U R STAN
T
R E I N VITED LD ME
YOU A T PLAYWOR
A
MAR 7
TH - 9TH
WWWBLIVINGCOM
B5 The Art of Living
*ENSENs#ASADORs&-&OSs%GGERSMANNs$ÚTTLINGs,AMBERTs*UNCKERSs3CHMALENBACHsADNOTAM
INSIDE
identity
MARCH 2011
Cover photography:
Eric Laignel / Tripod Agency
PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC LAIGNEL / TRIPOD AGENCY
28 52
28 82
FEATURES
23 French dressing 52 Look on the bright side

Creative finds from Maison et Objet to covet during See what happens when whimsical shapes and vibrant
the year ahead. tones meet in a TriBeCa townhouse.
28 Taking flight 82 The ethics test

Compelling new developments in green technology Meet the winners of the sought-after Aga Khan Award
from around the globe. for Architecture.
March 2011 17
FURNISHING IS LIVING THE HERE AND NOW.
Foto: Studio Vogelsänger - Germany
Selva Middle East L.L.C.

Sheikh Zayed Road, 4th interchange, Dubai
Tel. +971 4 3411933 Fax +971 4 3411799 info@selva-me.ae
Home Design Store, Mall of Emirates,1st Floor, Shop F8, Dubai
www.selva.com
INSIDE
identity
®
DESIGN FORMULA
ISSUE 90
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
GROUP EDITOR & MANAGING PARTNER
Ian Fairservice
GROUP SENIOR EDITOR
Gina Johnson | gina@motivate.ae
GROUP EDITOR
Catherine Belbin | catherine@motivate.ae
AZUCENA
CHIEF SUB-EDITOR
Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Belinda Igaya | belinda@motivate.ae
35 Inside out
DISIGNER The austere design trends of outdoor spaces are
Michelle Liu | michelle@motivate.ae
becoming a thing of the past. Find out why designers
GENERAL MANAGER – PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION are now looking to nature for inspiration.
S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae
MANAGER – PRODUCTION
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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB
CONTRIBUTORS:
Glenn Freeman | Steve Hill | Ian Phillips | Samia Qaiyum
Nick Rice | Ruby Rogers | Lisa Vincenti | Richard Warren
59 id Property
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IDENTITY NEXT ISSUE APRIL 2011
Member of
+ Designer bathrooms make a splash
CAVALLI HOME BY MARZORATI RONCHETTI
+ Missoni’s colourful weaves in Kuwait

+ Spain’s innovative ceramic fiesta
+ id meets the eclectic Jaime Hayon
+ Paving the road to Saloni
+ much, much more…
Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai All prices quoted in identity are correct at the time of going to press.
March 2011 19
EDITORIAL
The art of design

This month id and Alessi will come together again to celebrate the
inauguration of the Alessi shop-in-shop concept store in Mall of the Emirates,
with furniture designed by Stefano Giavannoni.
Matteo Alessi, grandson of founder Carlo, will be in Dubai to personally meet
designers, buyers and collectors at an exclusive in-store design event on March
23. Tavola and id will welcome guests to the store event where prototypes of
the new 2011 collection will be displayed for the first time.
While buyers and interior designers are preparing to make their annual
pilgrimage to the ISH show in Germany, United Supplies Est. and Duravit
hosted the launch of their new showroom in Deira. Designed by the renowned
German firm Innenarchitekten, the launch event was attended by Duravit’s senior
management. The new state-of-the-art showroom is an example of the new
design trends in bathrooms. There was much buzz surrounding the new Starck
collection, which will officially be presented during ISH and available here later this Clockwise from top left: Matteo Alessi, Philippe Starck,
year. Duravit already enjoys a highly visible presence here and is to be found in Rosita Missoni, Ben Shaw.
many of the Gulf’s most prestigious commercial and residential projects. United
Supplies also showcases designs by Foster + Partners, Eoos, Andreas Stuppler,
Phoenix Design, sieger design and Herbert.
A lavish cocktail party and after-party was hosted by Patricia Boettcher at
her new B5 showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road; numerous visiting European
designers were in attendance.
Meanwhile, the DORMA group also held court at the Armani Prive Club where
it launched its new division DORMA Interiors. Best known for its doors, partitions
and door controls, the company is already involved with numerous prestigious
projects in the region including Burj Khalifa, Meydan, Emirates Palace, ANEC, the
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Burj Al Arab, The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Metro.
Across the Gulf, the new 169-room Rezidor-managed Missoni Hotel in Kuwait
is poised for a soft opening this month. The world’s second Missoni branded
hotel, it is elegantly furnished with the Italian knitwear brand’s signature fabrics and
will be officially inaugurated later this year.
Art continues to be at the forefront of our creative scene with preparations for
the annual Art Dubai event to be held at DIFC from March 12-16, and the Edge
Of Arabia’s Terminal exhibition, featuring works by contemporary Saudi artists.
PHOTOGRAPHY: VIKRAM GAWDE
Group Editor Catherine Belbin.
March 2011 21
TRENDS
French dressing
The beginning of a new year means the return of Maison & Objet, the
home-fashion event held twice-yearly in Paris. identity braved the cold
French capital to bring you the top 10 hottest new designs.
TEXT: RUBY ROGERS
Return to the Talamo

Bathroom expert antoniolupi has garnered a reputation for experimenting
with cutting edge materials to develop the look, feel and functionality of its
progressive designs. Hot on the heels of debut designs unveiled at Cersaie
last year, an updated version of its striking Talamo tub and basin was on
show in Paris. Originally launched in Apricena stone, antoniolupi’s decision
to introduce both pieces in composite Cristalplant makes them more
accessible in terms of weight and price.
March 2011 23
All for one
Ligne Roset’s line up of new products for 2011 did not
disappoint. Jean Nouvel introduced his Simplissimo seating
collection, seemingly designed with two strokes of his pen;
one for the base and another for the gently sloping seat-
back. “I like simple objects produced in a natural way with
a little wood, foam and plastic,” he explained.
French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
returned to Ligne Roset with their super contemporary,
low-slung Ploum settee. “We pictured it like a ripe,
voluptuous piece of fruit,” the brothers say of their
playful design.
The upshot is a large, kidney-shaped sofa made out
of ultra-flexible foam and fabric for the utmost comfort.
“Ploum is a vast shape on which the whole body rests on
a soft, welcoming surface,” they conclude.
Refined beauty
Roche Bobois’ Jean Paul Gaultier collection of
last year is a tough act to follow. The solution
was to create a contrasting collection together
with Italian architect and designer Mauro
Lipparini, whose signature style is clean lines,
pure forms, natural colours and textures.
“Mauro’s idea was to offer a collection of Man’s world
products, seating, furniture and accessories, And finally, Halo’s Esquire Home
which give the impression of being members collection made its European debut
of a large family... they are all different at Maison & Objet. The concept is
but share common traits hence the name to create a unique living space for
Echoes,” explained Nicolas Roche, the the man who loves style. Introducing
director of Roche Bobois collections. around 50 pieces for a variety of
“The style of the collection is sober and spaces including living area and home
modest. Rather than making grand gestures office, Halo predicts popular designs
it is based on simple shapes, moderate will be its Commodore two-seater sofa
proportions and refined details which cleverly with a charcoal wool seat together
complement each other.” with black leather arms and stud
identity loves the effortless beauty of the detailing; Spider’s Web Media Console
Echoes bed, a simple wooden structure comprising black leather shelves
teamed with a luxurious leather headboard. supported by an intricately designed
steel frame; and its vintage inspired
Double Rob Roy trunk boasting an
antique brass trim, grain leather
and signature lining.
24 identity [interior/design/property]
TRENDS
Simple pleasures
Alessi did not skimp on new launches at Maison & Objet, with
introductions including a series of pots and pans by Japanese designer
Naoto Fukasawa. His objective was to create a limited collection of
simple cookware pieces eschewing classic bulky aesthetics for resilience,
practicality and minimalism. The result was Shiba, a celebration of
modest features such as handles in either bakelite or wood.
Another new launch was a comprehensive tableware collection by
Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. Known for his unconventional use
of decoration, Wanders called upon his signature style to create his
Dressed collection, which boasts a subtle baroque inspired pattern.
Why the name Dressed? Because Wanders believes that, precisely
like a dress, decoration should be used to enhance a design rather
than overpower it.
Step on it
Not to be outdone by Nanimarquina, Turkish brand Stepevi presented
its new Parquet collection by French designer Ora-ïto, who first made
his name by creating a series of unsolicited designs for some of the
world’s leading brands and posting them on his website.
Parquet is inspired by the look of distressed wooden flooring.
Created using 100 per cent wool off-cuts that are carved and finished
by hand and then pieced together, it is available in three sizes – 90cm
x 70cm, 100cm x 120cm, 170cm x 240cm – and comes in a choice
Check mate of five different colour combinations: grey, blue, green and red.
Baccarat is not a brand to cut corners so to
celebrate the 170th anniversary of its iconic
Harcourt glass it called on the expertise of father
and daughter duo Philippe and Ara Starck. The
story goes that the Starck’s developed their
Jeu de Dames en Noir collection over
a friendly game of chess (this would
explain why each crystal glass is either
black or white to represent a chess
piece). The box set of 12 glasses
even includes a chess-inspired
silk scarf design by Ara.
March 2011 25
TRENDS
Table manners
A healthy serving of new designs
were on show from stylish Italian
brand Italesse. Take the Venti4
dinner plate, a functional disc-shaped
design by Luca Nichetto in ultra
resistance melamine resin making it
suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
A clever feature is an indentation on
either side of the plate modelled on
Tread carefully a thumb print. Nichetto’s reasoning is
Nanimarquina knows exactly who’s that the indentations make the plate
hot (or not) in the world of design, easier to carry and create somewhere
hence the long line of big name to rest cutlery during a meal.
designers who have signed up to
work with them; previous collaborators
include the experimental Ron Arad
(Do-Lo-Rez), architect Oscar Tusquets
Blanca (Luna) and artist and designer Cristian
Zuzunaga (Digit).
Nanimarquina’s most recent collaboration is
with the busy Bouroullec brothers, who launched
Losanges, a contemporary take on a traditional Persian
rug handmade in Afghan wool by craftsman in northern
Pakistan using the ancient kilm technique. The brothers
admit that the job of the craftsman was not easy as great
skill was required to combine 13 colours through the
geometrical rhombus shaped rug.
Home office
“In this new world, where home types have changed, there
is no longer any distinction between inside and outside or
between work and home. Instead, living spaces have been
redefined,” says Christophe Pillet of his multipurpose designs
for Italian company Kristalia; a gently cantilevered chair and
simple-looking table.
“The Neat table and Pulp chair I am designing for Kristalia
are ambitious design projects, not only because of their
design but also because of the difficulty in manufacturing
them industrially. These objects are simple in shape but
technically complex,” he concludes.
NEW
DIRECTIONS
Modern new classics for
the way you live now.
Reclaim the dining room.

Naturally aged, reclaimed peroba wood is recycled from old buildings, then restored and handcrafted to create a modern
zen-meets-prairie silhouette. Mahogany veneer top with rustic peroba edges sits on two recessed bases, each handcrafted
of solid mahogany and peroba wood. Like many things we’ve learned to appreciate, the Paloma dining table gets better with time.
Home Furnishings. Housewares. Accessories.
Mall of the Emirates, 04 399 0125 I Mirdif City Centre, 04 284 3151
ECO
Taking flight
Environmentally aware aircraft that could transform
the world’s skies and lead to the creation of portable
real estate; a range of sustainable approaches to
motoring; and a mixed-use development in Dallas
that showcases green building technologies and
systems are put in the spotlight. TEXT: STEVE HILL
UP AND AWAY
Australian company SkyLifter has unveiled concept designs for a heavy-lifting

environmentally aware aircraft that would use an aerial crane to transport large
self-contained buildings or even a SkyPalace variant for luxury air cruising.
The innovative creation is designed to take off from the current
limitations of helicopters, with vertical pick-up and a delivery capability
of items up to 150,000kg.
SkyLifter’s cost per tonne-kilometre would be exceptionally economic
thanks to the fact that it would be powered by a combination of (bio) diesel
fuel and solar collectors to generator the energy necessary to power cycloidal
propellers and aircraft systems. The aerostat design is ideal for large arrays of
solar collectors because a large portion of the upper surface faces the sun at
any one time.
Carbon emissions would be minimal and its environmental footprint negligible
in comparison to current alternatives.
The company hopes its invention will lead to the creation of portable real
estate – perhaps hospitals, libraries, civic centres or museums – that can be
moved around to further enhance their usage, rather than have centralised
and fixed-site developments.
Further benefits include reducing the impact on existing infrastructure, enabling
pin-point access to environmentally sensitive locations and hugely reduced noise
thanks to the fact that there are no jet engines or rotor blades in use.
March 2009
2011 29
ECO
From top: The Early Learning Centre

in Barrington, Illinois; the Urban Living
Laboratory in north Dallas; the Toyota
Prius c Concept vehicle.
Prius c Concept is the inspiration for an additional Prius family member that
will come to market in the first half of 2012 as the most value-oriented hybrid
in the US market with the highest mileage of any “cordless” hybrid.
The Prius midsize liftback has accounted for more than 955,000 sales in the
US since it was introduced in 2000 while the third-generation Prius, which
reached dealerships in June 2009, has continued the hybrid’s heritage of fuel
economy and low emissions to become the third-best selling Toyota passenger
car in America.
URBAN SHOWCASE
HOK is working with Arlington-based Realty Appreciation and the Texas

A&M University System to design the Urban Living Laboratory, a 30-hectare
mixed-use development in north Dallas that will showcase green building
techniques and systems.
The proposed five-phase project, which will be built to endure for 75 years,
SOMETHING SPECIAL includes offices, retail space, multi-family apartments, and two hotels. HOK is
providing architecture, interior design, master planning, landscape architecture
The new Early Learning Centre in Barrington, Illinois, features innovative, and environmental graphics services.
specialised design features to assist students with special needs. The development will accommodate unprecedented levels of sustainable
These include the use of neutral-coloured, low-chemical paint to research in the built environment. Scientists from across Texas A&M and other
improve students’ attention and focus, instead of vibrant colours, which tend universities will be able to monitor the building’s technologies, systems and
to over stimulate children with propensities toward attention deficit or environmental impact while studying the factors that influence occupants to
hyperactivity disorders. act sustainably in their daily lives.
Special lighting fixtures reflect most of the light up to the ceiling, then down Each building will be designed to achieve at least LEED Silver certification
to the floor, helping children prone to seizures avoid flickering lights while and will be required to maintain this level over time. The rating system is
students dealing with autism avoid the lure of bright lights. intended to provide baseline figures against which the team can measure and
There is also a north-south orientation of classrooms combined with a continuously improve the performance of the building.
daylight monitoring system, allowing for use of natural light to be maximized. Construction on the project’s first two phases is expected to begin in the
And direct access to a secured outdoor play area from each individual classroom fourth quarter of this year.
has also been featured into the design by Perkins+Will, an interdisciplinary firm
with a 75-year legacy in socially responsible and educational design.
NEW CONCEPT
Toyota used the recent North American International Auto Show in

Detroit to unveil the Prius c Concept vehicle, which the company hopes
will appeal to young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive,
high-mileage, fun-to-drive car.
The c represents a city-centric vehicle at an entry price point with
superior fuel economy while also providing a surprisingly spacious
interior. It will include many advanced technology features, including
some offered on the current Prius.
ECO INTERIORS
From top: Cottons from discarded clothing,

can now be found in the next-generation Ford
Focus; Annie Greenabelle, the British ethical
women’s clothing brand; Mega e-City car.
DRIVE FOR DENIM
Cottons from discarded clothing, including recycled blue jeans, can now be found
in the next-generation Ford Focus, one of the world’s most popular vehicles.
They are used in areas such as carpet backing and sound-absorption materials
for interior quietness.
Carrie Majeske, the company’s product sustainability manager, said: “One E-CITY LIVING
of our key goals is to use more recycled or renewable materials without
compromising performance or durability. Recycled content is a way to divert Residents on a group of small islands off the west coast of Ireland are taking part
waste from landfills and reduce the impact of mining virgin material. in a three-year pilot project to demonstrate the smart grid technologies needed
“The good news is these jeans didn’t end up in a landfill, nor did we use to transfer and store wind energy in electric vehicles.
the water, fertilizer and land to grow virgin cotton. It’s an alternative that our Eight new bright orange Mega e-City cars – which have a top speed of 64
customers can appreciate, it’s cost effective, and it’s better for our planet. “ km/h and maximum range of 80km – were recently handed over to residents
The amount of post-industrial cotton from blue jeans used in a vehicle equates who will drive them for a year. A further eight households will use the vehicles in
to roughly two pairs of average-sized American jeans. 2012 and eight more in 2013 as part of a project coordinated by the Sustainable
Energy Authority of Ireland and the Department of Community, Equality and
ECO COUTURE Gaeltacht Affairs. The programme will look at the potential for wind energy to
power electric cars and to reduce reliance on imported fuels on the islands.
Annie Greenabelle, an ethical women’s clothing brand based in Britain, Some of the electricity used by islanders is currently generated by local wind
predominantly produces garments made with Fairtrade and organic certified farms. The cars will initially be powered by a combination of wind power and
cotton sourced directly from India. Founded in 2007, it combines this with the electricity from other sources, with the proportion of wind-generated electricity
use of reclaimed and end-of-roll fabrics to ensure variety and bring uniqueness increasing as storage is improved. ID
to its many items.
Annie Greenabelle’s new line has branched out into new materials. It has
introduced some soft pointelle knitwear, flattering bamboo garments which
drape beautifully and also a paper print collection which is an organic cotton/
jersey mix fabric.
The company’s new slubby knitwear is not only made in England, but
also spun, knitted and manufactured less than a mile from its offices, ensuring
a carbon friendly footprint.
Bamboo is seen as an exciting new sustainable material because it grows
so quickly, and can also bring variety and excitement within a “green” brand
while still focusing on trends and fashion.
The company also firmly believes that ethical fashion does not have to
be sold at an inflated premium, and endeavours to keep prices to “high street”
level wherever possible.
32 identity [interior/design/property] March 2009 32

OUTDOORS | DESIGN FORMULA
Inside out
The austerity of previous outdoor spaces is becoming a memory
as homeowners look to introduce elements of their interior to the
exterior. An adventurous spirit is breathing fresh air into the design
of the backyard as softened lines, cosy seating and dramatic
features all head alfresco.
TEXT: LISA VINCENTI
DE
SIG
N
FO
RM
UL
A
CONTENTS:
36 Flexible finds
40 Natural instincts
43 Privacy in public
44 Elements of surprise
Organic shapes, such as this oversized ceramic apple
49 Cook out by Bull & Stein, are redefining outdoor spaces.
March 2011 35
DESIGN FORMULA | OUTDOORS
Exteriorscapes are taking cues from the indoors. Here Paola Lenti’s Sabi outdoor sofa features the softened lines so prominent inside the home.
Last year saw the official cooling of a design trend that has dominated The 2011 outdoor collections are emblematic of the new styles dominating
the outdoor environment for several seasons. Extreme rigour and austerity the design world, steering away from straight or perfectly balanced architectural
throughout the minimalist home came to an end and the altered landscape hit lines to pieces that are softened and soft, perfectly imperfect and crafted with
the outdoor environment, with the starkness of earlier design schemes replaced love. All these aesthetic scenarios hit the outdoors with a bang during the major
by a warmer, emotive atmosphere. fairs in Europe in the beginning of the year. Hence the backyard, terrace and
But while taut and terse topologies have gone into hiding, it doesn’t mean garden are now being treated with the same care and attention as all the other
contained and pure lines have been erased. The external environment, that rooms of the home.
region in-between the private and public spheres, has fallen prey to our cravings More important, perhaps, is that the outdoor area be as redolent and
for a safe-haven that is both protective and imaginative, and, most importantly, dynamic as the indoor, revealing the soul and substance of those that live there.
an expression of one’s identity. Each room now not only has to transport you The spartan settings so popular in the middle of the past decade have given
from the troubles of the outside world, but also has to usher way to a desire to make a statement, whether through the use of bolder
you into a world filled with new experiences. No longer are we content to colours, strong statement pieces or innovative shapes.
merely sit outdoors, we want to live there, too. “I would say the most common theme among all my clients is to have a
home and surroundings that are comfortable, flexible, and that suits today’s
FLEXIBLE FINDS fast paced lifestyle,” notes prominent New York interior designer Bunny
Williams. “We all live much more casually today and people want a place to
The past few years ushered in a new era of appreciation for outdoor spaces. relax, enjoy a wonderful dinner, appreciate the outdoors, welcome family
The “homing” trend, spurred by major economic and social upheaval, brought and friends, and feel at ease.”
with it a desire to create a private sphere that is insulating, thoughtful and So not only have outdoor spaces gained in significance as more seek to
attentive to the creature comforts of the consumer, while at the same time connect to the natural world, they also need to function on a number of
revealing their personal tastes. Consumers searched for new meaning in the other levels, like all other corners of the home, and meet the emotional
world and that meaning now focuses on the home, a place where a holistic needs of residents. Whether that is achieved by creating a meditative spa-like
lifestyle nurtures not only body and soul, but everything around as well. environment, an entertaining space, a gourmet kitchen, or all of the above.
Nature, genuineness and amiability are the order of the day, notions culled “In recent years consumers have become more aware of the value of a
from conceptions of the pastoral idyll. There are easy, inviting sofas; plush garden: It is an extraordinary piece outside on the border of private and public
carpets; animal pelts; walls of natural stone; mineral bathtubs; and rough-hewn life,” says Bert Huls of Belgium-based tile maker Xtirio. “That awareness has
dining tables. It has become increasingly important to cosmopolitan consumers led not only to more attention [being] paid to how a garden looks, but what
to bring elements of the natural world indoors. Now, they want the same you can do. The functional use of the garden has become important and has
energy in their exterior settings as well. gained a much greater significance than just sitting outside.”
STYLISH
OUTDOOR LIVING
If it’s outdoors, it’s bound to be indoors at ACE. We have everything

you need for your garden to a day out in the desert. A comprehensive
RED HOT PRICES
ON A WIDE RANGE
range of quality outdoor products, with lots of new styles at amazing
AVAILABLE IN-STORE!
prices, so when you think outdoors, think ACE.
1 l
Dubai: Dubai Festival City, Tel: 800 ASK ACE (800 275 223), Sheikh Zayed Road, Tel: (04) 341 1906, Fax: (04) 341 7610 Abu Dhabi: Mina Road, Tel: (02) 673 1665, Fax (02) 673 0415 Al Ain: Sultan Bin Zayed
Road, Bawadi Mall (03) 784 0561 e-mail: ace@alfuttaim.ae or www.al-futtaim.ae
Kettal’s new, braided Zigzag collection includes outdoor
flowerpot holders, comfortable poufs, porcelain oil lamps
and tables that double up as a fire pit or barbecue.
March 2011 39
NATURAL INSTINCTS
Tired of the numbness and shell shock left in the wake of the global recession,
people now want to enjoy themselves again. As the funds may not be available
for overseas travel, eating out, or a visit to the spa, the home has to deliver
a new experience that awakens and stirs the senses. By the end of last year,
identity was tracing an emerging vision of design that focused on heightening
the senses and that tendency remains pronounced in the latest crop of designs
from Europe’s top furniture ateliers.
Driven by new technology and sensuous, sometimes surreal use of materials,
design began moving in a more playful, curious and emotive direction. Times
have changed and the appetite for new shapes is crystal clear. Imagination and
fantasy are the calling cards du jour.
“What if we turned up the volume on sense and the senses, sensations and
emotions, in order to experience all the intensity of existence?” asks Inspirations
Trend Book No 18, created by trendsetting furnishings fair Maison & Objet,
which was held in Paris in January. “In a time of tension, we want to live more
and better. The home has fallen in line with the desire to benefit fully from life.
New energies are paying tribute to heightened, sometimes extreme
experiences as we move up Maslow’s pyramid; encouraging letting go and
savouring the pleasure of living in 3-D. It’s about a total immersion into a
heightened, but very real reality.”
Maison & Objet invited three top forecasters to comment on the overarching
theme of “Intensité”, explored in Trend Book No 18. Parisian designer François
Bernard, chose to focus his energies on a desire to disconnect and entitled
his interpretation “Unplugged”. Last year, this direction began taking shape
as people began to take time to enjoy life again and Bernard predicts this
phenomenon will continue for several seasons.
He expects raw materials, such as unadorned wood, and simple shapes
Top to bottom: Roda’s Road collection embodies a warm, welcoming and
will be the elements that will help people unplug. “The new luxury looks to balanced Mediterranean style; likewise, the Bitta line by Kettal features dense
simplified creature comforts,” Bernard says. “We are rediscovering a taste for braiding evocative of a nest.
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Clockwise from top left: Paola Lenti’s colourful Picot poufs; Pierantonio Bonacina
pure Pallet collection; Foscarini’s pebble-shaped Gregg outdoor light; Paola Lenti’s
transversal Mellow collection; and Pooz Design’s curvy HOME Skai lounger.
the near and known, and local flavour. Without nostalgia, but with modesty,
we are awakening the intense pleasure of the present moment.”
Hence introductions such as Pallet, an outdoor/indoor sofa collection by Piero
Lissoni for Bonacina Pierantonio, carries the signature pure lines preferred by
the Italian designer but with a twist. Plump, roomy seat cushions rest upon a
low slatted-wood frame, offering a natural, organic profile.
Like many introductions for the interior, outdoor items today have taken on
a curvaceous and sensuous aspect, whether in the form of planters, seating or
lighting. Everything these days is softened and inviting, with a more unstructured
or essential character, a backlash against the strict forms of earlier years.
Like Lissoni’s creation for Bonacina Pierantonio, Paola Lenti’s new modular
Mellow collection achieves the containment that minimalists desire but with
rounded edges and seating that is ample and cosy. spaces today need to be
both pleasant and comfortable, and the increasing number of outdoor modular
systems illustrate the point. They also offer the flexibility that consumers require
from their furnishings – layering on different elements, like carpets, gazebos,
sails, screens and benches expands and helps define outdoor architecture.
“The market is truly saturated with the perfectly balanced, strict architectural
looks,” says designer Markus Weigel, whose new curvy, bi-coloured Orca
planters collection, inspired by the shape and sharply contrasting white and
black of the killer whale. “Straight and edgy lines have been seen and implanted
everywhere. Designers are now looking to new sources of inspiration and
nature shows us its perfect forms. We had lost sight of this.”
All the elements for the outdoors, no matter how slight, are being recast
in more organic shapes, including the outdoor shower column (including two
new soft-edged introductons by Bossini called Oki and Dynamic), lighting (such
as Foscarini’s pebble-shaped lamp, Gregg) and sun lounger (such as the curvy
rocking-chair-like sunbed by Pooz Design).
PRIVACY IN PUBLIC
Another notable direction outdoor offerings are heading towards is the desire
to create private spheres within the larger setting. Inside the home, cosy nest-
like seating, for one or two, began showing up at last year’s fairs. Chairs and
sofas were presented with taller backrests or egg and ball-like constructions to
provide a sense of extra security within the living area – to create a place for
stolen moments any time of day. As the main regions of the home continue to
bring down walls and open up, the desire to re-establish a sense of intimacy and
enclosure has clearly become apparent.
March 2011 43
Top to bottom: Roda’s Oasis gazebo with roll curtains adds

a sense of privacy. From Koji Collection comes a series of
avant-garde seating, such as the relaxing Shell chair.
That craving for privacy now extends outdoors and a range of furnishings
that offer protective detailing were presented at January’s fairs. For the outside,
introductions such as daybeds draped with fabric, including those by Kettal, or
Roda’s Oasis gazebo with roll curtains, and hanging nest-like options present
a multitude of possibilities. Bonacina Pierantonio’s production of Nanna and
Jorgen Ditzel’s 1957 classic Egg chair (a mesh of stainless steel and wicker) and
Dedon’s just-introduced Hershey’s Kiss-shaped suspended lounger, Nestrest,
are both perfect places to recharge one’s batteries in cocoon-like serenity.
From eco-conscious Miami-maker Koji Collection comes a series of
avant-garde seats that carry higher backs or covered enclosures. Abalone M
(composed of rattan, liana vine, satin and wood) is a cave-like, fully-protected
chair, while the flowing Shell chair, with its deeply sunken seat and sweeping
back, encourages a different style of relaxation.
From Italian architect Rodolfo Dordoni for Kettal comes the new Bitta line,
which is inspired by the ropes used to moor boats. “My aim was to create
dense braiding that would still let the air through, which makes the pieces look
lightweight but, at the same time, they look just like cosy nests in natural colours
to sit back and relax in,” Dordoni says.
ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE
As became evident by last autumn, conformity is passé. Many people simply do

not want to do the exact same thing as their neighbours, they prefer something
a bit more off the beaten path. Within the home, owners began injecting their
own personalities into settings to create not only a sense of the unexpected
but also to be surrounded by items that carry a personal significance or evoke
certain emotions.
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Adding elements that toy with expectations, elicit surprise, or recall a special
memory, have become de rigueur in the home environment. This need to
craft a setting like no other has become the perfect opportunity for home
owners to place their own personal stamp on their surroundings – and the
great outdoors proves no exception. Left to right: Ego Paris’s new Puzzle series can be configured to suit one’s
In the final two chapters of “Intensité” in Trend Book No 18, another needs; this custom Cascade glass wall by Swon Design brings art into the
outdoor mix.
dimension is added to what cosmopolitan clientele are seeking these days.
In “Haute Tension”, conceived by forecaster Elizabeth Leriche, design
becomes a stage for heightening emotions, using tactile effects, sounds and that is troubling our gaze. Complex, fragmented forms are mixing it up. Mirror
scents to engage the senses – enriching well-being through what Leriche has reflections are heightening reality. Techno-sensitive engineering is programming
termed “techno-poetry”. a magical narrative that is reactivating emotions and intensifying everyday life.”
The high-gloss finish of UK-based Finn Stone’s Ball Chair, designed for Belgian Unexpected shapes and complex forms are also entering the outdoor fray.
brand XL Boom, which comes in a range of high-impact colors, packs a visual From Ego Paris comes the quirky, stackable Puzzle EMZ collection, which
punch. While the over-sized ceramic apple sculptures by Brazilian designer features two lounge chairs, four sun loungers, two tables and one side table,
Brazilian designer Lisa Pappon for Bull & Stein or the “cascading” glass walls which can be fitted together to create canopy beds and love seats, or just
or glass fountains by Swoon Design, from Canada, are something to marvel at. stacked into a convenient, neat square when not in use. The Ellipses Island
Everything is being taken up a notch this year, including outdoor carpets from Bonacina Pierantonio reworks a repeated elliptical signature to create
which ooze color and texture, and verify that the outdoor rug is the must- shape and object. Various modules of concave, convex and straight, present
have necessity for backyard living. Dedon’s just-introduced range, created by a multitude of interpretations.
renowned international carpet designer Michaela Schleypen in varying tones From contemporary Spanish, outdoor furnishings maker Vondom comes
and patterns, pulls everything together. a series of impossible geometric forms. Its new Faz set, composed of a lounge,
Newcomer Esedralab, an Italian furnishings maker, released a line of outdoor single chair, sofa and planters, is an interplay of angles and planes. Similarly,
carpets that carry a simple graphic design that injects just the right dose of when Karim Rashid designed a dining table and chair for Vondom, he came
patterning. Meanwhile the latest addition to Paola Lenti’s ever-growing outdoor up with Vertex, where triangular planes intersect for dramatic effect.
collection of rugs, Aqua, is offered in a kaleidoscope of colours and textures, Lighting is being used to add mood and drama to the outdoors. Surprising
helping refine and articulate an outdoor setting, while at the same time offering shapes (such as globes or fake stones) and colours were the early entrants to
another surface finish to weave into the tapestry. The company’s plush Air the category, but now it is morphing and taking the familiar shape of indoor
features a boucle, while Wind carries a soft and informal aspect. lighting transplanted outside. The floor lamp has become the new sophisticated
“Come enter a time of transformation without fear,” says trend guru Vincent must-have. The classic standing floor lamp gets reworked by Antwerp-based
Grégoire of Parisian trend agency Nelly Rodi about “Hypnotic”, the final segment Royal Botania, which introduced the arching 60T, and, the Superarchimoon
of “Intensité”. “Motion, light, and 3-D effects are revitalising spaces, revealing Outdoor floor lamp, designed by Philippe Starck for Dedon and Flos, takes the
new perspectives. An angular, fractal geometry is reconfiguring a kinetic aesthetic traditional shape of a task lamp and pumps it up until it is hugely over-sized.
Clockwise from top left: Arch Column outdoor shower by Bossini
available at Sanipex; Rho chairs by John Kelly available at
Nakkash; Tribu’s elegant Mirth collection; and Summer Set chairs,
also by Varaschin.
The Outdoor Kitchen by Electrolux marries function and organic elements for the outdoor chef.
COOK OUT station concept and refines it. It features two stove burners and a barbecue
grill with two burners on one side; and a prep and sink area on the other.
The outdoor kitchen is also taking root and the days of freestanding BBQs or Then there is a version composed of individual stainless steel and teak modules
“grilling stations” are drawing to a close. As more people cook and entertain – for grilling, warming, stashing, chilling and washing – offered by US-based
alfresco, they are beginning to crave not only the same aesthetics found Fuego. Fuego Modular can be configured in numerous ways and includes add-
indoors, but also the storage and functionality qualities as well. ons such as a dining bar, utility counter, refrigeration, sink and faucet.
“While 2010 experienced conservative spending, I am seeing interest in However, it is novelties, such as the comprehensive design of Electrolux
outdoor kitchens growing and moving forward in 2011,” notes author and Australia’s just-released Outdoor Kitchen that will set the tone for what’s to
designer Mary Jo Peterson of US-based Mary Jo Peterson Design Consultants. come. A minimalist, eco-friendly design incorporates all the essential elements
“My private clients are building them as part of their ongoing love affair with of the built in grill and burners, with chic counter tops, storage, and there is
nature, as well as expanding living and social space outside, blurring lines even room for plants.
between in and out. The outdoor kitchen concept is just getting started.” “Australia has had a long standing love affair with outdoor entertaining, so
According to some US experts, the outdoor kitchen is now the focal point it was important to redefine that space in respect to modern demands when
and statement piece of many backyard designs, and as such the layout and designing the Outdoor Kitchen,” says Jamie Durie, an advocate of the outdoor
materials are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. Outdoor cabinets are room concept who designed the Electrolux model. “We wanted something
made of everything from marine-grade wood, polymer materials and stainless that would stylistically push the parameters of outdoor design and alfresco
steel to cypress, cedar, teak and bamboo. luxury while still keeping in harmony with garden elements.
Today, vanguard homeowners are interested in a fully developed outdoor “The Outdoor Kitchen is an engineered green entertaining area designed
kitchen concept, which more often now includes not only space for socialising to meet contemporary life, it is not just a piece of furniture or a utilitarian
but also features an audio/video component as well. California designer Anza space, it’s an outdoor area designed to draw people out of their houses
Environment recently completed a stunning outdoor kitchen that blends Eastern and into their gardens, where they seem to want to spend their leisure
elegance with contemporary convenience. Sheltered under a pergola and time these days.”
placed near the pool, everything is at-hand in this fully-functioning kitchen The concept is still in its infancy, with ample room for exploration and
with ample storage, a sink and refrigerated drawers. The materials selected development, but as established kitchen makers and designers begin paying
offer a contrast between quality stonework, the dark counter, stainless steel more attention to this growing segment, innovation and sophistication are
appliances and the pergola. sure to follow.
The concept is likely to explode in popularity over the coming years and “The outdoor kitchen is more than a new space – it’s an investment in a
already some innovative concepts are coming to the market. From Belgain grill lifestyle that is about family, good friends and great food,” says Matt Chadwick,
maker Alpine comes the Cheope mobile outdoor kitchen, which takes the grill president of Chadwick Outdoor Kitchens. ID
March 2011 49
Design sources
arketipo.com; tel: (04) 347 5090
azucena.it
bebitalia.it; tel: (04) 340 5795
bonacinapierantonio.it; tel: (04) 295 2180
bullstein.com
calvibrambilla.it
chadwickoutdoorkitchens.com
dedon.com; tel: (04) 282 6767
egoparis.com; tel: (04) 334 4478
electrolux.com; tel: (04) 330 9295
establishedandsons.com
extremis.be
finnstone.com
flos.it; tel: (04) 334 4478
foscarini.com; tel: (04) 338 8276
fuegoliving.com
giorgetti-spa.it; tel: (04) 391 8161
johnkellyfurniture.com; tel: (04) 282 6767
kettal.es
kevinreillylighting.com
kojicollection.com
kundalini.it; tel: (04) 268 0424
marlux.com
moroso.it; tel: (04) 425 7888
paolalenti.com; tel: (04) 425 7888
poozdesign.com
promemoria.com
rodaonline.com
royalbotania.com; tel: (04) 282 6767
sanipexgroup.com; tel: (04) 330 7771
scholtenbaijings.com
serralunga.it; tel: (04) 421 8022
solarlux.com; tel: (04) 422 1641
swondesign.com
tribu.com
vondom.com
xtirio.com The outdoor floor lamp, such as Kevin Reilly’s Cerchio,
xlboom.com is the must-have outdoor accessory this season.
The vivid hues in the kitchen were inspired by a
painting by Lisa Ruyter, which hangs on a wall nearby.
INTERIORS
Look on the bright side

A wonderfully colourful and wacky townhouse in New York is the result of an especially
fruitful relationship between a gallery owner and an innovative interior designer.
TEXT: IAN PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC LAIGNEL / TRIPOD AGENCY
March 2011 53
Clockwise from top: Viñas chose semi-circular sofas and a black palette for
the living room to add a touch of sophistication; the taps in the boys’ bathroom
were designed by Arne Jacobsen and Vola; A guest bedroom domicated by
green, a signature colour used by the decorator on each project.
INTERIORS
Left: The Styrofoam sculpture, created by Brooklyn-based artist Jason Rogenes,

hangs by the main staircase. Right: The colours and ceiling light in West’s office
were inspired by a photo of a parakeet, which West gave to Viñas.
Ask New York-based decorator Ghislaine Viñas why she likes colour building. The lower two storeys are home to independent guest quarters,
and she tells you she doesn’t know. “It’s just something that is very much the upper four to the family home.
intrinsic,” she asserts. Although the old façade was replaced with bluestone from Keeler’s native
Viñas claims she inherited a sort of fearlessness from her mother and recalls Catskill Mountains, the original window placement was maintained. “It was
being incredibly excited as a child every time she came across a bunch of important that the building not make too splashy a statement from the street,”
crayons. “Colouring books were huge for me,” she remembers. As a decorator, Guthrie declares. “The whole point of the project is for the architecture to be
she’s never been interested in working with beiges and browns; she also has restrained so [Paige and Ghislaine] can really bounce their colours and pop
trouble understanding why anyone would be scared of bright hues. “I’m scared within the space.”
of walking in the woods and being attacked by a bear or something,” Viñas The townhouse is actually the seventh project on which the two women
recounts. “But, colour? I don’t get it. I think it makes you happy.” have collaborated and West asserts she would never work with anyone else.
Vivid tones certainly play a large part in one of her most recent projects – “We think alike,” she explains. “We’ve got so close that we now finish each
a wonderfully wacky, 1,440sq/m, six-storey townhouse in New York’s TriBeCa other’s sentences.”
district. The entrance hall features an orange fleur-de-lis motif, two broad red As for the Dutch-born, South African-raised Viñas, she insists that the design
horizontal bands wrap their way around the children’s playroom, the island in process is effortless. “It’s very spontaneous,” she says. “It’s not brain surgery.
the kitchen is egg-yolk yellow and the library features two sheep that look for It’s just instinctual kind of fun.”
all the world as if they’re grazing on a grass-green rug. “Ghislaine understands my high-brow, low-brow approach,” West says. “I
The home in question belongs to developer JC Keeler and his wife Paige like nice things and yet at the same time, I have three boys under the age of six,
West, who runs the gallery Mixed Greens in Chelsea and also curates a family art and don’t like fussy things. Ghislaine understands that and has a wonderful way
collection that runs to more than 3,500 works. The couple previously lived in a of making things look spectacular and over-the-top, and yet extremely liveable
townhouse in the West Village, but as they started to have children, discovered and very difficult to destroy.” One example is a pair of chairs that has been
the inconvenience of constantly having to go up and down stairs. They now have upholstered in a vinyl fabric.
three young boys – Charlie, five, and twins Jack and Fred, three. Inspiration for the décor came from numerous sources. The top-floor library,
According to Keeler, their new abode offers “the best of loft living with the for instance, features natural wood to reflect West’s Scandinavian roots. For her
best of townhouse living”. They still have their own building, but this time office, West presented Viñas with a photo of a parakeet she’d ripped out of a
with large floor plates and an elevator to whisk them between floors. There magazine. “It’s bright blue and yellow, and fluffy and gorgeous,” West affirms.
had previously been a crumbling 1915 warehouse on the site, which he “And I said to her: ‘This is exactly how I want the room to feel’.”
transformed with the help of his business partner, architect Pete Guthrie. Viñas’s response? She came up with a large ceiling light that sprouts turquoise
Of the original structure, they kept only 70 per cent of the existing floor joists feathers. In the living room, meanwhile, the carpet bearing a motif of yellow
and three of the exterior brick walls. Otherwise, they added a penthouse to snowflakes and veil is meant as a nodding wink to the fact that Keeler and West
the top and a roof garden above that, and created two distinct units within the were married in the ski resort of Aspen.
March 2011 55
INTERIORS
Clockwise from left: Ghislaine Viñas; Hans-Peter Krafft’s sheep “graze” on a

wool rug in the library; vintage wooden chairs upholstered in vinyl and dipped
in the entrance foyer; green features in another guestroom with the Pop Duo
armchair and a painting titled Scene No.11.
Throughout, there are lots of quirky, amusing touches. A wall near the
library features an installation of evergreen trees from train sets; another in
the kitchen has hundreds of plates from flea markets and garage sales arranged
in circular patterns.
“There are some hideous ones in there,” Viñas laughs. “I get so much fun
out of finding disgusting things.” As for the formal dining room chairs, they bear
images of the family’s favourite dishes. Among them sushi, spaghetti meatballs
and ice cream with sprinkles.
Given West’s profession, it is not surprising that art also plays a large role
in the house. The only piece that was placed in her mind before work started
on the interiors was the vivid red and yellow Lisa Ruyter painting Hoodlum in
the kitchen. “It’s bright and fun and just kind of represents what I wanted the
house to be,” West comments.
In the boys’ bedroom, she commissioned one of Mixed Greens’ artists,
Mark Mulroney, to paint a mural and in the middle of the stairwell placed a
Styrofoam sculpture by Brooklyn artist Jason Rogenes. On one of the living
room walls, meanwhile, is a round paper cut out by Simon Perriton, which
she jokingly refers to as “our large doily”.
As for Keeler, his presence is felt outside, where he insisted on the installation
of a 12m-high climbing wall (Viñas chose neon green for the hand and foot
holds). He started climbing in Colorado some 20 years ago and according to
West, “looks at most walls and tries to figure out how to scale them”.
Inside, however, he more or less let West and Viñas have free rein. “They
get to collaborate and do the fun stuff they want to do,” he says. “If there’s
something they have a question about, I will often get the last vote. But they
have a very strong sense of their own aesthetic, which I fully embrace. They
pretty much command the show.” And what a show it is. ID
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Visit our new showroom now at Pyramid Centre, Dubai.
(YFEM4]VEQMH'IRXVI9QQ,YVEMV6SEH43&S\9%)8IP*E\8SPP*VII3**-')
5EXEV7EP[E6SEH(SLE8IP)QEMPMRJS$SJ½GIPERHQIGSQ[[[SJ½GIPERHQIGSQ
Sensi LLC | Office 502 Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1, Dubai - UAE | Tel: +971 4 447 4634 | Fax: +971 4 447 4635 | Email: info@sensi.ae | Website: www.sensi.ae
idProperty
CONTENTS:
60 Metal power
66 For those about to rock
72 Antennae
March 2011 59
idProperty | PORTFOLIO
Metal power
More in keeping with Milan or Miami contemporary
Tuscan villas are taking on a new new look and feel,
featuring laser cut metalic facades, while the desire
to build the highest continues to fascinate those in
the Middle East... TEXT: NICK RICE
PORTFOLIO | idProperty
CAVALLI HOME'S CHAMELEON SKIN
The famous Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli

has decorated his home in the hills of Florence
with a fascinating metal skin that creates stunning
light effects within the interior spaces. Cavalli
commissioned renowned Milanese architect Italo
Rota to create and engineer the concept. All
three sides of the house, tucked away in the hills
of Tuscany and designed to blend imperceptibly
into the surroundings, have been wrapped in a
moveable shell of metallic lace. On three planes,
measuring 10 by 25 metres and 7.5 metres in
height, the finely cut floral metal skin produces
multiple, dramatic lighting effects indoors. The
impressive manufacturing feat was produced by
Marzorati Ronchetti. With offices in Milan, London,
Düsseldorf, New York and Dubai – the Marzorati
Ronchetti company is a leader in the metalworking
field – manufacturing creations for design, art,
furnishing and architecture briefs. Ronchetti, who
specialise in stainless steel, took huge sheets of
laser-cut sheet metal and treated it with a frosted
copper finish before encasing the luxury home in
the new exterior. Combining both aestheticism with
functionality, the whole sheath can be controlled
from inside to adjust and manipulate the influx of
light. The facade moves electronically and the panels
adjust according to the changes in light throughout
the day. Inside Cavalli’s architecturally stunning
March 2011 61
property, several more features distinguish his luxury

abode. Two prominent, self-supporting staircases attract
the eye as they reflect beams of dancing light in their
mirror-finished stainless steel. Fashioned in bronze
biscuit shapes, the cantilevered treads lead from the
drawing room to the bedrooms where a huge fine
leather bed dominates.
Marzorati Ronchetti also created all the made to
measure furniture in wood and steel and the open-
view kitchen with sliding green glass walls, and all the
kitchen accessories. Much like Cavalli’s fashion designs,
his home is bright, innovative and rich in texture. He
credits his home in Florence for providing him with
both inspiration and pleasure. “Florence has helped
me to judge what is beautiful, what is less beautiful,
and gives me the feeling of art. What I love most about
my city is the architecture, the buildings. Every time I
discover something new and something different. The
colour of the stones, for example: I say, ‘Oh my God,
that stone is 700 years old; 700 years ago America
doesn't exist.’ It’s something so special. Florence and art
is something that is part of my life and part of myself.”
OPENING DOORS
The global interior door specialist group DORMA recently opened DORMA Interiors in Dubai to a host
of distinguished guests. This new interior services division marks another milestone in the company's stellar
presence in the region. Established over 100 years ago, DORMA is a globally active supplier of door
technology products and systems and has a stellar client list in the Gulf. The company has provided innovative
creations for the most prestigious projects, including the Qatar Convention Centre, Mall of Arabia in Jeddah,
Egypt's world renowned Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai the
company has excelled, working on projects in the most iconic properties, such as Burj Khalifa, The Dubai
Mall, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Metro and the Meydan Racecourse, the world’s largest integrated racing facility.
These landmark projects were secured amidst fierce competition and cement DORMA in the world elite for
the industry. For Burj Khalifa, 13,000 doors were supplied at a cost of over 10 million euro. DORMA CEO,
Dr Michael Schädlich, said about this contract: “With a sales volume equivalent to well over 10 million euro,
this was one of the biggest orders in the history of our company. And we are tremendously proud to have
been part of such a globally renowned project.”
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
In the world of architecture, eyes are set ever skyward as the World One development in Mumbai is set
to assume the record of the tallest residential building in India and the second tallest in the world, after
the Pentominium in Dubai (if it completes in 2013 as projected). Lodha Developers Ltd., have awarded
the contract for civil construction of the record-breaking building to a joint venture formed by Middle
East-based construction giant, ACC (Arabian Construction Company) and Indian Infrastructure major, Simplex
Infrastructures Ltd. ACC are a huge company with regular annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion and a
strong history in constructing some of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Dubai’s Princess Tower
and the Pentominium. Simplex share a similarly impressive track record with a turnover of over $1 billion last
year and construction experience on some of India’s most striking structures, such as the Howrah Bridge and
the Supreme Court building. They are also constructing India’s first Ritz-Carlton hotel. Managing Director of
Lodha Group, Abhisheck Lodha, commented after awarding the contract: “We believe that this consortium is
best suited to build India’s most iconic building.” When finished, World One will dominate the landscape with
117 stories rising 442 metres into the sky. ID
For those about to rock
Graffiti, punk rock, Francis Bacon – rarely have interior design inspirations
been so radical as for this show flat in London. TEXT: RICHARD WARREN
Show flat bedroom.
INTERNATIONAL | idProperty
“You can’t arrest me, I’m a rock ‘n’ roll star.” This quote from Sex
Pistols bassist Sid Vicious is daubed in pink neon lights on a lift lobby wall at
a new residential development in north London. Putting up the exclamations
of 1970s punk rockers in shining lights does not happen at most residential
schemes, but then this set of 46 apartments is not in most areas.
It is located in Camden Town, the heart of the British capital’s rock scene,
home to numerous venues famous for hosting the Sex Pistols and other
bands that shunned the popular music mainstream. Simon Cowell would
not be welcome here.
This block of apartments, called The Henson, is part new-build and part
warehouse conversion located off Camden Town’s less noisy, less busy side-
streets close to Primrose Hill, a quiet, village-like neighbourhood.
To help give their project a taste of Camden’s punk past, The Henson’s
developer London and Newcastle asked punk-inspired, German fashion
designers Felder & Felder to style a one-bedroom show flat. The Felder sisters
worked on a canvas, created by architectural interior designers Target Living,
of wooden floors, white painted ceilings and walls of polished concrete or
exposed brick.
The sisters transferred their fashion design ideas directly into the flat. Doors
and walls in the entrance hall have been wallpapered with torn, super-sized
images of the Felders’ catwalk shows by artist David Packard, who has painted
and scratched over them to create a piece in the spirit of Camden Town graffiti,
albeit more fashioned.
The combined kitchen-dining room-living area is imprinted with the sisters’
favourite material – metal studs. The coffee table, sofa cushions, leather
armchairs, floor mat, table lamp and mirror frame are studded, and a studded
metal plate covers most of one wall, the sisters’ alternative to hanging a picture.
March 2011 67
idProperty | INTERNATIONAL
Left to right: Show flat bedroom; Annette and Daniela Felder in kitchen/diner/
living room.
“We love studs as they resemble the punky and rock ‘n’ roll feel that we
love,” says Annette Felder. “We use studs a lot in our belts and accessories,
and in some garments for our show pieces. We were really intrigued to
translate this feel to interiors as we think it works so great. Besides studded,
upholstered leather armchairs and stud embellished curtains, we wanted to
bring it to the next level and designed this massive metal studded wall piece
for the living room, which is like a piece of art.”
The living room sofa is covered in a mottled acid-orange and black material,
the same kind used by the designers to make a dress for singer Rihanna. The
bedroom walls were painted over many times, producing a rich, deep red and
black blurry effect, an intense theatrical backdrop to an assemblage of props that
include a bust (studded, of course) and a large mirror in a distressed, antique people, 35 sub-market-rent flats and other facilities for the disadvantaged and
mirror frame that stands on two distressed, second-hand luggage trunks. dispossessed. These layers of Camden’s social geology help give the area
“We wanted to create an artist studio vibe and took inspiration from Francis its “edginess” and have inspired local bands like Madness as well as drawing
Bacon’s studio,” Annette says. “It was achieved by putting layers and layers of television companies and other creative businesses into the area. The Henson
different shades of colours onto the walls.” is a TV-remote-control-throw away from television studios situated in another
Providing blue luggage trunks for storage and propping the mirror unfixed warehouse conversion next door.
against a wall hint at transience, a characteristic of Camden Town’s large shifting The changing uses of the older building that houses most of The Henson
population, including its restless tribe of indie music lovers, predominantly clad mirrors Camden Town’s evolution. A Victorian warehouse, it would have been
in black, who fill its independent record shops, vegetarian supermarkets, pubs used to store goods brought into London by barge along the Regents Canal
and nightclubs. which passes alongside. The rail tracks of the wagons used to carry goods
Camden Town has been a transient place for many years. From the 19th between warehouses and distribution points remain implanted in the cobbled
century it was home to Irish immigrants and in the 20th century it attracted a yard that surrounds the building’s other three sides.
large homeless population who slept at Arlington House, a huge Edwardian Later it became a factory and printing works, then, in tandem with traditional
establishment said to be London’s largest hostel with 1,000 beds. Undergoing industries moving away from Camden and creative businesses moving in, the
refurbishment, the building will re-open this year with 95 units for homeless warehouse became a workshop for Jim Henson, creator of The Muppet Show,
idProperty | INTERNATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK GUTTRIDGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK GUTTRIDGE
Clockwise from top left: The exterior of The Henson, a warehouse to residential
conversion; entrance to building interior designed by Tara Bernerd’s Target
Living; the kitchen/diner/living room.
in the 1970s. The Henson is named after the children’s entertainer, and the
building’s latest incarnation as funky residences reflects Camden’s evolution into
a des res area for well-heeled, creative types.
Camden is famous for its five markets, collectively referred to as Camden
Market, which has expanded over the decades, occupying empty warehouses,
horse stables and retail basements, sprawling down side streets and into open
spaces. Each weekend, 100,000 visitors rummage through stalls that sell items Camden Town and Primrose Hill have been home to many rock ‘n’ rollers
ranging from Indonesian wood-framed mirrors to fruit and veg. over the years, including Morrissey, Robert Plant and Damon Albarn. The
The Stables Market was particularly well known for its antique and second- Felder sisters feel their apartment would appeal to somebody of that mould,
hand furniture outlets. particularly if they are female.
However, rising rents are driving out bohemian vendors, as the Felder sisters “It will be a Felder girl, for sure,” Annette says. “She is a bit of a rebel, she
found when they went shopping for furniture and accessories. They managed loves to go out and have a great time, she is a bit spiritual, too, and does
to source a handful of furnishings from only one Camden Town shop, Planet jivamukti yoga to stay in shape and balance. She definitely loves fashion and
Bazaar. These included the upholstered couch and lamps in the living room. music. She listens to classics like The Doors, Nirvana, Iggy Pop and Depeche
“We originally wanted to use as much as possible from Camden Market and Mode as well as The XX, Florence and The Machine, I Blame Coco and
the vintage stores there, but, unfortunately, most of them had closed down and possibly even Lady Gaga. She probably won’t have a car, but an account with
Planet Bazaar is one of the only ones left,” Annette says. a good mini-cab firm, but if she had a car, it would be a convertible vintage
The designers drew inspiration from Primrose Hill, less than 1km to the Mercedes from the 1970s or 1980s.”
west of The Henson, where only independent shops, bars and restaurants are If that’s you, then estate agents London and Newcastle would like to hear
allowed. Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Ewan McGregor are among a long list of from you. Apartments at The Henson are already 70 per cent sold, with most
famous faces who have called the area “home” over the years. buyers being British owner-occupiers working in creative businesses. The
“We wanted to capture the spontaneous rock feel of Camden, and mix it up Felder sisters-designed flat is on offer for Dhs2.8 million and all contents are
with the more bohemian and luxurious feel of Primrose Hill,” Annette says. included in the sale. ID
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idProperty | ANTENNAE
Long-established areas of Europe and New York look appealing, but East Asia’s property markets
are looking increasingly overcooked. TEXT: RICHARD WARREN
WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN

SAFETY FIRST A HELPING HAND
Thinking about sharing in the South-East Asian
While the eurozone debt crisis plays out, holiday economic miracle? Think again. This region has Overseas home buyers are searching for bargains
home buyers in Europe are buying mainly in been popular with investors from around the in the southern French regions of Cote d’Azur
established markets like the Swiss Alps, southern world wanting to cash in on its economic boom and Provence. Estate agency Knight Frank’s
France, south-west England, and the Italian and, in the case of some countries, benefit from Riviera team reports record numbers of viewings
regions of Tuscany and Umbria. “People are going generous residency programmes, but The Global with buyers coming from as far away as China,
back to the tried and tested areas,” says James Property Guide’s enthusiasm is waning. Taiwan Russia and South Africa. Tim Swannie, managing
Price, partner at Knight Frank. “We don’t get as is “overvalued”, Indonesia “sluggish”, Thailand director of home search specialist Home Hunts,
many calls for emerging markets as we used to. “weak” and Vietnam “uncertain”, it says. A says a fall in asking prices combined with a fall in
There are very few speculative investors around. Cushman and Wakefield Vietnam survey shows the value of the euro since late 2009, has made
Switzerland has been strong. It is well established, only 14 per cent of new luxury apartments in property in southern France cheaper for overseas
you get a very good, safe, secure and high quality Ho Chi Minh City were sold in the first eight buyers. In addition to holiday home buyers, this
of lifestyle, and they restrict the number of months of 2010. There is a glimmer of light region attracts foreigners looking to move there
permits for foreign homeowners which investors for the Philippines – Benigno Aquino’s landslide permanently. To help English speakers relocate
like.” Banks prefer lending to cash-rich individuals election victory may end uncertainty there, but to southern France, a consortium of businesses
purchasing in Europe’s established markets, he has not done so yet. But there is more cold have come together to form Ellisium Partners, a
adds. “We don’t expect prices to rocket in any water being poured on expectations – the guide one-stop shop providing clients with a range of
of these places, prices may even go down a little calculates the combined costs of buying and selling services from currency, tax and mortgage advice
bit more, but we will see more people looking homes in Indonesia and Philippines for foreigners to maintaining the alarm system and garden, as
[in 2011],” Price forecasts. can reach 25 per cent of a property’s value. well as helping find a home.
NUCLEAR OPTION
Believe it or not, the property shown in this

photograph would make an ideal country
retreat for Dr No, or so estate agency Carter
Jonas would have us believe. It is in fact, a
redundant nuclear bunker in Scotland. The British
Government is selling off an extraordinary array
of property assets to raise funds to pay off the
national debt, ranging from part of London’s
HOME HUNGRY BEARS premier shopping thoroughfare Regent’s Street
to forests. Not to be outdone, the Scottish
After resisting the double dip affecting most of the rest of the United States property market since Government, which shares responsibility with
spring 2010, Manhattan’s luxury condos market began to slip back at the end of last year. Does that Westminster for running northernmost Britain,
mean this New York borough’s market is a no-go zone for home buyers? No. Big Bears are in town is offering this two-storey nuclear bunker in
buying property. John Taylor and Nouriel Roubini, the “Dr Dooms” who predicted the global financial Perthshire for Dhs2.3 million. Built in the early
crisis, and John Paulson, the hedge fund manager who successfully bet on when the housing bubble 1950s, the 2,415 square metre bunker at the
would burst, are among Wall Street investors buying homes in the Big Apple. Commentators consider Cultybraggan Camp would make a handy wine
this the best sign for new condos like 505W37 (pictured above) and the rest of the Manhattan property vault, archive store, secure data facility or hideout
market since the financial crisis hit three years ago. Wall Street bonuses are rising, so more money could for supervillains, the sales agents assure, especially
flow into the city’s real estate sector soon. since it is surrounded by barbed wire fences.
FREE MARKET
TASTY TURKEY
Homeownership is least problematic in free ISLAND PARTIES
economies, aka the most capitalist, because Turkey’s fan club is growing. Hamptons
they take property rights very seriously indeed. International, an estate agency not known for Oversupply problems mean most of the Spanish
Potential home buyers wanting to assess where’s hyping-up markets, deems the country “an and Portuguese holiday home markets will remain
safest to purchase may want to consult the emerging market with investment potential”. weak during 2011, but there are pockets of activity
Heritage Foundation-Wall Street Journal’s Index of The Turkish Government is winning international with the Spanish island of Ibiza and the Portuguese
Economic Freedom 2011. This survey concludes plaudits for its prowess at handling the economy island of Madeira attracting overseas buyers. “We
only six countries are truly “free economies”, – its latest achievement was to cut the national are seeing constant demand for Ibiza from all
those with sensational levels of competitiveness, deficit by 25 per cent in 2010. An added incentive ages of people, not just the young and trendy,”
openness, property rights, rule of law and for investors is that recent interest rates cuts says Camilla Mabbott, marketing director at
low government spending – Hong Kong leads ought to make mortgages cheaper. Consultancy estate agency Aylesford International. Completed
followed by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Capital Economics expects Turkey’s economy to projects like the Palheiro Estate (pictured above)
Switzerland and Canada. Western nations and East outperform most others in 2011, growing five per on the Portuguese island of Madeira, a long-time
Asian countries dominate most of the remaining cent. This is less than the 7.5 per cent recorded favourite with Britons, is attracting buyers from
top 50, but surprises include Mauritius (pictured in 2010, but still augurs well for the property Eastern Europe, South America and South Africa.
above), which is 12th in the list of 179 countries market. However, some commentators fear the However, developers selling off-plan continue to
and top African destination. France is 64th, only economy will overheat, inflation will rise and this struggle. “Unless developments are substantially
one place ahead of Cape Verde, Africa’s second year’s general election will cause uncertainty. Even out of the ground they [developers] can wave
best location, while Italy comes in 87th. Some so, compared to much of the rest of the world, goodbye to any interest in it,” says James Price,
placings are highly predictable – North Korea is certainly neighbouring Europe and the Middle East, partner at Knight Frank. “People want to be sure
bottom as property ownership is illegal there. Turkey looks as safe as houses for homebuyers. that it will be built.”
March 2011 73
FORUM
Design on the edge

Innovative award-winning global designs from chairs to lamps and
floors are celebrated this month as the design fraternity gets into gear
in preparation for the design season. TEXT: SAMIA QAIYUM
RUGS WITHOUT RULES
London-based The Rug Company has joined creative forces with Spanish
artist-designer Jaime Hayon to produce three new rugs that captures his
wit, vision and creative energy.
Artisanal traditions meet modern design flair in this collection -
meticulous craftsmanship and exemplary quality star alongside Hayon’s
offbeat imagination and irreverence for conventional design. As seen in
his other projects, the designer’s ability to blur the lines between art,
decoration and design is reflected throughout the intricately textured rugs.
March 2011 75
LIGHTING THE WAY
Nemo Cassina lighting division, an

Italian brand offering designer lighting, FLEETING FANTASY
recently launched five new floor and
hanging lamps. To celebrate the six-month anniversary of its London
The pieces are understated and showroom, Moooi has taken the unprecedented step of
present a new take on contemporary inviting stylist Despina Curtis to curate her very own Fantasy
classics, defining them as potential new House at the White Building in London.
icons of lighting design. The collection Running from March 17 to the end of April, the magical
is the work of internationally-renowned monochrome exhibition will combine the spirit of the
designers, including Franco Albini, Carlo building with the 10 years of Moooi’s iconic designs. Visitors
Forcolini and Liran Levi, among others. will be invited to interact with a symphony of playfulness,
illustrated through the exaggerated scale, mysterious
shadows and familiar silhouettes within the theatrical set.
This occasion will also introduce the company’s latest
designs to the UK.
OBJECT OF DESIRE
The Kettal Bob club armchair, designed by Hella Jongerius, has won
the Wallpaper* Design Award 2011 for Best Armchair in the Best
Domestic Design section. A new take on the traditional garden club
chair, it features a lightly constructed back, and dark aluminium frames
that lend solidity to the front. The seat consists of large, soft rods,
highlighted by visible stitching while the armrests use twisted cord.
The collection is composed of an armchair, footstool and side table.
FORUM
FINE LINES
Minamalist proportions take to the great

outdoors with this sleek and sophisticated
QT deckside collection from Royal Botania.
Available at Dubai’s Nakkash Gallery, which
also represents Dedon, John Kelly, Rausch,
Gandia Blasco and Kenkoon.
DECKED OUT
There’s nothing quite like the visual appeal of a well-appointed

deck, or the natural feel of smooth, sun-warmed wood
underfoot. Lunawood decking marries science and design to
offer a wood that is thermally treated – improving its resistance
to decay and weather damage. Lunawood Thermo-D pine can
withstand extreme weather conditions and is a great choice for
terraces, patios and balconies. The wood’s thermal insulation
capability means less need for heating in a cold climate and less
need for air conditioning in hot conditions. Available in the UAE
from Woodfloors Middle East, the company focuses on desirable
products that are both natural and sustainable.
DRUM BEAT
Varaschin’s striking Kente tables add a touch

of rythmic colour and drama to outdoor
spaces this season. The new ‘Missioni-
esque’ Kente collection also includes
sculptured chairs.
March 2011 77
FORUM
IN THE LOOP
London-based designer Timothy Schreiber launched the Ploop Chair

at the 2011 Stockholm Furniture Fair last month. The playfully titled
chair features continuous plywood rings that touch and detach at key
points, melding its structural elements in one fluid motion and creating
a harmonious form. Schreiber challenges the boundaries between
architecture, digital design, manufacturing methods and environmental
sustainability by combining digital technology with traditional wood
craftsmanship, resulting in an award-winning body of work.
ROOMS TO LINGER IN
Premier American home furnishings retailers Pottery Barn and Pottery

Barn Kids opened flagship stores recently at The Dubai Mall.
Pottery Barn is known and loved for its casual, comfortable and stylish
home furnishings that are exceptional in quality and value. A key highlight of
the season is the Newberry Collection, which captures the eclectic appeal
of antique finds and recreates the nuances of an American home with
superior fabrics, textures and fittings. Complementing the brand’s extensive
product line is the Design Studio, an avenue for customers to discuss their
furniture needs and plan their spaces with in-store design specialists.
Pottery Barn Kids is a premier retailer for children’s home furnishings
and decorative accessories. Specially trained associates can provide
parents with a variety of design tips and resources to help create child-
friendly, stylish and innovative spaces based on their needs.
THE CAPITAL OF LUXURY
Porcelanosa, a global leader in the innovation,

design, manufacture and distribution of tile,
kitchen and bath products recently opened its
first showroom in Abu Dhabi. Spread across
600 square metres, the showroom showcases
an elegant variety of tiles, bathtubs and
bathroom fittings along with several of its sister
brands such as Venis, Butech and Ceranco.
Founded in 1970 in a small village in
Castellon, Spain, the family-run company
provides trendsetting architectural and design
solutions of uncompromising quality to
homeowners and the trade community in
70 different countries.
FORUM
Design agenda
Dubai International Boat Show, Dubai, UAE, March 1-5
Salone del Mobile 2011, Florence, Italy, March 5-13
Lighting Fair 2011, Tokyo, Japan, March 8-11
Build + Decor 2011, Beijing, China, March 9-12
CASAIDEA 2011, Roma, Italy, March 12-20
Wohnen & Interieur 2011, Vienna, Austria, March 12-20
ISH 2011, Frankfurt, Germany, March 15-19
Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE, March 16-19

A BALANCING ACT
Salon de l’Habitat 2011, Le Mans, France, March 18-20
Going beyond the conventional in coffee table construction is the eye- Interiors & Buildex 2011, Muscat, Oman, March 21-23
catching Two Legged Table by Israeli designers Shay Carmon and Ben Klinger.
Kitchen & Bath Expo 2011, Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 22-25
Positioned on the oblique corners, the oak wood legs are inclined and
two-branched to provide stability; this is enhanced when they perforate Salone Internazionale del Complemento d’Arredo 2011,
the DuPont™ Corian® tabletop, giving the illusion of dislodged matter Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17
piled on top. This unique detail boosts the contact area of the joints, Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2011, Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17
simultaneously providing an aesthetic highlight to a table that is short on
legs, but not on style. SaloneUfficio 2011, April 12-17, Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17
BROWN BAG OF FUN
First birthday celebrations were in full swing last month at

Bloomingdale’s Dubai, the first and only international outlet of
the iconic department store that was founded in New York in
1872. Giveaways, exciting offers, exclusive fashion shows and
a retrospective exhibition of commemorative Bloomingdale’s
shopping bags throughout the brand’s illustrious history
marked the occasion.
Bloomingdale’s Dubai has become a favourite destination
among lovers of all things trendy. It boasts a 146,000 square
foot clothing and accessories store with a nearby 54,000 square
foot home furnishings store, both easily holding their own next
to Burj Khalifa. Bloomingdale’s Home offers the finest in home
décor from leading labels. The portfolio consists of housewares,
furniture, textiles, luxury linen, flatware, etc. They also have an
interior design studio and a demonstration kitchen.
ORGANISED CHAOS
Captioned “Stop! Indians Ahead” is the graphic concept by Indian mixed-media artist Ketna
Patel, in collaboration with the Italian art mosaic factory, SICIS, and Tata Motors of India.
SICIS adapted Patel’s design by manufacturing, supplying and installing the brightly coloured
mosaic by hand on the outside shell of two Tata Nano cars. Each acts as a mirror for the
atmosphere and energy of Indian streets – chaotic conversations, street hawkers, road
signs and an array of smells, sounds and colour. Stripes, perspective and parallels with zebra
crossings help introduce movement, direction and a dose of psychedelia to symbolise the
noisy, endless story that is India. The artist used metaphors of speed and braking as a sign for
her country to slow down in its growth and re-assess its values.
One embellished Tata Nano has been following an artistic itinerary through various shows
and galleries in India; the other was presented to Mr. Tata himself for his private art collection.
The ethics test
Taking into account a building’s positive effects on the wider community
as well as its architectural merits, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture
is a sought-after accolade. TEXT: GLENN FREEMAN
The five winners of the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Sobejano was tasked with designing a building to accommodate a
(AKAA) were recently announced during a ceremony held at the Museum museum for displaying artefacts, a working area for the archaeological
of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Spanning a range of different developments, team along with research facilities.
the winning projects were drawn from the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Consisting of a series of rectangles or “pavilions” nestled in the earth,
Selected by a master jury along with input from the Aga Khan himself, only one room protrudes above the roof plane, which serves as a viewing
the winning projects were the Wadi Hanifa Wetlands in Riyadh, Saudi platform providing a panorama of the archaeological site and surrounding
Arabia; a historical restoration project in Tunisia; the construction of the landscape. This is an Islamic-Andalusian form, found in the palaces and
Madinat Al-Zahra Museum in Cordoba, Spain; a textile factory in Edirne, houses of Madinat al-Zahra as well as in the old town of Cordoba.
Turkey; and the Bridge School in Fujian, China.
The criteria for the AKAA differ to those of many other architectural IPEKYOL TEXTILE FACTORY, EDIRNE, TURKEY
prizes, with winners selected not only on the basis of their architectural
excellence but also their fostering of a greater good within the global The Ipekyol Textile Factory, on the outskirts of the city of Edirne, is a
community. Some 400 projects were initially presented for consideration, custom designed facility situated on a flat site on a tract of land adjacent
with a shortlist of 19 projects compiled in May 2010 before the five to a major road from Istanbul.
winners were selected. In designing the building local firm Emre Arolat Architect was required to
create a building that accommodated the key manufacturing requirements
MADINAT AL-ZAHRA MUSEUM, CORDOBA, SPAIN of the facility along with its supporting functions and the needs of the
company’s employees. An important feature of the project is its integration
With significance that stretches beyond its architecture and sensitivity to of the production and administrative or executive functions within the same
its location, this museum won recognition for its reflection of the building, creating a consistent design quality throughout and removing the
powerfully Islamic element within Spanish historiography. hierarchical internal dynamic.
The goal of the master plan of architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg was Showing the depth of consideration the owner and architects have given
two-fold: to finalise a physical plan and programme for the site, tourist to employees, landscaped outdoor areas are also a prominent feature of
visits and interpretive centre, and also to provide a physical barrier to the project. This includes a small football pitch along with screening walls
encroaching development. for outdoor recreational areas and a prominent water feature.
INTERNATIONAL | idProperty
Clockwise from left: A series of natural stone weirs

were built in order to introduce oxygen into the water
as it passes over and through them and helps to
reduce the amount of pollution in the Wadi, Wadi
Hanifa Wetlands, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Patio nearby
the working areas, Madinat Al-Zahra Museum,
Cordoba, Spain; South view of the entrance, Bridge
School, Fujian, China; Inner gallery facing the North-
West façade, Ipekyol Textile Factory, Edirne, Turkey;
Street view, Heritage restoration of Tunis, Tunisia.
BRIDGE SCHOOL, FUJIAN, CHINA encompassed environmental degradation, loss of natural functioning and
ecosystem productivity of the wadi due to the unsustainable use of land,
The Bridge School is located in the small village of Xiashi in the mountains of water, energy and other resources.
Fujian Province, China. It is so named because it bridges two parts of the village Among its various components are historic areas, wildlife reserves,
that lie on either side of a creek that runs through a ravine 10m below. It serves parks, land art, topography lighting, environmental installations, bridges
a two-fold functional role, as a school and also a bridge, in both a physical and and circulation hubs. Other features include natural and man-made
symbolic sense, in unifying the community. lakes, agricultural land and plant nurseries, with more also planned for
From architect Xiaodong Li, the building is small and modern in design, with following stages.
no reference to traditional building styles of the area, yet blends well with the
village. The structure is made of two steel trusses that span the creek, with the HERITAGE RESTORATION OF TUNIS, TUNISIA
space between them comprising the functional spaces of the school. A pedestrian
bridge is located below the school, suspended from its structure. The Mediterranean city of Tunis, in the North African nation of Tunisia,
The building itself consists of two classrooms and a library, which also doubles comprises a rich history that includes a long period as a French Protectorate,
as an assembly hall. The idea of a building as a bridge, although not unknown in with a strong heritage of 19th and early 20th-century architecture created
other parts of the world, is a new concept here. during this time.
A key aspect of the restoration project, which was awarded to the
WADI HANIFA WETLANDS, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA Association de Sauvegarde de la Medina de Tunis (ASM) by the municipality
of Tunis, was the creation of planning legislation recognising all buildings,
The Wadi Hanifa is the most significant natural landmark in this particular both native and colonial, as heritage locations. The Ville Nouvelle area of
region of the kingdom. the city was a major component of the revitalisation, particularly five historic
First begun in its current format in 2001, the project comprises a broad monumental buildings.
range of architectural interventions, including master planning, landscaping, The overall objectives of ASM involved boosting the image of the city
architecture, urban furniture and signage. It was also marked by an all- by finding continuity between the medina and the Ville Nouvelle, and also
encompassing eco-friendly strategy, with a Bio-Remediation facility a key improving the daily life of inhabitants, preserving its environment, conserving
aspect of the overall development. the recent heritage and developing its downtown area.
The project revolves around the Wadi Hanifa Comprehensive Development Significant challenges overcome by the project revolved around preserving
Plan developed by landscape architect, Moriyama & Teshima Planners, in the authentic form and function of historic buildings during the restoration
collaboration with British firm Buro Happold. The challenges they addressed along with improving and rehabilitating urban furniture and landscape. ID
March 2011 83
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Books
Inspirations
March 2011 85
ANTENNAE
Henning Larsen’s competition-winning design for an international conference centre in Nigeria, a first
glimpse of the interiors of a major new library in Birmingham and a stunning bridge for Singapore
capture the architectural imagination. TEXT: STEVE HILL
6 2
3
4
2. KHANTY MANSIYSK
1. BIRMINGHAM (UK) 3. CALABAR (NIGERIA)
CENTRE OF ATTENTION
TURNING A NEW PAGE CONFERENCE CALL
Erick van Egeraat’s recently completed
Images recently released by Mecanoo gave a 37,000sq/m state-of-the-art Vershina Trade & Henning Larsen Architects has won an
first glimpse of the interiors of the Library of Entertainment Centre in Surgut offers space for international competition to design the Calabar
Birmingham, which is due to open in 2013. retail, extreme sports, dance, restaurants, bars International Conference Centre, which will
The structure’s central rotunda features a wall and an underground nightclub. The eight-storey be sited in the river delta of the Cross River
of books across several floors linked by wide venue provides round-the-clock activities for State bordering Cameroon. It will feature four
travelators and escalators, while spacious public visitors of all ages. It is equipped with an extensive adjoining, sculptural volumes cast in concrete.
areas are flooded with natural light. A new lighting scheme and motion advertisements On one side, the location creates a natural
outdoor amphitheatre will be accessible from the are projected onto the glazed façade while amphitheatre with room for several thousand
music and children’s sections of the building, and the building has been designed to form “sharp people and on the other there will be a
will provide a space for outdoor performance volumes” that allow daylight to enter deep into spectacular view of the river delta. The flexible
and activities. The library will also feature a the centre. At night they radiate lines of light via building design allows for several types of events
teenage zone, a contemplation room for prayer secondary cuts in the façade, transforming the to take place at the same time while the centre
and quiet thought, and two garden terraces with centre into a beacon in the predominantly dark will use passive means of sustainability to ensure
views across the city. winters of the Siberian province. low energy consumption.
5. CATICLAN ISLAND (PHILIPPINES)
READY FOR TAKE OFF
A competition to design a new airport for

Caticlan Island, the gateway to the popular
Philippine tourist attraction of Boracay Island,
has attracted an imaginative proposal from
4. SINGAPORE Buensalido Architects. The shell form of the
main structure promotes natural cooling by
CURVED CONNECTION harnessing the laminar airflow over its surfaces
with perforations on the roof acting as skylights
The Helix Bridge, designed by Cox Architecture with Arup and Architects 61, provides a pedestrian that allow natural light to penetrate the interiors.
connection across the head of the Singapore River between the city’s existing CBD and its new Bayfront These skylights would feature transparent solar
district. The world’s only double helix bridge facilitated the integration of a canopy and lighting, while the cells to collect energy from the sun and power
280m structure is illuminated at night by ribbons of LED lighting accentuating the interplay of the two LED night accent lighting while rainwater and
helix tubes and their intervening, connecting ties. Four ovular-shaped “pods” cantilever out from the grey water collection systems would utilise
structure enabling people to gain wider appreciation of the bridge form and providing gathering space a filtering system to ensure irrigation of the
for viewing bay events. vegetation at the atrium area.
IMAGE AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE / LI XIAODONG
PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGE (C) PHILIPPE RUAULT
7. LYON (FRANCE)
6. KUNGALV (SWEDEN) HOLDING COURT 8. XIASHI (CHINA)
STEELY PURPOSE Le Monolithe, an energy efficient mixed-use BRIDGING THE GAP

urban block master-planned by MVRDV, was
KKA has designed a striking new office recently completed. The structure combines Li Xiaodong’s unique Bridge School in China’s
headquarters for the steel manufacturer Lecor social housing, rental property, a residence for Fujian Province was one of five projects to win
which accommodates offices, meeting rooms, disabled people, offices and retail facilities. The the recent Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The
a library and dining area as well as changing block is composed of five sections, each designed structure has been created by two steel trusses
rooms. Materials, colours and textures associated by a different architect: Pierre Gautier, Manuelle that span a creek with the space between them
with the steel industry have been utilised in the Gautrand, ECDM and Erik van Egeraat, with housing the school which meets both educational
structure, which has been clad in dark grey steel landscape architects West 8 responsible for the and community needs with the provision of a
plates. A conference room and outdoor terrace public plaza. The urban superblock is characterised public library. Suspended from the structure and
have been housed in a bridge-style structure by a large interior court with a raised public running below it is a pedestrian bridge. Small
that sits on top of the main building. One eye- space overlooking the city, the new marina and a and modern in design, with no reference to the
catching interior feature is a steel staircase as well park. Sustainable features include the use of heat area’s traditional building style, the school has
as an office area with a stairwell in glass and steel storage, photo voltaic cells, natural ventilation and become the physical and spiritual centre of what
while skylights help provide natural lighting. an environmentally responsive façade system. was a declining village.
March 2011 87
BOOKS
A detailed study of the little known historical art of silhouette 'shadow' portraiture and an examination of the
purpose of design through the lens of global furniture design house Herman Miller, through to a lavishly illustrated
record of architect Oscar Niemeyer's houses, this month's reading list contains some fascinating journeys.
SILHOUETTE THE ART OSCAR NIEMEYER HOUSES AMERICAN FASHION HERMAN MILLER THE
OF SHADOW ALAN WEINTRAUB AND CHARLIE SCHEIPS PURPOSE OF DESIGN
EMMA RUTHERFORD ALAN HESS ASSOULINE JOHN R. BERRY
RIZZOLI RIZZOLI DHS 1,295 RIZZOLI
DHS175 DHS 175 DHS155
The art of shadow portraiture, or Internationally renowned and still This exuberant and weighty Founded by D.J. De Pree and
the silhouette, has not received working at the age of 103, Oscar compendium is a limited luxury edition named after his father in law, the
such sumptuous attention as in this Niemeyer is a remarkable man and of the previous version by Charlie Herman Miller company has been
effusive, first major work on the an elite architect. The larger body of Scheips. Limited to just 500 copies synonymous with progressive design,
subject. Admirers of the art form Niemeyer's work is found in his home and coming in its own canvas textured since the company moved away
will find it an absolute treasure, country of Brazil, the city of Brasilia box, it also comes with a hefty from manufacturing reproductions
outstanding in its attention to detail is almost entirely built to his design, price tag. It may be worth the extra of traditionally styled home furniture
and visually entrancing with more and he is more immediately known expense for the besotted enthusiast, to producing 'modern' furniture in
than 300, previously unpublished worldwide for his civic work in public however, the content remains identical 1930. A global leader in modern
illustrations. It also has wide appeal spaces. This lavish book serves to to the cheaper hardback version. The furniture design, Herman Miller has
for those with little knowledge of ensure Niemeyer's esteemed work book is a richly illustrated journey and collaborated with lauded designers
the ancient artistic practice. In crisp on private houses is not overlooked. celebration of the evolution of the such as Charles and Ray Eames,
and concise style it traces the social Beautifully shot, vivd colour fashion industry across eight decades. George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi,
history of this practice from the photographs take the reader through Beginning in the 1930s and through Gilbert Rohde, Bill Stumpf, amongst
first historical example made by the an engrossing visual tour around the creative expansion and multiple others. John Berry traces the history
artist Dibutade in 600BC, through more than 20 houses that Niemeyer twists and turns throughout the years, of the company and in doing so
to its ubiquity in the 18th century, designed in his residential designing it is an interesting social study and its documents the problems that design
before the advent of photography, career between the years 1936 and visual impact is pronounced. The 250 can solve and how such creative
as a quick and relatively cheap form 2005. Markedly different from his illustrations of glamorous stars such as thinking can benefit the world. It's
of portraiture available to all. As civic work, his houses exude élan and Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn an essential reference for students,
conventional a practice as having a organic elegance. The text focuses and Fred Astaire hold the eye and will professionals, collectors, designers
family portrait taken today, this book on how the fluid lines of his Brazilian delight both students and professionals and anyone with an interest in design.
is a fascinating historical record of the Modernism were equally as valid as the of the fashion industry as well as the
the importance of the silhouette. straight lines of European Modernism. casual reader. BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM BLOOMINGDALE'S
HANDWO VEN O UTDOOR FURNITURE CREAT ED WITH WEATHER-RESISTANT D EDON FIB ER
www.dedon.de
Nakkash Gallery · Al Garhoud Street · P.O. Box 26767 · Dubai-UAE

Tel. 00971 4 2826767 · Fax 00971 4 2827567
nakkashg@emirates.net.ae · www.nakkashgallery.com
ICON
Band-Aid
TEXT: STEVE HILL
The clumsiness in the kitchen of Josephine Dickson inspired an invention Sales were initially slow but an innovative and subsequently much imitated
90 years ago that has gone on to generate sales of more than 100 billion and marketing campaign, involving offering free samples to Boy Scouts, raised the
become an essential part of any family first-aid kit. profile of the product to such a degree that it was soon widely embraced.
The hapless New Jersey housewife burned or cut herself so often that her In the years since, child-friendly designs were launched in 1951 while in 1958
husband, Earle – a cotton buyer at Johnson & Johnson – soon tired of cutting vinyl tape was first used, offering a waterproof alternative to the fabric version.
up pieces of adhesive tape and gauze to make bandages for each wound. The influence of the Band-Aid on the subsequent design of bandaging
Instead, he prepared a ready-made solution by placing squares of gauze cannot be overstated, leading directly to the introduction of endless colours,
at intervals on an adhesive strip, covered with crinoline to ensure sterility and shapes and sizes as well as the development of super-strong adhesives,
stickiness, so his wife could cut off a length and wrap it over a cut whenever flexible plastics, antibiotic coatings and even liquid bandages.
she needed. But possibly the ultimate tribute to this universal symbol of love and care
Earle mentioned this ground-breaking creation to his company, and soon came when New York’s Museum of Modern Art put on display the Band-Aid
the now famous Band-Aid was available to the general public. and its iconic packaging. ID
PHOTOGRAPHY: © MARIA TEIJEIRO/CORBIS
Crystal design Vuesse
KOMMA
For the carcase of the System of Quality

Kitchen Designs Llc kitchens Scavolini uses Management
only Idroleb: a water UNI EN ISO 9001
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Tel. 971 - 4 2691003 Japanese standards F**** (4 stars). UNI EN ISO 14001
ayman@kitchendesigns.ae
Discover Scavolini’s commitment System of Health &
For trade only: Pls. download our general for a cleaner world on Safety Management
www.scavolini.biz catalog from www.scavolini.com www.scavolinigreenmind.com OHSAS 18001
Scavolini S.p.A. 61025 Montelabbate (PU) - Italy Tel. +39 0721443333

Fax: +39 0721443413 contact@scavolini.com www.scavolini.com The “best seller” from Italy

IDentity MAR

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HARVEY NICHOLS DUBAI M A L L O F T H E E M I R AT E S 04 4098888

We also showcase our

Inspired by the ancient Greek saying “Everything

B5 The Art of Living

PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC LAIGNEL / TRIPOD AGENCY

23 French dressing 52 Look on the bright side

28 Taking flight 82 The ethics test

Foto: Studio Vogelsänger - Germany

Selva Middle East L.L.C.

GENERAL MANAGER – GROUP SALES

GENERAL MANAGER – ABU DHABI

Head Office: PO Box 2331, REGULARS

+ Missoni’s colourful weaves in Kuwait

The art of design

Group Editor Catherine Belbin.

Return to the Talamo

Reclaim the dining room.

Home Furnishings. Housewares. Accessories.

Australian company SkyLifter has unveiled concept designs for a heavy-lifting

From top: The Early Learning Centre

HOK is working with Arlington-based Realty Appreciation and the Texas

Toyota used the recent North American International Auto Show in

From top: Cottons from discarded clothing,

DRIVE FOR DENIM

32 identity [interior/design/property] March 2009 32

If it’s outdoors, it’s bound to be indoors at ACE. We have everything

Top to bottom: Roda’s Oasis gazebo with roll curtains adds

As became evident by last autumn, conformity is passé. Many people simply do

Look on the bright side

Left: The Styrofoam sculpture, created by Brooklyn-based artist Jason Rogenes,

Clockwise from left: Ghislaine Viñas; Hans-Peter Krafft’s sheep “graze” on a

Visit our new showroom now at Pyramid Centre, Dubai.

CAVALLI HOME'S CHAMELEON SKIN

The famous Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli

property, several more features distinguish his luxury

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

Show flat bedroom.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK GUTTRIDGE

Design: Whole Wide World from

WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN

Believe it or not, the property shown in this

Design on the edge

RUGS WITHOUT RULES

Nemo Cassina lighting division, an

Minamalist proportions take to the great

There’s nothing quite like the visual appeal of a well-appointed

Varaschin’s striking Kente tables add a touch

London-based designer Timothy Schreiber launched the Ploop Chair

Premier American home furnishings retailers Pottery Barn and Pottery

THE CAPITAL OF LUXURY

Porcelanosa, a global leader in the innovation,

Salone del Mobile 2011, Florence, Italy, March 5-13

Lighting Fair 2011, Tokyo, Japan, March 8-11

Build + Decor 2011, Beijing, China, March 9-12

CASAIDEA 2011, Roma, Italy, March 12-20

Wohnen & Interieur 2011, Vienna, Austria, March 12-20

ISH 2011, Frankfurt, Germany, March 15-19

Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE, March 16-19

BROWN BAG OF FUN

First birthday celebrations were in full swing last month at

Clockwise from left: A series of natural stone weirs

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