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Articles by Max Tuttle
Reimagining an Icon
Set on Bluewaters, Dubai Holding’s vibrant waterfront destination, Delano Dubai made waves when it opened in late 2024. Developed by Ennismore in collaboration with Elastic Architects and a roster of international design partners, the multi-award-winning project reinterprets the spirit of the legendary Delano in Miami, transforming the former Caesars Palace into a new design landmark for the city.
Endearing Values
Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a building boom, with developments springing up across the kingdom. In common with other countries in the region, an increasing number of projects now celebrate Arabic heritage, architecture and culture, yet other design philosophies remain influential throughout the Saudi built environment. Among these, the Japanese design approach has become an increasingly prominent framework.
Salone Raritas: Strengthening Design Affinities
During the influential India Art Fair in New Delhi (5-8 February), the organisers of Salone del Mobile.Milano presented Salone Raritas, a curatorial platform that will debut at the 64th edition of the famous trade fair in Milan with the aim of connecting Indian collectors with Italian professional architects, interior designers, developers and hospitality and contract professionals.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
In the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District, SAY Studio has created a new kind of headquarters for accounting and consulting giant Deloitte. The eight-floor project is, says the studio, “Rooted in the firm’s deep awareness around time – how it passes and shapes decisions, and how the right ideas can outlast it.” The workplace does not feel ‘corporate’; rather, the floor plan unfolds in continuous, concentric layers, like the ripples left behind when a stone meets water.
Meaning, Myths and Motivation
IG: Running a big practice in the Middle East has taught me that the profession needs to reset some of its assumptions about what architects are. Architecture still behaves, and architecture is still taught, as if the architect is the heroic author of society’s next chapter. That idea was earned in very specific moments. After the Industrial Revolution, architects and planners had to respond to industrial cities, public health and mass housing.
Ozzy by Patrick Norguet
Elegance is the singular, simple principle that drove the design of Ozzy, created by Patrick Norguet for Flexform. Comprising armchairs, dining chairs and ottomans, this family takes its inspiration from the introduction of the collar in 17th-century attire, a symbol of the nobility.
An Exceptional Balancing Act
Situated in the prestigious Kaifan district of Kuwait City, White House is a sensitively and thoughtfully designed single-frontage home that has been designed to provide exceptional accommodation while blending seamlessly into its urban surroundings. The property is the work of AlHumaidhi Architects, well known for creating original and intelligently designed commercial and luxury residential spaces since 1992, under the guidance of its Principal, Abdulaziz AlHumaidhi.
A Brave New Design World
The world is changing more quickly than ever, and our realm of design and architecture is no exception, with technology often at the forefront of discussions. Mohammed Adib is Chief Design Officer at UAE-headquartered Dewan Architects & Engineers; he states, “We are currently at a crossroads in design, and I think the basis of the advantages and disadvantages of AI in design will unfold during this coming year.
Total Turnkey Transformation
Most of us dream about being given almost completely free rein to design a luxurious villa. But what if it were for a client who was abroad and would be moving in with their family the moment they returned? And if the timescale for completion was just four months? That was the challenge given to Sawsan Chammas Haber, founder and Creative Director of UAE-based studio Dipiugi.
2026 and Beyond: The identity Trend Report
As another new year begins, we took the time to consider how the design landscape will change in the Middle East and beyond. Architect and interior designer Sneha Divias, founder of Sneha Divias Atelier, a boutique interior architecture studio based in Dubai, believes that 2026 will be defined not by distinct visual trends, but by a shift in intent. “Spaces will move further away from aesthetic statements and toward meaning, longevity and emotional intelligence.
ME Dubai: A hotel for urbanites and travellers with an appreciation for design and contemporary luxury
This post was originally published in the April 2020 issue, which you can read for free here. One of Dubai’s most eagerly anticipated hotels opened its doors in March. ME Dubai has, according to parent brand ME by Meliá, been designed to appeal to “stylish urbanites and sophisticated travellers with an appreciation for design and contemporary luxury.” Even at first glance, the hotel wows with light-flooded atriums, curved spaces and minimalist, chic interiors.
The iconic 606 Universal Shelving System is celebrating 60 years of simplicity and function
Sometimes the best and most enduring ideas are the simplest – and that’s certainly the case with the 606 Universal Shelving System, created by Dieter Rams in 1960. Rams was not even 30 years old when Vitsœ launched the system – and he already had a job with another company. Born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1932, Rams trained as an architect, employing his skills to help his home country rebuild in the early 1950s.
The split-flap display: clear, quick and stylish
Icons are usually the result of intelligent design being used to meet a specific need. That’s certainly true of the split-flap display. The display was invented shortly after World War II and put into production by the long-established Italian company Solari. It originally comprised four flaps of ten digits – sufficient to show time information. When its design was evolved to incorporate 40 flaps, it could show words as well as numbers.
Organisers of Expo 2020 explore postponing event by one year
Expo 2020 Dubai held a virtual meeting of its Steering Committee to consider the impact of COVID-19 on event preparations. The Committee collectively agreed to explore the possibility of a one year delay to the opening of Expo 2020. The Expo organisers and Steering Committee will work with the World Expo governing body, Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). A final decision on postponement can only be made by the BIE’s Executive Committee and the General Assembly.
Hansgrohe Middle East begins online product sales
Hansgrohe has made a collection of luxury products available to buy on Amazon.ae. Kitchen products, mixers, showers and other award-winning systems are available for delivery through Amazon Prime. The brand is a leading manufacturer of premium products for the bathroom and kitchen. Its items are made available via its local Dubai distribution partner, Integrated Trading Company (ITC).
Warehouse421 launches range of online creative programming
Warehouse421, the arts and design centre in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi has launched its virtual experience and online programme. The programme enables audiences to remotely engage with regional narratives in art and design. It features a series of video lessons, podcasts, book readings, community talks and curatorial tours. Warehouse421 conversations launched its first episode, ‘Art and Artists in Times of Disruption’, on 25 March.
DIDI starts ‘digital bootcamp’ for UAE’s biggest student design contest
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) has adopted virtual communication and video conferencing to keep Project Design Space moving. DIDI has adopted a digital bootcamp-style format to help maintain momentum during the current exceptional circumstances. Project Design Space is the UAE’s biggest student design competition – more than 4500 students from 100 UAE schools participate.
Substantial changes announced to Jameel Prize for 2020-21
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London (V&A) and Art Jameel have announced substantial changes to the Jameel Prize. The changes “herald a new era for the world’s leading award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition.” Previously a mixed-media award, the next Jameel Prize will be dedicated to a single discipline. In 2020-21, the focus will be on contemporary design.
Salone del Mobile.Milano postponed to April 2021
The 2020 edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano has been suspended. The event will now take place from 13 to 18 April 2021. The decision to postpone was made by the Board of the Salone del Mobile.Milano in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The organisers had originally announced that the event would be moved from April to June. However, present circumstances and medium-term uncertainties now mean it can no longer go ahead as planned.
London Design Fair expected to go ahead as planned in September
The organisers of London Design Fair have said the 2020 edition of the fair is still set to go ahead. The event is scheduled to take place from 17 to 20 September at Truman Brewery, Shoreditch. In the meantime, the London Design Fair Instagram feed is constantly being updated. The organisers say they want to “share some love for our industry.
Cosentino launches ‘e-Events’ for the region’s design community
Cosentino Middle East announced the launch of Cosentino e-Events. The online events platform has been developed to help practitioners in the design industry stay connected. Cosentino Middle East plans to host ‘Lunch n’ Learn’ sessions, panel discussions, case study presentations, and fun knowledge sharing sessions. The aim is to boost morale industry and foster camaraderie within the industry.
Art Dubai launches digital-based 2020 programme
Art Dubai launched its reconfigured 2020 programme yesterday, with a focus on digital content. Key aspects of the programme include: 2020 Online Catalogue The 2020 Online Catalogue showcases more than 500 artworks by participating galleries across all fair sections, with some presenting works specifically from their 2020 booth presentations, while others presenting works from their extended artist rosters.
How to transform a living space for the 2020s
The easiest way to transform a living space? Update the sofa, which has always reflected consumer and society trends. For example, deep-seated sofas are perhaps the result of the rise of a ‘binge-watch’ culture. They, therefore, prioritise comfort and offer cushion depths of up to 100 centimetres. In recent years, developing a personal style became a priority. Now, with sustainability in mind, consumers are thinking more long-term than previously.
Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion - a feat of engineering and architecture
The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion has been unveiled, and it features a spectacular shiny metal and glass façade. The fantastic, futuristic structure will be one of the highlights of the upcoming Expo 2020. It is the work of British architect Gerard Evenden, Senior Executive Partner, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. Evenden was previously part of the team that designed the UAE’s pavilions for the Shanghai (2010) and Milan (2015) Expos.
Maraya Concert Hall recognised by Guinness World Records
The Maraya Concert Hall in Saudi Arabia has been named the world’s largest mirror-clad building by Guinness World Records. The building is located 22 kilometres from Al-Hijr Archeological Site, the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maraya Concert Hall’s unique design promises to contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s tourism efforts. Completed in December 2019, the building uses its mirror cladding to generate a mirage effect of its surrounding environment.
Henning Larsen submits winning design for Cockle Bay Park redevelopment
Henning Larsen has won an international competition to redevelop Cockle Bay Park in central Sydney. It will provide one of the “biggest slices of public land in city’s heart in more than§ a century.” The scheme was chosen from six shortlisted designs The 73,000-square metre project is being co-led by The GPT Group and AMP Capital. It includes 63,000 square metres of tower space above a 10,000-square metre public plinth.
Clerkenwell Design Week has been postponed to July
Clerkenwell Design Week has been postponed. The design festival was originally scheduled to take place in May but will now run from 14 to 16 July. The organisers took the decision to postpone the event in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is the UK’s leading independent design festival. It is very popular with designers from Dubai and the GCC.
Art Dubai announces digital-based 2020 programme
Art Dubai has announced that its reconfigured 2020 programme will launch on 23 March and focus on digital content. The event will develop over time and will not incorporate individual events. The decision has been taken “in response to the evolving global situation and updated official guidelines around public gatherings.” The postponement of the event was originally announced earlier this month. One of the digital components being launched next week is the 2020 Online Catalogue.
The Abu Dhabi EDITION lights up in celebration of St Patrick’s Day
The Abu Dhabi EDITION lit up the Al Bateen Marina in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Designed by Ian Schrager, the hotel joined some of the world’s greatest icons in ‘lighting up the world green’. Global Greening is run by Tourism Ireland and in 2020 is bigger than ever before. More than 470 major landmarks and sites across 55 countries illuminated this year to celebrate Ireland and St Patrick. Participating landmarks include The Great Wall of China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
TreeHugger by MoDusArchitects wraps public space with sinuous curves
Italian architecture firm MoDusArchitects has presented the recently completed TreeHugger building, which won an international competition in 2016. TreeHugger is the new Tourist Information Office building of the city of Bressanone in Bolzano, Italy. The eye-catching concrete building is located just outside the historical centre of the Bressanone, adjacent to the famous Bishop’s Palace.
Winners of the 2020 IFI Design Distinction Awards announced
The winners of the inaugural IFI Design Distinction Awards (IFI DDA) have been announced. The winners were chosen from 563 entries from 38 countries and regions across ten different categories. The IFA DDA form part of the IFI Global Awards Program (IFI GAP), which recognises and documents exemplary vision, talent and commitment in the practice of interior architecture/design. In addition to the winners across the 10 categories, a number of special awards were handed out.
Legendary Parisian restaurant Fouquet’s opens at Louvre Abu Dhabi
A legendary Parisian establishment has opened a new restaurant at Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Fouquet’s is a classic French brasserie and a symbol of French hospitality. Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi is the brand’s ninth restaurant and its first in the Middle East. The new restaurant is nestled in the heart of the museum that houses masterpieces from different cultures and time periods. Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi pays homage to the aesthetics of the iconic Paris restaurant.
International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers sets out vision
The UAE has signed the IFI Interiors Declaration (IFI ID), a mission statement on the purpose and value of the interior architecture and design discipline. The UAE was the first country in the Middle East to sign the Declaration. The statement was signed in Dubai during the recent IFI Congress, which was hosted and organised by the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID).
Limited-edition Aston Martin V12 Speedster launched
The limited-edition Aston Martin V12 Speedster was launched on 4 March. The new model has been created by ‘Q by Aston Martin’, the brand’s bespoke customisation service, and just 88 examples will be produced. Aston Martin says the V12 Speedster is “a living show car, underlining the company’s commitment to deliver customers a stunning driver’s car.
Expo 2020 Dubai and Cartier announce the Women’s Pavilion
Expo 2020 Dubai and Cartier have announced a collaboration to present the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2020. The pavilion will celebrate women change-makers by looking at the contribution of women and their impact on society. It will also highlight their many achievements that have driven forward economies and enhanced communities. The Women’s Pavilion will look at the female expertise that inspires and empowers global citizens to create a better future.
Ikea LJUV Ramadan collection by Nada Debs launches today
LJUV, the new Ikea Ramadan collection called designed by Nada Debs, launches today. The limited-edition collection is a mix of large and small decorative and functional items. It includes floor cushions, rugs, trays, ceramics and glassware. Named after the Swedish word for delightful, LJUV combines traditional Middle Eastern patterns and symbols with Scandinavian design. Every piece incorporates Debs’ trademark geometrical patterns and an interesting mix of materials.
Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown to open in summer 2020
Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown is scheduled to open in summer 2020. It will be located on the banks of Dubai Creek, close to Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall. Hotel Indigo is InterContinental Hotels Group’s boutique and lifestyle brand. This is its first hotel in the Middle East. The 269 rooms all feature full-height windows and have been inspired by Dubai Creek. They include bespoke shisha lamps and surrealist wallpaper created exclusively by local artists.
Capital Club Dubai’s 4th floor to mark re-launch with exhibition
Capital Club Dubai will soon celebrate the completion of phase one of its extensive refurbishment plans. From 14 March the occasion will be marked with We Are All Human, a solo exhibition by renowned street artist and muralist Paparazzi. The exhibition will be displayed in the refreshed gallery space on the newly refurbished 4th floor. It will be joined by four original and distinctive Andy Warhol pop art prints of Marilyn Monroe, and three limited edition Picasso prints.
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara win 2020 Pritzker Prize
The 2020 Pritzker Prize Laureates have been announced. Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara Farrell and McNamara are the 47th and 48th recipients of architecture’s greatest honour. and the first to come from Ireland. The announcement was made by Tom Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the award. “Architecture could be described as one of the most complex and important cultural activities on the planet,” said Farrell.
Award-winning Asian cuisine in the heart of Arabia
Located in the newly refurbished Al Faisaliah Mall – MODE, the all-day dim sum teahouse features signature Yauatcha menu items, while the restaurant’s interior design brings elements of minimalism into the décor, allowing Yauatcha to straddle contemporary lines with tasteful touches of Chinese heritage. Yauatcha is designed to be a social space; a modern incarnation of the traditional Chinese tea house; a space to connect – with the environment, other people and the experience.
Art Dubai announces postponement of 2020 art fair
This year’s edition of Art Dubai has been postponed. The decision has been made in light of the Coronavirus situation. The 14th edition of the international art fair was originally scheduled to take place from 25 to 28 March. Art Dubai will instead stage a programme tailored to the local cultural community. It will include existing fair programme contributors and thought-leaders. The organisers say this reflects the essential role the fair plays in promoting local and regional artists.
Masterful Marina concept approved in Dubai
Boutique design studio AMA has worked with North 25, Shamal, D Marin and DAR to develop the approved concept for the 4400-square metre hub of the new Dubai Marina Harbour, comprising harbour master offices, a fine dining restaurant, a cafe, shops and boating facilities.
Maurizio Lai Architects sets the style for IYO Aalto in Milan
For IYO Aalto, his second restaurant in Milan after the Michelin-star-winning IYO Taste Experience, Claudio Liu enlisted the services of Italian architect Maurizio Lai. Situated in the Porta Nuova district of Milan, the 320-square metre IYO Aalto serves the most authentic Japanese cuisine, and Lai’s designs for the project reflect a suitably contemporary idea of Japan.
Striking and innovative: the Panton Chair by Verner Panton
Sometimes, iconic products move from the designer’s imagination to manufacture in a matter of weeks. Others slowly move through several iterations and take years to reach production. The Panton Chair endured such a prolonged gestation. Verner Panton began his career as an artist in Odense before studying architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen, from where he graduated in 1951.
Dame Zaha Hadid-designed ME Dubai hotel to launch today
Designed by world-renowned architect the late Dame Zaha Hadid, ME Dubai is set to open its doors today. The property will take residence in The Opus by Omniyat building, located in the Burj Khalifa district of Dubai. ME Dubai represents a legacy project for the Iraqi-British architect, as it is the first and only hotel for which she designed both the exterior and interior.
Salone del Mobile postponed until June; Light + Building moved to September
The postponement of two of Europe’s biggest trade fairs has been announced. The spread of the corona virus is behind the decisions. Salone del Mobile.Milan will now take place from 16 to 21 June. Light + Building, the trade fair for lighting and building services technology, is now scheduled to be held in September 2020.
Oluce supporting ‘100 years of Vico Magistretti’ travelling exhibition
‘100 years of Vico Magistretti’ is the title of a travelling exhibition that is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Italian designer and highlights from his sixty-year career. The exhibition, which is aiming to raise awareness of the designer’s works and methods, began in Cologne and is subsequently moving to Stockholm, Strasbourg and Metz, Prague, Berlin, Budapest, Washington and finally New York.
Havelock One creates interiors for renovated theatre in Kuwait
The renovation of a 66-year-old cinema in Kuwait has been completed by Havelock One Interiors, resulting in the first and only boutique cinema concept in Kuwait. The 1954 Film House at Al Kout Mall was originally incepted by Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC), the first cinema operator in the GCC, in the same year that KNCC itself was established.
Havelock One completes fit-out of new Clay restaurant in Bahrain
Clay, the newest restaurant concept by Food Fund International (FFI) has opened its doors on the fifth floor of The Terminal building in the bohemian neighbourhood of Adliya, Manama’s cultural quarter. Havelock One Interiors was appointed by FFI to ensure the qualities of the Clay brand were brought to life throughout the 700-square metre interior of the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, which aims to ‘invite guests into a cosy environment at the crossroads of nature and ethno-pluralism’.
Art Dubai announces long list of participants for forthcoming 14th edition
Leading Middle East international art fair Art Dubai will return for its 14th edition next month, with some 90 galleries from 38 countries being featured across four gallery sections. The fair will again focus on providing a major international meeting point of ideas, bringing together exciting new global perspectives from sometimes-overlooked geographies. Taking place from 25 to 28 March at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, the fair has been put together by seven guest curators.
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