Editorial
Following a long and steamy summer we are about to be thrown into a hyper-busy season peppered with exhibitions galore…
We have only just unpacked our summer holiday suitcases, yet it’s already time to jet off to Maison et Objet (7-11 September), where the ‘Young Designers’ theme is for the first time focused on rising talent from Lebanon.
M+O always represents a great start to the season, though others may instead be jetting off to Valencia for the Feria Hábitat (18-21 September), which presents the best new design ideas from Spain.
The Beirut Design Fair (20-23 September) also seems to be growing in stature, providing a design hub for the Levant and beyond.
Having teamed up with iGuzzini, id will have a presence there during the regional premiere of The Perfect Light by Light Collective.
Just a few days later (23-25 September) The Perfect Light will be a focal point of the 13th edition of Light Middle East – the region’s premier show for light technology. More than 70 designers are expected to attend the GCC introduction of the documentary, which presents a new approach to light.
Mid-month, The Hotel Show in Dubai (16-18 September) is also expected to offer some new insights into the changing trends in hospitality and the need for the industry to adapt to the demands of today’s travellers. Dubai is gearing up for an expected Expo 2020 influx of tourists and a number of new hotels have opened this summer, including three in Al Seef: Zabeel House, Zabeel House Mini and Al Seef Hotel (part of the Jumeirah Group). Additionally, the über-chic four-star Form Hotel (part of Design Hotels) – close to the Versace Palace in Al Jaddaf, and a stone’s throw from the Metro station – has opened. Designed by Paris-based Architecture-Studio, Form Hotel is one of a growing number of boutique hotels opening in the region.
Franco Cappellini, President of Italian luxury brand Cornelio Cappellini, was in Dubai to oversee his new display space in the Interiors showroom – home of Cornelio Cappellini for many years now.
Chatting to id, he explained that the family-owned company – which is based in Brianza, the heart of the Italian furniture-manufacturing district – is enjoying phenomenal growth in China and simultaneously adapting its offerings to meet the changing demands of consumers. While remaining true to its core values of quality and Italian craftsmanship, the company is producing products that combine simpler, more minimalist lines with a cosmopolitan feel.
Easa Saleh Al Gurg (ESAG) has created a new business unit, Al Gurg Lifestyle, that will manage its interiors brands. In addition to upgrading its existing Karama store, the company is opening a custom-designed new showroom in Dubai Design District (d3), adding to the retail and design mix.
The firm, long associated with leading design brands, is showcasing a number of home and office brands in the new spaces. Debbas, the region’s premier lighting firm, is also due to open in d3 very shortly. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to enter their latest projects into the 2018 id Design Awards programme. The entries are now in the hands of the international jury headed by Marco Piva, along with Roberto + Ludovica Palomba, Keiji Takeuchi, and Jean-Philippe Nuel. The shortlist is expected to be released by mid-month.
We kick off the new season with the soft launch of identity. ae – our new website, which will provide more exciting news about the local, regional and global design scenes at the click of a button. Follow us online and on social media for the latest news on the id Design Awards and much, much more…
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