ART-INVOLVED

As the first edition of the Beirut Design Fair draws closer, HN spoke to Guillaume Taslé d'héliand, founder and director, and Hala Moubarak, cofounder and head of exhibitors relations, to find out more about this milestone event

Why did you decide to found Beirut Design Fair?

Taslé d'héliand: Our vision was to promote recognition of Lebanon’s proper place, at the forefront of creativity in the region. Beirut Design Fair aims to become an annual meeting place for discovery, exchange and business opportunity, for both amateurs and professionals of design throughout Europe, the United States, the Middle East, the Gulf and Asia.

How important is design in Beirut?

Moubarak: Lebanon is distinct from other Arab countries, thanks to its Mediterranean positioning, its blend of cultures and the urban character of Beirut. We have a history and a collective memory, a spirited nature, and the freedom to create without limits and in complete independence. The work of Lebanese designers is the fruit of innovative, moving and elegant ideas; sometimes, research and the desire to preserve ancestral craftsmanship can provide an invaluable creative inspiration.

How do you inject design into a hotel or restaurant’s various facilities?

Taslé d'héliand: Decoration is one of the most elegant ways in which a hotel can differentiate itself. It contributes instantly to creating an atmosphere. This ambience may evolve over time or according to the seasons, for example. Apart from the colors, floor coverings and curtains, the first components of the decoration will be furniture - contemporary, antique, vintage, design or simply functional, alongside art, which can also be contemporary, modern or classic. Some hotels have made art or design one of the essential components of their positioning; in Beirut, I’m thinking, for example, of Le Gray Hotel and Smallville Hotel, both of which have clearly established themselves with contemporary art and design, in very different registers.