Moon Vignettes by Babnimnim Design Studio at Downtown Design pushes the boundaries of materiality and permeability in design

For Downtown Design 2024, architectural surfaces leader Cosentino has teamed up with Kuwait-based Babnimnim Design Studio (BNN) to create Moon Vignettes, an immersive tactile installation born out of their debut collaboration for Downtown Design.

“For this year’s collaboration at Downtown Design, we wanted to create synergies beyond the UAE and work with a regional design firm. Babnimnim Design Studio, a multi-disciplinary practice based in Kuwait, is known for their creative exploration of materials and forms, meticulous attention to the smallest of details and a contextual design approach – attributes that make them the perfect partner for this creative collaboration.” Shares Eddy Abou Khalil, Regional Director Middle East & India at Cosentino.

Drawing inspiration from the Moon Gate, a mystical architectural element of Oriental origin, the installation is a contemporary reinterpretation of the same. Reimagined as free-standing circular portals that appear to rise from the ground, the moon gates are symbolic of the cyclical nature of life. They also allude to the “circular nature” of Cosentino’s sustainable surfaces Silestone® and Dekton® – the brand’s large format hero materials that seamlessly clad everything from the walls to the flooring. The installation stands out for pushing the frontiers of materiality in design by using Cosentino’s impressively scaled slabs as place making elements rather than mere cladding.

“It started with a visual, a photograph of Beyond The Wall, a permanent outdoor sculpture by Architect Daniel Libeskind at Cosentino HQ. It was our open invitation to play with the large format monolithic scale of our materials to create something sculptural,” shares Abou Khalil.

Moon Vignettes, is an artistic composition of three elements: rectangular monolithic walls, circular cut-outs and intricate wooden joinery. The installation is visually stimulating for its play of earthy colours, textures – a juxtaposition of fluted, matte, high gloss and suede, and ever-changing views though the moon gates, each vignette more alluring than the other. Remarkably permeable, the design invites free flow through the portals on all four sides and a kaleidoscope of vistas both looking-in and looking-out as one walks through and around the installation.

“The installation aims to truly showcase Cosentino’s surfaces in their best light—demonstrating their versatility not only as flooring but also as seamless wall elements that can be cut and finished at the same level,” said Jassim Alsaddah, Partner and Creative Director at BNN. “The design adds a whimsical touch, displaying the surfaces against a skeletal structure inspired by Japanese joinery. From this framework, a cornucopia of diverse flora bursts forth, creating a dynamic contrast that highlights both the material’s strength and its potential for creative expression.”

Jassim Alsaddah, Partner and Creative Director at BNN

Some of Cosentino’s stand-out collections that are integrated into the design include EARTHIC® by Silestone®XM, a capsule collection designed in collaboration with iconic Italian design studio Formafantasma, Dekton® Pietra Edition, a Mediterranean natural stone inspired collection by designer and architect Daniel Germani and Dekton® Ukiyo, a first of its kind fluted collection with designer Claudia Afshar.

Visualised as a design gallery, the interior of Moon Vignettes features a carefully curated selection of statement pieces, including a bespoke table clad in Silestone® Jardin Emerald from Cosentino’s latest Le Chic Bohème collection, alongside iconic furnishings from Cassina and innovative lighting from Vibia. Among the Cassina collectibles are the Utrecht armchair, a 1935 classic by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; Mario Bellini’s Cab Stools, the world’s first free-standing cowhide design stools; and Soft Corners, a versatile furniture collection by Dutch designer Linde Freya Tangelder. Lighting highlights include Vibia’s Array pendant lamps, an exploration of thread lighting by Umut Yamac, circular wall sconces from the Dots collection by Martí Azúa, and the Flamingo Mini, an intriguing piece reminiscent of a hovering bird. Partnering with landscape design company Secret Gardens, the installation also includes a variety of indigenous species and ornamental plants, enhancing the immersive experience with a lush, natural touch.

“Our goal was to create a holistic installation that invites interaction from all angles, breaking away from conventional booth designs that typically emphasise a front and back”, explains Alsaddah.

The installation invites visitors to slow down and immerse in a world where tradition meets modernity, celebrating the interconnectedness of life.