“As you can see from the state of the technical drawings, the apartment layout was [previously] completely different,” the team at Studio Wok explain. The practice was commissioned to create a sense of space in limited circumstances: “The client brief was to move and enlarge the living room area, to have a huge convivial space with a lot of windows. They also asked us to take advantage of the high ceilings through the introduction of mezzanine levels.”

Some elements such as the windows frames and parquet flooring were well-preserved, which helped facilitate a quick turnaround of the project in just six months. The result is a timeless, contemporary home, which also acknowledges the building’s distinctive Art Nouveau features – notably the decorative wrought iron elements made by the famous Milanese artist and blacksmith Alessandro Mazzucotelli.

Several distinguishing elements prevail – such as the long corridors, reflecting the particular shape of the apartment – which differentiate the various areas of the house. In addition, simple and evocative shapes create the impression of space, playing with light and with the expansion and compression of height. Taking advantage of the high ceilings, as requested, each room now has a mezzanine space that not only allows for more living space but also increases the number of viewpoints from which to observe the home.

Rooms are divided by simple forms, described as ‘monoliths’ (rather than doors). Natural materials, such as stone and wood, are used for these elements. In the living area, the existing wooden parquet floors have been restored, providing a focal point. In addition to preserving the historical memory of the house, the different panels on the floor identify areas with different uses within the single large, fluid space.

In the master bedroom, simple volumes rest against each other, organising the space – a technique that is used throughout the home. A wardrobe hides a staircase which accesses the loft, which in turn houses a walk-in wardrobe and a compact working space. A sliding door divides the entrance area, producing a second walk-in wardrobe with direct access to the private bathroom.

In the bathroom of the master bedroom, the shower consists of a block dug out of the terrace, and features a seat. The entrance and guest bathroom are characterised by striking green Guatemalan marble floor and walls.

Now home to a young family, this apartment possesses impeccable design credentials – as do its accessories. Furniture and lighting were sourced mainly from DesignRepublic, MDF Italia, Flos, Artemide and Reggiani.

Photography: Federico Villa studio

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Well-known in the field of luxury residential design are Geoffrey Bradfield, who with Roric Tobin heads of B&T Global, and architect Richard Landry, who together with business partner Brian Pinkett leads Landry Design Group (LDG). Bradfield’s roster of high-profile clients includes Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group, and Chairman Huang of Star River Group – both listed in the Top Ten Philanthropists in China. LDG’s client list includes Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady, Mark Wahlberg, Eddie Murphy and Sylvester Stallone.

In the latest edition in the A 21st Century Palace series, Bradfield teams up with Landry to create a palatial property in Asia. It consists of some 23,000 square metres and incorporates grand entertainment halls, intimate salons and over 30 bedrooms on 30 landscaped, lakeside acres. This sumptuous coffee table book documents how the monumental Louis XIV-style château, with landscaping by Robert E. Truskowski, is a synthesis of Eastern and Western cultures. Landry translated European classicism into a 21st-century vision in the heart of Asia, while Bradfield infused the château with his signature, elegant interiors. Both design firms incorporated Eastern principles of feng shui, numerology and symbology into their work, without abandoning the home’s classic French inspiration.

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Read more from this interview in our April issue, which you can read for free here.

What sets Downtown Design apart from other fairs and what can we expect for the eighth edition this year?

Downtown Design is so much more than just a design fair. It is an ecosystem that nurtures the cross-pollination of ideas, cultures and talent. As an industry agent, it connects design with commercial opportunity. The fair’s curatorial approach – filtering brands for quality, originality and context – remains strong as ever.

We continue to build on that DNA with solutions that maximise the return on investment for exhibitors. We understand that the scale, offering, local presence, expectations and key objectives of exhibitors are different. So, we will have tailored packages designed around the specific needs of the exhibitor.

The Talks programme is always very popular. What can we expect this year?

The Forum at Downtown Design is the intellectual heart of the fair and brings together global design leaders. Last year we had Dara Huang, Christian Louboutin and Greg Natale, among others, to discuss the industry’s most pressing matters. The team is working on an exciting theme that will explore future attitudes towards design creation and consumption. We will be announcing this year’s theme soon and will be announcing updates via Instagram and online.

Who visits Downtown Design and where do they come from?

Downtown Design’s visitor profile reflects Dubai’s position as Middle East design hub and gateway to the GCC, Africa and Asia. Each year we collaborate with a regional designer to mastermind the fair’s look and feel, and the public areas. Together with specially commissioned installations, talks and networking events, it attracts top design firms, design investors, hoteliers and developers. Last year visitor numbers grew by 20 per cent. This included locally-based designers, many of whom service Europe and America as well as the region. In addition, Downtown Design welcomed regional industry decision-makers, as well as private clients. As a key event of Dubai Design Week, we see a deeper engagement with design enthusiasts and consumers as well. We also want to increase the wider regional participation, particularly from KSA and North Africa.

How has demand for contemporary design changed in recent years?

While there is growing appreciation and demand for contemporary design across the region, there are cost-efficiency pressures. Our industry players must increasingly share their requirements and expertise with transparency while being ready to listen, learn and adapt. I believe Downtown Design can be the ideal platform for a similar symposium. What is currently happening globally will have a long-term impact and we must create a better environment for the industry.

What excites you about the lead-up to the show?

Downtown Design has proven itself to be an industry platform that continually responds to the design industry’s needs. We must support emerging talent, give visibility to design innovation from the region and the world, and foster meaningful relationships. Communication, engagement and collaboration are key. It is challenging and immensely exciting to evolve and offer tangible value to exhibitors, the industry, visitors and the community.

Downtown Design 2020 is scheduled to take place from 10 to 13 November at Dubai Design District (d3) waterfront. For more information visit downtowndesign.com.

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Marco Corona

The inspiration for the Overclay collection by Marco Corona comes from architectural marvels of the past – from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the terracotta army of Xian, and from the city of Shibam in Yemen to the terraces of Machu Picchu, as well as Middle Eastern kasbahs. Overclay floor and wall tiles come in seven colours, five large rectified sizes and two different finishes. In addition to the natural finish, the series also features a textured ‘R11’ finish, designed for use outdoors or in settings subject to continual stress.

Vives Azulejos y Gres

The new Marblelous collection, manufactured by Vives Azulejos y Gres, is a luxurious version of ceramic marble. Its polished finish visually eliminates the edge of the tiles to generate continuous surfaces and increase the sensation of space.

Villeroy & Boch

Daytona

The 2020 collection from Villeroy & Boch is true to the brand’s philosophy: ‘The Art of Simplicity’. Understated yet striking, the high-quality ceramic tiles fit any interior scheme – whether natural, urban, modern or timelessly classical. The Alta tile range is defined by its quartzite glimmer and artisanal relief finish, while the Rocky.Art wall and floor concept combines natural stone and concrete with abstract floral designs such as opulent hydrangea blossoms in nuances of yellow and green. And the Daytona range, with its clear and simple concrete design, offers an excellent foundation for most living spaces. (Photos: Villeroy & Boch Fliesen)

Rocky.Art

Alta

Read more features here.

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Signed Sybille de Margerie: Bespoke Interiors
by Laure Verchère, foreword by Hélène Arnault
Flammarion

The Cheval Blanc Hotel in Courchevel, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Paris, the Old and New Cataract in Aswan, the Hotel D in Strasbourg, The Grand in Amsterdam … all reveal the milieu of French interior designer Sybille de Margerie. Her forte: dreamy palaces, hôtels particuliers and some of the best addresses in the whole world.

Having trained at the École Boulle and worked with the Taittinger group, she sums up her signature style: “I like the balance between tradition and modernity; I attach great importance to the fluidity of spaces, light and comfort. My work is equally highlighted by attention to detail, choice of materials and the harmony of colours.”

De Margerie now has three offices globally – in Paris, in Florence, and in Dubai where Kerzner commissioned her to design the residential area of the Royal Atlantis. She is currently working on serviced residences with Four Seasons Dubai. “I’m not looking to leave my imprint on everything I do, I’m more interested in revealing the soul and uniqueness of a place,” she has said of her functional yet detail-oriented designs.

This new book explores eight themes that are representative of her work and her distinctive architectural style.

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The new focus for interiors is the use of natural materials and patterns that are inspired by the beauty of nature, from canyons to deserts, replicated in furnishings and accessories by twisting shapes, fabrics with graceful patterns and strikingly material, pigmented surfaces. These surfaces are transformed with new finishes – soft, matt or polished – and are able to adapt to different styles, from vintage to industrial, and from modern to maximalist.

Colour can be one of the simplest and most effective routes to creating an inspiring environment. Colour determines the atmosphere of a home and expresses the personality of the people who live in it. So, when making a change in our everyday lives, the colour of our home is a good place to start.

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore revealed its Colour of the Year 2020 as First Light 2102-70 – a soft, rosy hue. “We selected First Light 2102-70 as our Colour of the Year 2020 to represent new dawn of idealism, design and living,” explains Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore’s Director of Colour Marketing and Development. “First Light 2102-70 reflects a new definition of the home – a shift in mindset from the material to satisfying the core needs in life: community, comfort, security, self-expression, authenticity and ultimately optimism.” It’s one of ten colours the brand has selected to guide us into the next ten years and beyond.

Jotun

Meanwhile, Jotun has unveiled its 2020 Colour Design under the theme of ‘Celebrating Colours’ – 12 new colours matched with eight timeless hues. “Each colour conveys a deeper meaning, helping to create an environment that will enable people to thrive,” says Rana Khadra, Colour and Creative Manager at Jotun Middle East, India and Africa. For example, Serene Blue evokes the freedom of the sea.

Novacolor

Also emphasising serenity is Novacolor, which endorses a ‘joyful revolution’ in its new collection – to restore harmony and balance in social spaces. Novacolor has been an active and constant player in this global movement for several years, not only through its communication campaigns but also through its ongoing commitment to transforming production using biomass raw materials, and studying products that are not only sustainable but also functional – linked to well-being and awareness.

Wallpepper

No less innovative or sustainable are Wallpepper’s designs. The brand’s new H2O system is the result of careful technical research to bring artworks to areas that are in contact with running water or have high humidity levels. The technical fabrics, which are PVC-free, are also are breathable and water-resistant.

Technografica

Technografica features lush vegetation, wild animals, local plants and sea life from the Philippines, hand-drawn by local artist Feanne before being digitally printed. The graphics are customisable with a range of finishes, from waterproof wallpaper to soundproof options, as well as an ecological cellulose fibre version.

Read more features here.

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Having invented the rattan stick home diffuser in 1990, Culti Milano has now created a new way to perfume a space. Its (refillable) Scented Granules can be spread around the home, in an elegant canvas pillow, and modulated in intensity as well as mixed with other Culti Milano fragrances to create discreet and original scents. Available in five fragrances, Aramara is a bitter orange citrus blend with bergamot, cardamom and sandalwood notes. The aromatic Mareminerale brings a reinvigorating freshness and combines the appeal of sea, lymph and mineral musk notes. The enveloping floral Tessuto relies on bergamot, with the addition of cassis leaves and cotton flowers, finishing with jasmine notes. In the finely-balanced The fragrance, a pure blend of bergamot is mixed with Japanese green Sencha tea, with notes of guaiac wood. Supreme Amber is especially bewitching and is a blend of incense and patchouli; its heart of black vanilla also includes a note of myrtle-leaved orange. culti.com

New frames

Longchamp’s distinctive elegance and femininity are at the fore in two new eyewear designs. The new frames play with contours and thin profiles while maintaining the core features of lightness and comfort. The new styles feature in the brand’s SS20 advertising campaign, where they are worn by supermodel Kendall Jenner, photographed by Columbine Goldsmith in the California desert. They are offered in classic colours and pastel nuances, and brand aficionados will recognise the iconic horse emblem on the flat tapered temples. Meanwhile, the optical frame is inspired by the iconic Le Pliage handbag; the acetate rectangular shape is embellished with a metal plaque embossed with the horse symbol and paired with the Longchamp logo. The new frames are available in all Longchamp boutiques and through selected retailers as well as at longchamp.com.

The Fab Four

Whether you’re watching a show on Netflix, listening to your favourite song, or working while music plays in the background, there are four Bang & Olufsen gadgets which will improve any home sound experience. The Beoplay Stage is the brand’s first soundbar, which brings the rich and powerful signature Bang & Olufsen sound to any television. The Beoplay E8 3.0 earphones are the latest to be upgraded, with more battery life and better design that allows users to plug in and work in peace. Beosound Balance is a powerful home speaker, while the Beosound 2 is a powerful speaker system that delivers a spectacular sound performance and fits effortlessly into any home environment. bang-olufsen.com

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The Design Lab Galerie kreo

Editorial direction by Clément Dirié
Flammarion

Known for its contemporary limited-edition designs, Galerie kreo was founded in 1999 by Clémence and Didier Krzentowski as a place for contemporary designers to experiment in. Most recently, fashion designer Virgil Abloh created a 20-piece graffiti-covered furniture collection called ‘Efflorescence’ for the studio, which took its cues from brutalist architecture and urban landscapes. Abloh is just one of many top designers – including Marc Newson, Martin Szekely, Jasper Morrison, Hella Jongerius and the Bouroullec brothers – who have been given carte blanche to create cutting-edge pieces that blur the borders between design and art and are regularly snapped up the likes of François Pinault, Ian Schrager and the late Karl Lagerfeld. This book offers a retrospective of the contemporary design from the galeries (in London and Paris), presented alongside key moments in design history. The book traces more than 120 exhibitions. An interview with the gallery’s founders, an illustrated retrospective of their exhibitions and tributes by Galerie kreo’s key supporters – including philosopher Christian Schlatter, design experts Marco Romanelli and Johanna Agerman Ross and artist Bertrand Lavier – weave together the story of this true design laboratory, where a culture of innovation has inspired new solutions in form and technique.

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Piazza from From Lighting

Deep technological research, a poetic approach, rigorous aesthetics and keen attention to detail are also the key elements of From Lighting, a new independent lighting brand that offers high-quality products produced in Italy.

Piazza is a magnetic wall lamp that’s designed to move freely on the surface of a metal board, according to the user’s needs. The aluminium head can be rotated through 360 degrees and its intensity adjusted. Available in different colours and shapes, Piazza gives great sculptural impact to its architectural environment.

Halo Wall by Martín Azúa for Vibia

“Halo explores the limits between the light and the lamp’s diffuser until it becomes a unified whole,” says Martín Azúa of his wall light, which provides a series of minimalist light sculptures. The result is suggestive ambient lighting that floats over the wall while at the same time bathing it with light. The Halo Wall, meanwhile, is a light rod that is one metre long.

The material becomes transformed into an emerging light in a magical way. “With Halo, I wanted to bring light closer to people, so that it would accompany them. Although… behind this proximity there’s a complex technical project,” says Azúa.

Oop’s from Ingo Maurer

Oop’s by Ingo Maurer is a strip of paper pinned to the wall, whose light source is hidden in the lower end. It combines the spontaneous expression of the ready-made with a very appealing curved shape and a pleasant light that falls through paper.

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Skyla Version F from Illulian

Rugs by Illulian are characterised by the use of top-quality wool and silk and an extremely complex hand-crafted process: they can be made to measure for homes, hotels, museums, showrooms, restaurants and boats. Colourful and textured, the most exclusive line is the Platinum 120, while the Design collection features geometric elements that create an optical illusion, or tone-on-tone effects in soft relaxing shades. These are designed to have a three-dimensional decorative effect.

Nomadismi by Elena Caponi for Mohebban

(Photo: Novamobili)

Also based on a geometric format is the Nomadismi rug collection. Every rug is defined as “a landscape reconstructed with reclaimed pieces that lived another life somewhere else.” Stitching is an important feature, as is the decision to bring the past back to life in some way by reusing portions of old natural hemp fabrics. These have been dyed in new colours, joined together using woollen yarn and decorated with tassels to produce a new rug, ready for a new life.

Grace from Pappelina

Also made with passion, tradition and craftsmanship are Pappelina’s rugs. Its focus on developing new colours and patterns has elevated the classic Swedish plastic rug to a whole new level.

Narrow Stripe Icon from Kasthall

Long-forgotten yarns, leftover dyes and historical patterns inspired Kasthall Design Studio to create its new Colors In Between collection. “We were reminded of the design language that came out of the Bauhaus school, which celebrated its centenary last year, and have been inspired by their love of pattern. We have also drawn on the 1980s feel of the Memphis Group’s designs, not to mention Kasthall’s own Arkad pattern from that period,” says Lena Jiseborn, Design Director at Kasthall.

Planier Pinède by André Arbus for La Manufacture Cogolin

La Manufacture Cogolin’s new collaboration is also inspired by the past – In this instance with the French decorator André Arbus, considered the leader of the traditional revival movement during the 1930s. The result is five rug designs with geometric designs, emblematic of Arbus’ work, and surprising re-editions of lesser-known designs using cord patterns.

Read our April Floors, Walls + Surfaces issue online here.

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