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SEPTEMBER 2013

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION

TRANSFORMING HISTORY INTO INGENUITY

GOOGLE SEARCH FOR MORE GLORY!

The Good,The Bad, and ...The Elegant

The Spanish Flavor of Floors!

Say“TI AMO”

TOYOTA ME.WE

2 SEPTEMBER 2013 3

LAUNCHINGTHE FINAL PHASE

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Director’s Note

Dear Readers,

Change is the reality that we have to face every day and September is the month of rapid change. With the door of a new academic year about to open and autumn approaching us with open arms, color is on the agenda of every designer. Time to put away the bright blues, oranges, and fiery reds in exchange for warming colors, such as maroon, navy blue, and dark beige.

As much as change is happening around us, it’s also happening within ourselves as well. We read novels and reassess their morals, concepts, and philosophies. The design that we thought was the best thing that ever happened to us will soon become to a continuous series of changes and renovations. So don’t resist that urge to repaint that room again, move that sofa a bit to the left, or wipe the dust off some old, neglected antiques to remodel your own home. Cope with change. Embrace it. Don’t resist it.

Open the door to a whole new world! Turn the page.

Managing DirectorJessica Yaramian

www.ask-mag.com

ChairmanEnass Mohamed Sleem Alkhair

Managing DirectorJessica Yeramian

Editor in ChiefWael Mongy

Editorial DepartmentNader Ramadan

Seif KamelAhmed Lotfy

Content ResearcherMaha El Masry

Bassem Mohamed

Art DirectorMaged Boutros

Sales & Marketing ManagerMaged Othman

Sales ExecutiveAmr Bedair

Mohamed Hassan

Assistant Managing DirectorRaghda Moustafa

ContributorsDr. Sherine Ramzy

ConsultantArch. Dalia Sadany

Distribution & Production Manager

Ahmed Mohsen

Assistant Dist. ManagerAhmed Abdel Salam

DistributorsAhmed GamalSherif Hussien

Financial DepartmentHatem Ghandour

Ahmed Galal

AccountantMohamed Farghaly

IT ManagerOsman Afifi

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Call:0122 045 4841Or E-mail: [email protected]


CONTENTSSEPTEMBER 2013

14 Savory Yet Totally South Africa SAOTA and Antoni Associates design yet another Pearl Valley residence in the peaceful community of Paarl, almost half an hour outside of Cape Town.

20 Style InfernoArketipo Firenze designed/manufactured several amazing sofas for style hungry buyers to see including, Malta, Marea, Loft, and Arketipo Firenze Inkas.

24 Google Search For More Glory! Google Dublin is a stunningly stylish new office environment for employees at this internet giant. The office was designed by the firm Camenzin Devolution.

30 Will You Take Decaf? Innarch designs a whole new experience for coffee drinkers with the Don House Café in Kosovo, a new joint where you can get together with your friends and have that essential sip of your all favorite java.

36 Jangir Maddadi Is On Cloud 9World-renowned designer and owner of JMDB, Jangir Maddadi designed furniture and products to make public spaces just a tad more attractive. It’s all serve the universal human right for being stylish.

40 The Good, The Bad, and….The Elegant GANDIABLASCO releases several interesting outdoor experiences this year including the Atlantic Collection, the Flat Collection, and the Tropez Collection.

44 The Spanish Flavor of Floors!It’s time to experience floor en Espanol. GAN Rugs flirts with a whole new Spanish flavor weaved to fit any floor.

48 A Vondom Visionary This year Vondom strikes again with several new collections including Sloo by Karim Rashid, the Peacock Collection by Eero Aarnio, the Faz Collection by Ramon Esteve, a Christmas collection by Teresa Sapey and much more.

50 Transforming History into IngenuityThomas Griem from TG Studio designed a cozy little home out of an age old parish, a stunning way of living history…literally!

54 Breathing in the Autumn Breeze SICIS produces a marvelous autumn season collection which makes the weather FALL right into living room when you didn’t ever know it. Designed by Capellini and Licheri, you will be stunned as to how these designers used nature as their inspiration.

56 Playing the BluesThe Blue Penthouse designed by Dariel Studio successfully integrates different spaces together to create a uniform abstract melting pot of visual overtones, a nest knit for a family.

60 Toyota ME.WEThe car of the 2nd millennium. It is personalized, practical, and multifunctional. Another superb creation of Toyota, the new ME.WE is a vehicle to be used anywhere and for any purpose!

62 Say “Ti Amo”This month ASK explores three main kitchen concepts including that of Giorgio Armani, Snaidero, and Ernestomeda.

66 Serenity in Singapore Architects Wong Mun Summ, and Richard Hassell, being the two founders of WOHA Architects, designed Park Royal, a new complex combining both business and hospitality facilities right in the middle of the busy center of Pickering, Singapore.

70 Flyboards, Superman For A Few Minutes!Get to be a superman for a couple of minutes using water jet propulsion at its best, now available in Egypt.

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR

YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION

SHOWROOM10, 77C St., Maadi, Ground Floor

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MARBLE AND GRANITE WASH BASINCOLLECTION 2013

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SAOTA and Antoni Associates strike with yet another luxury residence in the peaceful community of Pearl Valley, a prestigious location within the high end Paarl district. This time the duo use cunningness, creativity, and did their best to avoid blind conformity. The end result was a breathtaking luxury nest fit for a family with an active social life and a knack for style.

SAOTA strikes again with yet another Pearl Valley residence in the beautiful golf community of Paarl, Cape Town, just a half an hour drive from the city. Pearl Valley is the epitome of what it means to live in a home away from home, retaining its connection with the city while at the same unapologetically suburban in its visual demeanor.

The residence is made to serve a client which wants to escape the wear and tear of modern cities like Cape Town in order to have a taste of the sweet South African countryside. Most notably, the residence is made to entertain and accommodate visitors as the family has an active social lifestyle. “The owners of this home love to entertain and wanted the house to reflect their lifestyle,” a press statement from SAOTA and Antoni Associates. “Key features of this include the bespoke wine cellar adjacent to the dining room which has been screened off by laser-cut metal sliding panels. The informal family spaces include an open plan kitchen, informal dining and open bar, all linked to the entertainment lounge. A feature marble clad two-sided fireplace divides and screens off the family lounge from the spa room. These areas of the house flow out onto the outdoor entertainment deck with a sunken outdoor boma (a typical South African outdoor enclosure). Here timber seating is casually arranged around an open fire.”

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INTERIOR RESIDENCE

Savory Yet Totally South

Africa By Nader RamadanArchitecture by SAOTAInterior design by Antoni Associates Photography by Adam LetchLocation: Cape Town, South Africa


The house features some of the world’s best brand names including UK based Tom Dixon and MOOOI. It’s a country life with city style and it gets classier and classier as you go deeper inside this crib. With the way the interior design went, a challenge taken up only by the internationally well-known Antoni Associates, this is a family that wants to keep its classy style within a country cry!

“Concealed lighting has also been used to highlight and accentuate the organic natural finishes,” the press statement added. “In the dining room a collection of Tom Dixon’s lights add glamour to this space. In the main bedroom a dramatic statement is effected with the random lights from MOOOI.”

INTERIOR RESIDENCE


SAOTA and Antoni Associates are design partners who have taken up some of the most prestigious projects in South Africa. Their work has touched every part of the world including Paris, Moscow, London, New York, Dubai and Geneva. Now, they become a well-known name in the field of residential development, architecture, and high end interior designing.

Residential spaces will continue to mystify those who week architectural knowledge. Talent in design is nothing more than a light which God puts in the heart of every designer. Either you have or you don’t. It’s a blessing in disguise which many don’t understand and few succeed to comprehend.

INTERIOR RESIDENCE


From the relics of abstractness to the puzzling patterns of the subconscious mind, Arketipo Firenze has managed to come up with a new definition of home spaces, setting even higher standards of innovation for the good of the company’s buyers around the world. Burn with inspiration!

Down to Earth, yet cozy and comfy would best describe the new products that Arketipo Firenze, an Italian giant in the global furniture market, designed this year for homeowners wide and far to feast their eyes on.

Building on the innovations of the previous years, loft is a seating system designed to let the user experience comfort and develop

his/her own personal relationship with the sofa. In this particular sofa, designers created two different seating units at different depths: (1) the more traditional 75 cm and 120 cm unit for those who prefer sitting upright. The back portion of the sofa is adjustable having the ability to be moved up and down, making the sofa an ideal multipurpose open space for relaxation.

Malta isn’t just in the middle of the Mediterranean but it could be in the living room of your own home! This new couch is perfumed with a Mediterranean essence, evoking an aura of serenity with its pragmatic combination of the classical taste of Anglo-Saxon inspiration and contemporary forms. Both comfortable and cozy, soft lines and sober colors come together to produce mosaic of lightness and warmth.

STYLE INFERNOBy Nader RamadanImages courtesy of Immagine QuattroMarea & Malta designed by Gordan GuillaumierLoft Sofa designed by Adriano PiazzesiAuto-Reverse Sofa designed by Guiseppe ViganoArketipo Firenze Inkas designed by Arketio Firenze Co.

FURNITURE MODERN

Loft Sofa (front angle)

Loft Sofa (top angle)

Arketipo Firenze Inkas


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“An essential sofa that combines classic forms with the contemporary taste of slow living: soft lines and sober colours give lightness and warmth to the environment. malta is enriched by accurate details such as the finishing and the materials,” it said from the company’s press statement. “The classic taste of Anglo-Saxon inspiration is revised in a contemporary way: the sober and important structure, supported by retro styled feet, contains comfortable and welcoming seat cushions.”

Meeting the Auto-Reverse could be like meeting a couple you never thought would be compatible. To the naked eye, this sofa may look untidy and casual, yet as well all know appearances can be deceiving. Contrasting this, the sofa exudes

an extreme sense of detail and formality. Designers successfully tapped into the duality of this piece’s character to create the ideal couch for any pop art type pad.

In an effort to say au revoir, we would like you to meet Marea, an L-shaped couch which spells love from the designers who made her! Marea is compatible with a number of other items including: “The small tables and the isola cabinets, available in glass or stone, can be used to create compositions that are both

attractive and functional,” said a press statement from the company.

Last year, Arketipo was the magnet for global attention with the development of an innovative textile with its culture solely based in Tuscany. Their products sing culture, and they’re not shy of showing it off as with other aspects of their business practices.

“In 2011 Arketipo, now internationally recognized for its excellent know-how, enriched by the strength of the textile tradition Tuscany, is acquired by Cattelan Italy, company among the world leaders the furnishings,” said a press statement from the company. “It is the beginning of a new era that preserves the values and guarantees the evolution of the business.”

Today, products Arketipo Florence are present in approximately 8oo outlets mainly in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, UK, France, Former Ussr, Australia, the Middle-East. It is a multinational signature brand which spells elegance for those who know of it.

Malta Sofa (side angle) Auto-Reverse

Marea Sofa

Malta Sofa (front angle)

FURNITURE MODERN


With a number of astonishing tools and applications; Google Search, YouTube, Google+, Google Maps, Gmail, and a large number of other new creative inventions, nobody would have ever thought of these fascinating programs and applications if he/she was not working in the most ideal perfect atmosphere and the most inspiring settings.

This is the main reason why Google continues to dazzle the mind of people around the globe, not only with their new technology related inventions, but also with their new offices and headquarters all around the world featured with innovation and creativity to trigger inspirations and revelations in the souls of the Googlers out there!

This time it happened in Ireland; in Dublin to be more precise. Google opens the doors to its thriving new campus. With over 47’000 m2 of matchless office space, this new campus represents an amazing workplace for Google’s ever growing sales, marketing, finance and engineering teams. The employees working in the new campus come from more than 65 countries and speak over 45 languages.

The office in Dublin is a state-of-the-art modern complex fit with up to 5 restaurants, 42 micro kitchens communication hubs, games room, fitness center pool, learning & development, tech centers, and much more. Imagine everything that the average overstressed, overworked, sleep deprived employee could need and then put it all in one office.

This new campus will be representing the Google EU Headquarters and serves as the center for sales and finances in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The new Google Campus in Dublin was mastered by Camenzind Evolution; the renowned Swiss architecture studio and in cooperation with Henry J. Lyons Architects; a local firm of Ireland.

FITTING IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Located in the bustling neighborhood of docklands; Dublin’s historic district, the designers and architects of the new campus had to think out of the box in order to create a stimulating and interactive environment for the employees.

The original master plan of the new campus included the integration of a whole multitude of additional functions, such as 5 restaurants, 42 micro kitchens and communication hubs, game rooms, fitness center, pool, wellness areas, conference, learning & development centre, tech stops, over 400 informal and formal meeting rooms and phone booths, and much much more!

“The locations of all functions were very carefully balanced between the different floors and buildings. In addition, a bridge is planned to be built to connect 'Google Docks', ‘Gasworks House' and 'Gordon House' together, encouraging an easy flow between buildings and people”, said a press release about the new Google Campus in Dublin.

GOOGLE SEARCH FOR MORE GLORY!

INTERIOR OFFICE

By Seif Kamel Images courtesy of Camenzind EvolutionPhotography by Peter Würmli


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SEPTEMBER 2013

THE GOOGLE DOCKS

Consisting of four marvelous buildings, the most astonishing contribution of the Google Campus in Dublin is what was called the “Google Docks”, a freshly built 14-storey building where each floor represents the unique identity and strong values of adopted by Google.

These themes include the ‘SEARCH’ theme which is dedicated to finding any information as a fast, easy, and seamless experience, BE GREEN’ which focuses Google’s ecological concepts ‘@HOME’ which was built for the purpose of aspiration of giving its users the feeling of being at home, ‘CREATE’ which expresses the free, unrestrained and open-minded spirit of Google, and ‘ORGANIZE’ a section which centers around the mission of Google to organize the world’s information.

The central section of each floor is the communication hub which is integrated among different functionalities which depends on the theme of each floor. This ranges from open plan and flexible working spaces, to micro kitchens and informal meeting rooms, alternative working zones, game areas, cafés, and a gym.

1GC AND THE GORDON HOUSE

Beside, the amazing Google Docks, there are also the “Gasworks House' and ‘Gordon House' which have been serving Google already but they were also fully refitted and the fourth building is the 'One Grand Canal' which is usually referred to as ‘1GC’ and it was newly fitted out as well.

INTERIOR OFFICE


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“'1GC' played homage to the Irish culture and its many myths, legends and traditions. It includes a replica Irish pub and a library space based on the Long Room in Trinity College.” This was how a press release described the 'One Grand Canal' building of the new campus of Google in Dublin

Inspired by multicultural aspects Google; hiring employees who speak more than 45 languages, The Gordon House blends the colors of flags from various countries from around the world in a virtual corridor of color. This creates a well-communicated and stimulating working environment embracing diversity and function as well as being unique, flexible and sustainable.

Now, after taking a tour in this fascinating dream which mingles technology with the most admirable fantasies, the hard question would be what is more startling, the Google Apps and programs, or the Google new campuses constructed all over the world?

INTERIOR OFFICE


By Nader Ramadan

PROJECT CREDITS:Project Name: Don Café House coffee shop Designer: Innarch Client: Don Café House L.L.C. Place: Shoping Center “Albi Mall”, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo Year: 2013 Photographer: Atdhe Mulla

Innarch completed Don Café’s Company’s first concept in Kosovo this year by designing a new hardcore coffee shop. With its taste, environment, and new marketing tool, one could say that Don Café House successfully encompasses local coffee culture in a whole new way.

Inspired by the form of coffee beans in a bag, Don Café House is the first of its kind, allowing its clients the opportunity to have a taste of that delicious coffee before it makes it to their doorstep. Based on a number of studies Innarch conducted, this new café is a hit in the country’s emerging coffee market.

“The idea / inspiration for the design derives from sack filled with coffee grains. The walls of the bar are organically shaped and colored like coffee sack made up of “Plywood” type of wood, whereby the pillars in between are coated with textile coffee sacks,” said a press statement from Innarch.

WILL YOU TAKE DECAF?

INTERIOR CAFÉ


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Designers have made use of the space to send a unified message by using the same color tones which resonate throughout the interior. “Tables and hanging chandeliers represent the coffee grains lined up asymmetrically in order to generate the impression of being inside a coffee sack,” said the press statement. “The seat has a double function; decorative and functional. Its organic shape consists the most dominant part of the premise enabling a unique feeling of sitting unlike any other one comes across in everyday life.”

Don Café is a cross breed of different styles and trends made to mimic the experience you get when you take that first morning sip. All we have to say is do you prefer black or decaf?

INTERIOR CAFÉ

Ideal StandardCONNECT - THE RANGE WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Connect is where creative design meets practical solutions. Choose a style which appeals to your taste from distinctive basins shapes then build your dream bathroom around it. With Connect, you can fulfill your whole wish list. You’ll discover bathing options, innovative storage, stylish accessories and some very clever ideas along the way. Whether you’re planning a busy family space, an elegant shower room or a compact cloakroom, Connect offers a complete solution, giving you value without compromise.

YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN

Do you prefer curved or straight edges? Geometric shapes or smooth lines? A bit of both? Connect offers four contemporary but timeless shapes, which won’t break the budget but will impress.

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THE RIGHT SOLUTION

Whether you need a whole new bathroom or just a basin, Connect has the answer! Your only job is to play designer and compose the bathroom you love from a wide range of possibilities.

A PERFECT FIT

Big bathroom, small bathroom, family bathroom, guest bathroom… Whatever your bathroom size and style is, there’s a Connect option to suit it. Because after all, everyone’s bathroom is different.


By Nader Ramadan Images courtesy of Jangir Maddadi Design Bureau

Veteran designer Jangir Maddadi takes a design a step further with a new psychedelic collection. It isn’t LSD. It’s design at its finest. Maddadi and his now booming agency are taking a step further to rediscover the home of tomorrow.

Jangir Maddadi is on cloud 9 and he’s not going any lower than that! Design, desire, and things to admire are what it’s all about with his new bureau, a melting pot of psychedelic ideas to make your interior space even more attractive than ever before.

We start the way all design is supposed to start which is a beacon of light: the light of inspiration. Just as bees swarm circumbulating around their hive, so does the Swarm collection in the midst of your very own home. These lights use natural forms for mimic what you may see in the environmemt with a contemporary twist.

“Specialty Bulbrite light bulbs that reveal a sculptured pattern of entwined filament are connected to custom-cut wood that resonates with a distinct Scandinavian design quality. The respect for woodcraft in the Swarm Lamp hearkens back to a simpler, pre-industrial time when the creative process was just as important as the end product,” said a press release from JMDB. “The Swarm Lamp, like all Jangir Maddadi products, is designed for individual style: The angle of each Swarm can be adjusted to a broad spectrum

of positions, and each lamp can be purchased as one, a group of three, or a group of five, giving people the freedom to choose the light in their lives. The Swarm Lamp brings together three simple materials: glass, wood, and metal, and creates a piece that so organic that it could have been designed by nature itself.”

Turning to a more robotic type of them the Droid lamp full encompasses what it must feel like to live in a space museum, yet even better! The boxed form creates a sense a modernity consistent with any contemporary context, hence being an addition to any environment which adds volumes to the home.

Jangir Maddadi Is On Cloud 9

PRODUCT CONTEMPORARY

Swarm Group

Droid Lamps

Jangir Compound Collection

Panorama


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Speaking of luxury! Though you may think of several things when you hear the word “butler”, but in reality the Butler is just your normal everyday waste basket designed to fit any contemporary environment within residential spaces, hospitality facilities, as well as public areas.

The Compound Collection all makes use of the flexibility of any typical living room setting in a whole new way. The Panorama Bench picks up where the Compound Collection left off with the same visual themes, used most specially as a leisurely sitting space for social gatherings or for museums. Yet, besides living rooms and interiors, designers have also set their sights on improving the overall look of public spaces as a civic duty. The

Concrete Collection features a number of organically formed resting benches fit with a plant pot, made to a refreshing, yet homey addition to the environment.

Jangir may have got away with being on cloud 9 but we’ll see his designs next year where he’ll take us in another dimension. He’s cunning yet caring and his designs are courageous yet fit for comfort. What does he have in store for us next? We’ll just to wait and see…

Concrete Collection (Seater left and pot right)

Panorama

Butler

Compound Collection

SAR Platform-Compound Collection

PRODUCT CONTEMPORARY


FURNITURE OUTDOOR

The Good, The Bad, and ...The Elegant

By Nader RamadanImages courtesy of GANDIABLASCO

GANDIABLASCO being one of the world’s top authorities in the field of furniture production came to offer a new authentic experience to the great outdoors. This time we find that it gives the user a new type of “zen” sensation that one would never expect.

The first of these is the Atlantic Collection, which uses wood, metal, as well as form and structure in order to mold a new type of experience for basking in the sun in front of the pool for example

Atlantic Noche

or even enjoying sweet lemonade under the umbrella listening to the sound of waves. "The Atlantic Collection is manufactured with a new technological material, 100% recyclable and exclusive of GANDIABLASCO,” said José A. Gandía-Blasco in a press statement from the company. “This material ‘NOWOOD’ mixes natural and plastic fibers to make a product that combines the best properties of both. The particular blend of these materials gives the product a warm texture similar to wood.”

Designed by Mario Ruiz, the Flat Collection also simplifies the great outdoor experience, giving the user an intimate experience with mother nature. The furniture spells a more laid back type of style for residents having a lush garden next to a splendid villa or a small beach house in a place like North

Coast. “It has been so successful, that five years later we are still adding new items. It’s a well-balanced, flexible collection; an essentially formal concept with light and airy structures in which fabric plays an important part,” said Ruiz in a press statement. “At a time when competition in the outdoor furniture world is fierce and many collections are showing a complicated approach aesthetically, Flat does not. Perhaps that’s what makes it so popular - it’s something the end consumer can appreciate. Although the range has won many awards, the real proof of its success is that people like it so much, especially at times like this.”

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Composicion Flat Arena

Composicion Arumi

Modulares Tropez

Mesa Redonda Flat Arena


Stefan Diez also outdid himself this year with the Tropez collection; yet the most interesting component of the whole set is that sports furniture that he created out of a youthful color theme unlike any other. “Tropez considers the world of outdoor furniture in a light-hearted and unpretentious way; much like a lacewing bird would land in a garden with ease,” said Diez A line very

much defined by its language we know from elegant sailing boats and handcrafted tennis rackets. Tropez is bringing the comfort of interior furniture to the outdoors.”

GANDIABLASCO created a whole new authentic experience for landscapes, unlike any other scene in the modern design scenery. Priding itself with the age old tradition, this company has been at the forefront of industrial technology in the field of furniture production and already established itself as a recognized brand.

Textile design by Ana Llobet

Mesa Alta Tropez Arena

Tropez Sport

Mesa Alta Tropez

FURNITURE OUTDOOR


By Seif Kamel Images courtesy of GAN Spaces

The sky is the limit, Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars. We were always advised to look to the sky, the moon, and the stars in order to seek more success.

Today with the new collection of GAN Rugs, a Spanish rugs and grounds manufacturer established in 1941, our eyes will shift towards the ground, towards the floor; this important area where most of us usually miss!

“The rug is the starting point, the main concept, and now you have the option to elaborate on its design by adding coordinating cushions, poufs and accessories”, a press release said the new collection of GAN Rugs.

THE HIDRA RUGS Designed by Jose A. Gandia Blasco, a famous Spanish designer, the Hidra is an amazing part of the new Hand Tufted Collection manufactured by GAN.

The Spanish Flavor of Floors!

PRODUCT RUGS

These wonderful handmade rugs are made out of pure New Zealand wool which can be colored in the tint and the style desired by various clients and they can even color it themselves.

With approximate total weight of 5,00kg/m2 and the height of 20 mm the Hidra Rugs come in two different sizes; 180x240 cm, 225x300 cm to suit the tastes of different clients and satisfy the requirements of various spaces.

THE GLAOUI SPACEA colorful blend of the Moroccan tradition and Indian crafts created this wonderful exquisite collection to become the warmest and most comfortable side to globalization.

This wonderful portrait, the Glaoui Space is designed by Sandra Figuerola who was successfully able to create brilliant modules that allow various compositions and ambiences.

With the 100% polystyrene filling, this new space is manufactured into two sizes; the ALEXANDRA POUF: 110x72x32h cm and the TUMBUCTÚ POUF 110x72x32h cm.

The Hidra Collection

The Glaoui Space


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SAMI AMIN LAUNCHES NEW COLLECTION

THE MANGAS SPACE A clear revolution in the production of rugs and ground spaces; this is how the Mangas Space should be described as it is a one of a kind invention.

With the design of Patricia Urquiola, this matchless fusion of rugs and modules mixed up all together generates a marvelous feeling of warmth and harmony.

We chose to present the Plaits module out of this rich collection because of its uniqueness. They are 100% wool with Foam rubber and polystyrene filling and they are presented in a number of shapes and colors to enable the clients to mingle them according to their own personal tastes.

THE TRENZAS SPACEWhen a designer imagines grounds and open spaces, he always thinks how to evoke comfort and quality in the senses and the soul of the user.

This was why the Trenzas Space was actually created by Gandia Blasco, a well renowned designer, to provide the clients with the comfort of nature in its purest forms.

THE CANEVAS COLLECTION Inspired by the cloth leftovers, the Canevas Collection was created when the designer; Charlotte Lancelot, decided to sew his leftovers all together to create carpets, and he made a 10 metres long carpet for IMM Cologne in 2007.

This mission which took the designer more than 70 hours to be completed but the result was some astonishing portraits that would coat the whole atmosphere of your space with beauty and joy.

This summer Sami Amin, one of the finest names in local design market here in Egypt, has released the new designs for his latest collection in adherence with the themes of the summer season.

This year Amin focused on jewelry and bags decorated in an almost Pharoanic style, with much attention to detail and intricacy. On display at his latest event that would kick off the new collection was a diverse of collection of earrings, bracelets, and rings designed with precious/semi-precious stones, making any customer who shops at Sami Amin’s store fit for royalty. Interesting also was the red, curved earring set made to go with the necklace which were explicitly and unapologetically ancient Egyptian in character.

Sami Amin had taken an interest in the arts from an early age graduating from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1988 with a specialization in architecture. Through individual study, Amin expanded his horizons and now his work includes a wide range of home decorations items, accessories, wallets, bags, and jewelry. Now, Sami Amin is a brand known both nationally and internationally, symbolic of Egyptians entrepreneurial success.

The Canevas Collection

The Mangas Space

The Trenzas Space

The Trenzas Composicion

COVERAGEPRODUCT RUGS

By Nader Ramadan Photography by Bassem Kaddah


A VONDOM VISIONARY

By Seif KamelImages courtesy of Vondom

When you are passionate about a concept or an idea, you would simply achieve anything to become a perfectionist in your field of passion. This indispensible philosophy of Vondom has made this Spanish company a leader in the, manufacturing and commercialization of avant-garde indoor & outdoor furniture, planters, and lighting.

In 2013, Vondom continues to invest in human and material resources to keep on enhancing their products in order to offer the world with only the best of the best; and above all their passion towards design!

THE DAYBED CHAIR Another addition to the growing family of FAZ Collection, Daybed was designed by Ramón Esteve to become the perfectionist choice of beds for relaxing, sunbathing and enjoying in the open air. The idea of this marvelous new chair is inspired by natural minerals that are quite significant to the shape of crystallized quartz.

THE PEACOCK COLLECTIONOne of the most delightful additions presented by Vondom this year, the Peacock Collection is the first contribution of Eero Aarnio, one of Europe's design gurus. The creator of the collection admitted that peacocks always fascinated and scared him during his childhood. This was why he invented this fresh new look of furniture.

THE SLOO COLLECTIONDesigned by Karim Rashid, the Sloo Collection is a blend between the liquidity of plastic and the solidity of material items to form these new interesting shapes. Plastic, as a substance loves to flow freely around and this message is clearly conveyed in this unprecedented design.

THE BIOPHILIA COLLECTIONThere is a hidden dialogue, a common language between time, spaces, forms, and shapes. This concept is purely evident in this new collection featured with the pioneering organic design of Sagrada Famila by Antonio Gaudi. The BIOPHILIA Collection was manufactured with the usage of the most advanced technology to craft these outlines of how a modern chair would look like!

THE AGATHA COLLECTION Featured by freshness, innocence and spontaneity, the AGATHA Collection is the first creations of Vondom which is dedicated to the passion of our little ones. With the touches of the designer; AGATHA RUIZ DE LA PRADA, the new collection mainly consists of two merry elements, a mini table and a chair which are suitable to be used indoors or outdoors because of their durable materials.

THE FRAME COLLECTIONAccording to Ramón Esteve, the creator of this new distinctive collection, geometry is timeless and has no boundaries. The Frame Collection consists of robust pieces of furniture, yet they offer the most comfortable seating possibilities. This rich collection has everything you need to have a stellar time in the great outdoors.

THE CHRISMY LIGHTS With the holy spirit of the Christmas closer than ever, Teresa Sapey was inspired to create this amazing lighting set; renewed classic, refined in its timeless modernity and it is easily adaptable. This creation mainly consists of natural, organic, and elegant shapes that rise towards its peak in each of its silhouette to-and-fro movement.

FURNITURE CONTEMPORARY

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INTERIOR RESIDENCE

Transforming history into ingenuity

Imagine an interior designer is challenged to redesign, transform, renovate, and refurnish a section in one of the historical palaces of Egypt or one of the students’ chambers in the astonishing Mosque of El Sultan Hassan to become a modern apartment.

In fact, this was the new challenge of Thomas Griem, the founder of TG Studio, but in a different context. He was asked to transform the top three floors of the west tower of St Pancras; a Church of England parish church in Somers Town located in central London and it was dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Pancras, into a decent modern house where Arran Patel, the owner of the property, would relish his accommodation in a personal and luxurious home.

Due to the public interest in the property and its significant heritage value, the floor plan had to be broadly maintained but all staircases, balustrades, and partitioning, were replaced wherever that was possible.

The middle floor is the focal point of the apartment. With a surface area which measures approximately 800 square feet, this area

accommodates a wonderful seating area and a pool table. Inside the two gothic towers of the building, the en-suite bathrooms offer a triple ceiling height and extensive views of the surrounding area.

By Seif KamelImages courtesy of TG Studio


TG - Studio enlarged the floor area of the top level and separated the space into a stylish walk-in wardrobe, finished in oak and sheep leather. The master bedroom space, now reached through a new staircase, is opened but can be closed to the triple height living room by electrically operated curtains.

The master bedroom now has a larger space as well and it is distinguished with a Portuguese travertine stone which has a cave like quality adding a richer experience to the client.

The middle and lower floor are occupied by two fascinating levels of entertaining. A new staircase has been created to link these two levels. They are featured with oak veneer, plain glass, and wooden stringers painted in off white.

Historic yet alive, the St Pancras Penthouse is an astonishing example

of turning a place modern, while maintaining its ancient character and personality.

“Thomas and Arran have enjoyed this project so much that they are now looking to working together creating luxurious places. They are currently looking in London and New York for their next project under a joint banner,” said a press realease after the booming success of the new apartment.

INTERIOR RESIDENCE PRESS RELEASE


Breathing in the Autumn Breeze

PRODUCT INSPIRATION

By Nader Ramadan Designed by Capellini & Licheri Produced for SICIS The Art Mosaic FactoryImages courtesy of SICIS The Art Mosaic Factory

Magnolia Divano

Noce Tavolino

Quercia Divano

EFEC Announces Launch of New Design + Industry Workshop and Competition

Building on the success of the previous workshop and competition, the Egyptian Furniture Export Council (EFEC) announced the beginning of this year’s Design + Industry Workshop and Competition, part of an initiative to encourage to train young designers and help them showcase their work for the world to see at the world’s top design platform Salone Internazional del Mobile in Milan, Italy.

At the event, EFECT Chairman Mr. Ihab Derias, TVET Chairman Mr. Mohamed Helal, ETP Chairman Mr. Mohamed Shabrawy, CWWFI Chairman Eng. Sherif AbdelHady, Rhimal Design Chairman Dr. Amr Abdelkawi, EFEC Board Member Mr. Cherif Makram, and award-winning designer Eng. Dalia El-Sadany. There were also two significant speeches by Eng. Ahmed Helmy and Eng. Amr Helmy titled “It takes Two to Tango” about the relationship between design and industry. The three winners who had won the previous competition

at Salone with their new concept of an environmentally-friendly bag were also present. As is the case every year, all legitimate participants of the competition will have their work showcased at Salone Satellite, Salone platform for young designers.

Worthy of note, at the event was the company ETP Wood & Furniture in partnership with TVET Reform. ETP is one finest names in training within the local furniture industry here in Egypt working with up 21 organizations all over the country, one of which is the EFEC itself.

COVERAGE

By Nader RamadanPhotography by Bassem Kaddah

Betulla Poltrona

Acello Rossa Poltrona


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59SEPTEMBER 2013

SICIS, one of the best names in the design market, helped bring nature to life this season with a new fresh breeze of autumn flavor. Ever see leaves, the large ones? The ones that you never though would become chairs and sofas in your living? Well, that’s exactly what SICIS is doing!

Leaves, leaves, leaves are falling everything creating a colorful collage of oranges, reds, and dark browns. Such visual properties are what the designers Capellini & Licheri wanted to take advantage of.

“The innovative SICIS collection of furnishing accessories, designed by Alida Cappellini and Giovanni Licheri, is inspired by leaves in all their variety…The heart-shaped birch leaf is perfect for chairs that cocoon, almost caressing, enveloping and inviting one within. On the other hand, the thread-

like bamboo, in its brilliant green, curiously and playfully weaves through a sofa of sinuous lines. The oval oak vivaciously curls up in a small, curved Baroque-inspired sofa. The red maple, with its warm colour and webbed form, opens into a warm embrace,” said a press release from SICIS.

Nature is almost magical in its ability to tell a story using visual patterns. This visual dialogue then resonates throughout the interior permeating the very essence of the home. “The warm colours of nature, from enveloping browns to sparkling greens, transform in shapes that take over space with their theatricality, creating magical fairy tale-like atmospheres, in a blend of inspiration and fantasy,” the statement added.

Natural forms will also force the human being to think and reflect about the one gift that every human being was given, the world itself. We have been blessed with enough life to spread out on ten planets, nut just one. It’s biodiversity at its best.

Foglia Tavolino

By Nader RamadanDesign by Dariel StudioDesign Director: Thomas DarielDesigner Assistant: Justine FrenouxProject Manager: Hata CHENPhotography by Derryck Menere

Designing penthouses is no easy task, especially with the increasing demands of a constantly evolving body of clientele. Thomas Dariel, Design Director from Dariel Studio, uses his impeccable sense of style to put this newly designed nest to the test. The Blue Penthouse, completed this March, is the ultimate combination of cunningness, character, and creativity, all to serve a family in search of a sustainable source of serenity.

Overall, the team sought to integrate innovative technology with expressive visual elements in order to voice a common concept which resonates throughout the residence. It is the summation of these essential ingredients that make a concoction which is ideal for a living space. “Strong concept and vision, attention to the smallest details, furniture and lighting signed by the best designers, quality equipment and high technology, all elements that makes this penthouse a small paradise to live in,” said a press statement from Dariel Studio.

They say that the light of knowledge is an ever-lasting lighting that will touch the heart of every human being whether dead or alive. So what better to start with other than with light? Designers began to modify the house’s original design to increase the intake of natural light in the interior space. “Consistent with the architectural shapes, wink to the original meaning of the word penthouse (from the latin appendere – to be suspended), the cube also holds a strong meaning. The client, while working there, is at the same time overlooking his home and his family,” the press statement added.

Equally important to Dariel was the way spaces related to each other. None demonstrates this other than the ingeniously designed staircase which fuses the second and first floor together harmoniously. On the first floor, spaces are reserved to public functions, such as in the living room designed and thought out for the purpose receiving visitors as well as other social occasions.

Playing the Blues

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INTERIOR RESIDENCE


“Dariel also wanted to modify the way the spaces related to one another. To match this requirement, the staircase has been designed and relocated to be at the center of the apartment. Masterpiece in itself, the staircase is opening, connecting and leading to all rooms. It is the core of the space structure, the heart of the design,” mentions the press release. “To highlight this concept, the staircase has been placed over a black and white marble pattern, a very graphic and contemporary stage that contrasts with the classic moldings-ornamented wooden panels all around. Staircase, flooring and walls have been conceived as circular shapes to further a smooth flow and to bring harmony.”

The second floor was made only for the family activities including everything such as private bathrooms and bedrooms designed to fit the individual needs of each

member of the family. The residence also offers a panoramic view area within the house’s vicinity.

“The clients indeed said they wanted a home that had a sense of repose. Set on the top floor of a residential tower, the apartment resides in a safe and abstract realm, secure from the noise and grit of the city below it. Dariel wanted its design to be a reflection of this. Its spaces flowing into one another, repetition and symmetry of the French molding running throughout the apartment, hidden doors designed to remain unseen not to trouble the space’s rhythm, blue color chosen for its relaxing and soothing quality, etc. All are essentials elements that instill a sense of calm and gracefulness.”

France, France, and France was what the customer wanted. So that’s what they got. Upstairs is spruced up to be one of the most interactive parts of the house, paying an obsessive amount of attention to details. Every room has its own individual atmosphere unlike any other. Dariel Studio using these principles created a fundamental creative “zone” if you like within the very heart of the home.

“What strokes in the realization of this penthouse is the tremendous amount of details. The space is elaborated and sophisticated, featuring an utterly designed environment where ceilings, walls, storages, furniture have been customized to serve the design purpose,” said a press release from the studio. “Cabinets, wardrobes and

chest drawers, produced by hand, have been inspired by old luggage. As steamer trunks, they are finished with leather and linen and appeal the strong traveling spirit of their owners. In the kids’ bedrooms, wallpapers, specifically designed by Dariel Studio’s team for the project, bring culture, playfulness and poetry. Throughout the space, AC grills are elegant stainless

steel plates with engraved letters clamoring quotes that have been placed here to answer the client’s desire to learn French.”

Dariel Studio is an international design studio based in Shanghai that offers everything world class interior design solutions to a number of different types of clientele, whether it’s for residential or commercial purposes.

INTERIOR RESIDENCE

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This was how they thought. A perfect collaboration would probably result in a perfect creation. When Toyota European Design & Development and Jean-Marie Massaud, a renowned creative designer acclaimed for his visionary projects in design and architecture, signed a partnership agreement in July 2011, they aimed at marking a radical shift in the automobile industry compared to traditional vehicle design and engineering. The outcome was the new Toyota ME.WE.

Massaud had to overcome a number of challenges in order to reach this marvelous novel traveling car. “By losing sight of reality and as a result of an idealized approach, the car has become an accumulation of constraints more than a source of freedom.

However, our lives and needs require more adaptability, simplicity and lightness. The car of today should be seen as a personal mobility solution that can deliver more”, said the distinguished designer.

The new car had to be of a light weight in order to become more and more practical. This was why Massaud used a tubular aluminum structure which carries

interchangeable body panels designed in expanded polypropylene, an ultra-resilient, ultra-light thermoplastic polymer.

On the other had ME.WE had to be easily personalized. The molded production method provides a way of standardizing production to achieve maximum return on investment.

Now why was it called ME.WE? The name reflects the whole philosophy of this new concept; “Perfect for me and good for others. Its name reflects a simultaneous concern for personal wellbeing (ME) and the wellbeing of others(WE)” said the press release of the company.

The Main Features of the new ME.WEDimensions: length: 3440 mm; width: 1750 mm; height: 1600 mmWeight: 750 kgChassis frame: tubular aluminumEngine and transmission: 1 electric engine per wheel [2- or 4-wheel-drive]Battery: packaged under the floorAir conditioning/heater: low consumption heat pump air conditioning system coupled with electric seat heating to minimise power consumptionDefrost system: Heated Windscreen Defroster (HWD) system

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TECHNOLOGY CAR

TOYOTA ME.WE

By Seif Kamel Images Courtesy of Toyota European Design & Development

Jean-Marie Massaud


By Nader RamadanImages courtesy of Ernestomeda, Molteni & C Dada

“Ti Amo” means ‘I love you’ in Italian. But nothing expresses love better than a good design, such was what we found with Snaidero, Ernestomeda, Febal Cucine, and Dada as they presented their new kitchen setups for ‘hungry’ buyers. People love many things but their love is most passionate when it comes to two essential matters, food and family. The two go together like white on rice.

THE ARMANI/DADA KITCHEN CONCEPTInspired by the refined settings one would normally find in a dining invitation, Giogio Armani wanted to create an authentic experience, rather than simply a design. For Dada, he designed a kitchen, accomodating to guests and visitors, which at the same time allows enough space for the efficient performance of tasks that are supposed to take place in any normal kitchen. “The island, with an innovative sliding Lasa marble top reveals an elegant stainless steal technical worktop,” a press statement from Molteni & C Dada. “The façades are composed by horizontal wooden slats. The technology is hidden under the worktop, which contains the operative parts of the kitchen (hob, sink, cutting boards) thanks to a gentle horizontal sliding movement.”

Besides showcasing this kitchen at Saloni this year, Molteni & C, a prestigious multinational brand known for its commitment to style and innovation, has also played in active role in Jean Novel’s “Offices for living in” project, intended to help employees bask rather than behave in a typical business atmosphere.

Say“TI AMO”

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KITCHENS MODERN

Armani-Dada Kitchen Concept

Febal Cucine-Alicante

Febal Cucine released its stunning new kitchen setup, Alicante, which is a concoction everything your average Martha Stewart would need in order to operate in any modern kitchen. This kitchen squeezes all the functions that all house hold cooks would require within every square meter.

Board by Snaidero

ElektroVeto by Ernestomeda


SNAIDEROItalian giant Snaidero this year introduced two interesting kitchen setups including Board, Way, Ideal. Board aims for simplicity, modernity, and sophistication making use of kitchen space for the purpose of slipping as much functionality as possible within every square meter. Using a stunning diversity of materials as well as a youthful atmosphere, Board is a standard example which designers can use to study color effects the overall psychology of residents living within an interior space. The Idea kitchen set draws upon the same principles favoring functionality over cluttering visual content withing each atom of space. Way creates its own individual flavor with a new type of aura that manifests itself within the heart of the home, so that customer can tickle their taste buds with comfort and ease.

ERNESTOMEDA-ELEKTRAVETROModern kitchens have been redefined with the emergence of ElektraVetro in the market, a new standard technological innovation to all design inspirations as the press release from Ernestomeda mentions “...

this model introduces a new concept of circularity, where ElektraVetro is transformed into a genuine amphitheatre by the curved line of the work-top and tall cabinets, which deliver exceptional ease of movement as well as the pure pleasure of their fine design.”

Idea by Snaidero

Way by Snaidero

KITCHENS MODERN


ARCHITECTURE BUILDING

SERENITY IN SINGAPORE

By Nader RamadanPhotography by Patrick Bingham-HallProject Name: Park Royal Location: Pickering, SingaporeImages Courtesy of WOHA Architects

The Far East has a lot to show tourists and residents alike. A prosperous economy (possibly considered the most liberal in the world), hot tropical weather, and one of the most diverse cities on the globe, spells an attraction for trekkers, tourists, and tentative citizens.

Yet, sometimes separating business and pleasure is a bit of an old concept. Wong Mun Summ, and Richard Hassell, the two founders of WOHA Architects, designed Park Royal, a new facility which combines both and at the same time shows that within an urban setting architects can easily preserve to conserve greenery, even in high rise structures.

“Designed as a hotel and office in a garden, the project at Upper Pickering Street is a study of how we can not only conserve our greenery in a built-up high-rise city centre but multiply it in a manner that is architecturally striking, integrated and sustainable,” said the firm in its architectural statement.

Perched right in the center of Singapore, the structure is located in an area which connects CBD with the ethnic, spicy hot districts of Chinatown and Clark Quay in front of the Hong Lim Park. The natural landscape of the echoes throughout the building with shapes that mimic contour lines of landscapes made out of modular radii.

Greenery is at the center of this project, becoming a main component of what makes it both attractive and innovative. Botanical life in urban spaces has never really been too savvy in the architectural world. Designers in this situation use lush green to redeem an otherwise purely industrial look, breathing life into the office and the hotel.


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Nothing encompasses the biodiversity of the city more than this 15,000m2 of sky gardens, green walls and water features. “This is double the site area or equivalent to the footprint of Hong Lim Park! A diverse variety of species ranging from shade trees, tall palms, flowering plants, leafy shrubs and overhanging creepers come together to create a lush tropical setting that is attractive not only to the people but also to insects and birds, extending the green areas from Hong Lim Park and encouraging bio-diversity in the city,” said the statement. IT’s the ultimate way of nurturing nature in a structure which has the ultimate urban complex. It’s like saying let’s take a walk in the Amazon Forest right around the corner from Chinatown.

Founded in 1994 by veteran architects Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell, WOHA is a Singapore-based world class architectural firm which has an extensive portfolio of prestigious projects including from resorts and hospitality facilities to residential and educational spaces.

ARCHITECTURE BUILDING

“Lofty 4 storey sky gardens which bring lush greenery directly to the rooms and breaks down the scale of the building,” the statement added. “Corridors, lobbies and common washrooms are designed as garden spaces with stepping stones, planting and water features which create an alluring resort ambiance with natural light and fresh air, instead of being 24-hour energy guzzling air conditioned spaces.”


Flyboards have become the latest trend in watersports in Egypt this summer. Now all of us can fly around over the water and around the beach in the same style as our fancy beloved heroes!

The Flyboard is a watersports device which allows propulsion underwater and in the air. The nozzles under the feet ejects 90% of the propulsion, allowing movement by tilting the feet and tilting the Flyboard. The nozzles on the

hands provides up to 10% of the propulsion for stabilization, much the same way as ski poles.

Last month In Porto Marina, the first flyboards provider in Egypt opened the door to passengers to go through an exotic experience. Learning to flyboard usually takes from 5 to 15 minutes with the help of an instructor and not more than one hour if you wish to go on the adventure on your own!

FLYBOARDS, SUPERMAN FOR A FEW MINUTES!

By Seif Kamel

PRODUCT WATER BOARD

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Image Courtesy of Flyboards Egypt Photography by Nina Photography

Image Courtesy of Flyboards Egypt

Image Courtesy of Flyboards Egypt

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