'Al Qasba' Project - My dream come true!

When i moved to the U.A.E nine years ago i stayed in Sharjah for the first four years. Sharjah is considered to be the cultural capital of the nation. One of my favorite hang-outs here was “Al Qasba”. It is one of the most picturesque sites in Sharjah. It is home to “The Eye of the Emirates wheel” which is a 60 meters high ferris wheel. It’s two buildings are separated by a one kilometer long manmade canal. Al Qasba’s unique architectural design includes pedestrian bridges across the canal and boats to take visitors onto the adjoining Khalid and Al Khan lagoons. It also features the state-of-the-art Masrah Al Qasba, a 250-seat theatre, winner of LEAF Award 2012 in Refurbishment of the Year category, which hosts a plethora of events, including artistic, musical, film, theatrical, and poetry performances, as well as conferences and summits on a regular basis. Al Qasba is home to Business Centres which offers support to entrepreneurs by providing them with virtual offices. Al Qasba's Maraya Art Centre is an initiative by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to promote young artists from both the Arab region and the international art scene. The non-profit art space launched in March 2010 is one of most spectacular venues for contemporary visual arts in the United Arab Emirates.

 Al Qasba

Al Qasba

It was my dream to have an office in Al Qasba someday! I love what it reflects, it is traditional yet ever embracing of the modern culture. There is a beautiful balance and harmony that echoes through it’s structure, it’s ambience and it’s people. 

I came very close to realizing that dream this year as i was approached by Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority) to design one of their offices in Al Qasba! Firstly being approached by a government authority is a little intimidating but at the same time exhilarating as well. On my weekly site visits i stood on that bridge and thought about that dream i had nine years ago, i was so thankful !! It is one of those moments in life where no one may see the achievement, it may not be that great to be recognized, but u feel it in your heart and its over whelming. It is a testament to the strength of the human mind and how some conviction and passion can bring the universe together in your favor. It may happen once in nine years but it is ever so powerful :)

The design process- Site pic, my sketches and 3d rendering.

My project manager from Shurooq is one of the most gracious and talented young girls i have met and an absolute pleasure to work with. I am truly grateful that she believed in me enough to convince the management of my capabilities. 

Aesthetically the project is very simple. We focussed on making the layout as functional and efficient as possible. I concentrated more on the work flow and traffic around the office and made sure all the services were well coordinated. We divided the two departments on either side of the central space with the department heads over looking their staff who were located in the back area. We strategically placed the pantry behind the reception area for easy access and made a design feature of it. The beech wood panelling that encases the pantry is highlighted by warm strip lighting from above. The same feature is repeated in the partition that divides the offices. Our initial proposal was to go with a cement floor but because of budget and time restraints we had to opt for tiles with a cement look. Overall it may not be high on design but it is a very functional and well planned office, if i may say so myself! I wanted it to imbibe the balance and harmony of the Al Qasba. And i was very pleased to hear from Shurooq that the “Project was a success!”. Appreciation from my clients will always be my greatest victory!

Site work in progress

Final results!

Until next time “Stay true to yourself…. Stay Funky”

Flexible Spaces

Space planning in the commercial and retail sector has evolved greatly. Workspace research suggests there are various benefits to open space planning. The sense of community that an open work environment can provide, better communication, the ability to house more employees, reduced set up time and renovation costs are some of the benefits. I believe providing flexibility in a space is the most important factor of them all. 

This is why i think this next product is remarkable.

Molo is dedicated to an exploration of sensory experience in space making, combined with experiments in manufacturing, materials and structure, the molo studio explores overlapping realms of art, architecture and design. molo has created projects as diverse as a museum in Japan, a modular wall system and a tea set. molo's products are inspired by studies in architecture and the idea that smaller tactile objects have a real potency in the physical experience of the built environment. Working back and forth between the intimate scale of furniture and small utilitarian objects, to the larger scale of buildings and landscapes heightens the sense of human scale and physical experience in architecture and brings the perspective of thinking in a larger context into the creation a smaller object.

They have created furniture, lighting and space partitions using their innovative honeycomb textile and paper that is expandable and can be reconfigured as you please. When not in use these compress solving storage problems, reducing packaging and waste. Their application is vast and have especially been used in trade shows, exhibitions, museums, events, theatre, retail, offices, commercial and public spaces.

 

softwall + softblock modular system

A flexible freestanding partition system that can expand and contract to freely shape more intimate spaces within larger open areas. The cellular structure of softwall + softblock serves to dampen sound while translucent or opaque versions sculpt the light of a space.Recognized for its elegant innovation, softwall + softblock is a part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

They can be manufactured either with textile or kraft paper. 

textile

A non-woven polyethylene material, trade name Tyvek©, is 100% recyclable and is made from 5 – 15% recycled content. Its lightweight paper look and feel is tear, UV and water resistant, making it durable to handle and maintain. textile softwall + softblock is available in translucent white and opaque black.

White textile softwall + softblock comes to life when light transmits through its delicate pattern of translucent fibres and pleats.

Black textile softwall + softblock is dyed with a UV resistant bamboo charcoal ink, lending the material a velvety opaque sheen reminiscent of charred wood.

The textile material has a “class A” flame spread in North America. 

kraft paper

A stiff robust unbleached paper, it is 100% recyclable and made from 50% recycled fibre. It is available in a natural warm earthy brown and a dyed bamboo charcoal black.

kraft paper elements are fire retardant. 

tapered kraft softwall

The tapered profile exposes patterns from the internal honeycomb geometry, giving the tapered softwalls a unique visual expression. The tapered softwall uses less material than the already resource efficient modular softwall and is lighter. Each softwall is flexible in length, opening to a maximum of 4.5 meters (15\’) long. tapered softwalls can be joined to other tapered softwalls by the magnetic end panels to create continuous lengths. A stainless steel wall hook is provided for simple compact storage.

Evolution is inevitable and having a space that is flexible and can be moulded as requirements change will be an imperative design tool for the future.

Until next time “ Stay flexible… stay Funky”

Design with a Purpose

I would like to introduce you to the works of designer Pepe Heykoop today. The fact that he has a purpose to his design and passion draws me to his work. Pepe not only believes in sustainable design but also in sustainable communities. In pursuit of this noble cause Pepe and his cousin Laurien Meuter set up the Tiny Miracles foundation in the red light district of Mumbai, India. The objective of this foundation was to enable this community of over 700 people to be self -supporting by way of education for parents and their children, by teaching the Pardeshi community valuable skills and by creating jobs. Pepe set up his workshop in this particular red light district and creates jobs for the community. Till date they have created 100+ jobs! Their products are showcased all around the world in trade fairs such as ICFF New York, IMM Cologne, Maison&Objet to name a few and sold globally in upmarket stores.

 

Pepe’s products are as remarkable as his intentions behind his cause “Tiny Miracles”. Please join me to spread the word! Till next time…” Stay purposeful… Stay Funky”

You can find more information on pepeheykoop.nl & tinymiracles.nl

Designed Spaces...BDNY nyc,2014

Visiting the Boutique Design New York show for the second year in a row has been an incredible learning experience. Engaging with people from different continents and learning about their perspective on interior design, their work ethic etc. is always refreshing.

Besides having a much larger floor space this year, BDNY also boasted of some marvellously designed spaces. Scattered around the BDNY hall were dedicated spaces which were designed by various Interior design companies. Each space reflected a particular theme. These spaces not only provided a platform to showcase the designers flair but also was a place for the trade visitors to congregate. 

Designers Sketch 

 In actuality

CITYSCAPE BY DESIGN GROUP CARL ROSS

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Design Group Carl Ross invites you to Cityscape lounge, an urban oasis high above the hustle and bustle of the trade fair floor. In the spirit of Boutique Design’s semiannual event, Cityscape is designed in signature bi-coastal style: Slip into the bar and channel the magnetizing energy of midnight in New York City as the skyline soars above you or decamp to the garden with a kicked-back, sunny San Diego vibe, and recharge your batteries (along with your phone’s) under the branches of a giant tree. Wherever you land, seize this chance to relax, revitalize and refuel.

Sponsors:

Fairmont Designs, Interface Hospitality, P/Kaufmann Contract

Product Sponsors:

Astek Wallcovering, Gold Leaf Design Group, Neoteric Luxury, Royal Contract Lighting

Product Contributors:

el media group

 

In Actuality...

SOJOURN LOUNGE BY DESIGN POOLE

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Travel used to be a romantic venture for the privileged few. As time has passed, travel has become a more basic necessity. The faster and more direct, the better, as we seek more time to be productive with work. The Sojourn Lounge, by Design Poole, is a tribute to the warriors of travel, providing luxury lounging space and casual conversation areas with high-quality finishes and materials and unique seating choices—perfect for connecting with friends, colleagues and clients at BDNY.

Sponsors:

Architex, Ariston, B Carpet, Hubbardton Forge, Wonderly’s

Product Contributors:

el media group, US Vinyl

AND MY FAVOURITE THE STUNNING……….

Designers Sketch 

In Actuality...

LUXURY LOUNGE BY WILSON ASSOCIATES

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Enter a cocoon of luxury in this geode-like design created for our honored BDwest guests and designed by Wilson Associates as a sanctuary of hospitality. The concept of “shooting star” mirrors the meteoric rise of Wilson Associates in the hospitality design universe over the decades since its creation by Trisha Wilson. This meteor is multi-faceted, with a distinct character on the outside, and an unexpected surprise on the inside.

Sponsors:

HG Arts, Justin David Textiles, Maya Romanoff, Swarovski Lighting, Vaughan Benz, Zenith Rugs

               ** Description of the spaces courtesy bdny.com**

Stay Inspired… Stay Funky!

Transforming dreams to reality!

My company Pure Coalesce was recently commissioned to carry out yet another transformation this one with a swanky edge. A beautiful two-bedroom apartment with views of the ocean was in need for a touch of glamour.  Meeting a new client and taking on the mammoth task of transforming his vision to reality is a constant challenge as a designer. During my early years as a designer, the rhetorical question remained “What is your style as a designer?” and I was always stumped for an answer. I thought at the time I need to discover myself more and maybe the answer will come to me over the years. But it never did, I realized that I accepted and appreciated all kinds of styles be it classical or contemporary. There is uniqueness in everything and everybody in this world and that is how I treat my clients and my projects. So not having myself gravitate to one particular style has helped me maintain my equilibrium. I love to be challenged and I see each project as a new mould to fit into but as I mould myself I also learn to carve my own niche into each project.

The challenge in this particular project was a two-week deadline, which we met!!! And to create a clear distinction between the formal living room and informal lounge, that was only partially partitioned. We did that by way of color and use of furniture styles and accessories and yet tied both together by using a common patterned wallpaper. I hope you enjoy viewing the transformation and the choice of furniture which I particularly enjoyed picking.

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

DINING ROOM

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

INFORMAL LIVING ROOM

INFORMAL LIVING ROOM

VIEW FROM FORMAL TO INFORMAL LIVING AREA

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

My greatest joy is when I have happy clients at the end of the project who has entrusted me with churning their dream into their reality….. until next time… “Stay true….Stay Funky”