STYLE GUIDE Your essential hot list of essential ... - Thenumber4
STYLE GUIDE Your essential hot list of essential ... - Thenumber4
STYLE GUIDE Your essential hot list of essential ... - Thenumber4
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worDs By shweta pariDa.<br />
Burlesque<br />
boutique in Dubai<br />
stocks fabulously<br />
unique homewares<br />
and furniture<br />
style guide<br />
<strong>Your</strong> <strong>essential</strong> <strong>hot</strong> <strong>list</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>essential</strong><br />
people, places and new designs<br />
Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |37
design<br />
space gets<br />
surreal at<br />
Burlesque<br />
red velvet<br />
in modern<br />
mode, below<br />
AATI<br />
a room set-up<br />
by Fendi Casa<br />
prestige at aati<br />
Since it opened in 1982 Dubai’s original<br />
luxury-brand furniture store has always been<br />
miles ahead <strong>of</strong> the game when it comes to<br />
designer homeware and accessories – from<br />
European heavyweights such as Ligne Roset,<br />
Armani/Casa and Fendi Casa to American<br />
icons like Barbara Barry and Ralph Lauren.<br />
It’s evident from the selection that Aati’s<br />
buyers trawl the international design fairs<br />
with gusto to spot the best names at their<br />
game – yet their choice <strong>of</strong> collections shows<br />
a deep understanding <strong>of</strong> what really works<br />
in a UAE context. +971 (0)4 337 7825<br />
inga sempé’s ruché s<strong>of</strong>a for<br />
Ligne roset Dhs25,700, above<br />
b<br />
a distinctive<br />
re-worked vintage<br />
chair by BoKJa<br />
CCHAKIB RICHANI<br />
When couturier to Hollywood stars Elie Saab<br />
wanted a designer to dress up his home, he<br />
chose the acclaimed Lebanese interior architect<br />
Chakib Richani for the job. Venezuela-born<br />
Richani, recently named as one <strong>of</strong> the 100 best<br />
international designers by Architectural Digest,<br />
lends his pared-down aesthetic to create spaces<br />
that have majestic proportions and rich textures<br />
while keeping the overall look subtle and<br />
elegant. Richani is also an architect <strong>of</strong> choice<br />
among royal family members in the UAE. +961<br />
(0)5 808 140; www.richani.com.<br />
BOKJA<br />
the interior<br />
<strong>of</strong> elie saab’s<br />
home in Beirut<br />
Design duo Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri are much<br />
sought after in international design circles by buyers,<br />
critics, curators and galleries alike. Based in Beirut, the<br />
super-talented designers blur the boundaries between<br />
art, craft and design with their innovative and<br />
contemporary use <strong>of</strong> gorgeous vintage textiles and<br />
tapesteries from the Levant region and the Silk Road<br />
countries <strong>of</strong> central Asia to create one-<strong>of</strong>-a-kind<br />
furniture. Having exhibited at major design fairs such<br />
as Salone del Mobile in Milan and Design Miami,<br />
BOKJA has also caught the fancy <strong>of</strong> none other than<br />
master craftsman Christian Louboutin, who regularly<br />
commissions the Lebanese designers’ work for his<br />
stores around the world. Hollywood celebrities<br />
such as Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Kate<br />
Hudson and songstress Norah Jones are also<br />
fans. +961 1 975 576; www.bokjadesign.com<br />
plus B also stands for Burlesque<br />
Founded by emirati, laith Abdul Hadi,<br />
Burlesque is a madcap, surrea<strong>list</strong>-inspired store<br />
that both shocks and enthralls. Whatever your<br />
reaction, it’ll be a strong one. With one-<strong>of</strong>f pieces that<br />
make a strong statement, the store prides itself on the<br />
drama and unique experience it provides to its<br />
connoisseurs. spend time at Burlesque and you’re<br />
bound to come out with plenty <strong>of</strong> quirky ideas and<br />
some fabulous furniture. +971 (0)4 346 1616<br />
Darren Lyon’s<br />
Mashrabi Night<br />
console Dhs11,00<br />
LIVING<br />
deETCETERA<br />
DARREN LYON<br />
The Dubai-based South African designer’s<br />
LOVE c<strong>of</strong>fee table (Dhs5000), inspired by the<br />
aesthetic beauty <strong>of</strong> Arabic calligraphy and the<br />
power <strong>of</strong> positive words, has acquired something<br />
<strong>of</strong> a cult status. The self-proclaimed<br />
environmenta<strong>list</strong> believes that love and nature<br />
are what we all need to survive and it reflects in<br />
his work– including an <strong>of</strong>f-the-grid, selfsustaining<br />
eco estate in the South African<br />
wilderness, that he’s currently designing. Lyon is<br />
also busy at his studio near Cape Town, 1010<br />
Creative, designing and making even more<br />
interesting products to follow the LOVE table.<br />
+27 44 5348060; www.1010creative.com<br />
plus D also stands for DAMAsCus, the bestkept<br />
secret <strong>of</strong> the Middle east design world.<br />
Just starting to emerge from the shadow <strong>of</strong> its<br />
hipper neighbour, Beirut, the syrian capital is<br />
coming into its own with cool boutique <strong>hot</strong>els,<br />
trendy one-<strong>of</strong>f stores and a new generation <strong>of</strong><br />
contemporary artists and designers. We love<br />
Beit Al Mamlouka, an 8-bedroom gem <strong>of</strong> a<br />
<strong>hot</strong>el set in a beautifully restored mansion. A<br />
stay here will provide all the design inspiration<br />
you need for hitting the souks and stores.<br />
+963 11 543 0445; www.almamlouka.com<br />
f 4 (FOUR)<br />
If you haven’t already heard <strong>of</strong><br />
Lesley Zaal and Marie-Inez Botha,<br />
the duo behind the interior design<br />
practice ETCETERA LIVING,<br />
take note because you will be<br />
hearing about them a whole lot<br />
more. With their work on<br />
Al Barari and the high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile<br />
Nurai Island in Abu Dhabi, the<br />
designers have already scored<br />
highly among clients who want a<br />
chic and comfortable home. With<br />
their design philosophy <strong>of</strong> keeping<br />
the clutter at bay and maintaining<br />
simplicity, the designers believe that less is more. However,<br />
it’s the little objects and details that they feel gives a space the<br />
much-needed personal touch. So sourcing unique items from<br />
the markets <strong>of</strong> Fez to ‘antique street’ in Saigon, is all in a day’s<br />
job for the pair. Ask them who would be their choice if they<br />
could design one high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile home and the reply is pretty<br />
much reflective <strong>of</strong> their sensibilities: Barack and Michelle<br />
Obama – the world’s most powerful couple, known for their<br />
sense <strong>of</strong> style. +971 (0)4 344 8868; www.etceteraliving.com<br />
There’s a lot more to Kuwait than endless oil fields<br />
and amazingly stylish women who wear the most<br />
recent designer wear under their elegant abayas.<br />
4, for instance, is a must-visit lifestyle store located<br />
in Kuwait’s Shuwaikh industrial area that takes its<br />
cues from the über-cool Meatpacking District in<br />
New York. As well as stocking some <strong>of</strong> the edgiest<br />
fashion labels, such as Ann Demeulemeester,<br />
Damir Doma and Haider Ackermann, the<br />
destination store also retails exclusive and limitededition<br />
furniture and accessories by the legendary<br />
Fornasetti, Established & Sons and the Dutch<br />
design powerhouse, Droog. The avant-garde store<br />
also features special collaborative pieces from Jaime<br />
Hayón as well as antique chairs with a<br />
contemporary makeover by Jimmy Martin, and<br />
the British designer Lee Broom’s quirky creations.<br />
There’s also a hip art gallery that hosts exhibitions<br />
by Kuwaiti and international artists and a cafe to<br />
unwind and digest all <strong>of</strong> that style.<br />
+965 249 25444; www.thenumber4.com<br />
38|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |39<br />
a courtyard<br />
sitting area at<br />
Beit al Mamlouka<br />
a Fornasetti<br />
wallpaper by<br />
Cole & sons<br />
creates a<br />
dramatic focal<br />
point at 4<br />
➤<br />
Lesley Zaal and<br />
Marie-inez Botha<br />
a huge ‘dripping<br />
paint’ number 4<br />
announces the<br />
store’s presence
Lea Badro<br />
<strong>of</strong> Greenline<br />
interiors<br />
GREENLINE<br />
INTERIORS<br />
i<br />
ISLA MODA<br />
From humble beginnings almost 35 years<br />
ago, in a Sharjah <strong>of</strong>fice comprising 10<br />
people, Greenline Interiors is now sought<br />
after by the international design<br />
community, having custom-built the<br />
interiors for such prestigious projects as the<br />
Presidential Library <strong>of</strong> George Bush Sr in<br />
Texas, the Grand Hôtel du Cap Ferrat in<br />
the South <strong>of</strong> France, Burj Al Arab <strong>hot</strong>el<br />
and the First and Business Class lounges <strong>of</strong><br />
Emirates Airline at Dubai International<br />
Airport, among others. Founded by the<br />
architect Samir Badro, Greenline has<br />
diversified into yacht interiors – a venture<br />
under the direction <strong>of</strong> the stunning and<br />
entrepreneurial Lea Badro, who holds a<br />
postgraduate degree from Central Saint<br />
Martins College <strong>of</strong> Art and Design in<br />
London. Greenline Yachts has worked on<br />
major projects designed by the likes <strong>of</strong><br />
Philippe Starck, François Zuretti, Terence<br />
Disdale and Donald Starkey. +971 (0)4<br />
886 2220; www.greenline-interiors.com<br />
A fashion-centric island project with<br />
80 limited-edition homes designed<br />
by the fashion kaiser Karl Lagerfeld.<br />
Need we say more? Interestingly,<br />
there is more to the project, for<br />
Lagerfeld is only one <strong>of</strong> top five<br />
couturiers invited by Dubai Infinity<br />
Holdings to design haute couture<br />
homes for the UAE’s fashion-savvy<br />
jet-set. The limited-edition villas and<br />
‘villettes’ (compact villas) will be<br />
right by the beach, with a milliondollar<br />
view to match the price tag,<br />
and will be surrounded by<br />
exquisitely designed landscapes,<br />
including swimming pools. The project also includes a <strong>hot</strong>el called<br />
The Hotel Moda, with 250 rooms and serviced apartments, as well as<br />
boutiques representing some super-high-end labels, many <strong>of</strong> them<br />
exclusively. The island on The World will not be just for retail therapy<br />
aficionados: there will be design studios and facilities to host highpr<strong>of</strong>ile,<br />
international fashion events. Moreover, Isla Moda will <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
personal concierges for guests and residents, including a style<br />
concierge for clothing, perfumery and personal style makeovers, and a<br />
design concierge to create one-<strong>of</strong>-a-kind homes with bespoke<br />
furnishings, art, and technology. +971 (0)4 807 8888<br />
Karl Lagerfeld at<br />
the launch <strong>of</strong> isla<br />
Moda in 2008<br />
spanish architect<br />
Jaime hayón<br />
JJAMES CLAR<br />
hHAYÓN,<br />
JAIME<br />
Dubai-based American artist and lighting<br />
designer James Clar dabbles in new media<br />
installations, fusing technology, pop culture<br />
and visual arts. As an artist-in-residence at<br />
Traffic, Clar has been going from strength to<br />
strength with amazing lighting installations at<br />
landmark buildings in Dubai, as well as<br />
international art events. Recently the shy and<br />
down-to-earth designer was invited by the très<br />
exclusive Rolex Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road<br />
to create a futuristic lighting installation that<br />
reflects the energy <strong>of</strong> its high-octane<br />
surroundings. Clar’s conceptual and eyecatching<br />
works have been exhibited at leading<br />
museums around the world – among them the<br />
Chanel Mobile Art exhibition in Tokyo, The<br />
New Museum <strong>of</strong> Contemporary Arts, New<br />
York and Somerset House in London.<br />
+971 (0)4 341 8494; www.jamesclar.com<br />
plus J also stands for JAKe AND GIGI.<br />
Michelle Roberts, the Canadian founder <strong>of</strong> Jake<br />
and Gigi attributes the popularity <strong>of</strong> her Dubaibased<br />
label (named after her two children) to<br />
having fun with fashion and not taking it<br />
seriously. It obviously works, as is evident from the<br />
demand for her vintage-inspired accessories.<br />
Having grown up in Dubai, Roberts admires the<br />
style sensibilities <strong>of</strong> Arab women who, she feels, are<br />
extremely in tune with what works for them. Each<br />
accessory is named after a pop icon, screen siren or<br />
powerful personality: the latest piece is called Miss<br />
Hornby after the 60s model Twiggy (real name<br />
Lesley Hornby). www.jakeandgigi.com<br />
Jaime Hayón’s muchanticipated<br />
Villa Moda project<br />
may have failed to take <strong>of</strong>f in<br />
Dubai, but the Spanish<br />
designer provides some<br />
gorgeous eye-candy at the<br />
Octium jewellery store in<br />
Kuwait. Designed in Hayón’s<br />
signature Digital Baroque<br />
style, the store – at Kuwait’s<br />
360º Mall – has become a<br />
must-see for contemporary<br />
design seekers. See, also, his<br />
work for Baccarat and Lladró<br />
at Tanagra stores in the UAE.<br />
+965 2530 9888; www.<br />
octiumjewelry.com;<br />
www.hayonstudio.com<br />
James<br />
Clar’s<br />
soundwave<br />
sculpture<br />
in Dubai’s<br />
rolex tower<br />
Greiling’s<br />
hat-hat,<br />
designed<br />
for the<br />
Wallpaper*<br />
exhibition<br />
in Milan<br />
Katrin<br />
Greiling<br />
k<br />
K ATRIN<br />
GREILING<br />
This exuberant and super-talented German-<br />
Swedish designer who called Dubai home for<br />
the past five years is generating waves not<br />
only locally but also in the international<br />
design community. Greiling, who now<br />
shuttles between Dubai, Germany and<br />
Sweden, has designed furniture for the UAE<br />
Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale as well<br />
as a specially-commissioned object by<br />
Wallpaper* magazine at this year’s Salone<br />
del Mobile in Milan– a noteworthy<br />
accomplishment indeed. Titled the HAT-<br />
HAT, the daybed-stool is a contemporary<br />
interpretation <strong>of</strong> the camel saddle that was<br />
also used traditionally in Middle Eastern<br />
majlises. The international press showered<br />
Greiling with accolades for her simple yet<br />
innovative concepts and use <strong>of</strong> materials.<br />
Multi-faceted Greiling also experiments with<br />
other forms <strong>of</strong> creative work, including<br />
p<strong>hot</strong>ography, and is now regularly<br />
commissioned by Wallpaper* to do shoots <strong>of</strong><br />
such influential subjects as Dieter Rams and<br />
Maarten Baas. +971 (0)50 871 03 26;<br />
www.katringreiling.com<br />
humour to the fore<br />
with Jake and Gigi’s<br />
accessories from<br />
Dhs1,500 for No<br />
Bling to speak to<br />
the hand<br />
an Mp3 player with<br />
its own custommade<br />
trunk<br />
Missoni brings<br />
its vibrant colour<br />
palette to its<br />
branded <strong>hot</strong>els<br />
LOUIS<br />
VUITTON<br />
While there are few decorative<br />
accents quite as chic as a stack<br />
<strong>of</strong> vintage Vuitton trunks,<br />
they’re not always easy to<br />
come by. But current pieces<br />
can have just as much impact<br />
– and some incorporate bang<br />
up-to-date functions too.<br />
This one-<strong>of</strong>f piece was<br />
exhibited recently in Dubai.<br />
Price on application<br />
www.louisvuitton.com<br />
mMISSONI HOTELS<br />
We’ve long been fans <strong>of</strong> the vividly striped clobber<br />
from Italian fashion house Missoni – and now there’s<br />
reason to rejoice further as Rosita Missoni brings her<br />
branded <strong>hot</strong>els to Kuwait. Taking inspiration from the<br />
Gulf nation’s sea, sun and sand, Missoni infuses the<br />
label’s bold signature patterns and colours with strong<br />
accents <strong>of</strong> turquoise, green and gold. An ardent<br />
admirer <strong>of</strong> classic mid-century designs such as the<br />
Wishbone chair by Hans J. Wegner, Missoni lends her<br />
tasteful yet striking touch to the group <strong>of</strong> <strong>hot</strong>els that<br />
opened its first property in Edinburgh, Scotland.<br />
The Kuwait property, with a luxurious Six Senses<br />
Spa following suit, will feature state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art gadgets<br />
by Apple and Bang & Olufsen. The next eagerlyawaited<br />
opening on the slate is a Missoni <strong>hot</strong>el in<br />
Oman. +965 9999 1357; www.<strong>hot</strong>elmissoni.com<br />
40|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |41<br />
➤
NURAI,<br />
ABU DHABI<br />
A very special desert island residential<br />
project, NURAI has been conceptualised<br />
and designed by the progressive New<br />
York-based industrial designer and<br />
architect Dror Benshetrit, whose clients<br />
include the likes <strong>of</strong> B<strong>of</strong>fi, Rosenthal and<br />
Swarovski. With water villas, beachfront<br />
estates and a boutique <strong>hot</strong>el, the island<br />
has been designed to resemble a rug, its<br />
edges ‘lifted’ to reveal the villas. Dror was<br />
given carte blanche and, as a result,<br />
Nurai’s emphasis on architecture and<br />
sustainability makes it entirely different<br />
from other island developments in the<br />
Gulf. Seventy per cent <strong>of</strong> the villas were<br />
sold within two days <strong>of</strong> launching, to<br />
buyers for whom getting what they want<br />
means much more than the money paid.<br />
+971 (0)4 349 0337; www.nuraiisland.ae<br />
O’ DE ROSE<br />
In a city obsessed with big brands and bigger<br />
shopping malls, O’ de Rose located in a villa,<br />
<strong>of</strong>f Jumeirah Beach Road provides a welcome<br />
relief to those looking for an alternative<br />
shopping experience. One <strong>of</strong> Dubai’s handful<br />
<strong>of</strong> original stores O’ de Rose is the brainchild<br />
<strong>of</strong> Lebanese-born fashion designers Mimi<br />
Shakhashir and Dania Atallah . This treasure<br />
trove <strong>of</strong> a place stocks artisan-inspired objects<br />
that clearly portray their Middle Eastern<br />
influence in all their glory. From Egyptian<br />
legend Umm Khaltoum-inspired home<br />
accessories to hand-made contemporary<br />
objects, Shakhashir takes great pride in<br />
showcasing the cultural icons <strong>of</strong> the Middle<br />
East in their modern avatar. +971 (0)4 348<br />
7990; www.o-derose.com<br />
Mimi shakhashir’s<br />
villa has the o de<br />
rose touch<br />
QQATAR<br />
To say that Qatar’s design and architectural<br />
evolution is inspiring is a huge understatement.<br />
The tiny Gulf country has eschewed fast-track<br />
results for a more organic growth that continues<br />
to climb uphill. A roll call <strong>of</strong> star-architcets such<br />
as Jean Nouvel, I.M.Pei and Arata Isozaki who<br />
have infused the city with a raft <strong>of</strong> cultural<br />
centres has made the world sit up and talk about<br />
Qatar as the next Dubai. Last year’s unveiling <strong>of</strong><br />
the ethereally beautiful Museum <strong>of</strong> Islamic Arts<br />
by the Pritzker Prize-winning Pei set the capital,<br />
Doha, in a design-forward position. The city’s<br />
arts and design intelligentsia descend on the<br />
quaint Souq Waqif cultural centre for their fill<br />
r<br />
<strong>of</strong> contemporary art, as well as getting design<br />
fixes at the original Zari Boutique, which uses<br />
the i.M.<br />
pei-designed Arabic cultural references in its collections. The<br />
Museum <strong>of</strong> complex also houses the Arabic architecture-<br />
islamic arts inspired Souq Waqif <strong>hot</strong>el, which has been<br />
in Doha<br />
given an updated spin.<br />
RAMI FAROOK<br />
Dror’s concept<br />
The most dynamic and visionary poster boy <strong>of</strong> the<br />
drawing <strong>of</strong> a<br />
water villa on<br />
UAE’s design world, Farook has the world’s best-known<br />
Nurai island<br />
art and design personalities on speed dial. And yet the<br />
entrepreneur (in his late 20s, he holds a management<br />
degree from the US) remains impressively unpretentious<br />
– wearing his A Bathing Ape sneakers and kandoora<br />
a sitting room<br />
Marco piva<br />
with effortless ease and talking affectionately about his<br />
in Dania psitting on the<br />
Mow chair by two children, who already show an interest in design.<br />
atallah’s<br />
Miss_You chair<br />
Fadi sarieddine<br />
Dubai villa<br />
that he designed<br />
for LoCaL The young Emirati’s passion led him to open the region’s<br />
for pedrali<br />
first high-design gallery, Traffic, three<br />
years ago. It quickly became a meeting<br />
point and a platform to showcase the<br />
region’s emerging talent, in the process<br />
gaining an international<br />
reputation. This year Farook<br />
launched his homegrown label<br />
LOCAL during the Salone del<br />
Mobile in Milan and was<br />
named Entrepreneur <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Year award at the London rami Farook<br />
with a painting<br />
Design Festival.<br />
by ramin<br />
+971 (0)4 347 0209;<br />
haerazideh,<br />
www.viatraffic.org<br />
from his own<br />
collection<br />
S<br />
a sanctuary Falls<br />
show villa by hirsch<br />
SANCTUARY<br />
Bedner associates<br />
FALLS<br />
The real estate business in Dubai might<br />
have taken a hit in the global recession<br />
but some luxurious developments have<br />
remained untouched. Among them is<br />
Sanctuary Falls – a resort-style<br />
PIVA, MARCO<br />
residential development within the<br />
prestigious Jumeirah Golf Estates, whose<br />
Marco Piva, the hyper-talented Italian<br />
clients include corporate bigwigs and<br />
architect and designer who has amassed<br />
well-known Bollywood stars. The<br />
fans with his Milanese good looks and<br />
celebrated design firm Hirsch Bedner<br />
equally admirable creative streak, is a name<br />
Associates (credits include Ritz Carlton<br />
to reckon with not only in Europe but also<br />
worldwide, Mandarin Oriental in New<br />
the Middle East. Here, he has been<br />
York and St. Regis Shanghai) is the<br />
working on several high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile hospitality<br />
name behind the interiors <strong>of</strong> the<br />
and residential projects including <strong>hot</strong>els on<br />
Sanctuary Falls villas. With spectacular<br />
The Palm Jumeirah and in Ras Al<br />
landscaping and state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art kitchens<br />
Khaimah. Piva’s product design repertoire<br />
by the Italian company Scavolini and<br />
features work for prominent brands such<br />
Germany-based Miele, the project seems<br />
as Arflex, Moroso, Pedrali, Unopiu and<br />
to tick all the right boxes to attract<br />
Rapsel among a host <strong>of</strong> many others.<br />
buyers even in a decidedly slow market.<br />
www.studiomarcopiva.com<br />
www.sanctuaryfalls.com ➤<br />
42|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |43
tTHOMAS LUNDGREN<br />
an artist’s<br />
rendition <strong>of</strong> the<br />
palazzo Versace<br />
thomas<br />
Lundgren<br />
<strong>of</strong> the one<br />
44|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors<br />
He is the charismatic founder <strong>of</strong> THE One stores in<br />
the Middle East who took it upon himself to save the<br />
world from flatpack, one room at a time. Lundgren is<br />
so dedicated to his vision that he would rather call his<br />
stores “theatres” where he can stage a performance<br />
through his carefully selected wares, for his customers<br />
to enjoy and buy. To realise his dream <strong>of</strong> a big, cool<br />
space that he could fill with everything that he’s<br />
passionate about at reasonable prices, Lundgren<br />
embarked on a journey that has seen THE One stores<br />
open in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain.<br />
In contrast to the flamboyance <strong>of</strong> THE One, he has<br />
also brought chic and minima<strong>list</strong> Scandinavian style to<br />
Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the form <strong>of</strong> BoConcept.<br />
Lundgren self-effacingly describes himself as a<br />
“frustrated artist” who satisfies his creative urge by<br />
designing much <strong>of</strong> THE One’s furniture himself, along<br />
with two colleagues. The entrepreneur, with several<br />
CSR awards under his belt, promises to keep<br />
showcasing cool new furniture and accessories while<br />
making a significant contribution to charity.<br />
+971 (0)4 345 6687; www.theoneplanet.com<br />
V<br />
patrick robinson<br />
with models<br />
in Gap a/w09<br />
u a<br />
UNDER ONE ROOF<br />
Timing its arrival perfectly to catch the wave <strong>of</strong><br />
newly-minted homeowners wanting to upgrade and<br />
personalise their pride and joy, UNDER ONE ROOF<br />
has changed the UAE home-improvement game.<br />
Rather than being forced to cope with ‘carpenters’ and<br />
‘plumbers’ <strong>of</strong> dubious skill, homeowners can walk<br />
into the company’s Al Quoz showroom and find<br />
endless inspiration for transforming their kitchens,<br />
bathrooms and more. Among its brands are Metris<br />
and Second Nature kitchens, Roman bathrooms and<br />
Permaglaze – an ingenious way <strong>of</strong> restoring tiles and<br />
enamel. The team at UOR has vast experience <strong>of</strong><br />
home renovation in the UK, enabling them to design<br />
custom-made schemes – always working closely with<br />
clients and seeking cost-effective solutions that will<br />
add value to a property. Once a design is agreed, a<br />
team <strong>of</strong> skilled British fitters flies in, to ensure that<br />
work is done to international standards.<br />
+971 (0)4 323 2722; www.underonero<strong>of</strong>.ae<br />
VERSACE<br />
PALAZZO<br />
curvilinear<br />
kitchen from the<br />
award-winning<br />
Metris range<br />
The competition among luxury labels to<br />
cater to the rich and fabulous in Dubai is<br />
intense. From Armani and Cavalli to<br />
Christian Lacroix and Elie Saab, designers<br />
are clamouring to provide all-encompassing<br />
designer lifestyles. To the credit <strong>of</strong> Versace,<br />
its project remains one <strong>of</strong> the most talkedabout<br />
and original. Developed in partnership<br />
with Emirates Sunland Group, helmed by<br />
the jovial former architect Soheil Abedian,<br />
Palazzo Versace at Dubai Creek is both <strong>hot</strong>el<br />
and apartments. In a world first, the<br />
developer announced plans to build a<br />
temperature-controlled beach adjacent to the<br />
<strong>hot</strong>el. With furniture and accessories from<br />
Versace Home, the project will exude the<br />
hedonistic style expected <strong>of</strong> the brand.<br />
+971 (0)4 501 6800; www.palazzoversace.ae<br />
wWANDERS, MARCEL<br />
The Dutch design superstar needs to do<br />
little to impress people wherever he goes.<br />
A larger-than-life persona, zany sense <strong>of</strong><br />
design and penchant for narrating<br />
anecdotes and composing romantic poetry<br />
to describe his work, define Wanders, who<br />
was chosen by one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
xVA<br />
most stylish men in the<br />
world – Sheikh Majed Al<br />
Sabah – to design the Villa<br />
Moda store in Bahrain.<br />
Slated to work on several<br />
projects in the UAE that<br />
have been stalled by the<br />
downturn, the designer<br />
remains highly sought after<br />
throughout the world.<br />
Recent successes for<br />
Wanders, who co-founded<br />
the avant-garde furniture<br />
and accessories brand,<br />
Moooi, include outdoor<br />
furniture for Kettal, crystal<br />
for Baccarat and silverware<br />
for Christ<strong>of</strong>le. Never seen<br />
without his signature pearl<br />
and bead necklaces,<br />
Wanders is a die-hard<br />
romantic who remains<br />
unapologetic about his s<strong>of</strong>tnatured<br />
approach to work.<br />
+973 175 30330;www.<br />
villa-moda.com;<br />
www.marcelwanders.com<br />
an accessories<br />
display case in Villa<br />
Moda, Bahrain<br />
To think <strong>of</strong> XVA as<br />
only a gallery is like<br />
thinking <strong>of</strong> crême<br />
brulée as only custard:<br />
it’s no exaggeration to<br />
call its founder,<br />
American-born Mona<br />
Hauser, the originator<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dubai’s<br />
contemporary art<br />
scene and, while XVA<br />
hosts a never-ending<br />
stream <strong>of</strong> intriguing<br />
exhibitions by regional<br />
artists, it has also<br />
become a spiritual<br />
home for culture<br />
lovers and a haven for<br />
those who yearn for<br />
peace and a sense <strong>of</strong><br />
old Dubai. Set in one<br />
<strong>of</strong> the beautifully<br />
the courtyard at<br />
XVa Gallery in<br />
Bastakiya<br />
restored Persian merchants’ houses <strong>of</strong> Bastakiya, by Dubai<br />
Creek, XVA has an award-winning vegetarian cafe (serving<br />
the best lemon-and-mint ever), a mini-branch <strong>of</strong> fashion<br />
store S*uce, a tiny boutique selling some <strong>of</strong> Hauser’s favourite<br />
design items and, perhaps best <strong>of</strong> all, six exquisite <strong>hot</strong>el<br />
rooms. It’s deeply reassuring, in this ever-changing city, to<br />
have an evergreen escape like this. +971 (0)4 353 5383;<br />
www.xvagallery.com ➤<br />
design<br />
the main salon in<br />
Villa Moda, Bahrain<br />
Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |45
design<br />
y z<br />
YOOISTANBUL<br />
yoo, a brainchild <strong>of</strong> French design<br />
maestro Philippe Starck and John<br />
Hitchcox, recently launched its first<br />
Turkish project yooinstanbul, with<br />
local real estate developer Say Yapı.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the world’s most romantic<br />
cities, Istanbul is seeing a major surge<br />
in design-led activities. The project<br />
“yoo inspired by Starck” will <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
100 apartments in the prime location<br />
<strong>of</strong> Ulus overlooking the Bosphorus<br />
and bearing Starck’s whimsical yet<br />
refined design signature. + 90 212<br />
291 23 11; www.yooistanbul.com<br />
46|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors<br />
philippe starck<br />
adds his<br />
unmistakable<br />
design signature<br />
to yooistanbul<br />
Zaha hadid<br />
won the<br />
2004 pritzker<br />
prize for<br />
architecture<br />
ZAHA HADID<br />
Possibly the busiest architect in the world, with projects ranging<br />
from Europe to Asia and everywhere in between, Iraq-born and<br />
London-based Hadid inspires and intimidates at the same time.<br />
Her phenomenal success can be attributed not just to her being<br />
the most famous woman architect <strong>of</strong> modern times, but also to<br />
her fluid and sculptural structures that are nothing if not aweinspiring.<br />
The Pritzker Prize-winner is behind several highpr<strong>of</strong>ile<br />
projects in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi’s newly<br />
opened Sheikh Zayed Bridge and the Performing Arts Centre<br />
planned for Saadiyat Island, Dubai Opera House and the<br />
Dancing Towers in Dubai – not to mention countless other<br />
important projects throughout the Middle East. Hadid’s design<br />
credits also include furniture for B&B Italia and Established &<br />
Sons, and a futuristic kitchen for DuPont.<br />
www.zaha-hadid.com ■<br />
a rendering <strong>of</strong><br />
Zaha hadid’s<br />
design for<br />
abu Dhabi’s<br />
performing<br />
arts Centre