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Exposing the breadth and diversity of brands in the Middle East, Downtown Design recognizes the importance of locality in regional interior design. With the development of new hotels, commercial and public buildings, there comes a need for interior design to reflect the region’s graphic language, design narrative and love of colour. Our exhibitors present a truly broad range of unique solutions to creating a distinctly local, contemporary space.

Curated with the regional buyer in mind, Downtown Design will present leading brands in all categories from furniture and lighting, to bathrooms and kitchens, as well as innovative new design from Addis Ababa to Taipei. We tie up this year’s show in stats, for five reasons why you need to register for Downtown Design 2016:

KriskaDECOR’s cool metallic curtains are imaginative creations that have allowed both designers and architects (such as Patricia Urquiola or Rockwell Design) or even artists (as in Andrew Sabin’s ‘The Sea of Sun’ installation) to find creative methods of demarcating and partitioning spatial environments.

German family-owned company Rolf Benz may be best known for its bespoke high quality sofas but it’s its multi-purpose stools and coffee tables that are currently causing quite a stir. In particular, its “2 Go” collection.

Through moments, expressions and textures that have been seized in cities around the world, Bat Eye aims to create pieces that remind us of bustling city life.

USM Haller has reached modern design classic status and in 2001 was included in the permanent collection if the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.

Established as Barcelona’s leading event and one of the major design weeks on the international calendar, Barcelona Design Week attracts over 12,000 people from over 25 countries across the globe with more than 70 activities spread out across the vibrant city. The event has rooted itself as a hub for key agents of the design and business community and as a platform for design enthusiasts to delve into topics like business innovation, sustainability, education, and society seen through design’s lens.

Having long crossed its geographical boundaries, with a presence all over Europe, the Americas and Asia, Elica is known today as much more than an Italian brand (est 1970s), with a name synonymous with technologically-driven kitchen appliances worldwide.

Contemporary architecture is becoming more a pronounced style of architecture across the country, from the larger, urban cities to smaller, rural areas. In recent news, British architect David Chipperfield had unveiled his design for a museum located in Agra, India which is currently under construction next to the world renown Taj Mahal.

In 2009, Samovar Carpets was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest hand-woven wool and silk carpet made in Iran, but being purveyors of traditional handmade Persian rugs is not all this thriving family-owned business is known for. Combining handpicked antique rugs with furniture and antiques from around the world, Samovar Carpets; which dates from the 1920s (when it was established by Alaa Hindi and Sons in Beirut, before moving its base to Kuwait) has a taste for the modern as much as it has a refined appreciation for the old school.

1: Soft colours Make me blush! As a continuation of what was seen during Milan’s Design Week, softer tones will continue to dominate interior design.

As one of the leading suppliers of wood and veneer in the region, with a track record of producing high quality wood, Chabros returns to Downtown Design this year with a unique display that taps into a growing trend in the design industry today, and that is the use of ‘raw’ or natural wood slabs for dining tables, conference rooms, wall art, or headboard and counter tops.

Duravit is a leading German manufacturer of sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, shower trays and bathtubs, whirl and wellness systems, shower-toilets and accessories, and one which has also become a household name. Why? Because the brand opts for supremely comfortable and timelessly modern solutions that enhance the quality of life - something Duravit calls ‘living bathrooms’. Its products are often instantly recognisable, as reflected in their collaboration with high-profile industrial designers and architects, such as Philippe Starck, EOOS, Phoenix Design, Christian Werner and Matteo Thun.

Canada-based, Billy Carpenter is the Principal at Vin de Garde and a patented product designer and inventor.  Passionate about collectible wine, he has patented a number of ingenious wine storage designs built by master craftsmen. Applying his experience in construction, wine and detailed industrial design, Carpenter’s sommelier-designed wine cellars are ideal for connoisseurs and have won numerous design awards including the ‘People’s Design Award’ by the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

Take the iconic chairs envisioned by pioneering Danish designer, Hans J. Wegner, whose passion for designing over 500 chairs during his lifetime is well-recognised. These were mostly organic, simplified constructions where each product is distilled to the very essence of function. Wegner is known to have said, “A chair is only finished when someone sits in it.”

De Castelli has built a solid reputation in Italy and across the globe for its mastery in shaping iron and working with metals such as stainless steel, aluminium, Cor-Ten, iron, brass and copper. Coming from a family of blacksmiths, highly skilled artisans and craftsmen, its founder, Albino Celato, is the driving force of the company.

Given that we spend most of our waking lives working, it’s a noble aim for New York-based company, Coalesse, to devote its time to making the office atmosphere more inviting, comfortable and productive. Based on the premise that workspaces have remained unfulfilling – if efficient – for too long and have recently become mobile, Coalesse has partnered with UAE-based Office Inspirations at Downtown Design 2016 in order to welcome people back to the office by transforming these spaces into open, design-driven, thoughtfully crafted areas of sociability, creativity and focus.

Aati is one of the first established businesses of Al Tayer Group's portfolio and return's to Downtown Design this year, showcasing a portfolio of best-in-class international luxury brands including: Minotti, Bentley Home, Fendi Casa and Ralph Lauren Home.

Exclusive distributor of the oldest wood floor manufacturer in the world, Nordic Homeworx is celebrating its ten year partnership with Kährs a Swedish brand founded in 1857. Kährs has a long history that is characterized by a row of innovations- some that even revolutionized the global wood flooring industry with inventions such as the multi-layer board and the glue-less Woodloc® joint.

When you take a look at Laokoon’s shading systems or wall art, it is of little surprise that the company began as a collaboration between a Hungarian textile artist and an industrial designer. Zsuzsanna Szentirmai-Joly started out designing bags before moving on to unconventional lighting made of woven fabric. Organic in structure, her Laokoon lamps resemble iridescent scaly skin in brilliant Technicolor.

v2com is the international newswire specializing in the distribution of design, architecture and lifestyle press kits to the media, by providing them with high-quality text and images through a reliable and efficient, free-to-use platform for the media.

Studio HBA is a young, growing, dynamic brand within the HBA group. With an expansive portfolio encompassing hospitality, residential, food and beverage, wellness and workplace, Studio offers the same levels of innovation, creativity and professionalism associated with HBA across a broad spectrum of design disciplines and with a keenly focused local context.

“Bringing the growing community of design professionals together to recognise excellence is something we echo during our fair in October, and it’s this synergy that has prompted us to sponsor an award for the first time this year,” says Kothari, adding: “This year, we’ve had unprecedented demand for space, selling out all stand positions in April. To see so much enthusiasm from international brands looking to enter the market has been hugely encouraging. The UAE represents for many an opportunity to be commercially active. With so many projects on the horizon and the help of organisations like Dubai Design Fashion Council, there is a strong commitment to providing an infrastructure to support the industry.”

There are certain milestones on the international design calendar that are truly worth looking forward to months in advance. And for the fourth year in a row, from October 25-28, these include the always surprising and innovative Downtown Design trade fair in association with Dubai Design District (d3).

T Design’s showroom is dedicated to the most exclusive design brands as this extraordinary piece of filigree by Marcel Wanders for Christofle testifies. The 2.1-metre high grandfather clock in steel and black lacquered wood, with intricate engravings of interlacing leaves and flowers set against a geometric matrix is from the Jardin d’Eden collection, and limited to 12 pieces.

Shades of blue, gleaming greens and the various degrees of white have all emerged as top interior design trends for 2016.

Re-affirming Downtown Design’s position as a fair of global discovery and entry point into the worldwide design scene for both the local and international talents of tomorrow, the popular ‘Destination at Downtown Design’ returns in October with a fresh selection of international design weeks and their emerging design brands.

NEO is a design studio that was established 11 years ago by the Portuguese industrial designer Rodrigo Vairinhos in Germany, with a mission to create contemporary design pieces that merge functionality and aesthetics without lacking elegance and freshness.

At Zip, the mission is simple: to put the pleasure back into drinking water; their methods, on the other hand, are far more complex. Now able to provide instant boiling, chilled and sparkling filtered water on tap, the Australian born company may have started out by producing instant boiling water systems for kitchens, restaurants and bathrooms but it is now a multinational that is sold in over 70 countries because of its world-class filtration technologies that have allowed the company to evolve from just hot water to all kinds of drinking water. The basic premise may still be the same but the product has radically changed and Zip has become the world’s most forward-thinking company for drinking water appliances.

From Elica to Zip Industries, these are intuitive aspiration systems, innovative lighting, hidden sensors and temperature regulators, which all the while being at the forefront of technology, incorporate beautifully handcrafted natural materials as well.

Expormim is a Spanish company with a great tradition of furniture production, starting in the 1960s when it first began making artisanal wicker furniture. Designing primarily for comfort, the brand specializes in highly functional outdoor furniture that is well-suited to Mediterranean lifestyles.

Present in 50 countries and with a network of over 1,000 retailers, Lema has distinguished itself during the past four decades due to the high value it places on customisation, which forms the core of its business. Known for its iconic wardrobes and versatile shelving systems; in 1981, the company was the first Italian manufacturer to design a custom-built wall system in an endless range of finishes and the first to create the ‘Armadio al centimetre,’ a made-to-measure closet.

Three of the five are UAE projects: the Butterfly Pavilion by 3deluxe in Sharjah; the Office of the Future by Killa Design in Dubai; and, the upcoming Uptown Dubai by Design + More International. The other two are AGi Architects’ Hisham A Alsager Cardiac Center in Kuwait and Capital Market AuthorityHeadquarters by Omrania + Associates, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Debuting at Downtown Design this October, Green Road brings nature indoors and modern design to walls. Naturally preserved and organic, the products range are a great accent promoting well-being, radiates a sense of calm and uplifting mood. Green Road’s products are handmade in Germany with real plants and place emphasis on the importance of high-quality processing.

Destination at Downtown Design provides an international commercial platform for the world’s emerging design weeks who each bring three of their freshest young brands. Istanbul Design Week brought contemporary furniture brand Escapefromsofa, modern-vintage collective Halit Berker and home accessory designers,Day Studio.

First established in Egypt with the specific mission to revive and preserve the country’s fading craft, Etqaan can trace its history as far back as the 1900s.

Kohler is celebrating more than 140 years of setting standards of excellence and pushing the limits of design. Whether it’s creating kitchen and bath fittings, tile and furniture collections, engines and generators, or five-star resorts and championship golf courses, Kohler’s groundbreaking work is born from a desire to design experiences that fulfill their ultimate mission of ‘gracious living.’

Highlighting Downtown Design's role as a commercial platform for the international design industry, the Italian Luxury Interiors Pavilion returns to Dubai with a showcase of over 15 Italian brands.

DURAR, a regional research and training programme developed by Creative Dialogue, hosted ‘Dialogues between Barcelona- United Arab Emirates’ as part of Barcelona Design Week (2-12 June 2016).

Born out of her passion for painting, Swedish-born Cecilia Setterdahl started Canvas Carpets Cushions after a chance encounter with a carpet manufacturer in Mumbai, who transformed two of her original paintings into two unique, hand knotted carpets.

Of Middle Eastern descent, Tarik Al Zaharna grew up in Luxembourg and had a natural fascination towards the region. Following his graduation from the Bartlett School in London, Tarik decided to further hone his Architecture and Design skills by gaining International Professional Practice by working for Urban A&O in New York and Bolles+Wilson in Germany. Prior to setting up T.ZED Architects his work experience across Europe, North America and the Middle East further enabled him to practice architecture globally and to be invited as a critic in Architecture schools internationally.

The region’s leading quality-driven design trade fair, Downtown Design collaborates with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) on ‘Seed to Seat’, an initiative that sees seven UAE-based designers create wooden seating.

Launched in January 2016, Chattels & More setup their first store in Dubai’s Um Hurair district, close to Maktoum Bridge. Targeting the city’s mid- to high-range home interiors market, the brand features quality, modern design items and accessories for the home, all of which have been sourced from unique vendors and artisans across Europe.

This year’s Downtown Design brings to Dubai some of the most prominent names in home furnishings across Denmark, Norway and Sweden – with each brand exhibiting new collections. From Georg Jensen to Kährs, here are a selection of what visitors have to look forward to from the Nordics:

Tuscan bathroom manufacturer, antoniolupi has stood out for over fifty years for their innovative design and manufacturing of bathroom furniture, both in Italy and abroad. The brand is known for choosing and lately even manufacturing materials that highlight its function, making the end-product easier for consumer use. Pieces in their latest collection feature the use of the newly introduced Ceramilux material, which is light, natural and highly resistant to heat and dirt and Flumood – a non-porous new generation material that was created and manufactured by antoniolupi.