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German brand ophelis is one exhibitor you cannot miss if you’re looking for the best in office furniture; the brand plans to showcase their award winning ophelis docks at the Fair.

The nights have started getting a little cooler, and Star Fire Middle East offers the perfect solution to keeping your winter nights warm. The brand’s EcoSmart fireplaces are free standing and suit every type of client: whether you’re looking for a feature fireplace in a hotel lobby or free-standing piece of art in your home or apartment balcony. Their fireplaces are designed for everyone.

The modular USM Privacy Panels is a flexible, space-saving solution for structuring workplaces and defining working areas, creating privacy and optimising indoor acoustics. It is based on the modular matrix of the USM Modular Furniture Haller, underlining the outstanding feature of this classic design.

The special project will see the designer taking the partnership to a different emotional level. AHEC, the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, traditionally collaborates with leading designers around the world on unique pieces that showcase at international design fairs, to highlight the diversity of their product.

USM decided to find out how the new generation of architects and designers perceive this design icon by launching an experiment. They placed 50 pieces of USM Modular Furniture Haller on the campuses of some of the most renowned architecture and design schools across the globe

Tell us about the vision for and inspiration behind Phase Two of the Dubai Design District (creative community)

Abboud Malak, founder of Studio M Dubai talks to Downtown Design about design vision and passion for interior architecture.

For inspiration ahead of the show, follow our five-step guide for a well-designed bathroom space:

NEO by Rodrigo Vairinhos

That was a question posed at this year’s Cityscape Global Conference. Research director of online company YouGov Lara Al Barazi asked for an answer at the event at Dubai’s Conrad Hotel.

The Kairos installation will literally take your breath away.  The concept is essentially an experiment designed for the body and mind. The lights brighten and fade progressively over 5 second periods. By synchronizing inspirations and expirations with these periods for 5 minutes, the body enters into a state of “coherent breathing”- a soft therapy developed and used by the medical corps.

This week Downtown Design catches up with Isabel Pintado, Managing Partner of LW Design Group who tells us about how they strive to achieve design excellence with each project.

With a strong reputation for design and creativity, Assemblyroom  produce quality pieces with personality. Assemblyroom Furniture will be showcasing their latest products at Downtown Design 2015. The list includes: Hyde Outside, Quayside Pendent Light  and Lisson Chair and Sofa.

Hadid’s $2 billion design for the 2020 Olympic Stadium in Tokyo was originally scrapped,  but then resubmitted. However the architect has now announced her firm will no longer participate in the competition.

The leading Czech producer of designer hand-blown glass lighting will be showing their latest collections: Lightline, Flutes and Muffin at the fair.

The panels are available in three series – Love, Hope and Beauty – that each depicts a different butterfly and comes in twelve different colours. The rectangular shapes can be displayed in numerous ways:  mounted on an easel; framed and hung across a wall partition or inserted into a wall.

In the land of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, Georg Jensen saw fantasy and fairytale in every day, and designed works of art that were as practical as they were decorative. Trained as a sculptor, Jensen was fired by the spirit of innovation and artistic invention and set out to forge a bold new path in silver design. He designed, created and sold silver hollowware, cutlery and fine jewelry from his charming shop in central Copenhagen.

Aimed at attracting members of the creative business community, the second phase expansion includes 100 hectares of built-up space to serve as a cultural centre. It is expected to be completed by 2018.

The 110 year old brand is one of the global leaders in the sanitation industry and has acquired a reputation for being a leading innovator in technology, design and sustainability. Hansgrohe and Axor products are synonymous with innovative design, sustainable technologies and maximum functional quality.

Leading French manufacturer of luxury bathroom fittings and accessories THG Paris will debut a new collection at this year’s Downtown Design that redefines the concept of luxury in bathroom design.

With Cityscape Global coming to a close in Dubai, designMENA gives us insight into the various projects getting a head start next year:

The brand was co-founded by two American University of Dubai graduates, Marwa Al Shamry and Christelle Bitar, interior designers who share a passion for creating concept furniture inspired by different cultures and contemporary designs.

Vairinhos is currently working on a ceramic lighting collection called “THE LOVERS” which features 3 ceramic suspension lamps that were inspired by Arab culture.  The Portuguese exhibitor elaborates: “The collection was inspired by Arab-Islamic dress codes. If you look clearly at the lamp’s shape you’ll see that it’s reminiscent of a character, personified with a head and body.  I interpret White as a male figure, wearing a Kandura, and Black as a female figure, wearing an Abaya.

The brand’s pieces have been picked up by the likes of Jennifer Lopez and David Byrne, as well as numerous five-star hotels around the world including the Four Seasons Baku, Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi, Sheraton Burj Al Salam Dubai and many more.

Carla Conte, Creative Director- Brand Creative:

This year’s edition of Downtown Design is set to be the largest and most diverse, with double the number of exhibitors as last year, and a new Destination initiative that brings six different Design Weeks to Dubai. Watch out for brands and designers creating exclusive, never –seen-before pieces including Ediciones Jalapa of Mexico Design Festival who will present a new collection of furniture made from palm leaves – a material specially chosen to resonate with the region and Ben Tovim Design of Melbourne International Design Week who will reveal a unique furniture piece designed exclusively for the local market.

Illulian

The Commercial Interior Design Awards 2015, set for September 16 at the JW Marriott Marquis are only a few days away. Here's a look at the nominees for the category:

The Commercial Interior Design Awards 2015, set for September 16 at the JW Marriott Marquis are only a few days away. Here's a look at the nominees for the category:

This week Downtown Design speaks to Ellen Bishop, Managing Partner of Bishop Design who gives us insight on how a successful business is based on maintaining strong client relationships.

Critics and collectors have described Gufram products as alert, subversive pieces that desecrate domestic sculpture and give it a revolutionary Pop Art soul. The brand is known to represent the explosive, unconventional forces of Italian radical design with their unique concepts, aesthetics, code and style.

The Commercial Interior Design Awards 2015, set for September 16 at the JW Marriott Marquis are only a few days away. Here's a look at the nominees for the category:

Finnish textile designer, Johanna Gullichsen was born in Somero, southern Finland and pursued an education in the skill of weaving at Porvoo Crafts School. She started the brand Johanna Gullichsen Textile Craft & Design in 1989 in Helsinki.

For the first time at Downtown Design, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) will present a selection of luxury artisanal brands within a large 700sqm area dedicated to showcasing craft, techniques, materials and products under the ‘Made in Italy’ marque.

LCMX is a design and architecture studio located in the heart of Mexico City. It was founded in 2009 by brothers Ricardo and Otniel Rodríguez Elías, designer and architect respectively.  The brand joins Abierto Mexicano de Diseño (Mexico Design Festival) to exhibit as part of the Destination initiative at this year’s Downtown Design.

The Commercial Interior Design Awards 2015, set for September 16 at the JW Marriott Marquis are only a few days away. Here's a look at the nominees for the category:

In the first of this 4-part series, Steven Charlton, Principal Managing Director of Perkins + Will Dubai reveals how investing and empowering the team fosters great client relationships.

The Commercial Interior Design Awards 2015, set for September 16 at the JW Marriott Marquis are only a few days away. Here's a look at the nominees for the category:

According to Young, designer Hans Wegner was the inspiration behind the new collection:

Escape from Sofa will be exhibiting with Istanbul Design Week, as part of the Destination initiative at this year’s Downtown Design.

Downtown Design exhibitor Muubs has launched a new collection of items for the home under the title “The darker side of design.” The collection was inspired by Wabi Sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that accepts the imperfections of natural beauty.

Downtown Design exhibitor, Ben-Tovim Design was asked to create a one off piece for a new exhibition concept called 1-OK club that will run until the 7th of September at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.

ZaoZuo, founded in 2014, is an online furniture design brand that creates affordable furniture to meet the needs of urban Chinese residents. The brand will be exhibiting with Beijing Design Week as part of the Destination initiative at this year’s Downtown Design.

The masterplan for the Burj2020 District in Dubai is set to be revealed next month by starchitect Adrian Smith – who said “the eyes of the world” are on the city and its urban design.

The new collection comes after extensive research and development, and offers home owners a higher level of precision in their colour choices.