Reflective of the spirit of the design world today with its constant quest for innovation and artistry, this year’s fair will feature numerous collaborations exploring the new and avant-garde designs being created regionally and internationally.
We are living today in a world where collaboration is key to technological and artistic innovation. In the design world, this could not be more apparent. Whether it is cultural cross-pollination, a sharing of resources, artistic creation or sustainable collaboration, designers and creatives are increasingly working together to make designs that are at once aesthetically appealing, beautiful and good for the environment.
At this year’s Downtown Design, visitors can find a range of collaborations by some of the world’s most esteemed and sought-after creatives. These include collaborations between Illulian, the historic and prestigious 60-year-old Italian rug manufacturer and Zaha Hadid Architects, Paola Navone and Arik Levy among others, on specially designed hand-made carpets.
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Slamp, the Italian decorative light brand that draws on inspirations from the natural world, architecture and art known for its luminous objects, will showcase two of its iconic collections: ‘Aria and Avia’ by Zaha Hadid that feature the revolutionary and iconic lines of the celebrated architect as well as works designed and produced in collaboration with celebrated creatives from around the world like architect Daniel Libeskind, Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas of Studio Fuksas, Legendary American theatre director Robert Wilson, industrial designer Marc Sadler and artist, sculptor Miguel Arruda.
Italian carpet brand cc-tapis will also showcase carpet designs made in collaboration with Italian Florence-based furniture and interior artist Duccio Maria Gambi presented at the fair by Middle Eastern third-generation carpet maker Iwan Maktabi.
Also on view will be the Liquid collection by VitrA, created in collaboration with Tom Dixon the British designer’s first ever bathroom range, presenting a line that is strong, long-lasting and where functionality is intuitive.
RAK Ceramic, the global lifestyle brand headquartered in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, is presenting its bathroom and surface collection that it launched in collaboration with Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab at Downtown Design in 2021. It features a stunning range of bathroom and exquisite surfaces created in the style of Elie Saab’s luxurious designs boasting elegant marble textures, beautiful finishes and contemporary colours produced using fine raw materials.
Other designer collaborations include ceramic specialist Atlas Concorde’s work with Matteo Brioni, the renowned finishing materials supplier from Florence, Italy; India’s largest manufacturer of hand knotted carpets Jaipur Rug’s collaboration with Mumbai-based architect and designer Ashiesh Shah; architect and furniture designer Karim Sawalha’s collaboration with acclaimed Jordanian food artist and molecular gastronomist Omar Sartawi on limited-edition collectible side tables made using orange leather.
Also part of the lineup is Lebanese carpet maker Nalbandian, in the business since 1792, presenting carpets made in collaboration with Karim Nader and Atelier L’inconnu, and Czech-based designer and manufacturer of bespoke lighting installations Lasvit presenting a custom-made light fixture by renowned design duo Yabu Pushelberg.
The collaborations on view at this year’s fair offer dreamy and invigorating inspiration for all spaces imaginable.
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