Overview
The Forum at Downtown Design will host a series of compelling live interviews and discussions between leading regional and international architects, interior and product designers on each afternoon of the fair. Staged in an amphitheatre specially designed to promote interaction and engagement by ema, topics will range from changing industry dynamics, behaviours and opportunities to how architecture and design can truly embody authenticity and place, and from implementing sustainability in the real world with real clients to authentic placemaking and the future of Middle Eastern cities.
Speakers include:
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George Arvanitis, Director of Masterplanning & Urbanism, RMJM
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Jonathan Ashmore, Founder & Principal Architect, ANARCHITECT
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Neydine Bak, Co-Founder, Verhaal
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Elliott Barnes, Founder, Elliott BarnesInteriors
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Laura Bielecki, Group Design Director, Ellington
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Caroline Bos, Co-Founder & Principal Urban Planner, UNStudio
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Micael Calatrava, CEO, Calatrava International LLC
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Carlotta de Bevilacqua, President & CEO, Artemide
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Pallavi Dean, Founder & Creative Director, Roar
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Duncan Denley, Founder & MD, desert INK
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Phillippe Fouché, Director, SAOTA
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Rock Galpin, Founder & Design Director, Rock Galpin Studio
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Adrien Gardère, Designer, Museographer, Founder & CEO, Studio Adrien Gardère
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Gregory Gatserelia, Owner, Gatserelia Design
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Elena Gregorutti, Partner, NIU Studio
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Sebastian Herkner, Founder, Studio Sebastian Herkner
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Rayana Hossain, Founder & MD, ISHO
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Massimo Iosa Ghini, Founder, Iosa Ghini Associati
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Rasheed Kamel, Owner, Le LAB
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Lorenzo Lotesto, Managing Director, Fantini Mosaici
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Rob McIntosh, Founder, McIntosh
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Christian Merieau, Founding Partner, MMAC Design Associates
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Lee Nellis, Managing Director, XBD Collective
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Giorgio Palermo, Founder, NIU Studio
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Jean Paul, CEO, Le French Design
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Isabel Pintado, SVP Design & Innovation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
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Julia Rapp, Managing Director, RDAI
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Juan Roldán, Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Art & Design, American University of Sharjah
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Robert Shakespeare, Group Design Director, Cracknell
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Andy Shaw, Managing Partner, AMA and Chair, RIBA Gulf Chapter
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Diane Thorsen, Design Director, Gensler
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Cyril Zammit, Design Advisor & Consultant, Cyril Zammit Design Consultancy
The Forum Agenda:
Day 1: Monday 8th November
16:00-17:00
In conversation with: Micael Calatrava, CEO, Calatrava International LLC
Micael Calatrava is Chief Executive Officer of Calatrava International, a multidisciplinary engineering firm based in Dubai. In this capacity, he oversees and is responsible for some of the world’s leading infrastructure and construction projects with combined estimated values over $5 billion.
An engineer and a four-time graduate of Columbia University in New York, having earned three degrees in civil engineering and an MBA, Micael will be discussing the flow of Calatrava’s work globally, with a particular focus on their creation of the UAE Pavilion and Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Day 2: Tuesday 9th November
13:00-14:00
In conversation with: Sebastian Herkner, Founder, Studio Sebastian Herkner
One of Europe's most in-demand industrial designers and the recent winner of Elle Decoration International Design Awards’ Designer of the Year accolade, Sebastian founded his own studio in 2006 and has designed furniture, lamps and smaller items for leading manufacturers across the world as well as realising interior architecture projects and museum and exhibition design.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Sebastian will discuss his design process and inspirations; his deep interest in traditional craft techniques and materials, and how he interprets characteristics from various contexts of society and culture and implements them in new artifacts.
14:00-15:00
Breathing fresh life into the Middle Eastern contemporary product design scene
One of Beirut’s most acclaimed designers and one of Egypt’s biggest art collectors come together to discuss their views on the ongoing evolution of contemporary art and design in the Middle East, what they see as its intrinsic qualities and strengths, how the creative scenes that they are part of have changed throughout their careers and what they’re doing to support, encourage and promote their future development.
Speakers:
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Gregory Gatserelia, Owner, Gatserelia Design
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Rasheed Kamel, Owner, Le LAB
15:00-16:00
Architecture and design that embody authenticity and place
Increasing end-user demands for unique and enriching experiences underpinned by local, regional and contextual authenticity are well understood, but how do talented interior designers and architects distill the essence of a place in their work? What research, process and techniques do they employ to capture and convey this relevantly and responsibly? And where do they view the line between the embodiment of place, culture and surroundings, and pastiche?
Speakers:
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Jonathan Ashmore, Founder and Principal Architect, ANARCHITECT
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Neydine Bak, Co-Founder, Verhaal
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Robert Shakespeare, Group Design Director, Cracknell
16:00-17:00
Design by soundbites: The impacts and opportunities of working remotely in a collaborative field
The pandemic has changed the traditional office landscape and workflow with many designers now working remotely or even within a hybrid working from home model. The shift to remote working presents new opportunities when it comes to design and Phillippe Fouché, Director at SAOTA, a South African-based architecture studio working on global projects spanning six continents shares his insights after the studio migrated over 300 staff members to a fully functional working from home model in early 2020.
Speaker:
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Phillippe Fouché, Director, SAOTA
17:00-18:00
Le French Art de Vivre: The next 50 years
The French art de vivre is founded on centuries of excellence in craftsmanship and innovation, matching the ever-changing world it is integrating into. This discussion will explore the future of French creation, its vibrant international presence and - as the UAE embarks on its next 50 years - its key elements to export know-how and interpret the requirements of this highly discerning market.
Speakers:
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Adrien Gardère Designer, Museographer, Founder and CEO, Studio Adrien Gardère
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Jean Paul Bath, CEO, Le French Design
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Julia Rapp, Managing Director, RDAI
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Cyril Zammit, Design Advisor and Consultant, Cyril Zammit Design Consultancy
18:30-19:15
Making an entrance: An interactive walkthrough of this dramatic installation with its creators
Led by Giorgio Palermo and Elena Gregorutti and utilising a range of innovative materials and techniques, the team collaborated to create a dynamic, playful and multi-sensory grand entrance to this year’s fair. Join the key creators Niu, Fantini Mosaici and Artemide for a live walkthrough of the installation to experience its different facets and receive first hand insights on its inspirations, development and features.
Speakers:
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Giorgio Palermo, Founder, NIU Studio
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Elena Gregorutti, Partner, NIU Studio
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Carlotta de Bevilacqua, President and CEO, Artemide
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Lorenzo Lotesto, Managing Director, Fantini Mosaici
Day 3: Wednesday 10th November
13:00-14:00
In conversation with: Massimo Iosa Ghini, Founder, Iosa Ghini Associati
Massimo Iosa Ghini is a multi-award winning architect and ambassador of Italian design, maintaining a strong presence within the avant-garde ever since founding the Bolidist movement and as a member of the Memphis group with Ettore Sottsass in the 1980’s. In addition to his extensive work in furniture and product design, he has designed numerous architectural spaces, exhibitions, art and commercial installations and retail stores around the world with clients including Ferrari, IBM and Alitalia.
Massimo will be sharing why he believes there is now a need for 'emotional sustainability’ as we move towards a more environmentally aware future, and exploring how his 'sustainable but beautiful’ theory relates to the ‘Beauty connects people’ theme of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020.
14:00-15:00
Balancing sustainability with luxury: Do we need to take a radically different approach?
Tall buildings, imported materials and luxury present architects and interior designers with special challenges in the drive to improve the sustainability credentials of their work. What real measures and techniques are proving effective in achieving new efficiencies in the region, and do we need a radical change in thinking and approach?
Speakers:
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Andy Shaw, Managing Partner, AMA and Chair, RIBA Gulf Chapter
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Diane Thorsen, Design Director, Gensler
15:00-16:00
International market and aesthetic trends in high-end hospitality and residential design
As the local residential market continues to demonstrate strong growth signals and welcomes increasing volumes of new international clients and luxury hotel projects increasingly come back on line, three leading designers with deep international experience in residential and hospitality design offer insights on their recent projects and how they see market needs and tastes evolving as we emerge from the pandemic.
Speakers:
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Christian Merieau, Founding Partner, MMAC Design Associates
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Elliott Barnes, Founder, Elliott Barnes Interiors
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Lee Nellis Managing Director, XBD Collective
16:00-17:00
Contemporary product design and the art of effective collaboration with manufacturers
Three leading designers with highly distinctive styles explain their favourite work, personal inspirations and approach to product design. How is their approach informed by other modes of design, how do they involve and synthesise collaborative inputs in their process, and how do they work with manufacturers effectively?
Speakers:
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Pallavi Dean, Founder and Creative Director, Roar
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Rock Galpin, Founder and Design Director, Rock Galpin Studio
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Sebastian Herkner, Founder, Studio Sebastian Herkner
17:00-18:00
The future of homes: How user needs, experiences, technology and design are transforming residential architecture and interiors
The last two years have increased our demands on our living spaces, forcing us and them to rapidly adapt to different use-cases, experiences, services and constraints. As we look to a future, how do the panel think that this period will inform immediate and long-term trends in residential design? What features, amenities and touchpoints will become integral features of our homes, and how will technological innovation, interior and experience design shape them?
Speakers:
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Laura Bielecki, Group Design Director, Ellington
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Rayana Hossain, Founder and MD, ISHO
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Rob McIntosh, Founder, McIntosh
Day 4: Thursday 11th November
13:00-14:00
In conversation with: Elliott Barnes, Founder, Elliott Barnes Interiors
Elliott is an American architect and designer based in Paris whose style resides in his elegant handling of light and use of both unusual and noble materials which invest unique, exclusive spaces with an innovative approach to luxury. Highly-sought after for high-end design projects across the world, Elliott joined the office of the renowned designer Andrée Putman in 1987 who handed over the management of her firm to him in 1997; a position he occupied until 2003 before creating his own design studio in 2004.
Elliott will be providing insights on his recent and upcoming projects, his influences, experiments in materiality, the lessons that he’s learnt in collaborating with especially discerning clients and his insights on different international perceptions of luxury.
14:00-15:00
Placemaking and the future of urban development in the Middle East
The role that public spaces play in supporting our fundamental need to connect socially and promote a sense of community has been made acutely apparent during the pandemic. As major urban centres across the Middle East continue to grow and evolve at impressive speed, the panel will examine the different design strategies and philosophies that are currently being incorporated in architecture and urban planning to integrate, transform and future-proof its cities.
Speakers:
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Caroline Bos, Co-Founder and Principal Urban Planner, UNStudio
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Duncan Denley, Founder and MD, desert INK
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George Arvanitis, Director of Masterplanning and Urbanism, RMJM
15:00-16:00
In conversation with: Isabel Pintado, SVP Design and Innovation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Having joined Four Seasons in early 2021, Isabel Pintado is responsible for evolving the brand’s design vision and aesthetic across its global portfolio, as well as collaborating cross-functionally throughout the organisation to enhance the guest experience and programming. Based in Dubai, Isabel works closely with owners, design consultants and on-site teams, overseeing newbuilds, conversions and renovation projects.
In a candid conversation, Isabel will be discussing her inspirations, career path, what she has planned for this next chapter and how she views the future of hospitality design.
16:00-17:00
Trends in Contemporary Spanish Design
UAE-based Spanish architect, urban planner and university professor Juan Roldán has curated of the Spanish Pavilion ‘Interiors of Spain’, which will host several leading Spanish brands and be one of the focal attractions of Downtown Design. Juan will be discussing his views on contemporary Spanish design and its ability to transmit moods and emotions, his approach to balancing spatial design, graphics and light and how by understanding the restrictions of a design project, you can articulate the parameters of freedom to reach a good design solution.
Speakers:
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Juan Roldán, Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah
