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Design celebrated at Index Awards as Dubai's leading Interiors Festival opens up to consumers for its final days

 
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25 May 2017

The UAE’s most inspiring design projects have been celebrated at the annual INDEX Architecture & Design Awards.

Held at the Palazzo Versace Dubai on Tuesday, the prize-giving paid tribute to the vast pool of design minds who continue to transform the UAE’s stunning interior and architectural landscape, while also rewarding the most innovative local and international products featuring at the 2017 INDEX Design Series.

Design celebrated at Index Awards as Dubai's leading Interiors Festival opens up to consumers for its final days

Killa Design, Pallavi Dean Interiors, Wilson Associates and Bishop Design were some of the big winners in the Projects categories, along with Keane Brands, Korus Interiors, and Stride Treglown. Their exceptional projects ranged from the world’s first 3D printed office at DIFC, to the Marina’s House of Handsome barbershop, and Gold on 27 – the Burj al Arab’s sublime gold-cladded bar.

Helen El Mettouri, Regional Director at Keane Brands – awarded Best Café, Bar or Lounge Design Project for Gold on 27 – said: “Our aim was to design the most exquisite cocktail bar, unlike anything seen before in Dubai. The design was complex, with elements including the feature ceiling – designed to resemble a singular piece of molten gold – only possible in collaboration with a local fabricator of 3D architectural and landscape sculptures.

“We are delighted that the industry has decided to award its innovative design, particularly given the complexity of adding features that have never attempted before in the Middle East.”



Benjamin Piper, Partner and Design Principal at Killa Design, who scooped the Best Commercial Design Project award for The Office of the Future, said: “The initiative came as part of the Dubai 3D printing strategy, which was launched as a means of focusing on the development of 3D printing to improve people’s lives in real estate and construction, medical, and consumer goods. This is part of a wider commitment for the Emirates to the use of 3D printing in 25% of its buildings by 2030. The Office of the Future stands as a built example of the use of this kind of emerging technology, and we are proud that it is being recognised by the design community here.”

Across the product categories, Arnolfo Di Cambio, OFIS, UOC, BMS Individual and Cinar Halicilik all took home awards, while Dutch neck specialist Thijs van der Hilst celebrated double triumph with his Tailormade Pillow winning two gongs.

Individual presentations were made to ALBAL Design CEO Noura AlGhandi, the INDEX Design Entrepreneur of the Year, and Yasmin Farahmandy of Gensler, voted the 2017 Rising Star.



Samantha Kane-Macdonald, Director at INDEX, said: “As one of the world’s most innovative design hubs, the UAE is an ideal location to celebrate local and international products breaking boundaries through creative design. The ever-growing Dubai skyline is known for reaching remarkable heights, and each year we aim to celebrate the best of the best from both an interior and architectural point of view. We would like to thank the hundreds of people that entered the INDEX Architecture & Design Awards 2017 – congratulations to all of our winners.”

The event – which welcomed hundreds of local and international professionals from across the design community – took place on the second evening of INDEX, the Middle East’s biggest interior design exhibition.

For the first time in its 27-year history, the show – which is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre and incorporates both workspace, and Middle East Covering – will open its doors to consumers this evening (Wednesday) through until the end of the day on Thursday.

Members of the public can experience some of the most innovative and unique new interiors products from more than 1,000 exhibitors from 56 countries at the Dubai event. Highlights include the now award-winning Tailormade Pillow; the INDEX Design Hub, an urban gallery, inspired by future design trends using unusual materials from moss to cork; The Artist Avenue featuring recent works by artists in the region; and a host of fascinating OFIS-sponsored Design Talks.



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