December is here and the CID Power List is out and about. We are thrilled and honored to announce that Monica Arango, C'est ici's Design, Founder and Creative Director has been listed among the 50 most influential designers among the MENA region. Thank you Commercial Interior Design for this recognition, we are thrilled you're honoring our passion and work for the last years. Thank you to our amazing team  and everyone that is behind our work. Have a glimpse at the full article article below. 

As we covered in last months' newsletter, C'est ici Design collaborated with Veuve Clicquot in the design of their lounge as part of  Downtown Design, 2023 Edition. 

Our designs always focus on all things beautiful with an authentic look that makes you feel. Natural materials, bespoke pieces, and a symmetric perforated façade added to the experimental language of the space. The FF&E selection for the lounge and outdoor area was a delectable blend of fine elements including hand-picked furniture, captivating displays, nautical-style design elements and communal spaces throbbing with urban vibrancy. Curated furniture and décor pieces from Breton, Clay, The Loom Collection, World Bazaar, outdoor brand Ethimo and bespoke designs by C’est ici Design combined to create an ambience of comfort and establish an inviting ambiance.

 

Blending old and new, the lounge featured a vibrant palette, geometric profiles, and a wine bar clad in Taj Mahal quartzite-inspired stone- Dekton Arga from Cosentino as well as a bespoke 1.8-meter artesian Solaire by the talented Dubai based contemporary artist Mahsa Baraghani.

 

Lighting as well was a key component of our design and were fortunate to collaborate with the Spanish brand Vibia which features an understated elegance in key spaces around the indoor and outdoor design. The main component of our designs was incorporating warmth and a reality check to spaces. 

We developed the design and visitor experience around this rich storytelling. Our vision was to create a pop-up that paid homage to Veuve Clicquot heritage, infusing it with abstractions of the sea, land, cliffs, and laid-back coastal city vibes of Southern France. 

Lighting, curated furniture, and urban vibrancy completed the design, aligning with Veuve Clicquot's philosophy of finding joy in everyday moments. The result was a harmonious, captivating space that invited guests to savor the experience. 

 

 

Our hope was to unveil an exceptional space where guests could unwind and catch a breath as they savored the finest bubbly and food pairings, away from the hustle and bustle of the fair.

 

A special thanks again to all the amazing collaborators that participated to this project:

 

Dubai annual Design Week returns with a spotlight on sustainability and original designs from the Middle East and South Asia. Marking the 10-year milestone of Downtown Design, this year’s special edition featured latest collections and innovative design products. 

 

Have a glimpse at C'est ici's Design highlights from the fair. 

 

 

 

 

Step into Balneum, meaning bath in Latin, a contemporary, minimalist reinterpretation of the ancient Mediterranean bathhouse. Designed by award-winning interior design practice Kristina Zanic Consultants, this immersive installation at Downtown Design takes a deconstructed approach to an age-old design, distilling it to its fundamental components. Experience serenity evoked through its soothing colour palette, soft landscape elements and nuanced use of Dekton® Pietra Kode, a carbon neutral collection designed for Cosentino by Daniel Germani.

 

The place to connect. Step into a cloudscape at this year’s Forum designed by  Intercon. As part of the fair’s 2023 narrative of bringing natural elements of the outdoor indoors. With public space of The Forum, hosting the fair’s line-up of keynotes and panel discussions, looking to the skies – The Cloud, a symbol of imagination and creativity, is interpreted through flowing forms and suspended nebulous elements, alluding to the Forum as a place of open exchange without restraints. Furnished with soft lines and a gentle, light palette embrace the space to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Inside; major international design brands were present, including an uptick in luxury Italian brands like Cassina, which presented its first solo booth at the fair. The focus this year centered on the display of original and homegrown collectible design pieces, largely from the Middle East and South Asia region. Designers and collectives hailed from Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the Gulf and the Levant and India, showcasing a confluence of heritage, styles and culture.

Our eyes are all over “Naseej” . Emirati architect AlZaina Lootah and Indian architect Sahil Rattha Singh crafted a wooden pavilion inspired by Emirati traditions and palm fronds, inviting inner reflection, intertwining heritage, sustainability, and architectural brilliance in a captivating tapestry of craftsmanship.

Let's talk about FAME. A mother and daughter blend. Another fascinating launch is FAME

Collective, the first multidisciplinary platform for art and design showcasing works by women from the Middle East and North Africa. FAME, which stands for F-emale A-rtists of the M-iddle E-ast. Bridging the fields of fine art, interior design, jewelry and unique accessories, launched by mother-daughter duo Christiana Jabara and Lara Jabara.

Lebanese carpet maker Iwan Maktabi, known for its marriage of Oriental, traditional carpets with contemporary aesthetics, returned with a stand featuring new carpets by Lebanese design duo David/Nicolas. The pair revealed new editions to its Orientations collection especially through the new design added to the collection titled “Astrolabe.”

Factoring well-being into our interiors, means something else today than it used to. While aesthetics remain important, this panel uncovered how spaces impact our senses and how we thrive, both positive and negative; from acoustics and lighting, responsible design that bring longevity and sustainability to the forefront, and how natural materials can be ever-present and an integral part of our lives indoors, both for the betterment of the planet and for our everyday wellbeing.

Speakers: Roberto Palomba (Ludovica+Roberto Palomba), Jacob Riiber (Kvadrat Acoustics), Anna DeFlorian (Ultra Arte), Monica Arango (C’est ici Design), Ahmed Bayashout (Studio A)

 

During Downtown Design, our Founder and Creative Director participated in one of the panels where the focus of the discussion was all about the interpretation of quiet luxury through design. 

During the panel it was discussed how interior design is much more than just choosing beautiful pieces of furniture but how it is about creating spaces that promote health and well-being.

Also called Neuroaesthetic Design, this is a field of interior design that explores the connection between design and the brain, with the goal of positively impacting neurological and physiological well-being through interior design. 

 

Every detail has an impact on neuroaesthetic, from the influence of color and light in the brain and how this can affect someones' mood.

Natural light is essential to encourage relaxation and focus and can also have a role in the mood and energy levels. 

 

The layout and design of a space can have a major impact on social interaction and connection. Open spaces and communal areas, such as open floor plans and communal kitchens, can contribute to an increase sense of community and well-being. Research has also shown that access to green spaces and natural light can significantly improve our mood and mental health, whilst the use of softer edges and curves gives a subliminal feeling of safety.

Textures and materials, rugs and wallpapers, they all have an impact on our lives. 

 

The panelists emphasized how understanding the impact of aspects such as lighting, use of color, textures/materials, sound and acoustics, psychology, visual & graphical qualities, emotion, biophilia and sustainability, shape/pattern, layouts is essential in order to design a space which positively affects the wellbeing of the user in the short and long term. 

 These are only some of the ways on how we could use interior design in our day-to-day life in order to improve our routines and surroundings. 

 

As Italian designer Massimo Vignelli once said:

“Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.”

 

 

Awards season is in full swing in Dubai and we are very proud to announce that C'est ici Design takes home the award for Best Residential Interior Design at the Identity Design Awards 2023 for our Palm Desert Project.

As a second win, C'est ici Design was also awarded HIGHLY COMMENDED for the category of Best Public Space for our retail warehouse KAGE.