BOLD CONVERSATIONS By Veuve Clicquot at Eugene Eugene |
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At the beginning of March, our Founder Monica Arango, participated to the Bold Conversations Panel by Veuve Clicquot, as part of their ongoing international commitment to encourage women entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. Veuve Clicquot - BOLD Conversations is a discussion aiming to support women by hosting a panel of inspirational women discussing their experiences, challenges and successes. The main take-aways for guests will be to understand more on how to overcome barriers within female entrepreneurship, while also inspiring a new generation of female leaders. |
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It was BOLD, powerful, insightful, honest and inspiring…the conversation among different backgrounds, perspectives, personalities, experiences brought this panel to be a blend of uniqueness and true women empowerment. Veuve Clicquot has always been encouraging bold women, introducing its Business Woman Award – now known as the BOLD by Veuve Clicquot program – in 1972. Relentlessly seeking to understand how the world is evolving, it wants to be a driving force for change and make a real contribution – especially when it comes to female entrepreneurship. This is why the House launched it's first international Barometer on women entrepreneurship in 2019, to map out and gain a clear picture of the current state of female entrepreneurship by identifying common prejudices, mental and structural barriers to be overcome and how to get beyond them and start a public debate. |
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Many topics were covered during the panel, starting from how difficult it is for women to achieve and keep a good life/work balance. One key element for C'est ici Design is to lead by example, not only from the more senior team members but from the whole team. The aim is to create a healthy and happy environment that team members want to stay in their jobs not only for their need to work but because they found a workplace that motivates and respects their needs and lifestyle. |
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Overcoming failure was another topic that was covered in the panel. In such a picture-perfect world, it is easy to struggle and entering a downward spiral should that happen but instead, acceptance of failure is key. It is actually empowering, and it can give us an opportunity to learn from it and take it as an inspiration moving forward. Our Founder Monica was thrilled to be part of this panel as it gave her the opportunity to talk about something that she tremendously value in her life: WOMEN and what it means in our days to be an entrepreneur. |
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You can find more information on this inspiring initiative- here. |
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SETTING THE TONE C'est ici Design Atelier 2.0 |
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Is this a SNEAK PEEK? A little bit more than that. As we step into our fresh abode, our aspiration was to fashion a kaleidoscope of hues, illuminations, and textures. Our picks were an eclectic mix, each distinct from the next, yet together, they orchestrate a flawless symphony of color and texture, infusing our space with unparalleled charisma and dimension. |
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As we transition into our new home, our aspiration was to create an environment where our design ethos intersects with fine craftsmanship and statement pieces. Our aim is for this space to offer an elevated experience conducive to fostering collaboration among our team, clients, and industry peers. Stay tuned as we approach the final stages of completion for the anticipated unveiling. |
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This dazzling transformation owes its success to 25 of our visionary partners, who shared our vision and collaborated tirelessly to bring it to life. For this time, we are delighted to share our first five partners featuring signature pieces. |
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DESIGN RADAR OF THE MONTH Essential Elegance |
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In this month's design radar, we are thrilled to unveil a sneak peek of our ongoing projects with some intriguing visuals that offer an inside look at our work in progress! |
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VILLA 37 A very special project which seamlessly blends an elevated contemporary living, resulting in a refined masterpiece of quiet luxury. Notable features include large-format slab tiles from Inalco by Arteco, custom-designed kitchens by Poliform, and stunning luminaires from Hennepin, Vibia, and KDLN, adding glamour to the space. To be completed in May 2024. |
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SICILY Is it truly conceivable to structure a residence around its staircase? This was the paramount objective we embarked upon in Project Sicily. The clients harbored a profound desire for a spiral staircase to serve as the cornerstone of their dwelling, yet were adamant that it maintains a subdued presence, eschewing ostentation and noise. Their aspiration was for the home to exude a sense of zen-like tranquility. With this directive in mind, we commenced our endeavor and are now on the brink of its realization. Below, we offer a glimpse into our progress thus far. |
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SIGNATURE COLLECTIBLES The New COSENTINO Capsule Collection |
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Cosentino Middle East recently unveiled the much-awaited second edition of the Capsule Collection at an exclusive event held at SKOONI Art Foundation & Residence, one of Dubai's most coveted locations. The series consist of limited-edition pieces crafted by five pioneering practitioners and designers, under the theme “Dare to Play’. The eclectic collection of functional and aesthetic works tell myriad stories of home, culture and modern living, and features a floor lamp by Nadine Kanso, a bench by Omar Nakkash, a modular assortment of multi-purpose furniture by Rabah Saeid, a dinnerware carrier by Omar Al Gurg and an office desk by Thomas Trad. The cohort embarked on the project in October 2023 with an open brief from Cosentino to push the boundaries of their creative practice and be playful and innovative with a new material – Dekton Slim Protek; a 4mm carbon neutral, ultra-compact and mesh reinforced stone created for use in architecture and design. |
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kəˈnɛkt by Rabah Saeid “kəˈnɛkt” (pronounced Connect) by Styled Habitat, introduces a series of innovative and playful furniture pieces that seamlessly blends sculpture with functionality. Featuring modular units that can be taken apart and reconfigured as needed, the versatile pieces lend themselves to be used as tables, stools or even as pedestals. Blink by Nadine Kanso Founder of radical jewelry brand Bil Arabi, Nadine Kanso’s bespoke piece “Blink”, reflects her inimitable style that celebrates the essence of modern Arab identity. The floor lamp is a playful re-interpretation of the iconic eye motif from Nadine’s hugely popular Ya Ein jewellery collection inspired by the ancient concept of Evil Eye rooted in Arab culture. Transforming illumination into a delightful game, the lamp creates the illusion of a winking eye as it toggles between light and dark with the flick of a switch. |
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Dinna by Omar Al Gurg An interactive and playful object from the house of MODU Method, designed by the brand’s Founder Omar Al Gurg, “Dinna” is a space-saving dinnerware carrier designed for small homes, a hangover from his time as a university student in Belfast when space was premium. The modular product that individually comprises four placemats, one high tray and a low tray, combines to form a cabinet to store crockery for a small family. The stand out elements of the design are the double-sided placemats. Made from thin strips of Dekton Slim Protek glued on linen fabric, the flexible placemats slide in and out of grooves on the dark solid Ash wood trays to create the doors of the cabinet. The Oli Bench by Omar Nakkash Drawing from his Palestinian heritage and a deep appreciation for the traditional cross-stitch embroidery form of "Tatreez”, Omar Nakkash, Founder and Design Director at Nakkash Design Studio, envisioned the Oli Bench as a functional piece that is also serves as a symbol of connection and hope. The main elements of the bench are the sleek terracotta coloured Dekton Umber slabs and the hollow solid oak timber bases that double up as planters for the olive trees, Palestine’s symbol of resistance and resilience. |
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Kimiko by Thomas Trad Inspired by the desire to challenge traditional furniture design, ingenious Beirut based creator Thomas Trad’s office desk “Kimiko”, takes a rationalist approach with engineering and materials as main protagonists. Highlighting the durability, versatility, and ultra-thin profile of Dekton Slim Protek, the minimalist design is unique for the use of Dekton slab as a desktop that appears to float above ground, balanced by the minimalist use of a single, curved, thin stainless-steel support leg. The French oak veneer cabinet with swivel drawers add weight and a touch of warmth, enhancing the desk's functionality and aesthetic appeal. |
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From top left to right: kəˈnɛkt by Styled Habitat, Blink by Nadine Kanso, Dinna by Omar Al Gurg, The Oli Bench by Omar Nakkash, Kimiko by Thomas Trad. |
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ARCHITECTURAL WONDER OF THE MONTH Forces for change: Women's Opportunity Center in Rwanda |
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On a two-hectare site in Rwanda, the most densely populated country in Africa, the Women’s Opportunity Center is empowering one small community and, in turn, rewriting our role as designers. One hour from the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Kayonza is like much of this strife-torn nation: a place with few means but great promise. In this semi-rural setting, women dedicate their days to small subsistence farms, fetching fresh water, and scavenging wood for fuel. The site of the new Women’s Opportunity Center, located at a crossroads above a fertile valley, is an ideal arena for architecture that opens a new world of opportunity. The architects chose the idea of a vernacular Rwandan village as their organizing principle: a series of human-scaled pavilions clustered to create security and community for up to 300 women. Designed in collaboration with Women for Women International—a humanitarian organization that helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives—this mini-village transforms urban agglomeration and subsistence farming with an architectural agenda to create economic opportunity, rebuild social infrastructure, and restore African heritage. |
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The design revives a lost Rwandan design tradition with deep spatial and social layers. Its circular forms radiate outward, from intimate classrooms at the center of the site to a community space, farmer’s market, and the civic realm beyond. The center’s circular structures are modeled after the historic King’s Palace in southern Rwanda, whose woven-reed dwellings were part of an indigenous tradition that the region had all but lost. The design draws on the delicacy of this vernacular Rwandan construction method with rounded, perforated brick walls that allow for passive cooling and solar shading, while maintaining a sense of privacy. The design builds support for Rwanda’s social infrastructure through guest lodging facilities that allow donors and partner organizations to experience the Opportunity Center first-hand. These lodges serve as a conduit for initiatives that build one-to-one relationships between women in Kayonza and sponsors around the world, expanding the center’s social footprint through a sustaining global network. Bricks were made on site by the center’s future users; in crafting the 450,000 clay bricks needed for construction – using materials found on site and a new, more durable manual press method, they adapted from local building techniques – women are learning marketable, income-generating skills. |
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The Women’s Opportunity Center empowers 300 women annually to transcend a legacy of conflict. From the designers' perspective, this initiative has empowered to create an ethic of global collaboration. In the lives and stories of these women, some optimism has been found by the locally inspired grounds together with a globally resonant architecture behind. |
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Behind a design there is a story, behind the story there is C'est ici DESIGN |
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