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World Interior Design Congress concludes in Dubai; Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) elected as full member of international federation

Interior designers, architects and property developers from across the globe converged recently in Dubai for a six-day assembly, which concluded with a call to make contemporary design more accessible to people and integrate sustainability into development in Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Ross Lovegrove, Lovegrove Studio, UK
The 24th General Assembly of the International Federation of Interior Designers/Architects (IFI ’09) and the World Interior Design Congress, held in Dubai from November 6-11, 2009, was attended by over 600 delegates from 45 countries, including globally acclaimed trend-setters and thought leaders in design and architecture such as Piero Lissoni, Ross Lovegrove and Nadja Swarovski among others.

Piero Lissoni, Lissoni Associati, Italy

Nadja Swarovski, Swarovski, UK

Sharing their observations on the future of the interior design industry in the region, speakers at the forum said that the demand for quality homes and utilities remains robust in the MENA region despite the global economic slowdown.

“Activity is resuming in the GCC residential market, with a clear shift from high-end luxury to the broader mass market. Larger markets like Saudi Arabia remain unaffected. Airports and healthcare infrastructure are also expanding, presenting varied opportunities for interior design firms,” Craig Plumb, Head of Research MENA at the global real estate advisory firm Jones Lang LaSalle told the World Interior Design Congress.

The Middle East Potential Debate. From left:  Siobhan Leyden, Dubai Eye, UAE; Craig Plumb, Jones Lang LaSalle, UAE; Nader Lahzi, Bonyan for Development and Trade, Egypt; Marko Hytonen, Rezidor Hotel Group, UAE; Ivar Krasinski, Burt Hill, UAE.

“The demand for housing in Egypt is estimated at 500,000 units a year whereas the current annual supply is 150,000 units,” Nader Lahzi, Managing Director of regional property developer Bonyan for Development and Trade added.

Speakers at the Congress also reminded local design firms of the need to learn from global trends and standards before jumping into the fray to tap the opportunities ahead.

Naoki Iijima, Iijima Design, Japan

DESIGNING YOUR CAREER: WHAT’S MISSING IN EDUCATION PANEL DEBATE. From left: Shashi Caan, Shashi Caan Collective (& IFI President elect), USA; Patrick Fong, Patrick Fong Design Ltd, China; Ramia Farrage, Dubai One TV; Rami Farook, Traffic, UAE; Peter Di Sabatino, School of Architecture & Design at American University of Sharjah, UAE.

Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, Director, Architectural Heritage Department, Dubai Municipality

The Congress also echoed the increasing realisation that sustainability should be the guiding principle of development. “Sustainability is a ‘cradle-to-cradle’ principle. Nothing is destroyed - ‘reduce, optimise and regenerate’ should be the approach,” said Karim Farah, Senior Architect at the design firm Dar Al-Handasah.

“The GCC may have missed out on some good sustainability opportunities amidst the recent construction frenzy but Dubai has led a remarkable green drive,” Farah added.

SUSTAINABILITY PANEL SESSION. From left: Gary Lawton, United Design International, UAE; Karim Farah, Dar Al-Handasah, Egypt; Neel Bradham, InterfaceFLOR, France; Dr. John Alexander Smith, Department of Interior Design, American University in Dubai, UAE.
Future took centre stage on the final day as Israa Mahmoud, winner of the ‘Vision 2030’ design competition held for students as part of the Congress, presented her design vision to the delegates. Ahmed Hamdi Mustafa of the Ajman University of Science and Technology and Nourul Huda Al Hussoni of the American University in Dubai, winners of the aircraft interior design competition, were also honoured at the Congress.

From left: Nourul Hude Al Hussoni, Vision 2030 Student Competition winner; Farida Kamber, Cinmar Design & APID President-elect, UAE; Ken Laidler, KLD Interior Architects, UAE; Linda Merieau

SENSE OF PLACE NOT SOLELY SPACE PANEL SESSION From left: Mishal Al Gergawi, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority; Patrick Fong, Patrick Fong Design Ltd, China; Brinda Somaya, Somaya & Kalappa Consultants, India; Ramia Farrage, Dubai One TV.

“The IFI General Assembly and the World Interior Design Congress provided us with a fresh view of the targets we will be working towards from now. IFI has also accorded full membership status to the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) in the UAE and we consider it an endorsement of our organisational capabilities,” said Mrs. Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President-elect of APID.

Mrs. Al Awadhi has also announced the launch of the annual ‘Festival of Interior Design’ which shall take place in the UAE starting 2010.

IFI ’09, which highlighted the theme ‘Celebrate Interior Design’, was supported by the Dubai Business Women Council while United Design International, Al Aqili Furnishings, American Hardwood Export Council, Designopolis, Actiu, Interiors and Crystallized Swarovski Elements were the main sponsors of the event.