The Four Seasons DIFC is one of Dubai’s newest hotels that was converted from the existing Gate Village building in to a hotel. New York-based designer Adam Tihany was responsible for the conversion.
Getting international designers to work on projects in the Middle East is definitely a growing trend as William Hitch, partner and senior project manager, Compass Project Management confirms. “We work with a number of renowned interior designers from London, New York, Madrid, as well as home-grown talent here in Dubai.
“As project managers we often scope the services and assess technical competencies, however creative assessment usually best involves our clients,” says Hitch, whose firm has worked with the likes of Karim Rashid, Harrison, Bishop Design and Conran & Partners amongst many others.
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Hitch’s firm mainly works on F&B outlets — both standalone and within a hotel — and manages the product from concept to fit-out based on the area, size, locality, concept and budget of the owner and operator.
But, projects of these nature come with a diverse set of challenges, more so when the architect or designer is not based locally.
“‘Warehouse’-inspired fit-outs are doing well, with the concept now seen everywhere,” says Hitch.
During agrees and adds: “We first did cement-concrete finishes in 2002, for a restaurant called Elements in Wafi. People said — ‘what is that? forget it’. A few years later comes Tom & Serg and it’s trending and everybody loves it. Now you have the likes of Fümé and Coffee House — everybody is exacting the same trend. It just needs to be one concept that clicks — and everybody follows.”
“When we did Elements all those years ago, my inspiration came from Avida, which is a hair salon in London. That trend has now taken off in Dubai and everyone now looks the same. Whether it’s the vintage look, or the simple industrial look — there is very little creativity.
“But we need to see where the problem lies. Is it the owner or the architect? I think it is up to us interior designers to stand up and say ‘Sorry we don’t do that (copying designs)’,” During says.
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