Cities Boutique, the region’s leading art, design and lifestyle store, is pleased to announce its participation in Design Days Dubai 2017, which will take place in Dubai Design District (d3), March 14 -17. Since its inception in 2008, Cities Boutique has been dedicated to bringing a new understanding and appreciation of design to the Middle East, as the dynamic concept store continues to take its clients on a creative journey through global design. This year’s exhibition at Design Days Dubai will draw its inspiration from urban architecture and the metropolis jungle of Dubai, creating a city on display through the artistic lens of three talented designers. ‘The City on Display’ exhibition will share modern interpretations of city constructions, focusing on geometric forms, linear shapes and industrial materials, giving a new perspective to the concrete castles and metallic skylines that we call home.
‘The City on Display’ exhibition will feature urban inspired creations from three talented designers. The world-renowned designer Nada Debs will be constructing brand new designs, made exclusively for the Cities’ exhibition, which will be unveiled during Design Days Dubai 2017. Also exhibiting are newcomers Stelios Mousarris a Cypriot conceptual designer, and Tarek El Kassouf a Lebanese architect, designer and urban planner.
Nada Debs will construct table designs that draw inspiration from the rugged yet delicate urban landscape of the Middle East, by evoking the rhythm and energy of the skyscrapers which surround us. Her collection of tables entitled ‘Steelscrapers’ are inspired by the composition of a skyline and the linear forms which emerge in the structure of each towering skyscraper. The ‘Steelscrapers’ collection sees her signature style of geometric shapes, designed in a new way to depict the linear forms which appear in the urban landscapes that we inhabit. Using industrial materials such as brass, copper, and acid treated steel she combines what is familiar to us, into an artistic understanding of our relationship with the modern metropolises and geometric contours which embody the contemporary Middle East.
Stelios Mousarris will display ‘The Wave City’ table at the exhibition, which depicts a city skyline transformed into functional design, as the piece is both a table and a breathtaking work of art. The intricate details of the cityscape were created using 3D printing technology, and portray a unique perspective of a metropolitan landscape seen from all angles, as the cityscape is flipped upside-down and takes on a life of its own. The precision of each building is both powerful and captivating, and juxtaposes the sleek, smooth shape of the table.
To accentuate this abstract understanding of urbanite city settings, ‘The City on Display’ will also feature lighting designs from Tarek El Kassouf, who creates bold, yet subtle creations, rooted in modern, linear design that fuse form and function into one innovative object. His Intersect, Lean, and Fracture lighting designs all take inspiration from the urban environment, and embody skyscraper like structures which are a fluid union of his architectural and design background. His light designs are constructed from materials such as brass and steel which further reinforce his industrial, futuristic style.
More about the designers:
Nada Debs
Nada Debs, of Lebanese origin, was raised in Japan. She studied interior architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States, starting her first company in the UK, designing and producing custom furniture. After a 40 year hiatus, Nada Debs’ Levantine spirit brought her home to Beirut, where she discovered that designs for modern Middle Eastern furniture were non-existent. She then established her company East & East, where the brand fuses Eastern tradition and minimalism. Her multicultural approach attracted the attention of the design world. Today Nada operates from Beirut and is represented globally, delivering to the world. The Nada Debs mission is to celebrate Eastern craftsmanship through contemporary design. It is about reintroducing and reinterpreting local design by mixing Middle Eastern craft with Far Eastern sensibility, resulting in a fusion of East and East. “It is the hand that makes what the heart creates.” – Nada Debs
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Stelios Mousarris
Born in 1988 in the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Stelios Mousarris took the design world by storm at a young age. Stelios studied Modelmaking at the Arts University of Bournemouth, earning himself a Bachelor of Arts and lifelong experiences along the way. There, he immersed himself in various mediums of visual art, experimenting with photography, product and architectural designs, constantly trying to refine his own conceptual vocabulary and creative personality. Upon his return to Cyprus, Stelios set up his own workshop and studio in his hometown of Larnaca, focusing on small interior design pieces. He immediately drew the attention of designer Christopher Duffy who employed Stelios as an assistant designer in his firm Duffy London. Growing a better understanding of the design industry and gaining priceless experience in London, Stelios decided to re-launch his own personal studio and brand with far more mature designs and ideas. Thus leading to the birth of the reality bending Wave City Coffee Table.
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Tarek El Kassouf
Tarek ElKassouf is a designer based between Beirut and Sydney who creates in three disciplines: Architecture, Urban Planning and Product/Furniture Design. His work is inspired by geometric patterns and is often spliced with futuristic parametric design. Tarek has been working as an Architect and Urban Planner since 2005; on projects that range from landmarks to developing cities. He began refining his third passion, furniture design in 2014 with the launch of ‘The Edge’ series of furniture and lighting. His geometric products are “functional-sculptural pieces”. Tarek was awarded the Silver A’ Design Award in the Young Design Category for The Edge – Beirut in 2015.
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About Cities Boutique
Cities is the GCC’s premiere home design, art and personal accessories store. Cities' creative collection of design items from around the world serves as a unique platform for notable and talented artisans. Renowned designers display and distribute their innovative philosophy through Cities' distinguished and refreshing approach to design and lifestyle products. Cities has an ever changing showroom which features selective and impeccably chosen objects from the Middle East and beyond and provides your gateway to a discriminating lifestyle of refinement and exquisite design.
About Hazem K. Aljesr- Owner of Cities Boutique
Hazem K. Aljesr spent his earlier years in Lebanon, where he was born, and Saudi Arabia where he was brought up. Starting his career at Tom Dixon Design studios in London, which is a design and manufacturing company of lighting and furniture, Hazem gained extensive knowledge in the world of high-end design. After this experience, he returned to the Middle East in 2006, and opened his very own branding, web and design firm, Zoom Creative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2008, under the umbrella of Zoom Creative, Hazem launched Cities Design and Lifestyle Store, in Centria Mall, Riyadh. Cities has been a great success in introducing the country to the latest in modern and avant-garde home accessories and designs from around the world. With the hopes of presenting distinctive, International art and designs to the crowd of Dubai, Hazem has created the same authentic establishment that was launched in Saudi. He hopes to later expand Cities further in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and eventually to various parts of Europe.
For more information, please visit:
Instagram: Citiesdubai
Facebook: cities-design-and-lifestyle-store
Tel: +971 4 34 34 301
Locations: Galleria Mall and The Dubai Mall (LG)
For media enquiries, please contact:
About Design Days Dubai:
Design Days Dubai is the leading fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to collectible and limited edition furniture and design objects. The fair presents design from leading international designers and galleries alongside up and coming design from across the world. The fair also presents a strong non-commercial programme consisting of education, workshops, installations and live performances.
Designdaysdubai.ae | @designdaysdubai | #DDD2017
For information re Design Days Dubai, please contact:
T: 05 5650 7431
