Friday, October 23, 2015

Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis: A New Landmark in Dubai

LuLu Group International has appointed Design International and Eng. Adnan Saffarini as the Architects of Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis - the Group's new flagship mall in Dubai. 

Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis - Photo © 2015 Design International

Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis will become the new gate to the 7.2 square kilometers 'Dubai Silicon Oasis', a smart city with world class facilities that is home to over 700 high tech companies, institutes, hotels, business parks and large residential communities, located right off Emirates Road and Al Ain Road in one of the fastest growing parts of Dubai.


Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis - Photo © 2015 Design International

The master mind of Dubai Silicon Oasis is Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, a company established in 2004 and wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. It will be the first smart city of Dubai, providing both living and working integrated communities at the very lowest energy consumption per capita, located just 12 minutes' drive from Downtown Dubai and 15 minutes' drive to Dubai International Airport.


Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis - Photo © 2015 Design International

Mr Yusuff Ali M.A., Managing Director of LuLu Group International, owner of one of the fastest growing retail real estate corporations in the Middle East and Davide Padoa, Architect and CEO of Design International, one of the most innovative architectural firms with offices worldwide, together with Engineer Adnan Saffarini have presented the iconic Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis project to Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority.


Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis, Main Entrance - Photo © 2015 Design International

Arch. Davide Padoa said: "All of the parties involved in this project share the same values: the development of the community, as well as the desire to be at the forefront of style, technology and sustainable innovation, which is what Dubai Silicon Oasis stands out for".


Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis, The Hanging Garden - Photo © 2015 Design International

The revolutionary design of Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis is composed by five gigantic shape-alike pebbles. Inspired by ancient Arabian movements across the desert, Design International wanted to offer both a strong architectural statement and an imposing gate into an oasis of calm and tranquility in the otherwise hectic pace of modern suburban Dubai. 

Inside, the mall features nature at its most exquisite values, with five plazas that resemble the five elements of an oasis: The Cave, The Canyon, The Forest, The Lagoon and The Mirage.


Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis, The Canyon - Photo © 2015 Design International

The mall also has separate zones; Entertainment, Urban Fashion, Luxury, Kids and Sports, Leisure with Cinema, FEC, over 45 restaurants and of course a flagship LuLu Hypermarket and LuLu Department Store. The retail offering will be on two levels, with a total GLA of 72,621m2, a GFA of 104,036m2 and 3600 car park spaces over 2 basement levels.

Mr Padoa continued, ‘Every project has its own story; each is unique. Avenues Mall Silicon Oasis has five dimensions. On top of the conventional three, it will have a fifth façade on its roof, accessible by the public, and it is a mall that works with your senses: it will set a new trend in food and beverage with integrated cooking classes, food events and gourmet clusters that will work benefiting from LuLu's Hypermarket food-chain. The project will feature also the first Imax theatre, as well as one of the largest fitness and wellness centers in the Emirates'.

About Design International
Design International is an innovative architectural practice with vast experience on a global scale. Regarded as one of the industry's leaders in retail architecture, the firm's unique and diverse designs have seen the practice win many awards, as well as having a strong presence worldwide.

Originally founded in Toronto, Canada, in 1965, Design International is now an established practice with headquarters in London, and further offices in Milan, Jakarta and Shanghai. Today, Design International works across 7 integrated divisions: Architecture, Masterplanning, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Landscape Design, Branding & Signage, and Leasing.

For more information on Design International please visit www.designinternational.com

The desire to create and deliver something that is truly iconic and custom-made, whilst respecting its surroundings, is a common goal shared by the firm's team of architects and designers. The team strives to bring culture and individuality into their designs, in order to produce something truly exceptional. The spaces are designed with the end-users in mind, and whilst the location is important, the firm focuses on the 'Emotion', the 'Experience' and the 'Engagement' of the future users.

Design International's design philosophy is deep rooted in the belief that every design has its own individual story; these bespoke spaces are created with the aim to trigger a unique experience for guests. The success lies in the ability to create an experience that is personal to each and every individual.

The firm is able to apply local knowledge and understanding to their international portfolio, as well as break down various cultural and language barriers, and this is down to the multi-national workforce, who come from nearly every corner of the globe.

About Davide Padoa
Davide Padoa acquired notoriety while in Indonesia when he designed for Dharmala Bank and PSP Group the tallest skyscraper in Jakarta at the age of 25. In 1998 he moved to London where he joined Design International, a London-based architecture firm with offices worldwide. Davide was appointed Managing Director in 2002 and Chief Executive Officer in 2006, retaining a hands-on approach for designing large scale retail projects spread across more than 30 countries.

Under Davide's leadership, Design International has grown into a globally-recognised practice. Davide, married to an Indonesian sculptress and with two daughters, is completely devoted to his family.

All visual material is copyrighted © 2015 Design International

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2016

Benjamin Moore Names “Simply White” Its 2016 Color of the Year


Color Leader Reveals Color Trends 2016, Highlighting White as a Timeless and Versatile Design Statement


Benjamin Moore, North America’s favorite paint, color and coatings brand, today announced its highly anticipated 2016 Color of the Year – Simply White OC-117. The company also unveiled Color Trends 2016, a corresponding palette of 23 colors to illustrate how white works within the color spectrum.


“The color white is transcendent, powerful and polarizing – it is either taken for granted or obsessed over,” said Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Creative Director. “White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential. The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry. Of the top ten best-selling Benjamin Moore colors, variants of white occupy five spots. It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our Color of the Year.”

The Benjamin Moore Color Studio forecasts color trends after a year of research attending major industry shows around the world, while also taking cues from standouts in architecture, fashion, textiles, home furnishings and the arts. White transcends style, and is seen in traditional, transitional and modern interiors. The color also presents attractive exterior looks for the home, from colonial to contemporary and virtually everything in between.



The Color Studio arrived at Simply White OC-117 after careful review of the company’s more than 250 white selections. According to the Color Studio, it was the most neutral, level and constant in the various light sources used in today’s design environments.

The 23 colors of the Color Trends 2016 palette include the following:
















































About Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore Color of the Year & Color Trends 2016 can only be achieved with Benjamin Moore paints. Offering residential paints for any project, the Benjamin Moore portfolio includes Aura®, Aura® Bath & Spa, Regal® Select, Natura® ben®, ADVANCE®, ARBORCOAT® and Aura Grand Entrance®. All 3,500 Benjamin Moore colors are available in pint samples at local retailers along with Color Trends 2016 curated palette cards. Benjamin Moore products are exclusively found at the more than 5,000 Benjamin Moore independently owned paint and decorating retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more about the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year and Color Trends 2016 palette, or to find the closest Benjamin Moore retailer, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.

For more information, search #ColorTrends2016 on social media channels including:
Facebook – Benjamin Moore Paints
Twitter – @Benjamin_Moore
Pinterest – Benjamin Moore
Instagram – @benjaminmoore 
YouTube – BenjaminMoorePaints.

Founded in 1883, Benjamin Moore is North America’s favorite paint, color and coatings brand. A leading manufacturer of premium quality residential and commercial coatings, Benjamin Moore maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The portfolio spans the brand’s flagship paint lines including Aura®, Regal® Select, ben® as well as the most environmentally friendly premium paint in the marketplace today, Natura®. Benjamin Moore is renowned for its expansive color portfolio, offering consumers and designers more than 3,500 colors. Benjamin Moore paints are available exclusively from its more than 5,000 locally owned and operated paint and decorating retailers.

For more information please visit Benjamin Moore – www.benjaminmoore.com.