CERCOUNTRYREPORT United Arab Emirates
A PREFERENCE FOR MATT and digitally printed tiles
by Alessandra Ferretti
Kristina Zanic, what are the main design trends in the
Emirates today? Ceramics are a very big part of the spaces we design as interior designers in the MENA region. F&B is a huge area where we are still seeing metro tiles in various shapes, sizes, glazes and finishes. Similarly, variations and modern updates on traditional patterned tiles are still widely used. Greater advances in digitally printed tiles mimicking stone and timber are refreshingly realistic, and thankfully clients and designers alike are rejecting the older, plastic-like earlier attempts.
Matt finish and natural textured tiles are definitely preferred over high gloss options at the moment.
What are the strengths of Emirates ceramic producers? A huge benefit, of course, is cost. Easily accessible samples are another benefit. Bigger companies and select clients in the MENA Region are now more interested in value engineering, whereas ten years ago this was not on clients’ radars.
What is your view of the Italian ceramic sector? Definitely still among the best when it comes to quality and design.
How have the demands and preferences of Emirates consumers changed? As mentioned before, clients are more aware of value engineering. There is a big advantage for ceramic
Le BHV Marais F&B concepts These F&B projects, designed for Le BHV Marais’s flagship store in City Walk (Dubai), show off some great accent tiles: the graphic black and white tiles in the coffee bar or the patterned tiles on the floor of the Italian restaurant.
2017 maggio/giugno CER 49
Kristina Zanic
manufacturers as stone plays a smaller role in some projects. That said, there are some absolutely stunning ceramic products in the market which give stone a run for its money.
What are the characteristics Italian ceramics are known for in the Emirates?
Absolutely without a doubt: quality in manufacturing and quality in design.
alessandraferretti3@libero.it
Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh: typical bathroom and King room
q
q
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
