Dubai Downtown Design 2024 Highlights

Downtown Design is an anchor event in the Dubai Design Week calendar, taking place in November each year at the d3 Waterfront in Dubai Design District. We were thrilled to be involved this year in a collaboration with Haberdashery, and were inspired by the creativity and innovation on display throughout the event. Head of Design – ME, Estefania Marquez, shares her highlights from the week.

In an exciting collaboration, our downlights were intelligently integrated to create an immersive environment in Haberdashery’s mesmerising ‘Sand & Sea’ installation which appeared at Downtown Design. The beautiful installation offered a sensory experience, with the architectural lighting design activating the sculpture’s captivating caustic projections. Rippled forms in clear and frosted crystal evoked the essence of water, while gold accents tied seamlessly to Dubai’s surrounding dunes.

Bespoke architectural lighting brought the sculpture to life, casting dramatic shadows that mimicked lapping waves. Our Polespring downlights revealed different scenes within the installation, accentuating its artistry while introducing an element of theatrical drama. Complementing this was Holland Cassidy’s signature touch within the luxurious rug.

The Venini Velario stand immediately captured our attention. Featuring a reproduction of Velario, the original which formed part of the skylight of Venice’s Palazzo Grassi from 1951 to 1985, the masterpiece was brought back to life for this edition of Design Week. Married with technology the installation created a mesmerising light show and sensory experience.

Buzzing with imagination and creativity, this stand by Casa Milano challenged 8 design firms to build a 12 SQM bathroom. Each firm selected a word at random which would form the concept. They were able to select from an abundance of materials and resources from Casa Milano to make their vision a reality.

Pictured – URBAN by Roar. Other concepts included the likes of Whimsical by DZ Design, Quirky by 4SPACE Design, Aquatonic by SBID, Kitch by Known, Neo Classical by AK Designo, Power by Broadway Interiors, and Art Deco by XBD Collective. This creative initiative was further supported by Intelier and Love That Design.

LASVIT continue to pull out all the stops and this year was no exception. Featuring a central lighting installation by LASVIT’s designer Martin Gallo, the piece was inspired by the beauty of the surrounding desert landscapes, with falling water pendants. The blend of craftsmanship and inspiration from nature created a serene an fascinating piece.

It was impossible not to be pulled in by the impressive Monolite feature by Jacopo Foggini. With a vibrant green envelope and a chandelier that demanded attention, we were particularly intrigued by the surrounding material, polycarbonate. From the perspective of a lighting designer, materials are fascinating, as they have the potential to either enhance or detract the impact of lighting. Here, the materials selected, along with the light worked seamlessly together.

A key highlight of the fair this year was the launch of Editions – a showcase of limited-edition works showcased by over 50 galleries, design studios and collectives, exhibiting works exclusively in the fields of prints, contemporary design, photography, ceramics, and works on paper. It was fascinating to see the variety and diversity of artworks displayed and consider how they could be most effectively lit to enhance the experience.

The week was a celebration of creativity, innovation and great design. We’re already looking forward to what’s in store next year. Missed us at Downtown Design? Follow us on Instagram to see what inspiring events we will be at next.