4 Awards winning, « Emirates Room » realized in United Nations Office at Geneva in collaboration with Swiss Bureau Interior Design it required a complete refurbishment to comply with current technical standards for conference rooms.
Invited by the « Ministry of Presidential Affairs of Abu Dhabi », to participate in the international competition to renovate the conference room XVII, we have accepted the challenge without even a glint of hesitation.
The brief was simple, design a project that would subjectively represent the UAE vision.
The genesis of the project stems from the emblem of the United Arab Emirates, a golden falcon upholding the Emirates flag surrounded by 7 stars representing the 7 Emirates of the Federation.
At the foot of the falcon, the name of the United Arab Emirates is inscribed in Kufic script.
In the project, the name of the United Arab Emirates transforms itself into a rounded metallic architectural structure while still preserving the traditional and cultural values of Arabic calligraphy.
The structure is also linked to the sky which symbolizes the vision of the United Arab Emirates. The endless, limitless, interminable sky represents the futuristic and innovative vision of the country.
The walls of the room are made of wood panels, which by their curved shapes are a subtle representation of the wind in the dunes. The carpeting reproduces the orange hues that characterize the unique colours of the sand of the desert of Abu Dhabi.
Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, in his welcoming remarks, said that “La Salle des Emirats” combines functionality, cutting-edge technology and a design that merges innovation and cultural heritage, very much in line with the spectacular architectural trends that have emerged in the United Arab Emirates over the past years. “Room XVII does not only shine in a new design, but also has technical features that will ultimately help delegates focus on finding solutions – under the blue Emirates sky – to the world’s problems that are being addressed here in Geneva,” said Mr. Møller.
19th January 2016, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the conference room XVII renovation site at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Pictured with Siavosh Adeli who explain the concept of the project in the presence of Michael Møller, Director-General of United Nations Office in Geneva and Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in Geneva.
« EMIRATES ROOM » WAS THE WINNER OF 4 AWARDS in 2017-2018
Award 1: February 2017
INAVATION Award in category « Best Most InAvative Government Facility »
Award 2: November 2017
EUROPEAN Property Award in category « Best Public Service Interior »
Award 3: December 2017
INTERNATIONAL Property Award in category « Best Public Service Interior »
Award 4: April 2018
SPECIAL HONOR Award in XI Edition of PORCELANOSA
Architecture & Interior Design Awards
To discover a short Movie showing the Project from the process of preparing the draft until the end of the works:
