UAE
Date: November 9 · 2024
November 9 · 2024
Introduction
This 8th edition of the competition gathered 100 participants from various universities and interior design companies across the UAE. The competition was held at the Al Safa Art & Design Library, in Jumeirah 3 Dubai, UAE. This was another great success for the UAE Edition of the Roca One Day Design Challenge.
Participants were asked to reinterpret the concept of prestige comfort in the bathroom shower area, incorporating new features, functions and technology to improve the prestige wellness and lifestyle aspects, as well as resource optimisation and sustainability.
The jury awarded the first prize to project no. 616, “Granite”, designed by Sara Al Sayed and Camelia Yaghi, both students at Canadian University. The project was recognised for its seamless design, which provides a fully integrated solution and is easily marketable in the hospitality industry.
The second prize was awarded to “The Dynamic Platform”project no. 1109, designed by Mohamed Said Al Radwi of MEMAR Architecture and Mohamed Amin Charaf of ME Living. The project was selected for its innovative design, an out-of-the-box idea that focuses on the user experience and beautifully integrates all elements related to controlling the shower. The jury also highlighted project’s promotion of wellbeing and good balance between function and form.
Project no. 263, “Aura”, designed by Jobin Jose of Potencia Design & Build, was awarded third prize. This project was chosen because it is a high-endproduct with many features and many possibilities. It has a specialisation for people with reduced mobility and it is easy to integrate into the bathroom, whether new or existing. The jury highlighted that the project was well presented with nice visuals.
Awarded projects
Gallery
Jury
Rakan Jandali
An Award-Winning Creative Director and Design professional. Rakan is driven by a profound passion for exploration and fostering human connections through design, drawing inspiration from his deep appreciation for art, music, and technology. He sees creativity as more than just a means of self-expression—it's a powerful tool for addressing challenges, bridging the gap between concepts and reality, and shaping environments that resonate with people on a profound level. With an unwavering belief in the transformative power of design, Rakan strives to create spaces that not only captivate the senses but also leave an indelible impression, creating enduring memories that endure long after the experience has ended
Hania Halawani
Hania is a professional interior designer with more than 19 years of professional experience in the region. She holds BS in Interior Design from the Lebanese American University since 2004.
As Assistant Director at Dubai Holding Real Estate, with an extensive experience in the development and Real Estate industry, Hania manages various projects from the very initial stage, going through all the design phases in collaboration with all the internal stakeholders, up to the delivery stage. She works closely with local and international Interior Design firms to ensure the management’s vision is perfectly delivered as per the set expectations and projects standards.
Hania has worked on several prestigious projects in the UAE and she has design and project management experience on various residential & hospitality projects.
Gabriel Gil
Gabriel is an architect with a solid record of full lifecycle project management success in directing high-profile major design projects all over the world.
Graduated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he worked based in Madrid Spain for more than 20 years and since 2010 has an international experience leading design teams in big Companies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and India.
Gabreil has over 30 years of dynamic and driven leadership across all design, development, and delivery phases. Since 2022 he is based in Riyadh, KSA, working as Director of Interior design at Omrania by Egis, managing big scale Projects in Corporate, Hospitality, Mix use and Governmental Projects.
He has demonstrated expertise in all facets of interior design, operational management, construction administration, financial stewardship, business development, and client relations management.
Among his projects, we can mention: CMA Tower – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Four Seasons Hotel – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hilton Hotel & Apartments – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Residential Complex (confidential). Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Hotel Sandals Royal Hicacos Resort & Spa. 5 Star. Varadero, Cuba, Grand Hotel La Florida 5 Star. Barcelona, Spain, Hotel Ritz Madrid 5 Star Plus. Madrid, Spain
Luis Sergio Castro
Born in Bilbao, Spain, in 1971, Sergio, has a degree in Economics from the University Complutense of Madrid, with specialization in international economics.
His postgrad education was completed at the University Politecnica of Madrid, where he obtained the titles of master’s in finance & accounting, and expert in Production & Quality Management. He is fluent in Spanish, English, Czech, Polish, and Bulgarian.
Sergio joined the ROCA GROUP back in 2001, since then he has held several positions in the GROUP in the areas of Sales, Finance, and General Management. As Managing Director, he has been responsible of South East Europe (Roca Bulgaria, Roca Romania, Roca Croatia), and until August 2024 of Laufen CZ.
He is a devoted family man, married and proud father of three daughters.
Sara Alsharif
With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Sara is a renowned expert known for her unique design approach.
Originally from the United States she began studying Interior design before making a pivotal decision in 2012 to pursue a career here in the UAE.
Sara has worked with some of the industry's leading firms, including HBA, Wilson Associates, and DWP. Over the course of eight years, she contributed to numerous high-profile projects, gaining a reputation for innovative design solutions.
In 2022, Sara, transitioned from design to operations, joining Marriott International as Senior Manager of Interior / Global Design team. This shift gives her to leverage her design expertise in a new capacity, focusing on enhancing guest experiences and streamlining operational processes.
