Raging against the machine
Artist, air brusher and tattooist Hady Beydoun has made a name for himself with his extraordinary designs, and unbounded imagination.
Cultural Stairway
Gemmayzeh may be well known for its hundreds of restaurants and pubs, but this old Beirut neighbourhood has commendably held on to its cultural identity despite the rapid popularisation of its main artery, Gouraud Street.
Solving quandaries
Matali Crasset is known as an industrial designer but she covers a variety of other subjects such as furniture design, graphics and interior design. With a particular methodology of analysing everyday life to propose alternative ways she has firmly established herself as a unique talent.
Zurich
Worth Shopping At: Sprüngli Amongst the many Swiss chocolatiers, Sprüngli is the country’s most famous. There are so many high-calorie offerings that you could actually lose yourself, but try the Dunkel Truffes du jour and the Luxemburgli. There is also a café within the store that serves
Off the beaten path
A ski trip at least once a year is an essential part of anyone’s yearly itinerary. Unfortunately putting such an idea into practice is not always so simple. This year, you should forget about the usual spots and head for St. Anton.
A Whole New World: Graphic Designer Rana Salam's Arab Pop Art
A whole new world Rana Salam is one of the top graphic designers to emerge from the Middle East. Her work celebrates Middle Eastern popular art and culture by merging vibrant Arab imagery with the latest technology to create a unique vision of graphic design and art direction. Her business
Rough luxury
Designer Rabih Hage speaks about his work, his gallery and his new luxury hotel in London’s King’s Cross – The Rough Luxe Hotel.
Cultural measures
Qatar has opened the bidding to become the cultural centre of the Middle East with its brand new Museum of Islamic Art designed by the legendary architect I.M. Pei.
Imaginative interpretation
Palestinian talent, Mona Hatoum, is our region’s most distinguished installation artist. While mostly focusing on confrontational themes such as violence, oppression, and voyeurism, she has often made powerful references to the vulnerability and resistance of our human bodies.
Grand Accomplishments
The Dolder Grand was originally a spa hotel, or as the Swiss call it, a Curhaus, but after four years of major works with a redesign by the distinguished architects Foster+Partners, the hotel is now a paragon for sybarites.
Top shops
Traffic – Dubai According to Sheikh Majed el Sabah, founder of the luxury Middle Eastern department stores, Villa Moda, “design was introducd to Dubai via Traffic.” This 650 square-metre showroom, library, shop and gallery, is home to the works of globally renowned designers as well as reg
City Escapes
(no writer) Section: Escape / City Escapes Cultural treats With both individuals and states actively advancing cultural festivals and fairs, the Middle East is fast developing in new and unfound ways. The month of March is a particularly busy one in the cultural calendar so get out and enj