Thomas Trad's Japanese-inspired, minimalist aesthetic set the tone for Downtown Design's The Forum, held during the 10th edition of Dubai Design Week The curved modular three-seater sofa from Heilig Objects. Created in collaboration with B&T Design, the piece combines feverish futurism with grounding serenity, harmonizing with and underlining the idea of open-mindedness that Trad's design concept revolves around.
The Downtown Design Forum is the key event of Dubai Design Week. It hosts inspiring discussions and keynotes with leading international figures and groundbreaking creatives contributing to the design world. In November this year, India Mahdavi, Lina Ghotmeh, Karim Rashid and Eames Demetrios were among the participants. Beirut-born, Dubai-based AD100 interior designer Thomas Trad's mastery comes from combining organic and abstract forms and his tireless experimentation with materials, textures and surfaces.
Against the backdrop of a large circular opening made of amber-colored structural glass that allows natural light to pass through – simultaneously evoking the warmth of the sun and a time-traveling portal – Heilig Objects' bright orange seating ensemble completes a mood of dialogue and discovery.
Daniel Heilig, born in Budapest, is an effortlessly cultured person, an esthete by nature. The Soviets and poverty shaped his childhood. Even though he spent the last part of his formative years in a renewed, modern Germany – a time that gave him a clean slate – Heilig could not escape the feeling of being anchorless. The idea of self-invention, the refusal to look back and be guided by one's intuition, were the basis of the interdisciplinary artist's practice.
The centerpiece that Heilig designed for the Forum is inspired by the codes of Brutalism and represents a continuation of the designer's exploration and deep love for monumental architecture. Working with Instantul-based brand B&T Design, they wanted a design that was both practical and… also create philosophical contribution that evokes a spirit of conviviality.
The shared passion for the natural beauty of materials and responsible, functional design ensured a seamless synergy between Trad and Heilig. Trad's welcoming environment took cues from mid-century modern and Japanese decor and featured custom floor and wall coverings and bespoke lighting fixtures. The hall-like room was covered from head to toe in green fabric and the striking red seating provided a balanced contrast. Both the construction and the silhouette of Heilig's seating arrangement reflect the idea of encouraging new perspectives, being the focal point of the gathering and promoting the region's dynamic design scene.
The three-seater is also a natural extension and complement to Heilig Objects' ever-growing portfolio as a contemporary design studio that seeks to integrate innovative, intercultural and non-conformist techniques and artisanal approaches. From the design of furnishing collections for Compagnons de Vie and Monuments to one-off pieces of furniture and limited design series for collector's items, each object is handmade by the self-taught Heilig himself in his studio workshop in Darmstadt. The Tangerine Sofa is another piece that reflects Heilig's skill in creating emotionally charged constructs characterized by a delicate marriage between art and design.
But it's about more than just the ambience. Above all, the ambiguity of the sofa allows it to highlight the mood of any gathering or atmosphere. Heilig's boundary-pushing work is a symbol of the artist's inexhaustible search for the unexpected and beautiful in contemporary design.