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The new library at the Zayed University campus in Abu Dhabi grabbed top honours, winning the award for ‘Outstanding Use of American Hardwood in a project’ at the Commercial Interior Design (CID) Awards 2011, which took place at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwoods industry, supported this year’s edition of the CID Awards with the introduction of this new category as part of its extensive outreach campaign championing the usage of American hardwoods in leading design projects. AHEC’s involvement was also representative of its commitment to educate, increase awareness and to promote the environmental credentials of American hardwoods.
Carrie Das, Design Manager at AHK International, a leading interior design, project design and management firm that was awarded the joinery works for the new Abu Dhabi campus, received the award from Jude Akhidenor, Agricultural Attache, US Consulate in Dubai and Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania. Also present was Mohamed Taha, Senior Assistant to the Regional Director, Agricultural Attache of the US Consulate in Dubai. The new library was part of the overall AED 3 billion project designed by Hadi Teherani and is considered to be one of the largest university libraries in the Middle East, at approximately 40,000 square metres. The library, which is part of the 28 new buildings completed for the new campus inside Khalifa City, is the university’s premier learning resource facility for both students and faculty, and this award recognises the usage of American walnut to create a conducive and inspiring ambiance for reading and learning.
“The US hardwood industry has maintained an active presence in the Middle East, as evident in the increased use of American hardwoods in numerous high profile projects across the region,” said Jude Akhidenor, Agricultural Attache of the US Consulate in Dubai. “It is equally impressive to see all these award-winning entries, many of which incorporate American hardwoods as an important complement that adds both quality and high aesthetic value to the project. I would like to congratulate AHEC on their involvement with the CID Awards, which is widely recognized as a definitive event for the Middle East interior design industry and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
Housing around 150,000 books from the Zayed Library collection, the library follows a concept based on a traditional amphitheatres, where students sat around a circular based theatre while the teacher would lecture from the centre of the theatre. AHK International decided to highlight the rich, dark tones of American walnut throughout the library, proving its strong aesthetic presence from the library’s flooring and bookshelves, to the wall panelling. The AHK design team was able to present a jointless veneer appearance, highlighting the continuous flow of the natural grain of American walnut.
“We are very honoured to have been recognized for our work on the new campus library of Zayed University, which allowed us the privilege to implement a design that has been detailed to such an extent,” added Carrie Das, Design Manager, AHK International. “It was such a magnificent project to work on. Initially, we set out to use American walnut to achieve a modern look but while still keeping true to the nostalgia of historic libraries. The end result is a library that lives, breathes and emanates the key beauty provided by such a rich and warm hardwood as American walnut."
At the CID Awards, special commendation was also given to The Pavilion Downtown Dubai, a leading venue for the UAE’s artist community, for its use of American white oak in a design completed by Abboud Malak. The inclusion of American white oak has helped to create a truly natural and thought-provoking space for the many artists and designers that convene at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai. Malak also used American white oak extensively in ‘The Shed,’ a semi-private space completed with solid white American oak table and chairs. Also shortlisted in the category was the Hakkasan Restaurant, Abu Dhabi, which used American red oak in a design aimed at combining the charm of the Orient with the mystique of the Middle East.
“The new campus library of Zayed University truly stands out as this year’s winner for its use of American walnut in an amphitheatre-like setting, which not only showcases the beguiling qualities of this species but also sets the tone and mood for reading, learning and contemplation. We were particularly impressed with the nominations for this new category, which shows that architects and interior designers from this region now have a greater understanding of American hardwood and are also more appreciative of the resource. Our partnership with the CID Awards marks our strong commitment towards the promotion and marketing of American hardwoods as a truly beautiful and sustainable resource and we look forward to working closely with the CID Awards and other partners to help increase awareness of the immense potential and benefits to be gained in using American hardwoods,” concluded Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania.
The CID Awards is an annual event that pays tribute to the projects, interior design firms and designers that have made their mark in the region’s interior design industry. The introduction of the new category, which aims at recognizing the outstanding usage of American hardwoods in a project, garnered strong response from the local design community and resulted in the nomination of key projects that showcased both the beauty and strength of American hardwood species. This year’s edition featured 15 award categories that covered the whole spectrum of commercial interiors, from hospitality and retail, to public sector and institutional. New this year also was the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award,’ which recognised the outstanding contribution of an interior design professional to the industry.
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