Business & Money | Wednesday 15 April, 2015 5:21 pm |

at The 2015 Middle East Interior Design and Architecture Award
dmg events Middle East & Asia, organisers of the INDEX International Design Exhibition, announced today it is accepting entries for the 2015 Middle East Interior Design & Architecture Awards (MEIDAA). The prestigious Awards recognise and reward excellence in architecture and design across the MENA region, and gather the industry’s elite at an evening gala event during INDEX 2015.

Held in Dubai for the fourth consecutive year, the Awards - also supported by the workspace at INDEX Exhibition - places the architecture, design and interiors industry centre stage, showcasing the very best design projects being delivered in the region.

Frederique Maurell, Group Event Director for INDEX and workspace at INDEX, said: “This year’s Middle East Interior Design & Architecture Awards will be extra special as they form an integral part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for INDEX. The appetite for this year’s Awards is already strong; with many leading architecture and design firms wanting to enter before the official launch date was announced. Since their inception in 2012, participation in the Awards has grown significantly year-on-year, with last year’s Awards achieving a 30% increase in entries. This year’s Awards are set to be the biggest yet as we expect to receive more than 120 entries – a clear indicator of how high the industry regards the Awards and its commitment to showcasing and celebrating the region’s best architecture and design projects.”

Open to architecture and design firms from across the globe, the Awards reward projects located in the Middle East and North Africa region completed between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2014, or are due for completion by 31st December 2016.

Award entries will be accepted until 16th March 2015 with the awards ceremony taking place on 18th May - the opening night of INDEX International Design Exhibition and workspace at INDEX exhibitions.

Shafik El- Abdellah Morillas, General Manager, In-Lite (Silver Category Sponsor), said: “We are extremely excited and honoured to sponsor these highly regarded industry awards for a second consecutive year. With INDEX celebrating its 25th anniversary year, coupled with the fact that 2015 is the International Year of Light, it seems only fitting that we continue our support of this significant event.”

The awards are divided into 19 categories covering the entire spectrum of architecture and design projects across the residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. This year sees the introduction of 4 brand new award categories; namely, Best Commercial Refurbishment Project, Best Hospitality Refurbishment Project, Best Residential Refurbishment Project, and Best Retail Window Display.

2014 Retail Category Winner for Arteco Ceramics Showroom, Studio Bruno Guélaff said: “It was an honour to have been acknowledged by members of our profession for the design work achieved with the recently completed Arteco Ceramics Showroom. I am overjoyed to have won the best retail category last year and look forward to submitting future projects.”

All submitted projects will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges which includes: Charles Leon, Director Charles Leon Associates; Annamaria Lambri, Interior Design Professor at the American University Dubai; Christopher Seymour, Partner & Head of Property & Social Infrastructure UAE at EC Harris; Richard Wagner, Sustainability Consultant & Partner at Wanders Architects; and Steven Charlton, Principal Managing Director ME, Perkins+Will.

The judges will evaluate each award entry on four main criteria: Appropriateness and Context, Creativity and Innovation, Aesthetics and Presentation, and Sustainability.

Christopher Seymour, Partner & Head of Property at EC Harris said, “I am delighted to be part of the MEIDAA this year. The awards are an excellent showcase for the wealth of talent in the region and provide a great opportunity to display what is, in all respects, world class design.”
For further information on the Awards, including how to register email: meidaa@indexexhibition.com or visit the INDEX (www.indexexhibition.com) or workspace at INDEX (www.workspace-index.com) websites.

The 25th edition of INDEX International Design Exhibition and the 14th edition of workspace at INDEX will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 18-21 May 2015.