My Interview with Times of Oman

Hello .. 

Here is my latest interview with Times of Oman's yearly issue "Heavenly Homes" for 2012.

Am happy that they didn't change in my answers except in one sentence x_X 

But yes, the interview was really good and I enjoyed answering the questions.

Cover 

Contents 

The Article 

Here is the article in a bigger size if you like to read it .. Enjoy it! 

female prison' by OOIIOO architecture, iceland

female prison' by OOIIOO architecture, iceland

all images courtesy of OOIIOO architecture
collage of the structure


" madrid-based OOIIOO architecture have developed a proposal for a 'female prison' located in iceland. the project started with the team asking people
who live and work in the establishments what it felt like. the conclusion was that the worst thing about living in a correctional facility is the feeling
that you are actually in one. as a result, this design does not look like a typical penitentiary.


the structure is based on natural light, open spaces and greenery such as peat, grass and flowers. it dismisses the dark spaces, small cells and 
grey concrete walls typical of a traditional prison. instead of containing the functions in a singular building, this breaks into several tiny and 
more human scaled pavilions. the program is complex, similar to a small village, with a hospital, schools, church and theater, 
all working precisely at the same time.

the structure hosts three different types of inhabitants: prisoners, workers and occasional visitors. each of the users have a very specific circulation and 
area where they can or cannot reside in. the design resembles the cogs of a large watch, a building like a gear assembly, were all the pieces must be on the 
right place to make it efficient and functional, but with the best possible relation to natural light and exterior views, to increase the feeling of freedom. " 

e-swatches ! Really cool !

'color elite', or 'e-swatches', a concept and structural prototype project by taiwanese design student chen liao-hsun, 

is a portable library of color swatches that serves also to scan and automatically identify the color of physical objects 

and surfaces.

the device features a flexible e-paper screen with a circular cutout, into and out of which a small scanner can be inserted. 
when disconnected from the scanner, the device can function as a swatch plate for a single color, with its open hole 
permitting users to make tone matches by sight. selecting a swatch turns the entire sheet that color, to better verify a match.

Check out the video ! 

Pantone celebrating the Queen Elizabith's 60 years of her reign over England.... diamond jubilee colour guide

You are used to see such color swatch book? 





Advertising agency leo burnett london and pantone had a funny way to celebrate the Queen of England's 60 years of her reign over England! 



The vibrant outfit colour choices of the queen are contained in the shape of the queen

"The small, queen-shaped book contains sixty years of queen elizabeth II's most memorable wardrobe shades, printed by precision imaging using HP indigo 
technology and is comprised of sixty separate images picturing varying pigments. beginning with color choices dating back to the queen's coronation, 
each of the individual shade references include the date and location of that particular ensemble. images of her majesties wardrobe selections were matched 
by pantone's emulation system, achieving exact color matching from the pantone shade range. "

" leatrice eiseman, the executive director of the 
pantone colour institute reflects upon her majesty's notable shade selections, including 'pantone 13-0755 primrose yellow' of queen elizabeth II's outfit 
worn in april of 2011 to the wedding of her grandson, prince william to kate middleton or 'pantone 13-4411 crystal blue' for which eiseman notes, 
'blue is a colour staple in the queen's wardrobe, it's a colour that communicates constancy and it is also symbolic of her devotion to the british people.
blues traditionally have calming properties and she is often seen wearing them during difficult times...'. " 

Cooling your house with Mashrabiya!

The designers Mey kahn and Boaz Kahn have transported an ancient secret into the now with a fantastically lovely bit of interior design as a conduit.


It's an ECOoler design. It's a tile system that connects via water hose nozzles, creating a grid of essentially natural coolers that work by evaporating water.

What a fantastic Idea !! :D 

"The Mashrabiya, an architectural element that acts as mediator between the inside and the outside. This takes the form of a clay or cement brick that allows air to travel in whilst continuing to keep all manner of uninvited guests out. In the ECOoler, the Mashrabiya is molded and made into a tube system that takes another important cue from a Middle-Eastern tradition: the Jara."


Will leave you with the pix! 

How to Choose Colors for Your Rooms?

It's been ages since my last post... busy busy busy!! Here am I :D We -in Oman- got an extended weekend; celebrating His Prophet Mohammed's birthday. So, let's do some blogging :D

Well, I am always getting this question; what color should I select to paint my room/space? huummm .. 

It's not a question that can be answered by a green, red, blue, pink, brown , .... whatever!

To select a color for a paint you have to go through a process ! Let's go through these 6 steps:
1. First, Get to know your preferred colors
2. Get to know your space; which room, size, openings, type of furniture
3. Find a scheme for your space, what style do you prefer?
4. Mood of the Room! Color & style set the mood of the room. What feelings do you want to add to your room?
5. Do color hunting ! Visit paints shops, take some samples of the colors that fits the style you finalized  !  If possible try them on your wall and select the one you feel the best for your room.
6.  Once you know what color to use, decide on the sheen and finish. Paints has different sheen ! Glossy, Matt, Eggshell, Semi-gloss, High-gloss, Satin.

You might wonder what color would set the mood I want in my room? Here is a graph by paintersoflouisville which is an exploration of the truth behind color, and how we subconsciously react to it.

Vacancy at Total Design- Muscat

If you are an interior designer or you know one .. plz read the ad below & share !

TD  is looking forward to meet the one :D !