DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
MHDH : The design of the restaurant is based on the principle of reflection. Surrounded by the Coastline Sea and open sky, the interior walls are cladded with tampered metal sheets as the main interior element flowing like water throughout the space, reflecting the light of the environment around it. The different tone of blue on each column tries to reflect the ever changing tones of the blue sky.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
MHDH : When we first arrived at the location we immediately knew that the design had to come from the beauty around it. We wanted to maintain the harmony of life and give a modern aquatic feel inside the restaurant. We wanted to steer away from the traditional way of designing a restaurant the serving Egyptian food, and looking around us in the city, nothing spoke out as this concept did, It was new fresh and forward.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
MHDH : We are going to announce on social media to encourage designers to create a story behind their interior design and apply for the award.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
MHDH : Three Months.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
MHDH : It had to come from the beauty around it. Located on the on the cusp of the Mediterranean sea off of Alexandria's historic coastline, the restaurant’s interior is absorbing its surroundings, the sea, sun and sky and reflecting it back into the design and function of the space. With the disappearance and appearance of sunlight, the mood is dramatically altered as the day turns into night. The main inspiration is using materials that absorb and reflect.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
MHDH : We usually do that type of work, but this one was a new challenge, we had to think of something unique for the concept.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
MHDH : Of course, the whole team that worked on the project.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
MHDH : Generally People in Alexandria and specifically upper class.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
MHDH : The interior embraces the sea and the exterior, it is not standing out but blends in with the sea in terms of look and feel.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
MHDH : Na3Na3: “mint” which is a very traditional Egyptian ingredient. The symbols above the word are Arabic, and are commonly used to pronounce the Arabic language.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
MHDH : Common design soft wares such as 3DMax and AutoCAD.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
MHDH : The materials that reflect the nature outside, washed wood that reflects the boats in the sea, stainless that reflect the water surface at certain hour of the day, with the disappearance and appearance of sunlight, the mood is dramatically altered as the day turns into night. The tampered metal sheets used as the main interior element flowing like water throughout the space, reflects the light of the environment around it.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
MHDH : We designed everything in house, and we collaborated with electromechanical consult the contractor in the implementation phase of the project.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
MHDH : Mainly, Softwares we used in the design process.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
MHDH : Not really, it is based on the influence of the surrounding place.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
MHDH : The simples approval process of selected materials to achieve the look.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
MHDH : It is not our first time to submit for A’Design Award, we already did that twice and we decided to keep ourselves involved this year, and we are very happy.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
MHDH : Always exploring new materials and applications to enrich my knowledge
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MHDH : No, Thanks.
