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Editor’s Letter: On Lebanese Star Architect Aline Asmar d’Amman, Return of Design Shows in Milan, and More

Manuel Arnaut

Vogue Living Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Ziga Mihelcic

I was first introduced to Aline Asmar d’Amman via Lebanese interior designer Chahan Minassian, who had been invited by d’Amman to participate in the refurbishment of the Hôtel de Crillon. Bringing back to life one of the most iconic hospitality projects in the world — in a no less than iconic Parisian landmark building — is by no means an easy task. So, I was excited to learn that an Arab woman was at the helm of such an important undertaking.

I soon learned of her numerous accomplishments, including a furniture line designed in collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld, and the renovation of the Michelin-star Le Jules Verne restaurant, within the Eiffel Tower. When I finally met Aline in person, I fell in love with her charisma. Besides being incredibly talented and hardworking, she is the type of uncomplicated person that puts you at ease straight away, with a hearty laugh and a welcoming spirit that is truly Lebanese.

However, it is not because of her affability that the founder of the studio Culture in Architecture is on this particular cover of Vogue Living Arabia, standing on the balcony of Venice’s Ca’ d’Oro. A supporting member of Venetian Heritage, d’Amman is now responsible for the design of one of the first Orient Express hotels, taking over the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli. This sounded like the perfect occasion to spend a day in La Serenissima with the architect, who also designed the scenography of this year’s Lebanon pavilion for the ongoing Venice Art Biennale.

From romantic water canals to busy urban streets, in this edition we continue to focus on Italy, as Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week are finally back to their original glory. Milan, the epicenter of furniture design that dictates trends globally, was extremely adversely affected during the Covid crisis, with factories closing down, and many businesses struggling to survive. Judging by the preview we share on page 42, I can see that things are getting back on track, and I can’t wait for the next edition of Salone del Mobile, happening between the 7th and 12th of June. I’m also excited to see how our interior designers will incorporate these new pieces within our regional context, as the appetite for impressive design grows exponentially throughout the Arab world. Any doubts? Go to page 60 and enjoy the magnificent wedding design projects of the Dubai-based studio Designlab Experience. Definitely something that will make you say, “I do.”

Read Next: Salone del Mobile 2022: Your First Look at the Best of the Upcoming Design Show

Originally published in the Spring/Summer 2022 issue of Vogue Living Arabia

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