“Ramzi is one of the few precious designers who understands the relevance of every small detail and works to ensure the bigger theme of a design. I have worked with Ramzi on multiple projects, not only his ideas are always different and original but he is consistently exceeding my expectation in giving the project more time and effort.” Hanan Abdel Meguid – Kamilzer CEO
An office space in the GrEEK Campus belonging to an old friend, this project was close to my heart and
one I was given complete creative liberty in. Kamelizer was presented to me with an already developed concept. My client wanted a converted loft clad in vernacular motifs from around North Africa and the Arab world; she wanted it to be impressive, laid back and work conducive.
Giving it Structure
The newly installed mezzanine was a highlight of the space. Due to the structural engineer’s talents and the contracting company’s capabilities, the space was left without any obtrusive columns. With upper and lower levels, the functionality of the office came together nicely, with the upper level giving the team a private area.
I wanted to salvage as much as I could and to focus on natural materials, so I revived the old mosaic flooring and breathed some life back into the very cool, but quite battered, original metal windows. Key structural items include the expansive backlit writing board that incorporates Kamelizer’s logo, the superbly built brick wall that looks like it was an existing element, and finally the rail-less staircase – which was inspired by those I’ve seen in Old Cairo and used David Chipperfield’s iconic handrails as a design solution.
Highlights & Detailing
Other noteworthy elements are the exposed pipes and wooden beams found below the mezzanine. To add functionality to the mix, I color-coded the pipes according to their purpose, meanwhile tying them into the overall palette.
The furniture serves both function and design; the pieces were custom made to reflect these purposes. Lighting was a priority to my client so I made sure to install both direct and indirect lighting systems.
Though the proposed design was a challenge, with the trust of my client and the dedication of the whole team, we were able to complete the project successfully.