Leading German manufacturer in sanitary fittings Grohe has joined hands with the American University in Dubai (AUD) to launch the “Water & Sand” Design Atelier.

The programme, including Grohe One-Day Workshop at AUD, will lead to a grand finale event where the winning team will be awarded.

The workshop, being held in collaboration with Alserkal Cultural Foundation, is offered to the students of the Department of Interior Design of the School of Architecture, Art and Design of the AUD.

The event will see the university students develop a wellness project located in a windtower house in the vibrant area of Al Bastakiya Dubai, embracing art and culture while using Grohe Spa range.

This challenging project will link local heritage with modern design solutions in respect with the tradition and the historical location, said a statement from Grohe.

It will be developed during the Spring 2016 semester and will involve students enrolled in the Wellness and Spa course – an advanced interior design course focusing on wellness centres analysis, planning and design, together with students enrolled in the Interior Design Studio III course.

With this edition of the Design Atelier, AUD and Grohe have renewed their successful collaboration, previously established with the German firm's Design Series programme.

Albert  Fakhoury, the chair of the interior design department at AUD along with Prof Annamaria Lambri, the associate professor of interior design and co-ordinator of the Design Atelier, together with Jasmine Shahin, AUD adjunct professor of interior design, will support and lead the students through this challenging and exciting journey.

Lauding the collaboration with Grohe, Fakhoury said: "It is reaching a new milestone: thanks to the tremendous efforts of the department – particularly Prof Lambri’s contribution - Wellness and Spa is officially offered as a professional elective course and has become part of the new 'Emphasis in Hospitality Design' that we are developing within our programme - a programme, which will prepare the young creative minds towards uniqueness in their professional career.

"Collaborating with Alserkal Cultural Foundation is nothing less than a statement of our commitment to the values of the UAE heritage by highlighting its traditional architecture in a very innovative context," he noted.

Lina Varytimidou, the director PR and head of Grohe Spa in the East Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa introduced the products from its collection during the launch event.

"We are extremely excited about this collaboration and developing the future of this topic. We look forward to seeing the projects that the students will be delivering at the end of the semester and to offering the winner of the best assignment an internship at the Grohe offices in Dubai," she stated.
 
"We hope that Grohe's partnership with AUD will contribute to the advancement of the interior design standards in the UAE," she added.-TradeArabia News Service