press releases

Nedda at Abu Dhabi Art
Nedda and Vange present bamboo chair at Design Fair in Milan
Nedda designs tableware for Princess Elisabeth Station
Nedda does interior decoration of scientific base in Antarctica
Nedda wins prestigious Flemish Culture Award for Design 2008
Nedda shows her brand new Secretable at Interieur08

Nedda at Abu Dhabi Art

16th November 2009 – In response to the rise of creative talents in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Art will present six designers from the region working in open studios to create innovative new designs based on local traditions, techniques and materials. Nedda is one of them. She will participate at the Design Moment of Abu Dhabi Art. This prestigious event at the Emirates Palace is the meeting place in the Middle East for modern and contemporary art.

Abu Dhabi Art takes place from 19 until 22 November, 2009 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The Design Moment will include graphic designer Reem Al Ghaith (UAE), product designer Ahmed Angawi (Saudi Arabia), product designer Younes Duret (Morocco), furniture designers Huda Baroudi and Maria Hibri of Bokja Design (Lebanon) and Nedda El Asmar, who was born from a Belgian mother and a Palestinian father.

Recently, the Belgian design furniture producer Vange decided to put a bamboo version of this comfortable chair on the market. Nedda explains: ‘Bamboo offers several advantages and is, from an ecological point of view, very interesting material to work with. It is the fastest growing plant on earth. Each year the parent plant produces several new stems which, after 5 years, are ready to be used. Although bamboo is a grass species and not wood, it is harder than oak.”

Abu Dhabi Art is an innovative new platform for modern and contemporary art. Bringing together an exclusive selection of high-level art galleries and innovative emerging galleries from the four corners of the world within an ancient and modern crossroads of culture and trade, Abu Dhabi Art will be a new-model curated art fair, which will reflect the dramatically changing geography of today´s art world.
www.abudhabiartfair.ae

Nedda and Vange Present Bamboo Chair at Design Fair in Milan

20th April 2009 • The Chaise-à-Secret (‘Secret Chair’) will be presented at the Salone Internationale del Mobile 2009, the world’s largest design fair, from 22 to 27 April in Milan. This chair, designed by Nedda, has a secret compartment under the seat. The Belgian company Vange is producing the bamboo chair, Nedda’s third piece of furniture and currently in production. Earlier this year, Obumex brought out a table series and stool with hidden storage.

The prototype of the Chaise-à-Secret was shown in the autumn of 2008 at the International Design Biannual of Saint-Etienne (France). This chair was one of six that Nedda had made for the Secretable in her house. The secret compartment under the seat is the main feature of the Chaise-à-Secret.

Recently, the Belgian design furniture producer Vange decided to put a bamboo version of this comfortable chair on the market. Nedda explains: ‘Bamboo offers several advantages and is, from an ecological point of view, very interesting material to work with. It is the fastest growing plant on earth. Each year the parent plant produces several new stems which, after 5 years, are ready to be used. Although bamboo is a grass species and not wood, it is harder than oak.”

The bamboo chair, Nedda’s third piece of furniture, went into production less than a year ago. The Belgian producer Obumex launched the Stool and Secretable just a few months ago, after the prototype was exhibited last year at the Milan design fair. As with the Chaise-à-Secret, the table’s and stool’s distinctive characteristic is the hidden storage compartments.

Secretable & Stool
The Secretable, which is available in four sizes, fits both kitchens and offices. At first sight it is a very ordinary looking table, but underneath are several storage spaces that have been deliberately positioned deep so that they do not attract attention. Letters, papers, newspapers, magazines and other items that typically clutter table tops now easily disappear into these handy compartments below the table leaf.

To limit the depth of these storage compartments, two crossbeams have been inserted that support the table surface. Nedda thought of a handy function for these beams. The space between the crossbeams is covered with several hinged panels. These hidden compartments are ideal for storing small kitchen utensils or office materials. The Secretable and the Stool is oak veneer, and the customer can decide on the finish (wood, colour and material combination).
www.nedda.eu

* * *
Chaise-à-Secret Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Vange, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 80 cm, width 43 cm, depth 47 cm.
Material: Bamboo
Price: 442 Euros

Secretable Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions:  210 x 100, 250 x 100, 165 x 165, or 100 x 100 cm (table surface).
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour. The storage compartments with hinged shutters are either finished in the same colour as the table surface or accentuated with a contrasting colour (e.g. lacquer finish).
Price: From 3,230 Euros

Stool Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 83 cm, width 43 cm, depth 43.5 cm, seat height 63 cm.
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour.
Price: From 755 Euros

Nedda Designs the Sastrugi - Polar Survival Set for the Princess Elisabeth Station

10th February 2009 - On behalf of Royal Boch, Nedda developed a versatile collection in ceramics called "Sastrugi, the Polar Survival Set". The collection consists of 4 basic pieces: a large mug, a plate, a bowl and a ceramic spoon. The tableware is not only used by 25 scientists from the polar station 'Princess Elisabeth' in Antarctica, but is also available in shops in May 2009. Part of the proceeds collection will be donated to the International Polar Foundation.

The collection consists of a large mug (33cl), a plate (∅ 25cm), a bowl (∅ 15cm) and a ceramic spoon. Versatility was the basis of the design. The bowl can be used for soup, fruit salad, muesli... and the four basic pieces come in handy for all possible meals at the polar station.

Nedda explains why the Sastrugi - Polar Survival Set had to look and feel very nice: "When the scientists have done their job in ice cold weather conditions and have returned to the polar station, it is important that they gain strength again thanks to a solid meal and a warm drink. Therefore, the Sastrugi set literally and figuratively are heart-warming".

Snow dunes
The collection pieces are comfortable to use and are easy to clean. The edge of each object is a bit tilted up, which is a reference to the position of Antarctica in relation to the axis of the Earth. The name 'Sastrugi' refers to the original Russian word for the typical hard snow dunes and ripples, which are formed by wind.

Nedda has already designed the Royal Breakfast Set for Royal Boch. The company was founded in 1841 and is presently the only Belgian ceramic manufacturer. Royal Boch is one of the official suppliers of the Princess Elisabeth station and supports actively the International Polar Foundation.

A gift box with a mug, a plate, a bowl and a spoon costs EUR 58. Whenever a Sastrugi - Polar Survival Set is sold, a part of the proceeds goes to the International Polar Foundation.

Nedda Wins Prestigious Flanders Culture Award for Design 2008

5th February 2008 - The bi-annual Award of the Flemish Community for Design in 2008 went to Nedda El-Asmar. Bert Anciaux, Flemish Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Brussels, attended the award ceremony. Achilles Associates and Patrick Hoet were the two other nominees in the 'Design' category.

In the presence of hundreds of guests, individuals and organizations from different disciplines were officially awarded for their outstanding contribution to cultural life in Flanders in 2008. There were 13 categories in total. Each prize included 12,500 Euros. The prize for General Cultural Merit, however, included 20,000 Euros. It was awarded to Sigiswld Kuijken for his musical career. All award winners also received a bronze statue by sculptor Johan Tahon.

The jury commented: "Nedda accompanies its prototypes faultlessly to the finished product. By doing this she safeguards the balance between creative freedom and industrial requirements. Her seemingly simple designs combine classic elegance with a contemporary touch".

Belgian Designer Nedda El-Asmar Does Interior Decoration of Scientific Base in Antarctica

2 January 2009 - The 'International Polar Foundation' requested Nedda El-Asmar, Belgian designer of the Year 2007, to take care of the interior decoration of the scientific research station 'Princess Elisabeth' in Antarctica. Thanks to the well-thought selection of materials and objects, which are mainly produced by Belgian companies, 25 scientists will be able to carry out their research and live in a pleasing and comfortable environment. Nedda also designed special tableware and cutlery for the Antarctic base.

"Shortly after Alain Hubert, chairman of the International Polar Foundation, had seen the tableware that I had designed for the Princess Elisabeth base, he asked me if I wanted to do the interior decoration of the scientific research station itself. I understood immediately that this was a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", said Nedda.

The difficulty was that the project had to be finalised within two months time. Materials and objects were chosen from official suppliers Libeco, Royal Boch, Vitra Belgium, Clei, and suppliers Demeyere, Recticel, Villeroy & Boch and AVG.

"My business associate Erik Indekeu and myself made a selection of functional and aesthetic interior design objects such as tables, chairs, beds, mattresses, bed linen, kitchen material and tableware. The choice of the objects and materials was heavily influenced by criteria such as quality, sustainability and respect for people and the environment during the production process." Nedda added: "The companies, which cooperated, contributed in a considerable way by sponsoring many materials".

Antarctic Tableware
Nedda designed a unique tableware set, especially made for the Princess Elisabeth Base. It will be presented on 15th February 2009, the day of the official inauguration of the Antarctic Station. She also designed a matching cutlery set, which will be produced just like the tableware by Royal Boch. The cutlery set will become available later this year.

Construction of the new Belgian base in Antarctica began in 2007, 110 years after the renowned Belgica expedition of Adrien de Gerlache in 1897. This unique station, built on a mountain ridge in East Antarctica, is the only polar base, which runs entirely on renewable energy sources and does not emit any carbon dioxide. This technological achievement shows that if the climate challenge can be fought from remote Antarctica, the same can be done from the rest of the world.

Nedda shows her brand new Secretable at Interieur08

17th October 2008 - On the occasion of the 21st edition Interior Biennale in Kortrijk (Belgium), Nedda El-Asmar is presenting her newest creations: Secretable, a series of tables that is now being supplemented with the 'Stool'. Both the stool and the Secretable will be produced by Obumex.

It was rather a coincidence that Nedda came to design a table. On the occasion of the ABC presentation (Authentic Belgian Creativity), which took place during the Milan Design Week'08, she came to the conclusion that her designs are seen at their best when presented on a dark table. That this table had to be more than an everyday table leaf with four legs goes without saying.

A table with hidden talents

"At first sight it is just a very common table.But if you take a look at the table from below eyelevel, then you will actually see the various storage areas.These have been purposely positioned deeper by me, so that they do not attract attention.Items, such as letters, newspapers and so on, which otherwise may clutter the top of the table, can now easily disappear in these handy compartments below the table leaf", says Nedda.

To limit the depth of these storage compartments, which may have to be cleaned on occasion, two crossbeams have been inserted that also support the leaf. Nedda would not be Nedda, if she had not also thought of a handy function for these beams. The space between the crossbeams is covered by several hinged panels. These hidden compartments are ideal for storing small kitchen utensils or office material.

The stool, which was named Secretstool, also contains a storage space that is not immediately seen, just as with the table. Both the stool and the table are manufactured by Obumex, and they will be available as of January 2009.

Nedda on Interieur08

The Secretable can be seen on the Rambla 'Designer of the Year'. Neddas stool can be discovered at the Obumex stand (stand number 616 in Hall 6). And on Saturday, the 18th of October, Nedda will give a talk at 1 p.m. on the topic "La Passion des Evidences" (The Passion of the Evidential) at the Central Forum in Hall 4.