The 5th Moscow interior and design week showcases renowned furniture makers and designers from the Middle East

 Gulf Network

One of Russia’s premier industry events brought together over 1,100 companies, including 45 international participants. Among them were industry professionals and companies from the Middle East. Over four days, the 5th Moscow Interior and Design Week attracted more than 180,000 visitors. 

One notable participant was Egyptian designer Hassan Fikri, Managing Director of Design & Build Services, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and a Salone del Mobile Milano participant. At the event, Fikri unveiled a unique art object that reflects the traditions and history of ancient Egyptian civilization. 

During one of the business program sessions, Fikri discussed the challenges designers face in understanding client expectations.

"Designers take on the role of psychologists. In a short amount of time, we must understand what our clients need and then enhance their spaces. In doing so, we encourage people to live more comfortably," Hassan Fikri said during the session titled ‘Do You Really Need a Designer?’ 

This year’s key theme was Russian style. Representatives from 22 countries, including Egypt, Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, Mexico, Belarus, and Colombia, as well as buyers from China, attended to explore how Russian traditions are embodied in design. 

The “Made in Moscow” space drew special attention, featuring products from Moscow-based manufacturers. The exhibition showcased wooden furniture in Russian style and home décor inspired by Russian fairy tales. Over 50 brands were part of the collective stand and local market. A life-sized fairy-tale log cabin became a major attraction, welcoming visitors with characters from children’s stories such as Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Wise. 

This creative marketing approach generated excitement among guests and foreign delegations from China and Egypt, who were particularly drawn to a limited-edition home décor collection inspired by the works of renowned artist Ivan Golikov. Golikov’s illustrations for “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” served as the foundation for the collection, created in collaboration with contemporary artists from the “Crafts Laboratory.”

The event also featured an innovation zone by the Moscow Innovation Cluster, showcasing cutting-edge solutions for façade and storefront design, as well as home and office technologies. Highlights included a façade system that converts sunlight into electricity, a dynamic “dancing” wall, a spherical LED screen, and “smart” glass that turns opaque when needed. 

The project’s finale will be the exhibition “110 Years of Russian Design” at the New Tretyakov Gallery, featuring the best works from the 5th Moscow Interior and Design Week. The display will include tapestries, ceramics, lighting fixtures, textiles, and more. Opening on December 24, the exhibition will run for an entire year, emphasizing that design is not only about aesthetics but also a cultural code materialized in everyday objects.