Pininfarina announces entry into Middle East market
Legendary Italian design house’s architectural arm expands in region with interior design of the Innovation Center in Dubai’s Sustainable City
Legendary Italian design house Pininfarina has made its Middle Eastern debut with its first large-scale project in the region – the interior design of the Innovation Center in Dubai’s Sustainable City.
Established in 1930 by Battista Pinin Farina, who became one of the most acclaimed car designers of his time, the company is virtually synonymous with the design of automotive exotica such as Ferraris and Alfa Romeos. It extended its design capabilities outside of the automotive sector in 1986, when the third generation of the Pininfarina family created Pininfarina Extra.
According to brief from the company, over the past 30 years, Pininfarina Extra has developed more than 600 projects under the direction of its president and CEO, Paolo Pininfarina, who is now chairman of the Pininfarina Group.
Pininfarina said that its arrival in the Middle East underlines the family’s commitment to exploring dynamic new markets, and is part of a strategy to build a long-term base in the region. The design house’s unique architectural style is contributing to the development of the first operational Net Zero Energy city in Dubai, conceived to become an international showcase for sustainable living, work, education and recreation. It added that other active projects in the Middle East region are in the fields of private architecture and offices.
“We are delighted to expand our global reach into the Middle East, a region that truly represents what significant design achievements can be realised in a short space of time, given ambition, vision, passion and technical skill,” said Paolo Pininfarina, chairman of the group.
“We are looking forward to making a lasting contribution to the region’s architecture and design footprint and announcing significant new projects in the months ahead. Key to our work will be in the field of architecture, bringing movement and dynamism to buildings.”
Pininfarina said that with its architectural division, the company brings in the family’s automotive legacy, with the love of sculpted and sensual shapes. Success lies in an ability to cross-fertilise concepts, bringing in design solutions from non-construction sectors, the statement added.
Some of the recent awards the company has won for its architectural work include the 2016 iF Design Award for the residential tower Cyrela by Pininfarina in San Paolo, the 2015 American Architecture Award, the 2017 German Design Award for Vitra in Balneario Camboriù, and the 2016 International Architecture Award for Istanbul New Airport ATC Tower.
