Downtown Design
Participating for the first time, de Gournay exhibited at the 2024 edition of Downtown Design in Dubai – the leading fair for contemporary design in the Middle East, and a celebrated vehicle for growth and development within the region’s burgeoning creative scene.
Poised at the entrance of Editions, de Gournay staged an immersive brand experience throughout a trio of interconnecting salons – a fully realised interior showcasing our hand-embroidered and hand-painted wallcoverings that conjures a private apartment.
Editions spotlights over 40 galleries, collectives, and design studios exhibiting works in the categories of contemporary design, photography, works on paper and ceramics.
de Gournay also collaborated with esteemed designers to craft spaces that are both immersive and expressive of our dedication to curating entire interiors. Among them is a bespoke Majlis, conceived in partnership with Lebanese designer Nada Debs, where her artistry and our fabrics merge harmoniously. The Majlis sofa, created with de Gournay’s own fabrics and Nada Debs’ exquisite savoir-faire, is an emblem of our commitment as purveyors of entire spatial narratives— where every detail and design element work in symphony, extending far beyond the confines of wallcoverings alone.
As part of this experience, de Gournay hosted two exclusive panel discussions within the space. “Dialogue in Design - Where Heritage Meets Handcraft” featuring Lebanese designer Nada Debs in conversation de Gournay’s Founder Claud Cecil Gurney and our Director Hannah Cecil Gurney, exploring the intersections of heritage and artisanal handcraft.
The second panel, “In Conversation: Craftsmanship and the Industry,” brought together Anastasia Nysten and Rhea Younes, founder of Collective Y, for a discussion on the evolving role of craftsmanship within contemporary design. These panels provided unique insights into the ethos and philosophy that guide both de Gournay and its esteemed collaborators.
Adding a final layer to this narrative, members of de Gournay’s in-house design team performed painting sessions throughout the event, offering a captivating glimpse into the creation of our iconic designs. Furthermore, in a showcase of our latest innovations, we were thrilled to unveil “Dipping Rose,” a new hand-painted and hand-embroidered wallpaper depicting delicately trailing blossoms, beautifully encapsulating our dedication to intricate and bespoke wallcoverings.
All Photography by Sebastian Boettcher