At Dar Al-Hekma College, there is a hall decorated with paintings and photographs culminating in the Fourth Annual Studio VI — Senior Project Exhibition.
The Senior Interior Design Studio VI — Senior Exhibition deals with comprehensive studio problems of advanced complexity and enhanced creativity. The main challenge of interior design is the internal space provided and attempting to meet the physical and emotional needs of the users.
Fourteen senior students displayed their final interior designs projects last Sunday. Each project was distinguished as the students designed a whole site after choosing a location of their choice in Jeddah.
Alaa Al-Ban chose to design a Spa to be located in The Horsemanship (Al-Furoosiyya) Club, located by the sea. “I chose to design a spa in which therapy and design were combined to relax and suite female clients,” she said. Al-Ban collected information about four cultures. Consequently she divided the center into four parts, Indian, Chinese, Greek and Moroccan. She considered the emphasis of every culture, whether the sun, wind, or the view. According to Al-Ban, the Greeks care about the view; so she planned the Greek section to overlook the sea. Moroccans consider the center as the most important feature. So she designed the Moroccan section to be built around a square fountain.
“Since I’m originally Chinese, I’ve chosen to design a Chinese Culture Village to represent China’s culture in Jeddah,” commented Deema Meisha about her design. She chose Al-Basateen Shopping Center to be her project’s location. She used the same area but with a different design implementing a more Oriental atmosphere with the use of Chinese features. She said, “In my design, the center includes a shopping center that sells related to Chinese heritage, such as green tea and herbs.” The center also includes a teashop and an auditorium for dragon festivals.
Some students pioneered designs for the Jeddah area and the Kingdom. Hatoon Nasser’s Wedding Planning Center project is among those pioneering projects. “I wanted to create a center to assist brides arrange their weddings; everything from the decorations at the wedding down to the wedding gown,” she said. “So, I chose the project to be near Duniaty Hall in Jeddah Westin Hotel.
Among the 10 projects several included jewelry shops, college dormitories, music centers and an architectural firm. The students hoped that businesses would invest in these innovative ideas in order to make the transfer from the drawing-board but to an actual location in the Kingdom.