Marie Laurent

Specialized in Design.

Marie Laurent

About Marie Laurent

Marie Laurent Architecture is an architectural practice based in Dubai Marie Laurent has realized several projects in the United Arabic Emirates. It evolves within the dynamic environment of the Emirates and their will to develop extraordinary architectural concepts. Marie Laurent Architecture functions under the strict rules of environmental awareness, quality and clarity. Architecture should be beautiful, should be true, should be simple and should be safe. The search of talent and functionality is adamant. Our portfolio includes the three main sectors of residential, commercial and administrative projects.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Marie Laurent

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
My entire family is artistic. An architect, a painter, an illustrator and a designer.I think design is part of us, and always made me want to be a designer.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Marie Laurent Architecture llc started in UAE 3 years ago. working on residential and commercial projects. We have been working on small and big projects...always striving for another award winning design! The company believe in " simply- simple", where fashion is irrelevant and the search of talent is adamant.
What is "design" for you?
Design is the pleasure of the eye. I believe architecture should be sure. This gives it character and strength through simplicity. I design simple lines so that you can focus on them only, and give them all the attention they need.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I like designing with nature. Bringing the outside inside. No matter the size of the space you are designing, a window on a enchanting view is enough to design the entire space around it.The challenge of designing, enhancing the view on every angle, brining the natural light, playing with its shadows and creating volumes.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
I am attracted to lighting design.I like how it integrates and stands out in the same time. A minimalist design that takes over, just with light. I embrace natural light in my design and recreate an atmosphere with artificial lights.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
an awful design! I had no clue what i was doing, just very enthusiast to start..and listening to the client who wanted more and more and more, no more. Since, I keep it simple!
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I would say, the technology of tomorrow in the platform of today to show the materials of yesterday.I like using materials as they are, not to hide them or transform them but show them as they are. natural wood beams or exposed cement slab will bring instant character and soul to the space
When do you feel the most creative?
I feel creative talking about design, explaining a first thought that leads to another one and so one. Team work is essential to connect all creativities to exponential solutions and options.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
After the primary function, i focus on the perspectives. Every angle should be interesting and finished. It is for me essential that thought the layout, you keep discovering places to rest, look, think, appreciate.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel very enthusiast of all the possibilities and impatiente do go more and more into details until i see the project alive. I love designing and creating projects, place to work, to meet, to play, to live.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Hopefully satisfied and rested after an exciting design process.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
I think a good design would please the eye and then makes you think and makes you want to look at it more. A bad design would be more questionable. what if this was more like this or like that?
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
As a general rule I believe all designer have the responsibility to present a design to the public that keeps all functions under the strict rules of environmental awareness, quality and safety.And creativity and uniqueness should be the only challenge for each designers
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I think the new technologies are making the design evolving, when soon, everything would be wireless and we could design residential houses without any wall electrical sockets, and simplify again and again.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
Last exhibition was at Interior Design Exhibition in 2012 - Dubai for the award of Majlis design with our concept " Al Tawash ". I will be part of Interior design Exhibition 2014 as nominated for the award of Interior design of the year for middle east 2014
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I am always inspired by a perspective. Ocean, desert, endless corridor, windows, this could take me anywhere.From there, i believe in team work to make is realistic...or not.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
my style would be simple? it sounds easy, but the challenge of keeping it this way is what made me explore more about it. My approach to architecture is that it should be beautiful, should be sure, should be simple and should be safe. Fashion is irrelevant, the search of talent and functionality is adamant.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I lived in Dubai for more than 13 years. we have more than 200 nationalities living and working together.This is a complex and sometimes superficial atmosphere where people pass by. Simple and minimalist is still not trendy here. However, the melting pot in Dubai is so unique and rich, all cultures are blending together everyday and this gives a fantastic platform to create without any boundaries.
How do you work with companies?
We usually have private clients and work with companies to built our projects. I have established though years and different projects a strong relationship with companies we work with. We work as a team.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
I believe a designer should be the creative part and sometimes try to forget the technical part to keep an unlimited creativity. Designers should be the challenging part for companies (if not the client)
Can you talk a little about your design process?
I always start by just being enthusiast and think in every direction. Usually, a small detail will become amusing, interesting, new, challenging, and i will create around this..remain essential:1) to establishing the program with the client2) sketches and perspectives3) construction plans
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
- a table lamp- the other table lamp- the cat toy , the only small " decorative item" in the house- the coffee machine- the designed pile of books
Can you describe a day in your life?
it is quiet difficult to describe as they are quiet full on! My day goes in every direction, from meetings with clients, to discussion with technical team, few coffee breaks that are more brainstorming sessions where crazy ideas come from, and when i stop...i enjoy family time.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
to try not to loose their creativity with experience. Sometimes, a silly idea that seems impossible to realise becomes a challenge for a team and turns into a very unique design. Also not to bend in following the trend, but to create the new trend.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
positive: challenging, fulfilling. You can get involved in any design and constantly grow.negative: it is without any doubt hard work to turn a design to reality. You have to love being a designer and enjoy it every day!
What skills are most important for a designer?
to be good with people. to understand their need and to be able to translate in your sketches and final design.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
residential design is a very thoughtful process. your are in charge of designing a home for your client.Commercial, retail design are fun. You are designing to entertain the users.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
we are currently working on a villa in Center of Dubai. A very contemporary approach for this renovation work. The existing villa has been abandoned with design s lines from the 90s.. we are refreshing every part of it.

Designer of the Day Interview with Marie Laurent

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I had to start with great enthusiasm and very small projects ! Climbing the ladder as we say, a step at a time. Dubai, where i am mainly based, was a great platform as an architect. Everything is moving so fast, and with so much ambition, that this was the perfect energy to follow for my career. After university and very enriching internship in Geneva, I started in dubai with 1 project at a time before being able to open my firm few years ago.
How did you become a designer?
Design has always been part of my education..with my family teaching me the eye for design and architecture since the start, then school and university where i gained knowledge about its history and fonctions, and then with my first internship showed me how to put it together. Today design and architecture is still in my every move and everyplace.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
The inspiration usual start with a image i see...a line or a color scheme that juts please the eye. I then blend it with the final function of the objet to design and always put it first together on a paper with a pencil...i believe it lets your creativity flow more than digital tools to start with. Once the concept is established and sketched, i can move on to my computer. A final model also often give the right final proportion that are sometimes just " good looking " even if not right.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I love the challenge to put something together from an idea to a function. I am always looking for a " simple " design, " simple " look and " simple " approach . A problem solving process that is a real pleasure from A to Z. it is not that easy to keep it simple.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
i would like to think that i am good with people. I am good at understanding and translating what they are expecting . Whether is it for aesthetic or fonction, people ( or pet in case of the Pet project :)) are the final judges. My biggest influence on my design work as been from my family. Painters, architects, designers...everyone has something to say !:)
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
i enjoy designing new things...and i am always looking forward to a new experience while designing something that i have never done before. And as much as design is everywhere, the list is endless. I would love to see my designs through time...something so simple it should have always been there :)
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I have learn this during my internship... they is never enough detail in your design . Very single angle, corner, under , over , around...details make all the difference. A strong team of specialist can also assist you to gain more knowledge and team work can be essential to put you design to reality.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
i would always suggest someone to continue working on something they like..it just makes them better at doing it that anyone els. everyone has it strength and this might be the most obvious great starting point.
What is your day to day look like?
I like an early start. this is where i have the best ideas and the most productive ones. this is usually when i take the time to check the manufacture and the shop drawings put together. At the end of the day...we i feel i have been productive already, i can let the creativity take place and search about my influences, news and updates. Design is everywhere so i dont really stop doing this :)
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I love following the design trends. I think it is fascinating to see how far it can go from timeless and how much people will be attracted / intrigued by it. It can be a great part of my inspiration. However, I would re focus very quickly or a timeless approach where fashion is not relevant. We have been following a long trend of : industrial design " lately... and i can't wait to see the refined one coming back.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I good design has to work. If the fonction is missed ....the the design is a failure. And once this is met, it has to be simply " good looking " . If not pleasing to an eye...the design is not successful nether. A very objective and very subjective critic at the same time .
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I think it is ready when it works ( see above question ). My approach is to keep it simple..and if i start adding non necessary lines to a design...i know i missed it already.
What is your biggest design work?
it wasn't necessarily the biggest project and far from being the most important client... but it was my own office. I wanted to represent my design approach, walking my clients though designs of my own. From the shell to the core. A commercial design , turned into a residential design in a warehouse.
Who is your favourite designer?
Jean nouvel just opened the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. A master piece of architecture that stands out so far from all its surrounding. A design based on the country s history, yet representing it s futur vision.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I am very inspired by the current city i m living in. Dubai is a very fast moving city, with good and bad just passing by very quickly, it is a fast forward for any design that you wish timeless.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I strongly believe in team work. As much i i will have the strong view and final aesthetic input on any of my designs, the assistance and knowledge that my team bring on the table allows us to manufacture, build, and turn any idea into a functioning reality. I also like the creativity and energy that a team brings.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I love working on project even if i dont have a client for it yet...I find land when i start designing houses, i started pet project the same way. I like participating to concours to challenge my self and maybe bring an new approach to a project.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I believe that competitions in design are great for creativity and to challenge yourself. I am very proud of having won distinctions from A design awards!

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