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RELATED ARTICLES: Brothers in arms | Design perspectives | Year of the Dragan
It was over 20 years ago that Belgian-born interior designer Leen Vandaele first started taking on projects in Saudi Arabia. As a European woman working on her own, Vandaele’s Saudi experience was fraught with challenges – and loneliness. But her time in the kingdom also ignited a warm and long-standing fondness for the Middle East and, years later, inspired a move to Dubai.
In the UAE, rather than just providing pure interior design services, she transformed her company, Squisito, into a supplier of mid to high-end fabrics, sheers, wallcoverings and other design-related products. It was also in Dubai that she joined forces with Sam Farhang, a fellow interior designer from Iran.
In addition to supplying products by manufacturers such as Arte, the pair continue to take on interior design projects – but enjoy the freedom to pick and choose ones that truly inspire them. These include ‘O’ de Squisito, a boat-house turned events venue that was fully conceptualised by Vandaele.
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The pair’s most recent undertaking was the conversion of an old warehouse in Al Quoz into a new office and showroom for Squisito. The warehouse now features a mezzanine floor that is home to a large showroom, offices and a work space for visiting designers. There is also a large, double volume, 220m² hall area on the ground floor which will act as a venue for art exhibitions, fashion shows and other such events.
Landscape architect Xristos Triantafillidis was responsible for designing a relaxing outdoor area.
Squisito’s new Loft Gallery will celebrate its official launch on November 7 and will hold open-door days between November 8 and 11 to give people the opportunity to explore the new premises. CID caught up with Leen Vandaele and Sam Farhang to find out more about this latest venture.
Tell us about Squisito.
Leen Vandaele: I started Squisito a long time back in Belgium. I had another company before but I created Squisito when I started working abroad. My first jobs were in Saudi Arabia, where I did some palace work. These were very big jobs and I was afraid that if something went wrong, it would eat up all of the reserves of my existing business. So that’s why I created Squisito. Squisito stands for exquisite, something that is a little different from the rest.
How challenging was it working in Saudi Arabia at that time?
Leen Vandaele: As a woman you could not, and cannot, drive, and you had no social contact. I am talking about 22 years ago so essentially, as a European woman all on my own, I was a pioneer.
Of course, I was very lucky to meet somebody who was able to offer me this opportunity, and I am still very grateful to them. However, I didn’t realise at the time that it would be so difficult. It was very lonely. I was all by myself, from morning until night. But it was still a very good experience for me, all in all. That is why, I think, I became so acquainted with the culture.
Here, everything is much more open but I learnt about real Arabic culture in Saudi Arabia. And one of the biggest things I learnt was patience!
How did you end up in Dubai?
Leen Vandaele: After Saudi Arabia, I went back to Belgium and had the opportunity to travel around quite a lot. I was lucky enough to have jobs all over the world but I realised that I really liked working in the Middle East.
There is something about the Middle East that makes it different to anywhere else. It is like a bug – some people have it for Asian countries, some for African countries, for me it was always the Middle East. I find the people to be very warm hearted and generous in their friendship. So I came to Dubai.
In the beginning I did some freelance work for various companies. I then opened up my own small office in the Fairmont Residences, which is where I lived. At the time, I was mainly specialising in residential work, although I had done some smaller hotels in Belgium as well. I have also done some embassy work, as well as some very large retail projects in Saudi.
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