Today there is new technology found in architecture and there are global ideas for interior designing.
Architects tend to have in mind the people and of course the climatic conditions while designing, but what about the interior designers?
“Interior designing, architecture and engineering all work together in order to create beautiful projects. It is not just about the beauty and aesthetics. Eventually everything has to work well. It has to be human centered based on the design of how humans can interact with it as well. So I would say architecture and designing have to go hand-in-hand,” said HH Sayyidah Meyyan bint Shihab al Said, an interior designer and an artist who has been adding to her accomplishments from frames to buildings.
“In other words, whatever is built externally has to be communicated internally,” she noted.
She is professionally an interior designer and thus in the business of transforming spaces, her experience has had her serve on the design management aspects for many real estate projects in Oman such as the W Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and A’Raya Complex.
The ‘gathering place’ seemed to play an important role in designing a space. Traditionally in Oman the majlis has played this role. Does it still hold an important place in today’s lifestyle?
“Yes, the Majlis is very much part of our culture and I think it is a feature that will never leave. It is something that is embedded while designing private or public places. Even while designing hotels there is still a demand and requirement that is similar to Majlis setting. I believe this is an important element of Omani and Arabian culture,” she reflected.
Environmental principles had a house featuring a courtyard often, open area in the Centre of the house, even a tree at times and the terrace often was a space dedicated for goats at night keeping them safe.
“Some of the modern Omani homes still hold some of the traditional features. However, I do see a shift even with family dynamics now. I mean by that, the families in the past were much larger and at present they are getting smaller. In the past, families were much more extended and today we see separate homes, yet there are features Omanis choose to keep,” Sayyidah Meyyan pointed out.
When it comes to tips this is what the interior designer would like to share:
“I think it is important that one doesn’t forget the cultural identity that we have because it is quite unique. Yet, one can be modern and go with the contemporary ways of designing - going along with the global trends. However, it is important that we still keep some of our culture and traditions thus maintain our identity.”
Her Highness Sayyidah Meyyan al Said holds a BA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar, and an MA in Design Strategy and Innovation Management from the University of Brunel London.
She is a member of the Photographic Society of Oman and has won the ‘Best Photo Award’ at the female photographer’s exhibition in 2016. She was also chosen to be a speaker in the IDF Exhibition as part of the “Design Talks” collaboration with the AIA Middle East - Oman in 2020 to give a design talk on hospitality interior design.
Her passion for art is showcased in multiple cafés, magazines, and several corporate publications. She also won the 2021 Apex Women of the Year Award in the arts category.
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