Masters in Assemblage: Koncrete Multi-concept Space by Shell+Core.

Raw and luxurious, Koncrete is a multi-concept space designed by the UAE-based interior design studio shell+core. Self-described as a coffee house, concept store and collective hub, the space stands out as a hidden gem, and the first of its kind for Dubai.

Shell+core, a young practice founded by Jade Daniel and Ghalia Korban, is making waves in the Middle East after forming in 2018 in response to a growing creative scene in Abu Dhabi—and with this latest project, it’s easy to see why.

Enveloped in a concrete structure with dramatic sleek black frames, the naturally statuesque space is a statement in itself. The design team extend this elegance into their approach through a combination of exposed finishes punctured with contrasting contemporary elements.

With the walls and floors left unfinished, showcasing untouched concrete with markings and an uneven texture, the somewhat brutalist backdrop became a blank canvas for the designers to work their magic. What followed is a series of pieces imagined and designed by Jade and Ghalia where form meets function in a novel and unconventional way.

Terra Cafe in Dubai, United Arab Emirates by Bone Studio.

Blurring the threshold between form and function Bone Studio has created a layered and enveloping space that embodies warmth...

Artistic and functional pieces are combined, allowing for a space that is flexible and adaptable—without losing any of the charm. Tables and chairs are designed to allow a smooth transformation into elegant retail surfaces and vice versa, with objects available for multiple uses as needed.

With long, slit windows and an atrium above natural light is easily integrated into the interior, and with it a series of dramatic and ever changing shadows. Bolstering an intimate connection between the indoor and outdoor, reflective finishes and subtle textural interactions between object and light heighten the experience.

With a masterful assemblage of objects, the quiet design balances delicate, ethereal elements with the interiors’ naturally monumental presence in a space not easily defined. This project has shell+core on our radar and hopefully now yours as well.

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[Images courtesy of shell+core. Photography by Bianca Studio.]