Engineers Shakti Gupta and Yana Polanovskaya: Design is on the road to sustainability

Shakti Gupta and Yana Polunovskaya are two young designers who came to Dubai as a child, and have lived in the emirate ever since, saying that it has influenced them in terms of shaping their personalities, especially with blending this great culture of nationalities, and good knowledge of the City.
In the following dialogue, the two engineers talk to “Madam” about their partnership in the world of design through a “studio” they founded during the intensification of the global health epidemic, and about their sources of inspiration and love for the design of interiors, in addition to the reason for the whiteness to dominate their projects.
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What does Dubai mean to you?

Dubai is home to both of us; After living in the city for over 20 years, we are delighted to see up close the growth and development of the Emirates, which has a huge impact on the formation of each of us on an individual level. We can not think of a better place to live than Dubai; After moving to the United Arab Emirates, in our childhood, we had the opportunity to grow up here, and get to know many nationalities and cultures.

Close relationship with “Trands”

How do you see the future of design in Dubai, where the market sees intense competition between design firms?

The design landscape in Dubai and the world is moving confidently towards sustainability (the term refers to reducing operating and maintenance costs, and to contributing to a safe and comfortable built environment); Customers seem to be more aware of the environmentally conscious design decisions we make with them. If this is not the case, we as designers take the responsibility to educate and guide them in this context. To be successful in Dubai’s bustling interior design market, it’s important to keep abreast of “trends” and to know what makes us unique among all.

White color in the design

White and neutral colors characterize the “studio” designs, in general; What do the colors mean to you?

We love the design of light, airy and bright interiors. Contrary to popular belief, white interiors are not boring, but are a good backdrop for any style of decor, whether the latter now belongs to the style of “maximalism”, modern or bohemian (boho style). Using neutral colors as a base, the designer is given the freedom to experiment with different textures and patterns, as well as to decorate with brightly colored accessories. In addition, most people realize the importance of the white color to make any space, however small, look wider, and to reflect the sun’s rays.

How do interiors express their occupants’ perceptions and desires?

The design work begins with getting to know the client’s perceptions of space, and the nature of the latter: is it the place to sleep, work or rest? Is it formal or informal? Ask questions about who will use the space? How should he feel when he comes to her? How many people will be using this space at the same time? This leads us to our goal of creating a design that stimulates a sense of place.

Pinterest website

Where do you get your inspiration?

We find inspiration from the strangest places; Inspiration can come from a movie, art, Pinterest, nature or travel.

Why do you focus on residential projects? What do houses represent to you?

Simply put, we love residential projects, or more precisely, we are interested in getting to know a stranger who trusts us and our designs, and we are responsible for the design of his “dream home” where he will create his memories and his family will create. The most satisfying part of our job is to see the customer’s response during the delivery of the key. Honestly, this feeling is the best feeling for both of us!

“the sanctuary”

How can one feel good in their space?

House is one’s sanctuary; There are a few things anyone can do to feel comfortable in their space, including: getting rid of clutter, in addition to “reviving” the place through plants or flowers, perfume and lighting candles, focus also on night lighting around a good mood, and also bring floor and table lamps. Keep the space well ventilated and clear.

What are your projects for the rest of 2022?
On the verge of handing over a project in Dubai’s city center, it’s going to look great! We are also designing a penthouse (apartment on the top floor of the building, with a large area) on Bluewaters Island, and we are very excited about this project.

in line …

Saya Studio is a start-up interior design company; In 2020, amid the global health epidemic, it was founded by two young women, who have strong friendships: Shakti Gupta and Yana Polunovskaya. The two women had the courage to give up their jobs with the aim of setting up the “studio” together, in the pursuit of a more fulfilling life, that is, to work for themselves, to do what they love was, and create spaces that combine the philosophy of beauty and practicality.
Shakti, a native of India, studied interior design at the London Metropolitan University in Britain, while Yana, who is of Turkmen descent, received her studies in the same specialty at the American University in Dubai.