Alfredo Häberli Design Development

This special-edition porcelain collection was created on the initiative of the design platform Menasa, which presents Emirati handicrafts and design at Expo2020 Dubai. Commissioned by this platform, local and international designers were invited to explore and represent seven Emirati crafts and traditions: Pottery, Safeefa (palm frond weaving), Talli (embroidery), Sadu (Bedouin weaving), Gargour making (wire-crafted fish traps), pearl diving and coffee making. Serving Gahwa (Arabic coffee) has been a tradition in Emirati society for centuries and in tribute to this importance, the rituals of preparing and presenting Arabic coffee were declared an immaterial cultural heritage by Unesco in 2015. Menasa has therefore created a collaboration between leading design brand BD Barcelona Design, the crafts company Bait Al Gahwa and me.

The result is a remarkable collection that combines the heritage of Gahwa with contemporary design. The stackable coffee cups reference the traditional architecture of the United Arab Emirates and the etiquette by which coffee cups are stacked and then offered to guests. One of the sets is in white and gold with patterns reminiscent of the traditional Areesh (palm frond) huts in the desert where coffee was prepared. A second set is in deep green and platinum. To complement these two coffee sets, colourful stackable coffee cups in dusty pink and grey were also designed.