This elegant lounge anticipates the art deco trend with Cosentino surfaces

Downtown Design, based in Riyadh and Dubai, is the leading design fair in the Middle East. It is held in Riyadh every September, while in Dubai it takes place in November. In both cases, the event brings together internationally renowned design brands and manufacturers as well as individual creators, collectives, and studios from around the world. It was in Dubai where 1930 was showcased, the stand designed for Cosentino by the award-winning studio Etereo, based in Milan and Dubai. Inspired by the aesthetic imagery of the 1930s, the project predicted one of the strongest trends for 2026: the return of art deco.

Conceived as a sophisticated interplay of geometry, materiality, and historical nuances, the installation appealed to all the senses. Mirko Sala Tenna, co-founder of Etereo, compared the experience to “a classic jazz composition, with the smoky scent of sandalwood and aged leather: elegant, timeless, and slightly rebellious.”

Designed as a setting for contemporary soirées, the space featured a sculptural bar serving non-alcoholic signature cocktails, a piano, a gaming table for playful gatherings, and a more intimate lounge area encouraging conversation. The hidden bathroom, visible only through a porthole, added an element of intrigue reminiscent of the clandestine and forbidden nature of 1930s speakeasies.

In an exercise of introspection, the studio incorporated elements of its own creative genealogy into this design, such as the geometric precision of Piero Portaluppi, the sculptural depth of Carlo Scarpa, and the expressive language of Ettore Sottsass. This resulted in a sophisticated space of geometric lines and rich textures that showcased the versatility of Cosentino's products, used in vertical cladding, flooring, worktops, and even in bespoke furniture designed by Etereo and produced by Cherwell, based in Dubai. The collection, incidentally, will be launched as a capsule collection in March 2026.

The colour palette of this exquisite imagined lounge —featuring earthy browns, deep blacks, jewel tones, and brushed brass— evoked the characteristic glamour of art deco. This was achieved through colours from the Le Chic collection by Silestone, such as Victorian Silver, Romantic Ash, and Jardin Emerald (also used in its Ukiyo version, with relief); Sensa Nahoa quartzite (on the bar counter worktop) and Dekton Salina, plus a custom tone of Dekton iD, which allows bespoke printing.

"1930 has been a creative exercise in material exploration and an opportunity to highlight the versatility of Cosentino surfaces. We treated the materials as fundamental design elements, capable of shaping experiences rather than acting as mere neutral finishes. By imbuing them with rhythm, narrative, and emotional weight, the surfaces became an integral part of the story,” says Stefania Digregorio, co-founder of Etereo.

Beyond Cosentino surfaces, the installation added new layers of elegance to its core thanks to contributions from collaborators such as Kohler, which provided the bathroom pieces, Kolektiv Ateliers, which added the lighting, and Secret Gardens, which supplied the greenery. The ensemble will be showcased again at Downtown Design Riyadh in September 2026, where it will once more evoke a possible future for one of the most refined decorative trends in history.