The A/P Room Launches at Alserkal Avenue

The A/P Room has opened its permanent gallery at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai, marking a significant step for collectible design in the region. Founded and led by Christelle Bassila under – Atelio the design furniture, art advisory and collectible design platform established by businessman – Elie Khouri the gallery brings a focused, material-led approach to how design is presented and collected.

The gallery’s opening exhibition, At First Sight opened on 11 February and will continue until 29 March 2026, explores how collectors recognise and respond to an object. It emphasises the importance of intuition and time in truly understanding design. Christelle Bassila states: “At First Sight is about recognising that first intuition and trusting it enough to stay with it. To collect is not only to acquire, but to learn how to see. What stays is what matters. What unfolds over time is what endures.”

The exhibition presents a carefully selected group of sculptural and material-driven works by renowned international and regional artists and designers, including Rogan Gregory, Vincent Dubourg, Andrea Branzi, Faye Toogood, Choi Byung Hoon, alongside historic figures such as Gio Ponti, Joaquim Tenreiro, Jorge Zalszupin, and others.

Central to the gallery, handcrafted furniture pieces by Rogan Gregory in American walnut and bronze anchor the space, complemented by Vincent Dubourg’s fragmented metal cabinet, which introduces a dynamic tension of form and presence. These contemporary works enter into dialogue with mid-century icons, including Joaquim Tenreiro dining chairs and Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler’s Concha armchairs, creating a layered conversation across eras.

An adjoining, more intimate room shifts focus to quieter material relationships with pieces like Faye Toogood’s carved oak coffee table, Andrea Branzi’s metal and bamboo bookcase, and delicate lighting crafted from Japanese rice paper. A cabinet by Choi Byung Hoon on the mezzanine extends the exhibition’s exploration of material and form.

Bassila emphasises the gallery’s wider mission: “Collectible design allows us to read culture through material, gesture and intention. With The A/P Room, we are creating a place where design is approached with curiosity and care, a space that encourages people to spend time with objects, to question how they are made, and to understand how design can carry meaning across generations.”

Elie Khouri, Chairman of Atelio, highlights the gallery’s cultural significance: “Opening The A/P Room at Alserkal Avenue places collectible design within the heart of Dubai’s cultural infrastructure. By establishing a permanent curatorial space here, we are creating an environment where international designers and regional voices can be presented in dialogue, and where the Middle East can be positioned firmly within the global design conversation. It is a space conceived with the rigour and purpose this moment in the region calls for.”

Ruggero Ottogalli, CEO of Atelio adds “The A/P Room reflects Atelio’s commitment to building a cultural ecosystem for design in the region, through this platform, we are creating new pathways for collaboration between designers, collectors and cultural partners, and new ways for audiences to engage with collectible design.”

Looking ahead, The A/P Room plans to open a second gallery in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2026, strengthening its role as a key voice shaping the region’s design identity and fostering collaboration between designers, collectors, and cultural partners.

Through its authentic curatorial approach and focus on material presence, The A/P Room offers a new way to engage with collectible design one that honours heritage, supports innovation, and invites audiences to explore design beyond trends.