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The studio’s first edition, Bloom, introduces the beginning of the Naqsh editions and the direction the studio will continue exploring through future works. Handmade in stainless steel, the work explores the relationship between pressure and softness through form, surface and process. The piece moves through hammered, tumbled and polished finishes, allowing traces of making to remain visible within the final object. “The petals move slightly inward and outward at once, creating a quiet pull between compression and release. As you move around the piece, the reflections and contours shift constantly, so Bloom never feels visually fixed or fully still,” shares Mulaokar. Available as a limited edition of 100 individually numbered objects, the pieces are inspired by moving through pressure, uncertainty, and change, embodying emotional tension through form that suggests movement and transformation. “That sense of becoming was important to us. Bloom does not feel completely resolved. It feels as though it is still in the process of opening, still carrying movement within it,” shares Mulaokar. 

Looking ahead, the studio has plans to continue developing limited-edition sculptures emphasising material and process, exploring different finishes, scales, and materials, with a focus on emotionally and materially honest pieces that range from intimate to larger sculptural works, moving beyond purely decorative objects.

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Over the past few months, XBD Collective has been actively strengthening its leadership team while continuing to expand its regional presence, including its well-established office in India, plans for a new office in Cairo, and a growing portfolio of projects across the region and wider international markets.

Joining XBD Collective as Executive Director at this stage was particularly interesting to me because the company is entering an important phase of growth and transformation. Beyond expanding geographically, there is a strong focus on building a more structured, corporate-minded design environment capable of supporting long-term development across multiple sectors and markets.

The Metropolitan Tower, Lagos, Nigeria

Founded in 2015, XBD Collective has grown into a multidisciplinary consultancy of more than 100 designers and technical professionals operating across architecture, interior design, landscape, and master planning. The company’s growth reflects a wider shift happening across the industry itself, where clients increasingly expect studios to think beyond individual disciplines and deliver projects with stronger integration between design quality, technical delivery, operational thinking, and commercial performance.

Throughout my career across international firms and large-scale developments within the MENA region and international markets, I have always believed that successful growth in design must be supported by both creative ambition and operational discipline. As projects become increasingly complex, design studios are required to think not only creatively, but strategically, balancing lifestyle, market relevance, long-term investment value, and construction feasibility simultaneously.

Private Villa F91, Palm Jumeirah

Dubai continues to play a significant role in shaping this momentum. The city has created an environment where ambition, speed, and opportunity continue to attract international talent and investment, while also pushing design companies to evolve quickly in response to changing market expectations. In many ways, it remains one of the most dynamic environments globally for architecture, interiors, hospitality, and development.

The planned expansion into Cairo represents an exciting next step for XBD Collective. Egypt has an extraordinary cultural and architectural legacy, but it is also experiencing significant transformation and investment across hospitality, residential, mixed-use, and commercial sectors. Establishing a presence there will allow the company to engage more directly with both local opportunities and the broader regional market.

At XBD Collective, together with the Founder and Leadership team, we are focused on building a company that combines design quality with strong operational foundations and long-term regional growth. For me personally, this next chapter is not simply about expansion in scale, but about helping shape a design practice capable of remaining adaptive, internationally competitive, and relevant for the future.

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With over 240 companies and professionals taking part and almost 50 spaces designed, this edition was its best one yet. Settings changed rapidly, from restaurants to hotel lobbies, living rooms to listening rooms, and terraces to experimental vitrines. The spirit of collaboration between local studios and brands across the spaces exhibited a true sense of community, and the versatility of difference materials were appreciated in its thought-provoking applications. Some of the trends we observed included the emergence of volcanic and mineral tones in interiors, textured wallpapers, the use of raw construction material, the presence of clay in different capabilities, and recycled materials such as plastic, wood, cork, and textiles. Here were the most interesting exhibits:

Arcos’ Threshold Vestibule by Studio Lucas and Hernandez-Gil 

Cutlery brand Arcos team had their pieces embodied in two vertical totems that were created out of leftover metal dies from the Arcos knife manufacturing process. The exhibit used colour as a structural tool and geometry as a language. 

Sixtypro’s Savia kitchen 

This exhibit featured natural root wood as a protagonist with terracotta-toned lacquers. Copper details introduce warmth and reflections that evoke the hearth of the kitchen and the handcrafted metalwork. Countertops and technical elements are integrated with a contemporary aesthetic that prioritises visual continuity and fluid forms. 

Kaldewei Space’s Gentle Strength bathroom by ILV* Isabel López Vilalta

Kaldewei’s space included a truly innovative bathtub that warms up and offers chromotherapy as well as sound therapy through programming on your phone.

LAUFEN’s Sensory Balance public restrooms by Studio DIIR

Through the interplay of light, materials, and water, LAUFEN’s space exhibited a sense of calm. Constructive precision and material honesty generated a timeless environment where serenity, intimacy, and understated luxury coexisted in perfect harmony.

Demark Thailand’s Warmest Sun Loft by Trimode Studio

Bamboo, teak, rain tree wood, sustainable fabrics and metals were used in this exhibit organised through the Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce. The unique use of materials and craftsmanship really stood out, with our favourite pieces being the bar cabinet, partition  screens, and decorative lamps made of paper.

Neolith’s Library Hall Between Surfaces and Words by Personalk

The design reveals a different perspective on Neolith, showcasing its ability to harmonise with other materials. The space invited you in with warmth; filled with books, cherished objects, old photographs, and shared memories. 85% of the wall coverings and all of the furniture used in the space can be reused.

La Redoute’s Dressing Room La Loge de Josephine by Top Design Studio

Inspired by the world of Josephine Baker, this intimate space was intelligently styled. Curved volumes, a palette of burgundy and deep greens, natural wood and stone conversed with striking textiles against the furniture.

Cosentino’s Conceptual Space: Spring by Summumstudio

Manantial recreates an atmosphere inspired by the essence of Éclos, Cosentino’s latest product made of 95% recycled glass. Here, the material acquires life and purpose through applications that balance functionality and symbolism.

PH Collection’s Living-Dining Room La vie chez nous by S de Studio

Wood and textile coverings enveloped the space, combined with carpeting and geometric patterns that evoke the spirit of the 70s. Orange and green tones conversed with furniture in caramel woods, while stone and artistic ceramics added texture, character and a contemporary dimension to the whole.

Nuet Ceramics’ Naked Terrace 

Here, walls, floors, and spaces emerge from a single construction system. A longitudinal courtyard organised a series of pauses where the pieces constructed walls, floors, and atmosphere. Light and shadow transformed the material throughout the experience, culminating in a framed view of the Madrid skyline.

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The museum is arguably the first of its kind. As Director Jack Persekian explains, “Although other museums dedicated to petroleum exist in the world, the Black Gold Museum is unique, for it is not only concerned with petroleum’s discovery, biochemical composition, and subsequent industrialisation, it addresses the vital aspects of its socioeconomic, political, environmental and cultural impact on humanity, highlighting both the opportunities it created and the challenges it continues to raise.”

Patterns and layouts echo naturally occurring geometrical structures as well as the site’s existing architecture

Curatorially and spatially, the museum is organised into four themed galleries. Encounter focuses on the origins of oil, from its geological formation and discovery to its role in ancient civilisations. In Dreams artworks examine the role of oil as a resource fuelling progress, and an almost ‘invisible’ material inextricably linked to mass consumer culture and convenience. A more critical perspective is explored in Doubts, where artists interrogate the environmental and societal impact of oil. Finally, Visions looks to the future by taking an approach that centres on innovation, research and debate. In this context, art becomes a platform for questioning oil dependency, sustainability and energy transition. Curator Christian Janicot describes the museum as “a unique place where art reveals the invisible, and where artists become the narrators of this civilizational adventure. For who better than artists [to] help us see what we no longer perceive? Who better can transform raw material into emotion, questioning, and beauty?”

The museum contains a staggering permanent collection of over 350 artworks by acclaimed artists

DaeWha Kang, whose eponymous studio conceived the museum’s interior architecture and design, emphasises the importance of creating a space for visitors to come into a close and immersive relationship with the art exhibited. “Our ambition with the architecture has been to create galleries that enhance the visitor’s experience of this remarkable artwork – and to deliver those calm, uplifting moments of contemplation that serve the galleries and the art within them. All of this achieved not by building something new from the ground up, but by transforming what was already there,” explains Kang.

Materials, colour palettes and design elements draw inspiration from Saudi geology, including wadis and canyons

Rather than constructing a new building, the studio completely transformed the KAPSARC’s research library through adaptive reuse. Sustainability is at the core of the design, with minimal intervention, demolition and energy consumption involved in the build, and materials chosen for their durability and efficiency. Materials, colour palettes and design elements draw inspiration from Saudi geology, including wadis and canyons. Patterns and layouts echo naturally occurring geometrical structures as well as the site’s existing architecture.

In the current climate, the need to explore shared histories and the future of oil in relation to societies, economies and the environment is urgent. The Black Gold Museum confronts the complexities and ambiguities of this subject by curating a narrative told from multiple perspectives and across disciplines. As Janicot concludes, “I believe we have helped invent a new museum format: a way of telling a universal story through an experience that is at once historical, scientific, and artistic. For me, this cross-disciplinary approach is what defines culture today.”

Photography: Hassan Al Shatti

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Vaida Buchrotaite, Principal and International Interior Design and Operations Director and Henrique Dias, Principal and Middle East Hospitality and Mixed-Use Director

“Culture, rituals, materials, and subtle details that make a destination unique. That’s where the real narrative begins”

As opposed to forming a story once the project is complete, Buchrotaite’s team focuses on discovery by unveiling chapters layer by layer. Canopy by Hilton The Point in Abha, emerges as a common example. “For example, something as specific as the flower reeds worn by men during ceremonies became the inspiration for the ballroom chandelier design. It’s a small cultural detail, but when translated thoughtfully, it creates something authentic and memorable. Similarly, reception panelling can take cues from the surrounding Asir mountain formations, while patterns and colour palettes across the rest of the spaces draw directly from the craftsmanship of local women – elements you see across the city,” she shares. The focus seems to embed meaning into decisions and create spaces that transcend beauty. Instead, the focus lies in creating something that feels rooted, intentional, and impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Teams work in sync, as opposed to silos. Buchrotaite shares the sentiment of working together in one poignant line: “Interior designers are not decorators, and architects are not just façade designers; we operate as one embedded team,” she says. The teams work together across a variety of functions, from inception, planning, zoning, and user-experience to realise an experience that feels seamless, cohesive, and well-resolved.

To bring about a sense of synchronicity for mega-projects, Dias shares that this comes from creating a shared logic rather than a repeated visual language. The real challenge, he shares is more on making the journey feel seamless and intentional. “What we establish early is a common experiential DNA,” he shares. “How arrival is choreographed, how public spaces connect, how landscape carries continuity, and how material language reinforces a sense of belonging across the wider ecosystem.” He cites Saudi Arabia where this approach holds relevance as hospitality being embedded within the giga-scale destinations is a priority. “Guests are no longer experiencing a standalone hotel; they are moving through a larger narrative of culture, retail, wellness, entertainment, and public life,” he shares.

Restaurant concept of Canopy by Hilton The Point in Abha

“A project I often reference is Canopy by Hilton The Point, because it demonstrates how brand identity becomes strongest when it is inseparable from place.” Shares Dias. “Rather than treating the Canopy ethos as a fixed set of standards, we allowed the character of Abha, the mountain landscape, the cultural richness of Aseer, and the region’s artistic heritage to shape how the brand was expressed. That, to me, is where hospitality branding becomes truly innovative: not when a brand is imposed on a destination, but when the destination becomes the brand’s most authentic expression.”

Shifting Themes, Trends, and Technology

When asked about what the latest considerations were for hospitality, Buchrotaite shared that there still seems to be a focus on what she calls refined, minimal luxury. “It’s less about bold, lifestyle-driven palettes and more about material honesty, texture, and quiet elegance,” she said. “It’s not a one-directional trend. Our portfolio spans everything – from ultra-minimal resorts to richly detailed, traditional environments, and even more playful, industrial, or entertainment-driven spaces. Each has its place.” In markets with a diverse range of users, this may be perceived as particularly challenging. “You’re designing for a global audience with very different definitions of luxury and experience,” shares Buchrotaite. “While certain trends may lead at a given moment, in reality they all coexist – and that balance is what makes the region so dynamic.”

Dias adds that while aesthetics do matter in hospitality; context is critical. “In hospitality, they [aesthetics] only become meaningful when they translate into memory, wellbeing, and a sense of restoration,” he shares. Emotion out of the experience is key and is the goalpost. “Guests may first notice beauty, but what stays with them is the emotional residue of the experience,” shares Dias. “It is the calmness of arrival, the warmth of natural materials, the softness of filtered light, the shift in acoustics as they move from a vibrant social space into the privacy of their room, or the way a framed view creates a moment of pause.”

With a focus on sensory composition, the DLR team focuses on shaping guest experiences through rhythm, tactility, sound, scent, framing, and the emotional pacing between energy and retreat. Increasingly, this is also tied to wellness. “Luxury today is no longer only about visual richness; it is about how a space supports recovery, better sleep, mental clarity, social connection, and a deeper sense of human restoration,” shares Dias. “For me, the real role of aesthetics is to create emotion through space, but also to design environments that guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. Beauty is only the first layer; restoration is the lasting memory.”

When it comes to AI and technology, Dias is robustly positive. “The most successful technology in hospitality is the kind guests barely notice,” he shares. “Its role is not to make the experience feel more digital, but more intuitive. Whether through adaptive room settings, seamless arrival, intelligent concierge systems, or back-of-house efficiencies, technology should remove friction and allow the human side of hospitality to become even stronger.” 

He shares he is most excited about how AI influences design. “It allows us to understand guest movement, dwell patterns, circulation logic, and operational behaviour far earlier in the process, giving us a more intelligent framework for shaping experience before the building is even realised,” he shares. “For me, the benchmark is simple: technology should make hospitality feel more human, not less,”

A contemporary three-bedroom villa designed around indoor-outdoor living, blending sculpted arches, shaded terraces, and tropical landscaping

Sustainability equated to quality

Dias also argues that sustainability is not an added value. “Guests today are far more conscious of how spaces are made, how they age, and how authentically they connect to their environment,” he shares. A focus is given on healthier materials, better daylight, natural ventilation, a stronger connection to the landscape, and spaces that feel built to last rather than designed for short-term visual impact. “That has shifted the design conversation much earlier for us,” he shares. “We now begin with endurance: how a space performs over time, how gracefully it ages, and how it can remain emotionally and operationally relevant without constant reinvention. For me, the most sustainable hospitality experiences are the ones that still feel timeless a decade later. That sense of longevity, calm, and authenticity is increasingly what both operators and guests are looking for.”

On operating in Saudi Arabia

With a lot of active projects in the region, Buchrotaite claims that hotel operators are focused on very similar goals as the rest of the region. This includes efficiency, a strong ROI, and clear positioning. According to Buchrotaite, in Saudi Arabia, there’s an added layer: every project is expected to be a destination. “That doesn’t always mean ‘iconic’ in the traditional sense,” she shares. “Some projects are bold and statement-driven; others are more familiar and expected, but what they all have in common is the need to deliver an experience that stays with people. Not just something that photographs well, but something that creates a memory.”

Another focus is on fit-for-purpose destinations. “Whether it’s a business hotel supporting a new wave of remote work, a resort offering a genuine escape, or a family-oriented development built around ease and entertainment – the success comes from how well it’s curated for its end user,” Buchrotaite shares. It’s all about creating a space that people remember long after they leave.

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Starting from a shell-and-core unit with no existing infrastructure, Motif’s team delivered the complete design concept, technical documentation, MEP coordination, full fit-out and furniture package across 22,000 square feet. It is one of the studio’s most comprehensive mandates to date, and the result is a workspace that competes as much on atmosphere as it does on functionality.

Centrum already operated a business centre in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, the ambition was to go further. The client’s vision was to launch a new branch at Reem Mall, one of the UAE capital’s most active retail and lifestyle destinations, and following several workshops and collaborative sessions, a concept was agreed and the brief was set.

“When we started designing the space, the goal was clear from the client’s brief: to create a productive workspace that would attract companies and professionals to work from here,” says Charlie Speechley, VP sales at Motif Interiors. “The design has to draw people in. The look and feel of the space has to be really attractive to prospective tenants.”

The brief called for a full spectrum of workspace typologies reflecting how professionals actually work today: a relaxed café zone at the entrance, open hot desks and shared workstations, acoustic phone booths for focused calls, private offices for companies needing dedicated space, and formal boardrooms in two configurations.

Following collaborative workshops with Centrum, Motif Interiors settled on a concept rooted in Japanese design principles, a deliberate counterpoint to the glass and steel aesthetic that dominates the region’s coworking landscape.

The signature piece is a monumental mural installed across the main lounge feature wall. Dark walnut panelling, curved archways, fluted wall treatments and curated shelving build architectural depth throughout, while cognac leather seating and marble surfaces bring material warmth to the workstations and social zones.

“We introduced several key design elements, the arches and the customised wallpapers, and brought them together to create a strong visual identity and give Centrum its own statement within the space,” explains Rita Estephan, Chief Operating Officer at Motif Interiors. “The overall intention was to create a space that feels refined, welcoming, productive and unique to Centrum.”

Sultan Holding, part of the group behind Centrum, also operates a marble supplier, and Motif’s designers were given access to an exceptional stone selection. The result is striking white-and-green marble countertops at the café bar and reception desk, features that establish the quality of the space from the moment a visitor arrives.

Lighting became both a technical and experiential priority. The unit’s depth and layout meant natural light was limited throughout. Motif responded with stretch ceiling lighting across the café, the bar area and within the phone booths, calibrated to replicate the quality of natural light and sustain a warm, comfortable ambience across the workspace.

Space planning presented an additional layer of complexity. As a licensed business centre, Centrum is subject to Abu Dhabi Municipality regulations governing minimum square metreage per cabin, desk counts and spatial configurations. Motif’s team developed a layout that satisfied all regulatory requirements while preserving the intuitive circulation and atmosphere that the space needed to function as a premium environment.

“It was a bit of a jigsaw to fit everything in,” Estephan says. “You still need the space to flow nicely, corridors at the correct width, but also hit the required numbers. That was probably one of the biggest space planning challenges on the project. The client was very supportive throughout these circumstances, and together we managed to overcome the challenges successfully,” she shares.

Photography by Intelier

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At a time when interiors are moving away from fast-changing aesthetics toward more meaningful choices, wood has emerged as one of the defining materials shaping the way we live today. More than a design trend, it represents authenticity, longevity, and a desire to reconnect with spaces that feel calm, natural, and enduring.

This direction resonates particularly during the summer season; a time when homes become a place to slow down, recharge, and spend more meaningful moments indoors. Through lighter palettes, organic textures, and understated sophistication, the collection offers a sense of warmth without heaviness and comfort without compromise.

Designed for customers who appreciate quality and timeless design, the collection embraces what Chattels & More stands for: interiors that evolve with life rather than follow passing moments. “Wood has always been one of the most powerful materials in design. It brings warmth, character, and permanence into a space. With this collection, we wanted to reinterpret it in a way that feels contemporary yet timeless — creating homes that feel elevated, welcoming, and lived in” says Simon Zoghbi, CEO of Chattels & More.

The collection is now available at Chattels & More locations across the UAE, or online at www.chattelsandmore.com.

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With diameters ranging from Ø17 to Ø153 mm, luminous flux from 100 to 4000 lumens and IP65-rated versions, it is suitable for both intimate spaces and large-scale settings. In the larger diameters, the innovative Push&Go system (patent pending) allows refractors and optical accessories to be replaced quickly and safely, with a simple gesture. Intelligent lighting management, via DALI-2,Casambi or an invisible RF sensor integrated into a false ceiling, optimises visual comfort and energy efficiency. Smart services, such as push notifications via the Jiminy app, enhance interaction with spaces and people.

The product is available in eight sizes and five versions — Fixed, Adjustable, Tilted, Shallow, and Wall Washer. Laser Evo offers supercomfort Fixed configurations in the following shapes: Cone, Dome, Dome Space, Soft, Soft Space and Squircle. All versions are compatible with smart control systems.

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The spirit of synchronicity is reflected in our cover story with DLR Group, a full-service practice where architecture and interior design exist in constant dialogue. Directors Henrique Dias and Vaida Buchrotaite share insights into the studio’s integrated approach, discussing how collaboration across disciplines continue to define their work and distinguish their offering in an evolving regional hospitality landscape.

We also take you to Madrid with highlights from our recent trip in collaboration with Spanish trade agency ICEX, where Casa Decor offered a vibrant showcase of creativity, sustainability, and innovation. What stood out most was the individuality of each space and the confidence with which every studio approached curation and storytelling. We round up some of our favourite exhibits in this issue.

We also step inside two striking coastal homes in Dubai – one on Palm Jumeirah and another on Jumeirah Bay. Across the ocean, a remarkable home in Mumbai has taken shape, with views over the Arabian Sea. We also present an exciting collectible design debut, exclusively on identity.

Enjoy the read.

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