Read ‘Designing the Future’ – Note from the editor

Happy New Year to you all from everyone at identity. Like us, I am sure a new year invites reflection as much as it does anticipation. January is a moment to pause, reset and look forward to another year with clarity and intention – values that sit at the very heart of design. And it’s this ethos that has shaped the January issue of identity, as we explore the spaces, designs and ideas that will shape our year ahead.

We open the year by looking to the future of the UAE’s cultural landscape with the recently opened Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. Rising from the Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum is more than an architectural landmark; it is a poetic expression of national identity. Designed by Foster + Partners, its falcon-inspired form, sustainable strategies and sensitive response to climate and heritage set a powerful tone for the year ahead – one where architecture is asked to be both visionary and responsible.

That balance between scale and intimacy continues in our cover story, where London-based studio Elicyon reimagines a multi-generational family villa in Umm Al Sheif. Here, thoughtful layering, craftsmanship and materiality transform expansive volumes into a series of warm, personal moments. It’s a reminder that great design is often found not in excess, but in restraint – in the quiet details that allow a home to feel lived in, timeless and deeply personal.

Further afield, we journey to Big Sky, Montana, where One&Only Moonlight Basin marks the brand’s debut in the United States. Nestled within an alpine landscape, the resort offers a compelling study in architecture that listens rather than dominates. Through its collaboration with Olson Kundig and a strong emphasis on local materials, art and craft, the project redefines luxury as something rooted in authenticity, nature and a profound sense of place.

As the year begins, we’re starting on a high. We’re delighted to once again be a media partner of this year’s highly anticipated Maison&Objet in Paris. We’ll be on the ground sharing highlights from the fair, so be sure to follow us across our channels at @identityae for the latest updates.

Like Maison&Objet, this issue aims to offer inspiration for what lies ahead – we hope you enjoy the issue and here’s to a year of meaningful design.