The Soul of a Space

In the UAE’s increasingly layered design landscape, HMA Living by Al Shamsi operates at the intersection of curation and storytelling. Rather than regarding accessories as secondary gestures, the company treats them as narrative tools and objects that anchor interiors through meaning as much as material presence. Many of the pieces curated by the company arrive with stories already embedded within them. Names, forms and materials often draw from mythology, nature or imagined worlds, while others rely on anthropomorphic, organic or geomorphic silhouettes that trigger familiarity. These objects invite interpretation, recalling personal memories, travel or cultural references that resonate differently from one interior to the next. HMA Living by Al Shamsi’s approach to curation favours emotional clarity over abundance. Objects are chosen not to fill a room, but to shape its atmosphere by creating environments where tactility, energy and comfort coexist with a strong sense of identity. Sculptural vases, decorative forms and collectible design pieces are introduced as focal points, encouraging engagement through sight, touch and spatial rhythm.

Among the Italian brands represented, Bosa and Gufram exemplify two distinct yet complementary approaches to narrative-driven design. Bosa is known for pushing ceramic craftsmanship into expressive territory, collaborating with designers such as Elena Salmistraro, Matteo Cibic and Jaime Hayon. Their work often sits between art and object, characterised by vivid colour, hybrid forms and a sense of animation. Totemic figures and fantastical creatures emerge as sculptural accents, translating emotion and symbolism into contemporary ceramic design.

Gufram offers a more radical counterpoint. Now part of the Italian Radical Design group alongside Memphis Milano and Meritalia, the brand continues to challenge conventional notions of function and décor. Its iconic Cactus remains one of the most recognisable sculptural objects in interiors, blurring the line between furniture, art and cultural commentary. Recent reinterpretations, including the Andy Warhol Limited Edition, extend this legacy through a dialogue with pop culture, irony and collectability.

These brands reflect a broader curatorial ethos that treats interiors as evolving narratives, shaped by objects that carry cultural weight, conceptual depth and emotional presence.