The designers featured in our debut AD100 Hall of Fame have constantly pushed boundaries and broken glass-ceilings; through their exemplary work they continue to uplift the regional design scene, one exceptional project after another. From Dubai to Jeddah and Kuwait to Burkina Faso, these are the names to know.
Abboud Malak
United Arab Emirates
studiom.co
This Dubai designer’s practice, Studio M, embraces architecture, interior design and furniture design, creating “original, innovative and enduring spaces”. Malak focuses on immersive design that enhances wellbeing: his 1960s-inspired interior for the new Uchi Japanese restaurant in Dubai is a case in point, with its sensual rosewood and walnut veneers, emerald quartzite panelling and whisky-inspired colour palette. Another recent design is a group of Brazilian Modernist-inspired penthouses for the One Palm at Jumeirah development by Omniyat.
AGi Architects
Kuwait, Spain
agi-architects.com
Led by Harvard-educated architects Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan, AGi reinterprets Mediterranean architecture from a modern perspective, “in search of an understanding between Islamic culture and Western lifestyles”. Standout new designs include Pixel House in Kuwait, whose “pixelated” ceramic-and-aluminium lattice façade filters light while enhancing privacy; and Archipelago Villa in Madrid, conceived as a series of islands with a “ribbon” roof. Coming next? A new hospital and a retail complex, both in Kuwait.
Aljoud Lootah
United Arab Emirates
aljoudlootah.com
“My work often revolves around reflecting Emirati traditions through minimalistic forms,” says this designer, whose pieces are crafted from refined materials such as porcelain and camel leather. Recently, she has produced 60 of her Takya sofas, influenced by the low cushions used in the traditional majlis, for the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi; she has also created a hand-embroidered wall installation for the new Vacheron Constantin watch showroom in Dubai Mall and is working on her 10th-anniversary collection.
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Annabel Karim Kassar
Lebanon
annabelkassar.com
Having produced works that range from factories in Chengdu to a golf club in Ajman, Annabel’s creative process hints at the cultural influences of the many countries she’s resided and worked in. With a multispecialty practice, this architect is not afraid of taking risks by transforming tradition and memory into contemporary design. “Quality impresses me,” she says. “I aim to strike the perfect balance between bold minimalism and traditional craftsmanship, to which I am extremely attached.”
David/Nicolas
Lebanon, France
davidandnicolas.com
Following their most ambitious work to date – a contemporary reimagining of Casa di Fantasia, the iconic Italian designer Gio Ponti’s famed Milan apartment – Beirut-based creatives David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem are working on a new furniture collection for Carpenters Workshop Gallery, a Miami apartment, and a luxury boutique interior in Dubai. “You have to keep creating,” says Raffoul, who refers to their style as ‘future vintage’. “We use our projects as a means of communicating our vision of beauty to the world and reintegrating our history into the now.”
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Foster + Partners
United Kingdom
fosterandpartners.com
The global architecture and urban design firm’s practice is rooted in an optimistic view of the future. “It is about focusing on the fundamental principles of performance, of ‘doing more with less’, the pursuit of sustainability and beauty, a continuous tradition of questioning and challenging, when possible, innovating or reinventing a building type,” says Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. Having delivered several high-profile buildings in the region (Lusail Stadium in Qatar, House of Wisdom in Sharjah, and National Bank of Kuwait HQ in Kuwait City to name a few), the firm will soon be adding two more monumental projects to the list: the world’s first “fully immersive” marine life centre on Saudi’s Red Sea coastline (welcoming visitors in 2024) and Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi (set to open in 2025).
Francis Kéré
Burkina Faso, Germany
kerearchitecture.com
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Burkinabe-German architect Francis Kéré’s work balances design and social commitment, making him the first African architect to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 2022. His buildings showcase innovative ways of using local resources and vernacular techniques and are often hailed for their sustainable and collaborative approach. His designs for the Benin National Parliament and the Goethe Institute in Dakar are currently under construction. Also in the pipeline is an agriculture campus in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and the mausoleum for Burkinabé revolutionary Thomas Sankara.
Gregory Gatserelia
Lebanon
gregorygatserelia.com
This studio’s projects boast refined materiality and a strong focus on art, a field in which Gatserelia is an expert curator. A recent apartment on the 29th floor of a Beirut tower is as much art gallery as residence, while another bold space in Paris has panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower. Gatserelia is also co-founder of The Great Design Disaster, which crafts bespoke furniture. Future projects are a global affair, happening everywhere from Dubai to Switzerland.
Nada Debs
Lebanon, United Arab Emirates
nadadebs.com
“I want to keep doing work that gives a voice to those who are keeping our culture alive,” says Nada Debs. The Lebanese product designer works with a raft of artisan communities – from weavers to marquetry specialists – to create contemporary objects that illuminate her cross-cultural vision. Debs’ latest project is particularly close to her heart: a collaboration with Pakistani marble inlay atelier Studio Lél, which focuses on empowering marginalised craftspeople. “It is an opportunity to show the beauty of craftsmanship in different cultures and what can be achieved when we come together,” she adds.
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Pallavi Dean
United Arab Emirates
designbyroar.com
Pallavi Dean has a rare talent for melding function and form in a way that makes for a seamless user experience, while also being perfect for the Instagram age. Embracing innovation (think generative AI) while prioritising local production, Dean’s design firm, Roar, recently completed the Ajman Executive Council Building, a landmark project scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year. “It’s a design that is particularly close to my heart due to my upbringing in the Emirate,” explains the designer.
Rabih Geha
Lebanon
rabihgeha.com
“Beirut, with its mix of cultures and layers of history, has always been by my creative north star,” says Rabih Geha, the Lebanon-based architect who has recently delivered a slew of hospitality projects across the Middle East – from Doha to Dubai. Now, the studio is developing high-end residential projects in Lebanon and is set to expand into the UK and Nigeria with two dynamic restaurants. In each country, Geha is looking to harness the positive power of design: “While we are in the business of creating beauty, our real role is to bring optimism.”
X Architects
United Arab Emirates
x-architects.com
Dubai duo Ahmed Al-Ali and Farid Esmaeil translate Arab culture into sustainable contemporary architecture using innovations such as 3D printing, virtual reality and AI. “We follow an adaptive approach, merging high tech with low tech to bridge the gap between tradition and the future,” they say. Recently they have restored several historical buildings, including Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa House in Al Ain, the home of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa, which is now a cultural venue.
