3 commercialinteriordesign.comContentsJuly 2025 54 SHOWROOM SHOWCASE We run down some of the best brand showrooms in the region IN THIS ISSUE 20 THE POWER OF A POP-UP DLE on romance and the temporary 24 COVER FEATURE Desert Rock Resort, Red Sea, Saudi 30 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT The masterminds behind Maison Dali 44 CID AWARDS 2025: HOSPITALITY Highlights from the annual ceremony 2025 July4 commercialinteriordesign.comContentsJuly 2025 60 66 RESIDENTIAL The New York Villa, Dubai by C’est Ici WORLD VIEW A lesson from São Paulo in corporate architecture REGULARS 06 NEWS Updates from the design world 10 NEW RECRUIT Nikita Chellani, associate at ROAR 14 IN THE STUDIO With a Kuwaiti architectural rm 74 WHAT’S ON MY DESK Stefania DiGregoria’s world5 commercialinteriordesign.comEditor’s Letter EXIT, SAFETY, EGRESS LIGHTING... While these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain architecture codes, echo, halo and accent glows, they are also what we live for. Lighting design is in the midst of an archaic revival and the project that you see on the cover is an example. Desert Rock by Oppenheim works with the land. Its lighting? Voids cut carefully into the mountain to lter sunlight. Consider your bed made and circadian rhythm reset. Speaking of reset, we hope you’re glowing in the aftermath of the CID Awards: Hospitality. To sit for hours, sifting through nominations could be tedious for some, but not for us and not when we’re looking at your work. Our Hospitality Designer of the Year, Sejal Patel, gives us an exclusive interview about her ethos, setbacks and comebacks and, if you’re in the mood to read a fantastical, romantic interview from the two masterminds behind the award-winning Maison Dali, page 28 is yours to enjoy. While you’re there, take a moment to consider the idea of light not just as xture, but as feeling, legacy and language. The best kind of lighting doesn’t just illuminate, it articulates, it edits and it reveals. In this issue, we honour the designers, the engineers, the craftspeople who understand that. They know that a single glow on the right surface can be more powerful than an entire chandelier. So here’s to the magic makers. May your projects shimmer with meaning, not just lumen. Finally, I would like to not so subtly add that the nominations for the CID Awards 2025 MENA are now open. Go wild. Zen Bahar Editor THE BRIGHT Published by and © 2025 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Geneva, London, Mumbai & Riyadh ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi MANAGING DIRECTOR Martin Chambers CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Holly Sands EDITORIAL GROUP EDITOR Paul Clifford EDITOR Zen Bahar EDITOR AT LARGE Holly Byrne ASSOCIATE EDITOR Misbaah Mansuri EDITOR, HOSPITALITY & DESIGN SAUDI Safa Hassan ADVERTISING CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 Email: sally.whittam@itp.com COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Richard Mobbs Tel: +971 52 393 2862 Email: richard.mobbs@itp.com SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER Tripura Patel Tel: +971 52 393 2862 Email: tripura.patel@itp.com COMMERCIAL ADMIN EXECUTIVE Janet Comia Email: janet.comia@itp.com ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Siti Sumarsono Email: siti.sumarsono@itp.com ART HEAD OF DESIGN Rita Ghantous GROUP VIDEO EDITOR Bharat Tahiliani VIDEO EDITOR Farah Roshdy VIDEOGRAPHER Karan Sumadari VIDEOGRAPHER & EDITOR Sumeet Katira VIDEOGRAPHER & EDITOR Shifas Kochukoya MARKETING HEAD OF EVENTS Eleanor Ashton EVENTS MANAGER Beverly Stanforth ASSOCIATE EVENTS MANAGER Vrinali Nazareth ASSOCIATE EVENTS MANAGER Maria Trishina EVENTS SALES EXECUTIVE Jan Mokoala EVENTS SALES ASSISTANT Joyce Salonga EVENTS ADMINISTR ATIVE ASSISTANT Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Balasubramanian P PRODUCTION MANAGER Anand Sundaram DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Avinash Pereira CIRCULATION EXECUTIVE Rajesh Pillai ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe at www.commercialinteriordesign.com The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader's particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Rejection6 commercialinteriordesign.comNewsJuly 2025 DESIGN NEWS / JULY MINISTRY OF CULTURE TAKES SAUDI HANDICRAFTS BEYOND THE GALLERY Solitaire has partnered with the Saudi Heritage Commission to support the Ministry of Culture’s 2025 Year of the Handicrafts initiative. The collaboration brings Saudi’s traditional crafts into a public-facing commercial space through three contemporary installations developed with local artisans. The partnership with the Heritage Commission marks Solitaire’s second public art activation since opening and reinforces its positioning as a destination aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 focus on cultural enrichment and local talent development. The initiative contributes to the wider government push to preserve Saudi Arabia’s intangible heritage while integrating it into urban, experiential settings. The installations aim to showcase the diversity and technical depth of Saudi craft traditions, while also offering an interactive, educational experience for visitors. Each piece has been created using traditional techniques and materials. NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR CID AWARDS 2025: MENA Nominations are now open for CID Awards 2025: MENA, the biggest awards ceremony of its kind in the region. Following the success of the third annual CID Awards Saudi ceremony and CID Awards Hospitality, Commercial Interior Design’s September event is the agship Awards ceremony for the brand and for the design industry across the Middle East and North Africa. Industry professionals are encouraged to nominate their projects and peers for recognition. Nominations will remain open until 11.59pm on Wednesday July 23. The nomination window is open for just four weeks with no extensions guaranteed, so now is the time to submit your entries. The 2024 CID Awards MENA marked a record-breaking success with over 900 attendees, more than 1,200 entries, and over 30 categories. An independent panel of judges, including industry experts, will decide upon the winners and highly commended entrants in each category. More details about the judges will be revealed soon.7 commercialinteriordesign.comJuly 2025News 10 DESIGN TO DELIVER RIVIERA-INSPIRED VILLAS AT AL JURF International architecture practice 10 Design (part of the 10N Collective) has revealed its plans for Naseem Al Jurf. It is the next phase in IMKAN’s landmark Al Jurf development along the Sahel Al Emarat Coast, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Scheduled for completion in Q3 2027, the project is positioned as a new benchmark in community-focused design that balances cultural heritage with modern living. The scheme includes 111 villas, 60 townhouses and 8 apartments, arranged around shaded walkways (sikkas), a central garden, canal side promenade, and a network of amenities including a mosque, F&B and retail outlets, a communal pool and a beach club. a region being positioned for growth in domestic and international travel. The hotel is part of a broader strategy to integrate hospitality with natural and urban elements in second-tier Chinese cities, especially along historically signi cant trade routes. AEDAS IMBUES CANYON-INSPIRED FORM Aedas has revealed its design for the CGDG Xinjiang Beautiful China Resort Kuitun Holiday Inn Hotel, a hospitality develop- ment located in Xinjiang, China. The project, commissioned by China Green Development Investment Group Co., Ltd. (CGDG), covers a gross oor area of 32,500 sq m. It is currently under development and led by Aedas’ global design principal Kevin Wang. The project aims to align with CGDG’s wider cultural tourism objectives in Xinjiang, 8 commercialinteriordesign.comNewsJuly 2025 SAUDI LAUNCHES NAMA’ ACCELERATORS TO POWER CULTURAL SMES The Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program, has launched Nama’ Accelerators, the Kingdom’s first national initiative dedicated to supporting micro, small, and medium-sized cultural enterprises. The programme aims to nurture long-term growth across various creative disciplines, beginning with the Handicrafts Track. Participants will bene t from structured training in modern production methods, targeted marketing support, and business development tools, along with facilitated access to local and international markets. Financial incentives are also included to help businesses scale sustainably. The full programme and application details are available on the Cultural Development Fund’s website. ROAR REIMAGINES LUXURY RETAIL WITH ARAYA JEWELLERY BOUTIQUE Dubai-based design studio Roar has unveiled its latest project: the agship boutique for Araya Fine Jewellery, located at Wa Mall. The store marks a shift in how luxury retail environments are designed, focusing less on traditional display strategies and more on emotional connection and user experience. The brief was to create a space that balances function with feeling. Rather than a conventional showroom, Roar delivered a boutique in uenced by the Northern Lights. The concept is tied to the emotions often associated with investing in ne jewellery, rarity, wonder and personal meaning. But it also re ects changes in how people shop.9 commercialinteriordesign.comJuly 2025News THE LIGHTHOUSE DEBUTS IN RIYADH WITH A DESIGN-LED CONCEPT The Lighthouse has opened its rst Saudi location in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, bringing with it a format that blends hospitality, design and community engagement. Known for its presence across the UAE, the brand enters the Kingdom with a concept that integrates spatial strategy with cultural relevance. Designed by London-based Archer Humphryes Architects, the Riyadh venue applies a contextual approach that aligns with both local architecture and brand identity. The rm, whose portfolio includes Koko in Camden and the Peninsula London, introduced materials and spatial elements rooted in durability and tactility. The spatial configuration supports dual functions: formal dining and social programming. A ceiling of geometric intricacy and an open kitchen create focal points. SAUDI ARABIA TURNS TO COLOUR TO DEFINE NEW CULTURAL IDENTITY Across Saudi Arabia’s cultural and commercial developments, colour is becoming a tool for storytelling. Shades like Diriyah Tan, Sindalah Blu, and White Iridescence are designed not just for visual impact, but to re ect identity, geography, and intent. Diriyah Tan, developed with Pantone, draws from mudbrick materials across 15 regions to echo the heritage of At-Turaif. At NEOM’s Sindalah Yacht Club, Stefano Ricci’s Sindalah Blue captures Red Sea tones and Mediterranean elegance. Meanwhile, Riyadh Air’s White Iridescence – inspired by desert light and lavender blooms – sets a serene tone for aviation interiors. These bespoke hues go beyond branding, acting as cultural anchors across architecture, interiors, and product design. As Saudi Arabia reimagines its built environment, colour is emerging as a language of place – both deeply local and universally understood.Next >