< Previous10 commercialinteriordesign.comNewsFebruary 2026 ELIE SAAB AND SAOTA LAUNCH AFRICA’S FIRST BRANDED RESIDENCE IN CASABLANCA The branded residence model is making its debut in Africa, as ELIE SAAB and Cape Town-based architecture fi rm SAOTA announce ELIE SAAB Casablanca – Art of Living. Bringing together ELIE SAAB’s globally recognised design language with SAOTA’s context-responsive architectural approach, the residential development will be made up of private villas, positioned as a curated residential enclave rather than a conventional luxury estate. “From the outset, our vision was to create a living environment that feels both expansive and deeply personal,” says Roxanne Kaye, Principal at SAOTA. “Every design decision was made to ensure a sense of sanctuary, light and connection to place. Collaborating with Art of Living was instrumental in realising this vision; their commitment to quality and experiential living allowed us to push the boundaries of what contemporary residential design can achieve in Casablanca.” INTRODUCING CLIO, A CULTURAL LINE DRAWN ACROSS THE DESERT Offi cially unveiled in Dubai as a 10-kilometre immersive installation, CLIO is positioned to become one of the world’s largest artworks and a new cultural landmark for the UAE, redefi ning how art, architecture and landscape intersect. Conceived as a continuous linear experience stretching across more than one million square metres, CLIO is designed not as an object to be observed, but as a territory to be entered. “CLIO is a living dialogue between art, land and people,” says Massimiliano Suglia, CEO and founder of CLIO Desert Park. “From Dubai, we are shaping a global cultural destination that belongs to everyone.” Set to rise next to Skydive Dubai’s Desert Campus, CLIO unfolds as a curated visitor journey tracing humanity’s shared story. The installation comprises 25,000 authenticated modules, each measuring two by two metres, conceived by international contemporary artist Agron Hoti. Each module forms a chapter within a broader narrative structured around inclusion, memory and collective authorship.11 commercialinteriordesign.comPartner ContentFebruary 2026 MOSAICS ARE ONE of the few surface solutions capable of performing consistently across diverse environments while preserving design integrity, making them a timeless and technically advanced choice for modern architecture and interiors. Unlike large-format slabs or rigid surface materials, mosaics are inherently fl exible. Their segmented structure distributes weight more evenly, enhancing resilience and reducing the risk of cracking or failure. This adaptability allows mosaics to follow domes, curved walls, sculptural elements, and complex architectural geometries with ease. Their performance extends across indoor and outdoor settings, wet environments such as spas, pools, and steam rooms, and high-traffi c commercial spaces. In each context, mosaics deliver durability without compromising aesthetic ambition. 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For more information visit trend-group.com or email info-ae@trend-group.com. DESIGN JOY BY Inside the workplace of B8 Architecture, colour, fun and good culture is treated with the same intent as form, function and detail14 commercialinteriordesign.comFebruary 2026In The Studio W ithin the City Walk studio of Dubai’s B8 Architecture, colour, art and personality coexist with rigour and technical precision. Founded by CEO Kristina Bråteng, the studio itself refl ects a philosophy that sees emotion not as a by-product of design, but as a fundamental driver. From branded details and collectible artworks to a resident French bulldog and an atmosphere charged with music, the studio operates as both a creative workplace and a living manifesto. At B8, design culture is built as carefully as architecture itself, grounded in trust, adaptability and an unapologetic belief that great spaces should make you feel something. Here, Bråteng takes us inside to learn more about her award-winning fi rm. What’s the fi rst thing people notice when they walk into your studio? The colour. The energy. The unapologetic joy of it all. And probably the pink hair of Maria who sits at our front desk and is impossible to miss. She’s our HR and our all-things-everything person. Her energy defi nitely sets the tone for the whole space. Then there’s Alfred, our tiny 15 commercialinteriordesign.comFebruary 2026In The Studio French bulldog who we’ve unoffi cially adopted as our mascot. You’ll spot him in a few corners around the offi ce as well. And of course, there’s JoGi’s oversized purple bear, by an incredible artist [Jordi Gil Fernandez] and a dear friend who has many pieces around our offi ce. From the moment you step in, there’s an atmosphere — bright, bold, and a little unexpected. You’ll spot JoGi’s Bear alongside custom-painted fi re hydrants reimagined with our own B8 branding. There’s art everywhere - from Marbella to Madrid - like the smaller JoGi’s monkeys scattered playfully throughout the space, each one full of character. Even the chocolates and wet wipes are branded, clearly you can tell I am obsessed with the details of it all. What’s on your mood board this month? The usual suspects are always there, including innovative home tech, layered textures, evolving shades, and fabrics we can’t stop touching. But what’s new and genuinely exciting is a recent project that’s taken over part of my brain and my mood board. The personality of this house is unlike anything we’ve done before. I wouldn’t call it eccentric, more like unapologetically expressive. Think: James Bond level high- tech luxury showers with full glass walls, and bedrooms designed to frame views like scenes in a fi lm. It’s bold, indulgent, and completely alive. That’s what’s in my mood board. Who’s the unoffi cial DJ in the studio, and what’s playing? In our main offi ce we have Saab, our senior interior coordinator, who also is an actual DJ in his free time. And in the second offi ce, there is almost always music playing through the ceiling speakers, I think our senior Architect Karim always has some melodic techno and house music playing, so I think I have to give him the title of Offi ce DJ. I am a big fan of music in general and love that it helps brighten the space and keep the mood fun and happening. What’s object in your space tells a story? The bright pink artwork hanging right above my desk, another beautiful work by JoGis Art. It says, “Girl Boss” and “Building an Empire,” and it’s chaotic in the best way; loud, textured, unapologetic. It reminds me why we started, how far we’ve come, and that the best kind of empire is one built with both grit and a bit of glitter. It makes a statement without needing permission. Just like we do. What keeps your ideas fl owing? Honestly? My phone camera and Pinterest. I’m constantly capturing textures, colors, shadows. Sometimes it’s a material on a wall, other times it’s how light hits a table at 4p.m. Then I disappear into Pinterest rabbit holes that spark a hundred new directions. It’s not always about grand inspiration, sometimes, it’s just about staying visually awake. What’s your studio’s superpower? Happiness, love, and trust. That’s what I try to build into the atmosphere every day — whether it’s through the way we work, the way we laugh, or the way we support each other when things get intense. I think people do their best work when they feel cared for, even in small ways. That’s the real superpower: making sure the energy in the room lifts you instead of draining you. The team is constantly raising the bar not just for themselves, but for the studio. I’m genuinely proud of the culture we’ve built, and that spirit is what inspires me most right now.16 commercialinteriordesign.comFebruary 2026In The Studio17 commercialinteriordesign.comFebruary 2026In The Studio Who’s your design spirit animal right now? A chameleon. It’s adaptable, intuitive, and always in sync with its surroundings yet never loses its identity. That’s exactly how I see our approach to design. We shape each project to refl ect its unique context and client, but there’s always a subtle through-line; a quiet strength, a certain edge that makes it unmistakably ours. Transforming with intention. That’s the goal. What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever inspired a project? Many things inspire me on a daily basis, but this question instantly reminded me of an Origami piece I once saw. It was made from soft, malleable paper but folded in such a way that it held incredible structural integrity. There was something poetic about the strength that came from precision, rather than mass. That moment stuck with me and eventually became the seed of an idea for the retractable carbon shade structure we developed for our BVLGARI villa. Creating sculptural shade while signifi cantly improving the building’s environmental impact and carbon footprint. When are you most creatively dangerous, morning, noon or midnight? Always midnight. That’s when the world quiets down and the ideas start speaking louder. The stillness of night that makes everything feel possible, rules feel looser, and instinct takes the lead. Some of my best concepts were born at night. If your studio had a motto, what would it be? Because infi nity, as vast and limitless as it sounds, is still a boundary. A concept. A line drawn at the edge of imagination. And we were never built to stop at the edge. I believe there’s always one more detail to refi ne, one more idea to push, one more layer to uncover. True beauty doesn’t live in the obvious, it lives just beyond it. In the unseen curve, the unexpected material, the emotion that lingers once you’ve left a space.18 commercialinteriordesign.comFebruary 202619 commercialinteriordesign.comProject: OTHERFebruary 2026 In Dubai’s Al Safa district, Verhaal transforms art, colour and furniture into a charged interior that blurs the line between gallery and social space with OTHER A dance of contrastsNext >