Ten Years of Creative Possibility
Looking back on a decade in Dubai, what stands out most is how much the region has changed. When we launched the studio ten years ago, the aim was to embed ourselves within the UAE’s growing design community. Since then, the scale of ambition across the Middle East has allowed us to embrace bold thinking and design for both urban and desert landscapes.
Lighting design should stand the test of time, so we are proud that the illuminated bridges at DIFC are still bringing dynamism to the Gate Village area. What we love about this scheme is how coloured light transforms a simple corridor zone into a destination. It encourages people to engage with their surroundings and take photographs, inspiring others to explore the area too. One of our first public realm projects in the region, the scheme is a fitting example of the power of light to shape the visual identity of a place.
More recently, projects such as Chedi Hegra and Al Ain Museum have challenged us to think critically about the role of light in settings where context and sensitivity are important. This awareness feeds into our design work on dark-sky, biodiversity and heritage protection, and underpins the team’s approach to city-wide lighting masterplans and public realm schemes. We want to keep demonstrating how artificial light can create vibrancy after dark while respecting a place’s cultural or environmental significance.
Working in a region where anything feels possible, it is natural to be drawn to aspirational schemes that test you as a designer. But smaller schemes can be just as creatively rewarding. Each one offers up a new challenge and an opportunity to learn.
This sense of variety is what makes working in Dubai so appealing, and it is reflected in the culture we have built within the studio. Our fun, energetic, informed and diverse team is always open to exploring new ideas, and this gives us a strong foundation for the next decade as we continue to take bigger and bolder steps.
