Name, Job title, Company name
Maha Albwardy, Co-Founder and Executive Director at MOMA International and Monica Merhebi, Co-Founder and Creative Director at MOMA International
1. What specific design details or parts of the design process will ensure the interiors feel immersive and culturally relevant?
To create interiors that feel truly immersive and culturally resonant, the process begins with abstraction rather than imitation. The landscape is not applied as a visual motif but distilled into materiality and spatial expression.
Curved transitions and softened edges draw from the fluidity of the location’s natural forms, allowing spaces to unfold with a sense of ease and continuity. Gradient surfaces and reflective finishes are introduced to capture the subtle interplay of light across the horizon and sea, creating moments that shift throughout the day. The palette remains intentionally present, anchored in sand, bronze, and warm neutrals, grounding the interiors in their geographic and cultural context.
Layered into this foundation are carefully curated furniture pieces and artworks influenced by local craftsmanship. Each element offers a contemporary interpretation of the Gulf’s identity, ensuring the design feels both rooted and forward looking, without ever becoming literal.
This vision is further strengthened through close collaboration with the developer, ELEVATE. Its Founder & Chairman, Zeeshaan Shah, has taken a notably hands-on approach throughout the design process, from material selection to design reviews. This level of engagement brings a shared clarity and ambition to the project, ensuring that every decision aligns with a broader commitment to quality and long-term value.
2. In what way might the beachfront environment dictate materials used, lighting and more?
The beachfront environment brings with it a distinct set of conditions that shape every design decision, where beauty must exist in balance with endurance. Materiality is approached with a quiet resilience, favoring finishes that not only withstand the intensity of coastal exposure but also evolve gracefully over time. Treated wood, porcelain, and PVD coated metals are selected for their ability to retain their integrity while developing a subtle patina that reflects the passage of time and climate.
Light, too, is carefully orchestrated in response to its surroundings. Rather than competing with the brilliance of the exterior, the interior lighting is softened and diffused, creating a gentle counterpoint to the strong natural daylight. This interplay allows the spaces to feel calm and composed, offering a sense of retreat while remaining deeply connected to the rhythm and luminosity of the sea.
3. What elements of the hospitality experience might infuse the design, in what way will this make the residences more distinctive?
The language of hospitality is thoughtfully woven into this residential experience, shaping spaces that are as intuitive as they are elevated. Each moment is considered through the lens of the guest experience; arrival, transition, and pause, creating a journey rather than a sequence of experiences or rooms.
Lift lobbies are conceived as points of arrival, where materiality and atmosphere set the tone from the very first step. Corridors are no longer transitional in the conventional sense, but curated passages defined by subtle shifts in light, texture, and form. This layering of experience creates a seamless sense of continuity, allowing spaces to unfold with intention and rhythm.
It is through this careful choreography that the residences gain their distinctiveness. Drawing from the sensibility of hospitality, the design transforms everyday movement into something more immersive, where each transition feels purposeful and every space contributes to a cohesive and refined living experience.
