The Forum

Interior architect and designer Tristan Auer was part of the 2026 Forum line-up, where he discussed reimagining icons, balancing heritage with modern living, and the lasting value of craftsmanship.
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Tristan Auer

In conversation with Sara Hamdan, T. Magazine

AI can generate a vision in seconds, but buildings still take years to deliver. The conversation looked at how technology was influencing creativity, communication and decision-making in architecture, and where the human element remained important in shaping the future of design.

Speakers: Yahya Kaddoura (Atkins Realis), Alina Valcarce(Valcarce Architects), Hamza Farooq (AECOM)

Moderator: Maya Cochrane (RIBA)

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Interior designer Katharine Pooley joined The Forum for an ‘in conversation with’ session, discussing how the way people live, work and unwind was shaping the modern home, and the details that made a space feel personal.

Katharine Pooley

In conversation with Khemena Ahmed, The Kurator

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In high-end design, materials played an important role in defining value. The panel looked at the balance between craftsmanship and mass production, as well as beauty, durability and sustainability, and how these considerations were influencing material choices in luxury developments.

Speakers: Ralf Steinhauer (RSP), Pooja Shah Mulani (LW Design), Mohammad Adib (Dewan Architects), Ellen Søhoel (XBD Collective)

Moderator: Agata Kurzela (Agata Kurzela Studio)

From intelligent homes to the quiet premium, the panel uncovered how the idea of “Luxury Living” was evolving. It looked at the role of discreet technology, adaptable architecture and neighbourhoods designed around nature, and how these elements could shape the way people lived in future developments.

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Speakers: Laura Hammett, Karine Obegi (Obegi Home), Jonathan Ashmore (ANArchitect), Mauricio Clavero Kozlowski (Mauricio Clavero)

Moderator: Paolo Bleve, IFDM

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As Dubai continues to grow, the panel looked at how design could help create a stronger sense of belonging. Set around Al Dakkah, the traditional Emirati bench, the discussion considered how everyday spaces and street-level details shaped neighbourhood life, and how small design decisions could influence the way a city came together.

Speakers: Omar al Gurg (MODU Method),  Saad Boujane (Gensler), Mohammed Orfali (Orfali Bros)

Moderator: Nadia Verjee (Fitted, An Expo City Dubai Subsidiary)

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As global cities start to look the same, what makes one place feel unlike any other? The discussion for this panel focused on what gave each place its own identity. Specialists shared their views on how regional context, materials and culture could shape distinctive cities that met global standards without relying on surface-level references or existing templates.

Speakers: Tom Crute (DHRE), Fatma Al Khayat (ARKAT), Samer Charara (Woods Bagot)

Moderator: Inzamam Rashid, Monocle

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Before a city is built, it is written. The panel looked at how planning, accessibility, biodiversity and commerce influenced the way people experienced cities, from the use of dynamic lighting and native landscapes to emerging forms of transport such as drones.

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Speakers: Carlos Barea Sandoval (IRTH Group), YaLun Li (Dunes Workshop, AUD), Adela Askandar (Studio Bikin Architects), Yann Follain (WY-TO).

Moderator:  Lisa Teo (AIA ME Board)

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Designing Retail as Hospitality: The panel brought together specialists in luxury retail, spatial design and hospitality to discuss how retail spaces were taking inspiration from hospitality, with a focus on creating environments where people could spend time.

Speakers:  Sarah Bilgrami (Yoca), Frederick Trzcinski (Lutron), Alia Centofanti (Kristina Zanic)

Moderator:  Allegra Salvadori Loni, Marie Claire Maison

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What does 'Made in Italy' mean to a market that knows exactly what it wants? Italian and regional design experts discussed how Italian manufacturing adapts to Gulf projects, from bespoke residences to hospitality, without losing what makes it distinctive.

Speakers: Valerio Soldani (Italian Trade Agency), Marco Mangili (MMA Projects and Dynamic Design), Luca Mazza (HMA Living), Jaime Terrades (H&H)

Moderator: Camille Dubuis-Welsch, Commercial Interior Design

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Should buildings be made to last, or designed to be taken apart? The panel brought together architects, designers and manufacturers to discuss how the industry was addressing waste and carbon through longer-lasting buildings and circular approaches such as disassembly, reuse and material recovery.

Speakers: Vladimir Jovanovic (AECOM), Lia Ronez (Woods Bagot), Hala Nahas (Dabbagh Architects)

Moderator: Philip Dudley (AtkinsRéalis)

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Every memorable showcase started with an idea. The panel discussed the importance of a clear concept, how creative ideas were developed and maintained from brief to build, and what it took to bring a vision from the first sketch to the finished work.

Speakers: Carlo Magistretti (Sobha Furniture), Seema Al Mansouri (Eva Interiors), Milica Didic (Ele Interior), Rim Guirari (Mustard & Linen)

Moderator: Aneesha Rai

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What made Dubai instantly recognisable? From record-breaking skyscrapers, malls and destination hotels to food trends and entrepreneurship, the panel explored how creative firms shaped the city’s blueprint and its design identity, and what lay ahead for the city of the future.

Speakers:  Emily Mottolese (SOM), Sameer Grover (Rove Hotels), Todd Pilgreen (Gensler), Christian Vasquez (National Engineering Bureau)

Moderator: Li Ren, AIA ME Board and 2025 President

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How could heritage be brought into contemporary living? The panel discussed how designers drew on traditional influences across objects and architecture, finding ways to connect the past with the present while creating work suited to modern spaces.

Speakers:  Achraf Mzily (BONE Studio), Sumaya Dabbagh (Dabbagh Architects), Alzaina Lootah (Architect & Designer, UAE Designer Exhibition 2026), Marco Maximus (KEANE)

Moderator: Aneesha Rai

The region’s creative community was developing new ways of expressing local identity. Designers and makers working in the UAE shared how their use of local materials, resources and influences was shaping new work and contributing to the country’s design scene.

Speakers:  Xeina Malki (Slo Ceramics) , Helen Voce (Tanween by Tashkeel), Salma Aboubida (OKSAN Group), Ahmed Bayashout (Studio A)

Moderator: Yashna Balwanth, editor of Identity

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Who would lead the future of the built environment? The panel brought together perspectives on how women are shaping leadership, practice and design culture in the region, while considering the need for greater representation and new approaches to leadership.

Speakers: Loukia Voultsaki, (AECOM), Maryam Al-Irhayim (AECOM), Maya Cochrane (RIBA Gulf Chapter Chair)

Moderator: Matthew Utley (NOWMA Studio)

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