Conde Nast Traveller Middle East Talks with OBMI Dubai Managing Director Tareq El Zayat

OBMI’s Dubai Managing Director Tareq El Zayat is Carving a New and Exciting Path for Architecture in the Region

Original Article Posted by Conde Nast 

MEET THE LEADER OF THE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO BEHIND THE MIDDLE EAST’S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND STORIED PROPERTIES

Most luxury travellers will have been to an OBMI property, perhaps without even knowing it. The architecture firm, known for its passion for heritage and storied properties, has helped design some of the world’s most iconic and luxurious properties, with names like Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Capella, Rosewood and Royal Mansour under its belt.

The company started a world away from the Middle East, on the soft sands of the British territory of Bermuda. Here, founder Wil Onions established the distinctive Bermudian architecture style of stepped, limestone roofs that would become the backbone for OBMI’s iconic design style. Decades later and the company is carving a bold new chapter in the Middle East, with the opening of a OBMI Dubai studio and dozens of high-profile projects on the horizon, including palace renovations and designing projects within UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Leading the company’s expansion into the Middle East and UAE is Tareq El Zayat, managing director of OBMI’s regional studio in Dubai. At the forefront of the new team, El Zayat is drawing on his experience from myriad high-profile projects in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. With OBMI’s passion for preserving heritage in its designs, and demand for sustainable projects at an all-time high, how is El Zayat leading the company into the future?

A living representation of Morocco’s traditions and craftsmanship, the Royal Mansour Marrakech Hotel designed by OBM International is celebrated as the quintessential luxury resort in the region.

Tell us about OBMI, what makes its design so unique?

At OBMI we believe that design excellence stands the test of time – it’s why our work continues to be part of architectural legacy and heritage internationally. We approach world and project-specific challenges with agility, resilience, vast experience, and an innovative mindset, to consistently deliver the extraordinary. Whenever we have a new project, we always start with uncovering the story of the place; by digging deep into the local environment and understanding what the heritage of that place is, and dissecting a destination’s culture, geography and community. That sets the backdrop for the design as we craft a storyline. We’re very focused on developing projects which are truly authentic and not only give back to the community but also sustain and foster the riches the communities have to offer. Our projects are heavily driven by the traditional craftsmanship and skills of local artisans. Some of the projects we’re working on are inspired by centuries-old vernaculars – and it’s key to us that we don’t simply attempt to design these in a contemporary style, but rather look to how we can capture the original, authentic heritage design and elevate it to a level of quintessential luxury.

How important is sustainability to you?

Sustainability is very important – it’s a key founding philosophy of OBMI. When we talk about the importance of preserving history and heritage, we’re also talking about creating designs for the present and the future. Consistently educating and rooting ourselves in innovation, we design with a sense of responsibility by respecting nature and the existing culture to preserve and elevate the natural wonder of each location. Designing projects that intervene as little as possible in their surrounding environment is key to us. One of my favourite quotes is, “We don’t inherit this world, we are borrowing it from our children and future generations”. We always design with the well-being of the places of our projects and their communities in mind, honouring fragile ecosystems and cultural sensitivity while bolstering local economies through sustainable development strategies.

Perched into the unusual British Virgin Islands landscape within Oil Nut Bay development’s rocky southeast bluff, The Cliffs Villas were designed by OBMI as the pinnacle of luxury and sustainability.

You’ve been with OBMI for two years, what has shaped you and how have you got to where you are?

My educational background is in both the built environment and in law, both passions of mine. While architecture is artistic by nature, there’s also a very commercial side to it – and with this background I’ve had the fortune of serving as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the lifecycle of their projects, from ideation to construction. I have worked around the Middle East, with a long span of my career spent in Saudi Arabia, a country that is very dear to me. Saudi at the time had just started going through a pivotal change, as the population looked to progress into the next stages and chapter of the country’s rich, colourful history. I witnessed first-hand how construction and architecture were some of the biggest drives for those changes, and with the furtherment of its culture, came the elevation of the built environment. Architecture and construction are a catalyst for these changes, and OBMI has, for over eight decades, been an imagineer of change through bespoke design and destination creation.

Tell us about your passion for architecture in the Middle East

There’s such a rich heritage in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, so bringing architecture back to the heritage of these countries is what I find most interesting. The biggest mistake we could make in the region would be to attempt to disconnect that past from the present and future. The Middle East is going through a pivotal moment in its design history and a big part of this has been about making sure its history isn’t left behind. For example, if you look at Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah and Al Ula, the archaeological heritage of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE and many more across the region with history that dates back thousands of years, all of these places are now having their stories retold and reimagined through architectural design. The movement of combining heritage with luxury is transforming the architectural landscape in the region, and it’s something we at OBMI are proud to have been pioneers of across the globe for 85 years.

What are you doing well in your role, describe the culture at OBMI?

We’ve built a spectacular team of designers and innovators here [in Dubai] that collaborate across our global studios of international experts, in less than a year. Culture is in OBMI’s DNA. Not only in our projects, but also in our work process. A culture of creativity and values, driven by design excellence, has been the key to OBMI’s success over the decades; promoting and preserving this culture has been at the very forefront of my attention. Collaboration has been the key to our success – as a team we understand that we rise together and fall together, and everyone steps into the studio every morning making a conscious effort to support and learn from one another. Architecture is very different from other industries… the design process is a very personal one, and our work is the product of heart-driven, emotional creativity.  When you give your team the opportunity to channel their personal beliefs and natural artistry in what they do, you get results that are remarkably authentic, much like the projects our clients entrust us with.

How will the Dubai office and OBMI grow in the next two years?

As we expand our presence in the Middle East, we’re delving deeper into the intricate array of local heritage and culture, and we’re excited to be sharing our expertise in applying varying architectural vernaculars across more and more projects. Initiating conversations and exploring concepts that will elevate the region’s unique offerings, OBMI will set the pace for revolutionary design and imaginative storytelling. In the next few years, we’ll look to continue planting our roots as trusted advisors to clients, as we help define and shape the future of luxury hospitality and architecture in new and emerging destinations transforming visions into realities and welcoming a new world of possibilities in the region.

 

Constantly seeking a new standard of sustainability and luxury for delicate ecosystems, OBMI designs elegant solutions to complex systems and address the various economic, environmental, societal and cultural challenges of the 21^st century and beyond.

Describe your leadership style?

I’m very focused on the human aspect of leading and it has been really important to me that I create not only a collectivistic work culture, but also an environment that nurtures and advances our designer’s artistic talent and discipline. As a design studio, our practice is about people – in my opinion, facilitating open communication is the best way to bring out the best in our team. We’re not an egocentric firm and this transcends through every layer of OBMI. In the same way, OBMI’s work has been part of an architectural legacy; it’s important to me that every individual leaves their own legacy within the company. I’m a strong believer in working towards our greater vision of continued design excellence, and I put a lot of emphasis on reminding our team of our vision, putting it into daily practice, and challenging one another to reach our goals.

What gets you up in the morning?

Navigating this adventure with our team is definitely something to wake up for every morning. As designers of luxury hospitality, we have the pleasure of creating storied places in some of the most exclusive destinations, whether jet-set cities or remote, untouched environments. You never know what to expect as we use our innovative curiosity to carefully craft and redefine hospitality that transforms our clients’ visions into realities. Our clients have come to expect architectural masterpieces of us and creating a workplace where our team can grow and flourish while designing these masterpieces is certainly a driver for me.

https://www.cntravellerme.com/