The Middle East’s leading fair for high-quality and contemporary design, Downtown Design 2024, saw an array of events, showcases, and more. One highlight was OBEGI Home’s exclusive showcase, an expansive five-area concept that reflects the brand’s commitment to crafting harmonious spaces.
As one of the pioneers of the luxury interiors industry in the UAE, OBEGI Home has continuously expanded its brand portfolio to include a myriad of global brands that enable its designers to create diverse interior concepts for their clients. This year’s Downtown Design showcase demonstrates this strength, as it features a hand-picked collection of pieces from across OBEGI’s portfolio brands including Antoniolupi, Bomma, Emmemobili, Gabriel Scott, Poliform, and Paolo Castelli.
More so, key brand highlights of the exhibit include Italian powerhouse Porada, which will feature in the bedroom area of the installation. Known for its craftsmanship with solid wood since 1968, each Porada piece combines traditional techniques with contemporary design offering versatility and elegance.
South African design brand OKHA will also feature prominently in this year’s Downtown Design installation. As one of OBEGI’s newest brands, OKHA’s organic designs, led by creative director Adam Court, adds a new layer of dimension to the portfolio.
The outdoor area of OBEGI Home’s Downtown Design presentation is designed with pieces from the Belgian brand Tribύ, established in 1967. The furniture is crafted to withstand the elements while maintaining a sophisticated appeal, making it perfect for the UAE’s outdoor spaces. Tribύ is synonymous with luxurious outdoor living and creates a philosophy centered on bringing comfort and elegance of the indoor, outdoors.
Attendees of Downtown Design will also be able to immerse themselves in the complete OBEGI Home experience at the showroom on Jumeirah Beach Road. In addition to this, visitors can explore a new and exclusive Flexform area and view an emotive photo exhibit from world-renowned Italian photographer Paolo Roversi, which will be on display at the adjacent Poliform showroom.
We learned from Karine Obegi, CEO of OBEGI Home, that after 20 years of success in the UAE, the brand is expanding to Saudi Arabia with plans to open multiple showrooms in Riyadh in 2025. She mentioned how she loves staying ahead of the latest trends in interior design, saying “Collaboration is the key to success in the industry.”
Obegi stated, “After nearly two decades of focus on fine furniture and luxury systems, our team has developed deep relationships with brands and industry leaders from Europe and around the world. These relationships enable us to have dynamic insights into the latest design thinking from every corner of the globe so that we can be the first to bring those trends first to the UAE.”
Furthermore, she described her 2024 showcase as a “mindfully hand-picked collection of pieces from across OBEGI’s portfolio brands, including Antoniolupi, Bomma, Emmemobili, Gabriel Scott, Poliform, and Paolo Castelli.”
Given the large pool of competition in the UAE market, Obegi noted how OBEGI “surpasses the offerings of other players in the market.”
“Since launching in the UAE, our goal has always been to create a destination for residential luxury. We carefully source brands from around the world, with a focus on Europe, to satisfy the taste of discerning clientele in the UAE,” she stated. Not only this but she remarked that their selection of over 50 brands allows their designers to curate and create work that manifests even their clients’ unspoken aspirations.
