Dubai-based interior design studio TwentyOne06 has cemented its status as one of the region’s leading forces in hospitality and F&B design, taking home four key recognitions at the Commercial Interior Design Hospitality Awards 2025 — including Winner for Best Use of Materials and Highly Commended Hospitality Design Firm of the Year.
Held at The Ritz-Carlton, JBR in Dubai, the Commercial Interior Design Hospitality Awards spotlight the most influential and innovative interior design projects in the Middle East. With a judging panel made up of global industry leaders and experts, the awards are considered one of the most prestigious events in the regional design calendar.
TwentyOne06 was among the most awarded studios of the night, celebrating wins across multiple categories that reflect its bold, experience-led approach to hospitality interiors.
Award Highlights:
Winner - Best Use of Materials in a Project
Flaky Pastry, The Galleria Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi
This 159 sq m croissanterie is the brand’s first venture outside Dubai and serves as a showcase of how food, form, and space can intersect to create a cohesive, multisensory experience. Known for its design-led hospitality work, TwentyOne06 has taken Flaky Pastry’s artisanal ethos and translated it into spatial gestures that reflect the very process of croissant-making.
Highly Commended – Best Bar/Lounge Design
Observatory Lounge, Dubai Marriot Harbor Hotel & Suites, Dubai Marina
Observatory Lounge embraces an organic, flowing aesthetic, creating a connection between space and story. Guests are welcomed by textured neutral walls, washed in warm, inviting hues. Two striking wall etchings, detailed maps of Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, anchor the space in its surroundings, a tribute to the city’s evolving landscape. Overhead, a deep-toned cove ceiling, punctuated by soft spotlights, subtly guides the gaze outward, drawing guests into the breath-taking panoramic views. The neutral palette is intentional, serving as a quiet backdrop that allows the ever-changing cityscape to take center stage.
Highly Commended – Hospitality Design Firm of the Year
TwentyOne06, Dubai
In a region teeming with visionary talent, TwentyOne06 stands apart—not simply as an interior design studio, but as a hospitality experience-maker. Since its founding in 2018 by Creative Director Govind Shepley, TwentyOne06 has grown from a humble apartment-based operation to one of the UAE’s most dynamic and rebellious design studios, with a fast-growing global footprint and a portfolio of award-winning F&B and hospitality concepts.
Highly Commended – Best Restaurant Design: Casual
Flaky Pastry, The Galleria Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi
As the UAE’s first dedicated croissanterie, Flaky Pastry represents a growing market of food-first lifestyle concepts. Its expansion into Abu Dhabi reflects consumer demand and a maturing design brief, as interiors are expected to offer brand storytelling, operational functionality, and immersive guest experience. For TwentyOne06, the project represents a wider shift in the regional F&B scene. “This project exemplifies our commitment to designing for a new wave of culinary entrepreneurs,” says Sabiha Yusuf. “People who understand the value of space as more than a backdrop—it’s a vehicle for memory and meaning.”
