Aidan Imanova

1 week ago | admiddleeast.com | Aidan Imanova

With its richly layered (and sometimes intentionally mismatched) green interior, this joyful home in Baku signals a welcome return to maximalism where our homes are once again expressive reflections of all that we love. Arzu Gasimova enjoys her evenings at home – specifically in her dressing room, with its flower-lined jade-green jacuzzi, its three-metre palm-shaped lamps, and a fantastical mural of herons adorning the walls.

1 week ago | admiddleeast.com | Aidan Imanova |Felix Speller

It is a thirty minute-or-so drive from the centre of Cairo to the family home of the Egyptian designer Tarek Shamma; the city’s electric energy – the cacophony of life pouring through its traffic-filled streets – is now behind us. The distance is enough to disconnect. Here the roads are darker, and after several days in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, a pleasing quiet begins to settle in. It is one of the things Shamma loves most about the location of the house.

1 week ago | admiddleeast.com | Pratyush Sarup |Aidan Imanova

Headed to Morocco for a little culture fix? We've lined up 5 of the most beautiful riads in Marrakech for you. From iconic hotels that have only grown grander with time, to minimalist retreats, the kind you'd just not expect in Morocco, and those that celebrate local craft like never before – these riads are the perfect spot to take a break when you've had a little too much of the city's bustling souks.

3 weeks ago | admiddleeast.com | Aidan Imanova

In 2023, Egyptian designer Tarek Shamma crafted a palatial double-masted riverboat (felucca-esque, but grander) that celebrated the diverse eras of Egypt’s history. Although newly constructed, its timeless qualities prompted questions about its history. Which is exactly what the designer intended. His globally admired projects for the shoe designer Christian Louboutin include a monumental folly in Portugal, which is of a similar nature.

4 weeks ago | admiddleeast.com | Aidan Imanova

Designers for the second edition of the AlUla Design Residency have been revealed. Launched in early 2024 – alongside the opening of the ancient Saudi town's first dedicated space for contemporary creativity, Design Space AlUla – the debut residency programme brought together five designers from across the globe to tackle globally resonant issues through the lens of AlUla’s public realm.