Q: Tell us about this Dubai realty office project. What was the brief?
Pria Rajput (PR):
The client is a forward-thinking real estate firm wanting more than a typical “brokerage shell.” Their vision: a space that feels both authoritative and human, where clients, tenants, and staff all feel welcomed, grounded, and inspired. They wanted brand alignment at every touchpoint, from the moment you step into the lobby to negotiating leases in private offices.

We worked to ensure that every surface, circulation path, and visual signature supported the firm’s positioning: “Where Vision Meets Value.”

Q: As a designer working often in wellness and hospitality, how did you bring those sensibilities into a commercial office?
PR: I see all interior work, whether a spa, a restaurant, or an office, as part of a wellness continuum. People spend long hours in commercial settings; their physical environment affects their mood, focus, and even performance.

In this project:

• I emphasized natural light balance, soft acoustics, and material warmth to counter the sterile, cold tropes often seen in offices.
• The lobby and client reception utilize textural, grounding materials, such as stone and wood, along with layered lighting, to establish a tone of calm confidence.
• Private offices and meeting rooms are zoned so transitions feel intentional; you move from bold, branded statements to quieter, contemplative zones.

I also carved out informal meeting “nooks” and soft lounge edges, even in a real estate office, because real work often emerges from less formal moments.

Q: How did Dubai’s commercial real estate context influence your decisions?
PR: Dubai’s luxury and ambition set a high bar. Clients expect finishes, spatial hierarchy, and brand presence to convey a premium image. But that is a double-edged sword: it can push design into extravagance if not held in balance.

So, contextually:

We stayed intentional with material palettes, using durable, high-performance finishes (for wear) but in refined, sophisticated tones.

The project aligns with Black Label’s advisory offering, integrating design and strategy for real estate assets to enhance the perceived value of interiors. (This is part of our growing real estate advisory design fold in Dubai)

Circulation, sightlines, and branding cues were aligned to how real estate in Dubai is experienced: bold facades, prominent arrival axes, and transparency where it matters.

Q: What were some of the design challenges you encountered — and how did you solve them?
PR: One major challenge was blending brand boldness with human scale. In commercial real estate offices, clients want impact, grand entrances, material statements, but staff need comfort. The solution was layering: bold focal walls, but balanced by secondary zones with quieter textures and soft edges.

Another was integrating technology invisibly, smart lighting, AV, and tenant signage, without letting hardware dominate. We embedded systems behind walls, used clean trims, and designed for serviceability so future upgrades are feasible.

Finally, the balance between circulation and privacy: we had to design high-traffic paths, client interaction areas, and private negotiation spaces. We leveraged threshold elements, such as glass partitions, light gradients, and semi-transparency, to create a sense of connection without exposure.

Q: What does success look like for a commercial office project like this?
PR:  Success is multi-domain:

• For the owner and brand: this office should elevate credibility, become a differentiator in leasing conversations, and add asset value.
• For people, including staff, clients, and tenants, success is measured by how they navigate the space and how they feel while using it. That they feel both impressed and at ease.
• In performance: longer dwell time in client zones, better user adoption of amenities (e.g., meeting hubs, communal zones), stronger perception in the market.

I see this office not just as a workspace, but as a brand ambassador in physical form,  a tool in converting leads, reinforcing identity, and anchoring relationships.

Q: What did this particular project teach you — both as a designer and as someone working globally from Canada?
PR: A few key lessons: 

• Narrative must breathe — even in the most corporate settings, your story should emerge in light, shadow, and material sequences. The more subtle the narrative, the greater its endurance.
• Flexibility is non-negotiable — markets shift, tenants change. Designing for adaptability from day one is essential.
• Global voice, local translation — coming from Canada, I carry certain sensibilities (layers, tactility, restraint) but in Dubai you must translate them to a different light, climate, expectation scale. That tension is where fresh work happens.
• Design + strategy must be inseparable — this project reaffirmed how my practice should always hold both aesthetic and business lenses.