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The Markup #5
In Focus — The Markup’s Latest Highlights
Alan George
May 31, 2025
🎙️🎙️ Hello and welcome back, aFormers! 🎙️🎙️
May had no intention of slowing down — and neither did the design world. As INDEX 2025 lit up Dubai with material innovation and future-forward interiors, the city’s creative pulse kept racing.
In Venice, the Architecture Biennale explored the minds of machines and the meaning of design with “Intelligens.” At the same time, Riyadh’s inaugural Downtown Design brought fresh energy to the region, a confident statement from a scene on the rise.
From regional energy to global conversations, this month reminded us why design is more than form — it’s momentum. Let’s dive in.
 Delving into the future of urban design at a global scale with Emily Mottolese, Managing Principal and Global Practice Leader at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) |  Exploring leadership, culture, and the evolving role of architects in shaping Dubai’s built environment with Noelle Halabi, Associate Director at EDGE Architects. |
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// Disneyland Abu Dhabi brings the magic to Yas Island by 2032!
// A.R.M. Holding and BIG unite to reimagine Dubai’s urban future.
// From racetrack to green dream — Jebel Ali is going lush and walkable
// Power, pride, and pavilions — architecture as identity on the Expo world stage.
// Peeling back the layers — is AI architecture more show than substance?
If this newsletter adds value to you, please share it with like-minded designers.
#StayInspired