The Markup #6

Fresh Off the Press

Alan George
July 01, 2025

🎙️🎙️ Hello aFormers - old and new! 🎙️🎙️

Welcome to your monthly dose of all things design and innovation from the GCC and beyond! We're here to add value to your day, spotlight bold ideas and help elevate the design ecosystem. No scroll fatigue here — just hot design news, delivered straight to your mailbox.

And what a month it’s been.

June has been anything but quiet — and neither has the weather. As Dubai sizzles under a relentless summer sun, the design world brings its own heat. Fresh ideas, bold legacies, and sharp takes on where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

On the home front, Dubai’s tallest metro station by SOM breaks ground — a bold fusion of innovation and sustainability. Meanwhile, MAHE Dubai marks a major milestone as a newly RIBA-accredited Part 1 School, joining the region’s growing network of RIBA-recognised institutions!

Copenhagen stole the spotlight with 3daysofdesign, turning the city into a vibrant playground of ideas. From sensory spaces to sustainable futures, it was clear: the Nordic capital still knows how to lead with heart and clarity.

And finally, the design world bids farewell to Leon Krier, the visionary behind Poundbury, whose legacy continues to spark dialogue on how and why we build.

Here’s what stood out — and what’s worth keeping an eye on.

Exploring leadership, culture, and the evolving role of architects in shaping Dubai’s built environment with Noelle Halabi, Associate Director at EDGE Architects.

A conversation on leadership, innovative surfaces, and shaping the built environment with Eddy Abou Khalil, Regional Director of Middle East and India at Cosentino.

Dateform

Dateform is the world’s first solid surface material made from repurposed date seeds, crafted in the UAE by ARDH Collective. This innovative bio-composite transforms agricultural waste into design-ready surfaces that are ideal for interiors, furniture, and product design, Dateform® champions circular design and local innovation — all while reducing environmental impact.

Click here to find out more!

// All eyes on Riyadh — Expo 2030’s debut outlines ambition at a world-class scale.

// Built to breathe — Abu Dhabi’s rammed-earth mosque sets a net-zero benchmark.

// Surreal meets system — AI‑driven stone courtyard echoes Gaudí’s curves.

// From pits and dunes — Ardh Collective paves the future of UAE design and construction.

// Dubai’s tallest metro station begins — a fusion of innovative design and eco-consciousness.

A Spotify exclusive!

Need an office playlist? Or do you need to plug-in and disconnect from the studio? We got you! We have put together hours of a an eclectic mix of down-tempo, ethereal & dance music tracks designed in keep you in a state-of-flo! Crafted for those deep design dives & studio vibes!

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#StayInspired