Amphora’s new Dubai headquarters blurs the boundaries between work and home and sets a new benchmark for office design
Earlier in 2024, architecture and design focused marketing consultancy Amphora opened the doors to its Dubai office in the Kia Flagship Building on Sheikh Zayed Road. Designed to feel like home, the space is the vision of Amphora’s Founder Miriam Llano, brought to life by her partner, Portuguese designer Frederico Cruz, who serves as Design Director at one of the world’s leading developers and operators of luxury hospitality properties.
Founded in 2023, Amphora has over the last year carved a niche for itself as one of the few agencies in the MENA region focused on the design and architecture industry. With a growing portfolio of brands and design houses, both regional and international, Amphora offers PR, event programming, digital marketing and strategic collaborations, facilitated by a multi-national team of marketing and design professionals.
Amphora began by operating from a shared working space in Dubai Design District (d3). To keep pace with the company’s rapid growth, Miriam felt it was time to build a proper space, “Personally and professionally I felt my team needed to be in a space they deserve, beautiful and inspiring. Equally important for me was to have an office that stands for the high calibre of our work and the clients we represent. As a consultancy that lives and breathes design, how can our space be any less? This office is a gift to my team, our partners, friends in the design community, and just about anyone who comes visiting.”
Steering away from a typical corporate set up, Amphora’s headquarters is envisioned as an extension of home. A place for collaboration, inspiration and creativity with its open plan, glass partitions and warm, earthy tones, the space is designed to feel like a “luxury residence in 80 sq. mtrs.”
Elaborating on the brief and design approach, Frederico said, “Miriam wanted her and the team to feel like they were coming home. The space also had to be dynamic and flexible to accommodate the day-to-day happenings at Amphora. The interior design reflects Miriam’s own personal style that’s all about timeless elegance. It is an intimate, calm and neutral space that immediately puts everyone at ease the minute they walk in. Classical design elements give it a sense of familiarity and makes you identify with the space. There are no eccentric accents. It is simple without being minimalistic. It is an interplay of lines, softness, texture and materials.”
Fostering collective creativity and meaningful collaborations among clients is a distinguishing value of Amphora. This takes on deeper meaning with partners and friends form the design industry coming together to build Amphora’s office from shell to complete fit-out in record time of two and a half months.
“Our partners invested their time and energy to create bespoke furniture, offer precious pieces from their collections and handle the fit-out from start to finish. This space is filled with so much goodwill that we feel the energy as soon as we open the door” explained Miriam.
Fit-out by WalkThru Contracting seamlessly integrate all the design elements with impeccable attention to detail, outstanding craftsmanship and finish. The herringbone wood flooring by Chabros, walls painted in colours from Jotun’s new Canva collection, Miriam’s desk and the team’s communal table clad in natural stone inspired Dekton by Cosentino were all carefully chosen to create an earthy, warm feeling.
The furniture is a mix and match of contemporary and classic pieces. Office chairs by Actiu, Hermes Chairs from Brazilian design house Breton, wooden console from Nakkash Gallery, bespoke round table by C’est ici Design and the meeting room table and statement lamps from Spanish brand La Nena add character to the space.
Architectural lighting from Soma Studio, Vibia’s creative and sleek lighting fixtures and finally, sound by Hidden all come together to create the perfect ambience.
As Amphora marks a significant milestone, the consultancy looks forward to further enriching the collaborative spirit within the design and architecture community and expanding its footprint “Our vision at Amphora is not only to grow the business but also the design community and continue to facilitate meaningful collaborations between our partners. We want Amphora to be a place of connection, so rich and worthy that you want to be part of it. With Dubai as HQ, Amphora will grow deeper roots within the design industry and spread geographically with satellite offices in other international design hubs. Milan and Miami are on the cards.” concluded Miriam.
Collaborators:
Build and fit-out: WalkThru Contracting
Flooring: Chabros
Communal Table, Miriam’s desk, Coffee tables, Pantry countertop and backsplash: Dekton by Cosentino
Architectural Lighting: SoMa Studio
Lighting fixtures, Plusminus pendant lighting, LED Pendant, Wall lamps, Table lamps: Vibia
Sound system: 360° Audio by Hidden Sound
Cane and wood Hermes chairs in Miriam’s office: Breton
Console: Nakkash Gallery
Meeting room table and table lamps: La Nena
Bespoke round table: C’est ici Design
Office chairs: Actiu
Paints: Canva by Jotun
