HASAN AND HUSAIN ROOMI

Brothers Hasan and Husain Roomi, the managing partners of boutique practice H2R Design, are conscious of creating projects that are future-facing by adopting a sustainable approach to their projects, not only through their choice of materiality but also in the ways they tackle the ageing of spaces. With a focus on the hospitality, F&B and retail sectors, the brothers have carved a niche for themselves within the regional and international design scene, with offices in Dubai and London. “As tactical as it may seem to have two brothers follow a similar trajectory and work within the same field, we actually took an organic approach to the growth of our careers, as well as our business,” they explain. “A passion to create and innovate drove us to open our own studio in 2012 – something we found essential, being young and full of ideas to push the envelope… While we have grown in both size and capability, we have stuck to our guiding belief that organic growth is better than forced growth – from both a creative and a reputation perspective. Having a young, dynamic team that can tackle whatever project piques our interest is at the heart of who we are and how we operate.” Context is at the core of H2R’s designs, and the duo has completed some of Dubai’s most visited cafés and dining concepts, as well as being at the helm of projects such as the renovation of the iconic Al Alamein Hotel in Egypt and the luxury retail space HOB in Abu Dhabi that honours the local influences of the region. “At our core, we have always believed that context is the key anchor to any design of a space or brand. We have not deviated from this since the very beginning; however, what has evolved is the region’s environment and appetite for innovation, which happens to work beautifully with our ethos, in our opinion,” the brothers say. “Moving toward [the future], we look forward to more hotels, more public spaces and more retail [projects]. These projects spark excitement for us as they have the potential to impact the region on a larger scale.”