Driven by design excellence Shaun Killa is an awardwinning architect with international experience spanning over 29 years. Shaun focusses his design philosophy on innovative low carbon sustainable buildings and challenges architectural norms to create expressive and timeless forms, which has led him to design numerous highly recognisable projects including Almas Tower, Dubai Opera House, and Bahrain World Trade Centre – The world’s first large-scale integration of wind turbines on a building.

In his early career, he has won multiple global awards including ENR News Maker Award, New York, the Global Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction for the Lighthouse Tower, and the CTBUH Best Tall Building in the Middle East Award for Bahrain World Trade Centre.

ZAMANI ISLANDS – © Atoll Estates 2024

Killa Design was established in Dubai in 2015, and Shaun has worked on signature projects, including the award-winning designs for the Museum of the Future, the Address Beach Resort, W Hotel Namaste, Vida Dubai Marina & Yacht Club, Marsa Al Arab, Sheybarah Island, Zamani Islands in the Maldives, Leyja Wellness Hotel in KSA and the Office of the Future, the first occupied printed building in the world. 

In 2017, 2021 and 2022, Shaun Killa was ranked number 1 as ‘Most Powerful Middle East Architect’ inclusive of winning ‘Architectural Firm of the Year, 2023’ in the Middle East, by Construction Week for the 4th year running, and ‘Best Young Firm’, at the Architizer A+Awards, 2023. Killa Design also recently joined the world’s leading architectural practices, securing the 90th position in Building Design’s coveted WA100, 2024. He continues to work closely with the partners at Killa Design on numerous projects to ensure the highest design quality as well as providing innovative and sustainable ideas.

SHEBARA – © Killa Design 2024

Killa Design has achieved remarkable accomplishments as it enters its 10th year in operation, leaving a significant impact on the architectural landscape of the Middle East and the wider region, marked by constant commitment to sustainability and innovative design.

Shebara, which is due to open in the summer of 2024, and is the first resort to be owned and operated by Red Sea Global is located on ZAMANI ISLANDS – © Atoll Estates 2024 . SHAUN KILLA DESIGN DIRECTOR & FOUNDER Killa Design Powerlist 2024 Influential ARCHITECTS 05 BROUGHT TO YOU BY design-middleeast.com Sheybarah Island, Saudi Arabia. This 73-key, LEED-Platinum resort offers an off-grid zero energy, water, waste educational experience and aims to be a “next generation” eco-tourist destination providing an unrivalled eco guest experience in an environmentally sensitive and innovative design and in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 of creating a more sustainable future.

Shebara is a wonderful example of what is possible when creating beautiful yet meaningful design. It demonstrates how innovative architecture can gracefully flow into nature, with stainless steel pods that reflect and refract light from the sun, the sky and the sea to naturally blend with the environment. From the eco-materials chosen to the lunar positioning of the villas, our priority has been to honor the natural beauty that exists here, while creating a resort that embodies modern luxury,” explains Shaun.

LEYJA WELLNESS HOTEL – © Neom 2024

Neom also recently unveiled Leyja, a new tourism destination in Northwest Saudi Arabia. With a core focus on preserving nature, 95% of Leyja’s land is planned to be kept untouched, aiming to integrate eco-friendly construction techniques that blend with the landscape. Leyja’s wellness hotel designed by Killa Design serves as a sanctuary focused on wellbeing, aiming to support longevity. It will comprise of two opposing volumes with reflective façades that mirror the surrounding landscape and the mountains within the wadi. This design also enables the wadi’s natural flow to intersect the hotel’s core, creating a distinctive visitor experience. 

 Zamani Islands will be the first 100% renewable energy-powered resort in the Maldives. Spanning across 8 islands in an expansive lagoon and promises a hospitality experience that seamlessly intertwines luxury with an emphasis on environmental wellbeing. Three luxury resorts and the first super yacht Marina housing 120 berths.

We take pride in our role in creating a future benchmark for ecotourism with Zamani Islands. We believe it will inspire more sustainable resort developments not only in the Maldives but also globally. By setting a new standard for environmentally conscious hospitality, we hope to educate guests and encourage them to make more environmentally conscious choices not just in their vacation destinations, but in their lives overall,” says Shaun. 

Killa Design’s successful projects include the Museum of the Future, Address Beach Resort, Office of the Future, Vida Marina, and Yacht Club, among others.

On the other hand, some intriguing projects are still in construction, like the Marsa Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, the Sheybarah Resort in Red Sea Development, Saudi Arabia, the Zamani Islands in the Maldives, Jumeirah Living in Business Bay, Select Group, and others

Killa Design promotes zero-energy and water resort hotels, as well as staff engagement initiatives like triathlons and sailing lessons. Killa Design is known for creating distinctive projects, and some of its future projects include the Iceland Resort and Residences, three mixed-use luxury residential towers in Dubai, and the Science Museum in Abu Dhabi.