The idea of home is changing, today’s buyers are shaping spaces that reflect identity, culture and lifestyle, pushing residential design in bold new directions.

Art in the Middle caught up with Ben Bandari, Founder and CEO of BenCo and Executive Producer of Million Dollar Listing UAE, and Rami Wahood, Executive Partner at fäm Properties, about what this means for the future of living.

Luxury homes in Dubai are expressions of identity. How much storytelling goes into their design?

Ben Bandari: At the ultra-luxury level in Dubai, design starts with identity, not floor plans. Every home reflects who the owner is, where they’ve been and how they want their life to feel. Clients are deeply involved in narrative-led design, from cultural references and travel influences to legacy pieces and personal rituals. Architecture becomes autobiographical; nothing is accidental, everything is intentional.

What makes the design of Dubai’s luxury homes distinctive today?

Rami Wahood: Dubai’s ultra-luxury residences are defined by intentional contrast and contextual elegance, balancing global design language with local meaning.

Interiors are often planned with museum-like sequencing, grand arrival spaces, layered volumes and visual axes that draw the eye like curated installations. Rare stones, artisanal metals, and globally sourced finishes serve as narrative elements, with each surface reflecting craftsmanship and provenance.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing, expansive terraces, private water features and uninterrupted desert or skyline views create an immersive continuity that few cities can replicate. Subtle references to Arabic geometry, desert-inspired light play, and courtyard-style spatial planning give these homes a sense of rootedness, even within the most contemporary designs.

Dubai homes are increasingly treated like private galleries. How important is art-led architecture today?

Ben Bandari: Art-led architecture is now central to prime residential design. Many homes are planned as galleries first and living spaces second. Ceiling heights, circulation, natural light and sightlines are designed around major pieces. Collectors expect museum-grade lighting and proportions. Art isn’t an accessory anymore; it guides the entire architectural language of the space.

Rami Wahood: It’s what makes the city’s progression fascinating. Architecture isn’t limited to function or commercial aims anymore. Buildings have taken on sculptural and expressive qualities. They’re cultural symbols as much as structures.

Dubai is also comfortable blurring categories. You see nature-inspired forms, façades that interact with light and bold sculptural shapes that read like public art. Many branded residences embed brand DNA directly into the concept, whether automotive, fashion, or lifestyle. It wouldn’t be surprising to see artists like Murakami or Koons influence building design in the near future.

Are buyers designing around artworks rather than furniture?

Ben Bandari: Absolutely. Art dictates the architecture, not the other way around. Furniture can move, art is irreplaceable. Clients often position key pieces first, then build out walls, lighting and circulation to honour them. It shows how mature the market has become. Buyers aren’t just choosing homes, they’re curating legacies.

In ultra-luxury homes, what gives a property its true value?

Rami Wahood: Value goes beyond measurement or price. It’s created through emotional impact. The spaces should evoke calm, inspiration and personal connection from the moment you enter. Bespoke architectural DNA, rather than replicated luxury, gives a property its distinct identity. Custom structural gestures, commissioned art, and signature elements make a home truly irreplaceable.

Private wellness zones, art galleries, curated gardens and thoughtful environments tuned to residents’ habits transform homes into personal ecosystems. Homes that respond to their surroundings, climate, light and cultural context retain value because they go beyond fleeting trends.

The properties that appreciate not only financially but also culturally are those that tell a story about the owner, the architect and the moment in which they were created. People may forget the technical details, but they always remember how a space made them feel.