Living Spirit x Qatar Creates : Designing Doha’s Next Creative Chapter
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Gen de Art
--- An interview with Creative Director Ayleen Saade
In Doha, where luxury interiors have long been defined by classical grandeur, a new wave of contemporary art, global design languages, and new cultural institutions are beginning to reshape the way private and public spaces are imagined. At the centre of this evolution is Living Spirit, one of Qatar’s leading interior design and luxury furnishing firms, now collaborating with Qatar Creates during Art Basel in a union that signals more than aesthetics: it reflects a growing cultural confidence in the Gulf.
Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur and business leader John Saade, Living Spirit emerged at a time when Doha was in the process of development . “My father came to the country for the first time and it was a period before the city was transformed into the global hub it is today,” says Ayleen Saade, the company’s Creative Director. “Where others saw uncertainty, he saw opportunity and safety, which led him to establish his company here.”
The company in Doha grew through trust, reputation, and word of mouth. Relationships were the real currency, and success was built project by project within a close-knit community. “Back then, there was no social media, no digital campaigns — businesses moved at a different pace,” she recalls.
Today, Living Spirit is a full-service interior design and furnishing firm specializing in bespoke turnkey projects. Curating and delivering complete environments, managing every stage from concept design and 3D visualization to detailed development, custom manufacturing, procurement, and final installation. The team oversees the entire journey, from initial vision and material selection to project management, fit-out, furnishing, styling, and handover. Ensuring each project is delivered flawlessly, and executed to the highest standard of craftsmanship and sophistication.
@Living Spirit Qatar
Much of Living Spirit’s portfolio remains intentionally private. The firm is entrusted with elite residences and palace-scale projects for distinguished clients, where discretion is paramount. In the Gulf region, privacy is deeply valued, particularly when it comes to private estates. As Ayleen explains, many clients prefer to keep their residences out of the public eye — a respect for confidentiality that naturally limits what can be showcased, but underscores the level of trust the company has earned.
The collaboration with Qatar Creates during Art Basel is rooted in Living Spirit’s newest venture: The Design Hub was created as a dynamic space that brings global materials and creative dialogue to the heart of Doha. It serves as a curated destination where stone, fabrics, finishes, and bespoke materials are sourced internationally and presented under one roof, offering clients and designers access to a world of refined materials. The design hub was the result of the collective efforts and full support of the entire Living Spirit team.
Beyond its material library, the hub functions as a cultural and creative platform. Envisioned as a gathering space for designers, architects, and art enthusiasts, it hosts masterclasses, industry discussions, and collaborative exchanges — fostering inspiration, education, and a stronger design community within the region.
When Qatar Creates encountered the space, the collaboration quickly followed for the period of Art Basel. “They loved our space. They were amazed by our concept,” she says. The Design Hub is now being used for high-level gatherings and private meetings, aligning Living Spirit, Qatar Creates and Qatar’s cultural ecosystem under a shared vision.
Designed with a modern sensibility—curves, white surfaces, and an organic spatial language—the hub reflects a quieter form of luxury: minimal, open, and future-facing. For Ayleen, it also represents a generational change in taste. “Today, Doha’s local community is increasingly embracing modern design and global influences” she says, pointing to a growing openness toward contemporary art and design.
Educated in luxury branding in Switzerland, Ayleen returned to Doha to continue her father’s legacy—but with international ambition. “Our vision is to expand internationally, while remaining deeply rooted in Qatar. This country has given us opportunity, growth, and a platform to build our identity — and our focus now is to give back by contributing to its creative and cultural landscape.” She says.
In many ways, Living Spirit’s collaboration with Qatar Creates captures Doha’s current moment: a city balancing tradition and modernity, culture and visibility, heritage and experimentation. As art becomes increasingly central to the Gulf’s cultural identity, the spaces that host it—designed, curated, and constructed—may prove just as influential.
