About Killa Design - Innovative Architects

Ethos

As a firm, Killa Design is dedicated to creating innovative buildings that are timeless, environmentally sustainable, and contextually inspired.

We specialise in mixed-use, high rise, hospitality, office, and residential projects. We also have significant experience in retail, theatre, museum, urban design, and master planning projects.

With value led building solutions, cutting edge and creative thinking, we strive to build strong relationships with our clients by going beyond the brief to help transform their project vision into viable, liveable spaces.

Our people are passionate about responsible design and the impact it has on the lives we touch every day.

As a firm we aim to:

Create environmentally sustainable buildings
Challenge the norm
Find inspiration in the given context
Create innovative yet timeless designs
Create spaces that enhance the quality of life

Mission

In the 10 years since we were first established, Killa Design has been able to secure, design and construct a significant number of projects that have made a tangible difference to the architectural and construction landscape of the Middle East and wider region.

Projects such as the Museum of the Future, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Shebara, Office of the Future, The Vida Marina and The Address Beach Resort have pushed the boundaries of design and sought out new and innovative ways of approaching age-old architectural problems. Our core creative mission is to approach design from first principles, to not be hampered by the way that things have been done in the past but rather to approach each project as a new and unique set of challenges that require innovative and unique design solutions. We are honoured to be trusted by our client’s to positively shape the form of our buildings and our cities. We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to wield the material and human labour made available to us with the greatest possible respect for the environmental, social, and cultural context.

As a firm, we encourage our clients to explore and undertake project designs that re-define design and construction methodologies; that are challenging but rewarding for the delivery team and that ultimately deliver the highest quality of the built environment for the end-user.

Our firm is defined by our holistic approach that encourages our clients, our consultants, our collaborators, and ourselves to work outside our normal comfort zone to reach a higher standard of building design.

While many firms are driven by commercial interests, our primary goal is to support projects that call for unique and innovative solutions, that offer new possibilities for design and that resonate with our core values. These core values are to support sustainability, contextual sensitivity, and timeless design. We believe that commercial success will result from holding true to what we value in architecture and that our firm will be recognised for its commitment to these higher goals by being given the opportunity to develop new projects in the future.

We have achieved the design and construction of projects that meet these core principles while maintaining an office environment that is open, diverse, collaborative, and highly creative. Our team is made up of a dynamic group of individuals that seek out innovative ways of generating architectural design solutions; a new generation of designers who make use of the latest computational tools and techniques to help inform the design process and yet still have a respect for elemental principles behind good quality design.

Culture

We aim to encourage a working environment that promotes a relaxed, comfortable, and creative working space. We have invited a series of chefs in the office to prepare daily meals for the staff. We have found this is a great way to get people to connect and discuss creative ideas.

We have also hosted regular in-studio yoga and meditation sessions at the start of the day and ‘The Den’ complete with electric guitar and amplifier provides a practice space for musical expression. We also have foosball within the office and have championship leagues as well as an in house Sonos system for evening music.

We organise a monthly Town Hall meeting where we bring everyone, from all departments, operating at all levels, together. Here we go through everything from birthdays to weddings to babies. We go through our current and new projects, so the entire company knows what is going on. We usually have each project team present with their work to the rest of the company and this also gives the younger Architects/designers an opportunity to share their experiences and take advice from the more senior members. We have worked to create an open environment where everybody can speak and be heard without feeling pressured or scared, they may say the wrong thing. These are followed up by regular drinks nights hosted by the office.

People love working in our office because its like a university. Everyone is constantly learning and pushing themselves and collaborating to better one another. We believe this is truly unique and you don’t necessarily find this in many other offices. Killa Design has grown to become more than just a place of work to our staff members. It is a place where people can achieve great things, invest in themselves and be rewarded for it. This has contributed to a phenomenal team that is strong and able and this sort of functionality gives us the freedom to focus on our core business practice and what we do best. It has allowed us to serve our clients to the best of our ability, achieving their satisfaction, and not stopping until we have done so.

As a firm we encourage the team to test new boundaries and operate outside of the comfort zone. We take part in regular Sailing, Cycling, Kitesurfing and Hiking trips to stimulate team dynamics within the office.

Family

We encourage everyone, and especially younger architects to take initiative and responsibility.

We value a diverse array of opinions and drive everyone to add ideas, regardless of their position. We believe that by mutually supporting each other, avoiding hierarchy, and allowing all team members to have a voice, we are able to harness the combined creative energy of the studio to generate unique pieces of architectural design, which are timeless, sustainable, and create a better future.

Killa Leaders

Driven by design excellence Shaun Killa is an award-winning architect with international experience spanning over 29 years. Shaun focuses 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 won multiple global awards including ENR News Maker Award, New York, the Global Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction for the Lighthouse Tower, and CTBUH Best Tall Building in the Middle East Award for Bahrain World Trade Centre.

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, Shebara Resort, Jumeriah Marsa Al Arab, the Address Beach Resort, W hotel Namaste, Vida Dubai Marina & Yacht Club, Aykon Twin Towers, 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, in Building Design’s coveted WA100, 2024 & 2025.
Throughout the design process Shaun spends significant time mentoring and uplifting the diverse younger generation of Architects in the studio, where the flat structure of ‘design lead’ dialogue is highly encouraged within the studio and design team.

Shaun is also a keynote speaker at multiple global conferences, inspiring architects, and developers to question the status quo and focus on sustainable buildings and masterplans to continue to improve the urban habitat, the people that live within them and aggressively reduce carbon emissions from the built environment.
Killa Design has over 120 architects in the studio.

Managing Director | Executive Partner – Karsten Veith

Karsten is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with more than 25 years of experience in the construction sector. He started his career in Germany, then spent 6 years in Atkins’ Engineering Technology Group in the UK as well as in the Building Division in Dubai where he first met Shaun and Allel. After leaving Atkins, Karsten established and grew an Engineering Consultancy in Abu Dhabi before he joined Killa Design in 2016.

Karsten has vast experience with a broad variety of structures, including high rise buildings, educational and leisure facilities, office buildings, as well as rail projects, bridges, stadia, and oil platforms, with projects executed in Europe, the GCC, Africa and Asia. With a strong background in engineering, construction, and management, he has been leading the team on several multidisciplinary projects as Project Director.

His career started on construction sites and progressed from working on the drawing board over various positions in the design and engineering office and has developed naturally into more managerial positions, first as Operations Manager and then Managing Director of Killa Design. Karsten sets an example of open collaboration within the team, provides clear direction and mentors the younger team members to further enhance their technical and managerial skillset. He has been instrumental in streamlining project control and delivery as well as restructuring essential internal processes.

Design Principal | Senior Partner – Sune Theil

Sune Theil has well over fifteen years of Design, Project and Construction Leadership experience. He has obtained a wide range of skills to successfully lead and execute large scale projects, from initial design brief development to construction completion. Sune possesses a comprehensive understanding of client’s requirements and he has, on many projects been able to take the project beyond the client’s expectations to both design and project feasibility.

His key experience is within the hospitality sector, where he, in the Middle East region has worked with numerous operators and clients on 4-5 Star hotel projects. Having worked as representative of both design consultant, developer and hotel operator on hospitality projects has given a holistic understanding of all aspects to successful delivery of a project to the highest standard.
His background has given him a strong and well-integrated work relationship with the interior design. Sune also has substantial knowledge in residential and commercial projects, ranging from private villas to large scale/high-rise, and mixed-use projects. As a Senior Partner, Sune is typically responsible for the overall execution of a project; from the early design work on concept and space planning, through the design development and construction documentation to handling site coordination. This process typically involves client interaction, ensured code compliancy, coordinated with all sub consultants and assisted client through tender appraisal and contractor’s appointment.

Design Principal | Partner – Pratheesh Krishnan

A Senior Architect registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Council of Architects India and Indian Institute of Architects with over 13 years of architectural experience in India & Middle East (12 years in ATKINS Middle East). He is an experienced team leader with an excellent ability to work across variety of disciplines and cultures. He specialises in hospitality and has worked in designing and planning a variety of large-scale projects. Pratheesh also has extensive experience in, residential, commercial, mixed-use developments, airports in Middle East, India, Russia and Europe.

Pratheesh’s most recent roles include: senior project architect for Bluewater’s hospitality in Dubai development including a 5 star luxury hotel (Jumeirah) , 5 star family hotel (venue), a conference centre, a beach club and 2 serviced apartments with total built-up area of 178k sqm. Ozone Boulevard in Noida (a mixed use development including a 5 star hotel (Sheraton), 3-star hotel (Aloft), a ballroom, an office building and 2 residential towers with total built-up area of 130k sqm. Kamala- Oasis Mixed-use development in Parel, Mumbai, and the One & Only, Montenegro.

Pratheesh has been involved in all stages of the projects such as preparation of design, concept design development, concept reports, detailed design drawings, working drawings and multidisciplinary co-ordination. He has always been recognised as a capable team leader and a responsible and dedicated team player.

Design Principal | Partner – David G Daniels

Since 2012, David has been based in the UAE, having previously worked and lived across the globe in such places as London, Hamburg, Tokyo as well as the East Coast of America. He has been part of and led several creative teams of architects and designers, who together have been responsible for a wide range of award-winning projects throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This rich and varied cultural experience is one of the primary informers of David’s creative design approach, along with his ingrained dedication for collaboration, innovation, and design excellence. Characteristics which he endeavors to imbued into all those he engages and collaborates with.

David and his team are currently working on a variety of projects, that span across a wide spectrum of sectors.

He takes a collaborative approach to design and believes that only through collaboration, communication and a determination, can a team solve the numerous and various complex issues that exist in order to deliver projects which are able to not only maintain but also develop the high standard of design excellence and innovation that he has delivered to date, and which he intends to continue in his role at Killa Design.

Design Principal | Partner – Will Hosikian

Design Principal & Partner of Killa Design in Dubai. With his 18 years of experience, pushing the boundaries of architecture and design, creating highly innovative landmark projects globally. From supertall towers, major mixed-use & high-rise, to cultural and civic icons. Continually looking to the future to innovate and conceptualise emergent projects, with a vast experience on the ground working and living in China, Middle East, Europe & Australia.

With a highly evolved design sensibility around emergent systems and conceptual design processes, exploring the convergence between architecture and multidisciplinary design.

Multidisciplinary interests in addition to architecture, including transport, furniture, and industrial design all forging part of an iterative design process, transcending scale, creating new tectonic, spatial and urban relationships, all underpinned by research and exploration.

From the iconic and emergent, to evolving grounded contextual design responses, and realising those into the built environment. A repertoire in future proofing major Architecture mixed-use and cultural significance projects for emergent cities and places.

Design Principal (Urban Planning) – Stephen Murray

Stephen is an accomplished architect and master planning professional with over 20 years of post-graduate experience. Originally from London, he has been based in Dubai since 2009 and has worked extensively across the region, undertaking projects in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and throughout the United Arab Emirates.

Placemaking and experiential design are at the core of Stephen’s contributions to the team. He excels in client engagement, transforming initial ideas into viable master plans and subsequently into constructible building designs that adhere to the highest local and international regulations.

Stephen’s portfolio includes a diverse range of complex projects in the residential, mixed-use, and commercial sectors. His expertise encompasses project viability, conceptual design, problem-solving, team coordination, client and leadership presentations, and managing teams and consultants.

As a leader, Stephen leads by example, encouraging his team to express themselves, innovate, and view every idea as an opportunity.