AAO Appoints Premier Luxury Designer Karen Barmaki to the 2026 International Jury for AADA & AHA
The Asia Awards Organization (AAO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Barmaki—premier luxury interior designer, art‑furniture designer, and trained engineer, founder of Studio Karen B—to the International Jury Panel for the 2026 cycles of both AADA (Asia Architecture & Design Awards) and AHA (Asia Hospitality Awards).
Her appointment strengthens AAO’s commitment to rigorous, cross‑disciplinary evaluation—where place‑led ideas, human‑centred experience, and evidence of craft and performance are held to an uncompromising standard.
A Career Shaped by International Excellence
Born in Beirut to a family of architects and designers and a French national, Ms. Barmaki refined her practice in the most demanding luxury markets—Paris, Monaco, the Middle East, and the United States—working alongside leading architecture studios early in her career. This foundation forged her signature duality: the technical precision of an engineer seamlessly blended with the artistic sensibility of a designer.
Specialising in bespoke luxury residential work and collectible pieces, she is known for navigating diverse cultural contexts while maintaining a consistent level of refinement—perspectives that translate directly to pan‑Asian judging.
A Philosophy of Subdued Luxury
Ms. Barmaki’s work is an eloquent study in balance—a contemporary reading of the Decorative Arts where the past and present are placed in quiet dialogue. Her aesthetic is recognised for subdued luxury, architectural clarity, and enduring materiality. She preserves the architectural soul of a space while infusing it with modern rhythm and function. In 2024, she introduced her own collection of collectible design and art furniture, further articulating this vision.
What She Brings to AAO’s Dual Panels
For AADA (Architecture & Design): a sharp eye for context‑driven originality, build quality, and craft that ages well—with respect for structural and historical integrity.
For AHA (Hospitality): an emphasis on composed calm—light that reveals without glare, acoustics that protect conversation, material honesty guests want to touch—and the operational discipline that makes these experiences repeatable.
Her cross‑cultural fluency and hands‑on making experience will enrich shortlisting, case reviews, and final deliberations across both programmes.
Key Highlights
- Core Disciplines: Luxury Residential Interior Design, Art Furniture Design, Engineering
- Signature Style: Subdued Luxury blended with Architectural Integrity
- Recent Milestone: Self‑titled collection of collectible design and art furniture (2024)
About AAO’s Jury Process
AAO convenes an independent jury of international experts who review entries through multi‑stage evaluation—blind reading, shortlist discussion, and final adjudication—with criteria tailored to each programme. Ms. Barmaki joins the panel for the 2026 judging cycle.
Enter the 2026 Awards
Teams whose work embodies clarity of place, excellence of craft, and hospitality that guests can feel are invited to submit:
- AHA 2026 — Asia Hospitality Awards (Registration): https://ahawards.co/registration
- AADA 2026 — Asia Architecture & Design Awards (Registration): https://aadawards.com/registration
