Annabel Karim Kassar

What Annabel Karim Kassar does

Annabel Karim Kassar (operating as AKK Architects) is a private architecture and design practice founded in 1994 in Lebanon by the eponymous French-Lebanese architect, Annabel Karim Kassar, a DPLG graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The firm delivers integrated architectural, interior, furniture, and lighting design services, working across commercial, hospitality, cultural, residential, and industrial project types. Its core product spans full-service architectural commissions (from urban masterplans such as the 120,000 m² Beirut Souks reconstruction to private residences and corporate interiors), bespoke furniture collections (Moucharabieh Table, Diamond Table, York Sofa, Marrakesh seating, paravents), and custom architectural lighting produced through its sister company CAI Light (Le Diamant Jalila, Splashing Drop, Stocking Light, Deflex). Notable technical differentiators include LED-illuminated kinetic facades (5,000 polycarbonate modules at the Souks Entertainment Center) and kinetic ceiling systems.

The firm operates from offices in Beirut, Milan, Dubai (via Annaka fzco), and London, serving clients across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. Revenue derives from project-based professional services fees on architectural commissions, hardware sales through CAI Light and bespoke furniture, and exhibition-driven product sales at Salone del Mobile, ICFF, and similar design events. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-client enterprise sales: developers, hotel chains (notably Rixos Hotels), restaurateurs (notably Mourad Mazouz / Momo group), government entities (Ajman, Solidere), and ultra-high-net-worth private individuals. The firm's go-to-market relies on Annabel Karim Kassar's personal reputation, international press coverage (Architectural Digest, Monocle, Financial Times, Wallpaper*, Dezeen, ArchDaily), and a steady cadence of award-winning installations at premier cultural institutions (V&A Museum, London Design Biennale, Salone del Mobile). An industrial partnership with Italian manufacturer Moroso for the Salon Nana Collection (2021) added a scalable product line with broader distribution reach.

Customer concentration is moderate, anchored by repeat engagements with Rixos Hotels and the Almaz by Momo restaurant group alongside diversified one-off commissions from developers, governments, and private clients across 10+ countries. The firm has 11–50 employees and no disclosed external funding or ownership changes, remaining entirely founder-owned. Key forward signals include entry into the U.S. market (Ella Funt, NYC, 2023; ICFF 2024), continued European and Asian project flow, and a sustained rhythm of installations and exhibitions that double as brand-building and product channels.

Name

Annabel Karim Kassar

Legal name

Annabel Karim Kassar

Website

https://annabelkassar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Annabel Karim Kassar (AKK Architects) is a Lebanon-founded architecture and design firm offering integrated architecture, interior, furniture, and lighting design for commercial developers, hotel chains, governments, and high-net-worth private clients across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351), Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (337127)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590), Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM), Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Furniture design
• Lighting design
• Commercial architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural commissions for commercial, cultural, hospitality, and residential projects. Revenue is project-based, earned through design fees, project management, and construction oversight. Projects range from large urban masterplans (Beirut Souks, 120,000 m²) to private residences.
2. Interior Design Services: Interior design for offices, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and private residences. Includes bespoke furniture specification and custom-designed pieces integrated into projects.
3. Lighting Design (CAI Light): CAI Light, a sister company, designs and supplies bespoke lighting fixtures for AKK projects and potentially for external clients. Products include Le Diamant Jalila, Splashing Drop, Stocking Light, Trophée, and others.
4. Furniture and Lighting Product Sales: Bespoke furniture and lighting pieces sold through pop-up exhibitions (e.g., Le Salon d'Annabel at Milan Design Week, ICFF). Products include Desk Draw, Diamond Table, Moucharabieh Table, York Sofa, and CAI Light fixtures.
5. Installation Art and Exhibitions: Large-scale architectural installations at international venues (V&A Museum, Somerset House, Salone del Mobile). Some may be commissioned; others serve as brand-building showcases for the firm's design capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AKK Architects is a boutique architecture and design practice delivering full-service architectural commissions, interior design, bespoke furniture, and integrated lighting design for commercial, cultural, hospitality, and residential projects across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Through its sister company CAI Light (est. 2002), the firm also designs and produces bespoke architectural lighting fixtures, and via the Salon Nana collection with Moroso it offers industrially produced furniture. Projects range from large urban masterplans (e.g., Beirut Souks, 120,000 m²) to private residences and brand-building installations at venues such as the V&A Museum and Salone del Mobile.

Product overview

Annabel Karim Kassar operates as an architecture and design practice offering a unified portfolio of services including architecture, interior design, furniture design, and lighting design through its sister company CAI Light. The product suite encompasses three main categories: bespoke furniture pieces (Desk Draw, Mezzer Tray, Marrakesh seating, Diamond Table, Moucharabieh Table, York Sofa, decorative screens Artemisia/Albertine/Theia), CAI Light lighting fixtures (Le Diamant Jalila, Stocking Light, Splashing Drop, Deflex, Trophee, Kbox Light), and textile products (Bespoke Rugs). Beyond product offerings, the firm provides architectural services for commercial, residential, hospitality, and cultural projects. Recent installations including Travelling (2024), The Lebanese House (2022), and Cabinet de Curiosites (2023) represent artistic expressions that complement the commercial design practice. The furniture collection Salon Nana, designed in collaboration with Moroso, launched in Milan in September 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AKK Architects Services Full-service architectural practice providing architecture, interior design, furniture design, and lighting design for commercial, industrial, hospitality, cultural, and residential projects for both public and private sector clients. Founded 1994 in Lebanon with offices in Milan, Beirut, and Dubai.
• CAI Light Sister lighting design company that designs and produces bespoke architectural lighting fixtures integrated into AKK projects, including LED polycarbonate modules that transform facades into luminous animated screens. Product range includes Le Diamant Jalila, Splashing Drop, Stocking Light, Trophée, KBox Light, Fractale, Cristal, Deflex, Fly, Laura, O.V.N.I., and Viseur.
• Bespoke Furniture Collection Bespoke furniture pieces designed by AKK and offered as standalone products through exhibitions. Includes Desk Draw, Mezzer Tray, Marrakesh seating, Diamond Table, Floating Market Table, Full Stop Table, Moucharabieh Table, Not a Harem, Tennis Table, York Sofa, and decorative folding screens (paravents) Artemisia, Albertine, and Theia.
• Bespoke Rug Collection
• Salon Nana Collection Furniture collection designed by Annabel Karim Kassar and industrially produced in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Moroso, combining traditional craft with contemporary design.

Quantifiable outcome

• German Design Awards 2016 — Communication Design (Architecture) for Camera Chiara Pavilion
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MorosocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Annabel Karim Kassar began collaborating with Moroso, the Italian pioneer of unique and functional furniture, in 2020 to design a furniture collection called Salon Nana, launched in Milan in September 2021. This partnership with one of Italy's most prestigious furniture manufacturers gives AKK access to industrial production capabilities and global distribution through Moroso's network.
• CAI Light (Christophe Hascoet and Isabelle Rolland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002In spring 1998, Annabel Karim Kassar joined lighting designer Christophe Hascoet and architect Isabelle Rolland to develop lighting concepts for traditional Lebanese houses. The trio formalized their collaboration in 2002 as CAI Light, which produces bespoke architectural lighting fixtures integrated into AKK projects. CAI Light operates as a sister company with shared leadership.
• Mourad Mazouz (Momo Restaurants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKK Architects has an established working relationship with restaurateur Mourad Mazouz, founder of Momo Restaurants (404 and Derriere in Paris, Momo and Sketch in London). Mazouz and AKK collaborated on Momo at the Souks in Beirut (2011) and have worked together on multiple Almaz by Momo locations across the UAE.
• Laura Blakeman (Press)minorOthersPress contact and media representative for AKK Architects based in the UK.
• Francesca Wadham (Press)minorOthersPress contact and media representative for AKK Architects based in the UK.
• Rabih Zeidan (Press)minorOthersPress contact for AKK Architects in the Middle East, based in Dubai.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zaha Hadid Architects: London-headquartered, founder-branded architecture practice (Iraqi-British origin) delivering landmark cultural, hospitality, and commercial projects globally. Directly comparable to AKK in being a signature, design-led firm competing for trophy commissions with a strong personal-founder identity.
• Peter Marino Architect: New York-based architecture firm specializing in luxury retail, hospitality, and residential interiors. Comparable for high-end hospitality and bespoke interior design serving premium brands and developers.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design and architecture studio known for sculptural public buildings, installations, and objects. Comparable in scale, founder-led identity, and portfolio mix of cultural installations alongside commercial commissions.
• Studio mk27: São Paulo-based design-led architecture practice working across residential, hospitality, and cultural projects. Comparable as a boutique, founder-led firm with a strong product/furniture extension brand.
• Kelly Wearstler: Los Angeles-based interior design and lifestyle brand with hospitality, residential, and product/furniture lines. Comparable to AKK's integrated architecture + interior + bespoke furniture + lighting model with strong personal brand identity.
• Champalimaud Design: New York-based interior design firm focused on luxury hotels, restaurants, and residences. Closely comparable to AKK on hospitality interior design commissions and bespoke furniture specification.
• SAOTA: Cape Town-based architecture studio known for high-end residential, hospitality, and commercial projects internationally. Comparable in scale, design-led identity, and reliance on founder-led authorship.
• Yabu Pushelberg: Toronto- and New York-based interior design firm focused on luxury hospitality, restaurants, and residential work. Closely comparable to AKK's interior design practice for hotel chains and high-end restaurants.

Emerging players

• Boutique Design / Moroso peers (e.g., Patricia Urquiola): Spanish architect-designer working across architecture, interiors, and product/lighting design with established manufacturers. Comparable to AKK's CAI Light + Moroso model of integrating bespoke product IP with industrial manufacturing partners.

Regional players

• Ajman-based Jaberi Architects (and other Gulf boutique firms): UAE-rooted boutique architecture firm with regional hospitality and cultural projects. Comparable as a regional player in the same Gulf/MENA market for hospitality and cultural commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AKKarchitects
• Facebookfacebook.com/AKKannabelkarimkassar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akk-annabel-karim-kassar
• Instagraminstagram.com/akk_architects
• Pinterestpinterest.com/akk_architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Annabel Karim Kassar