Karim Nader Studio

What Karim Nader Studio does

Karim Nader Studio is an international architecture practice founded in 2016 by Karim Nader, headquartered in Beirut with offices in Paris and Dubai. It offers full-service architecture, interior design, and heritage restoration across residential, hospitality, cultural, commercial, and institutional typologies, along with scenography, design objects, and prefabricated housing experiments. The studio operates on a bespoke project-based professional services model, with pricing quoted per project and revenue derived from design fees for landmark commissions, heritage transformations, and competition-winning projects.

The practice's competitive positioning is built on a distinctive design philosophy articulated in the 'Manifesto on Ruins' — four pillars (Building upon Nature, Reprise(s), In the Labyrinth, For a Novel Architecture) that emphasize contextual, sensorial, and labyrinthine spatial experiences. Founder Karim Nader (AUB 1999, Rice M.Arch 2003) has 25+ years of practice and teaches at AUB, LAU, and Politecnico di Milano. The studio has delivered 100+ projects across more than a dozen countries, with notable works including the Villa Kali beach house (2,000m²), the Badalodge 20,000sqm eco-resort in Mali, and the ongoing Immeuble de l'Union heritage reprise of a 1952 modernist masterpiece.

Distribution is direct and reputation-driven: client acquisition flows through the studio's AD100 recognition (2023, 2024, 2025), international press portfolio, invited competitions, and a three-office regional presence. Adjacent revenue streams include design objects (notably the OVERSKIN modular sofa), exhibitions (Vision from Beirut; A Journey of Light with Atelier Trente Trois), and publications (the Le Geste d'Or winning monograph 'For a Novel Architecture'). The firm is privately held with no disclosed outside investment.

Name

Karim Nader Studio

Legal name

Karim Nader Studio

Website

https://karimnader.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Karim Nader Studio is an international architecture practice offering full-service design, heritage restoration, and design objects across residential, hospitality, cultural, and institutional projects, serving luxury clients and institutions in Beirut, Dubai, and Paris.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Industrial Design Services (541420)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Luxury residential design
• Heritage renovation
• Interior architecture
• Cultural institution design

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture and interior design services for residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural, and institutional projects. Includes design from landscape to doorknob, interior design, and furniture selection.
2. Heritage Restoration and Renovation: Specialized renovation projects treating existing structures through 'reprise' rather than restoration. Includes landmark projects like Immeuble de l'Union (1952 masterpiece).
3. Design Objects and Installations: Bespoke design objects, installations, and scenography projects including The House of Small, The Nocturne Majlis, and Vision from Beirut exhibition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Karim Nader Studio is an international architecture practice delivering full-service architectural and interior design for luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural, and institutional projects. Services span concept to construction documentation, including landscape integration, interior design, furniture design, and heritage transformation through a proprietary 'reprise' methodology. The studio also produces bespoke design objects, scenography and installations, and prefabricated housing solutions.

Product overview

Karim Nader Studio is an international architecture practice offering a comprehensive suite of design services centered on architecture and interior design. The core offering spans residential (houses, apartments), commercial, cultural, institutional, hospitality, mixed-use, and industrial project categories. Specialized services include heritage transformations (treating existing buildings through 'reprise'), prefabricated housing solutions developed with partners Dalal Steel and Megaprefab, and bespoke design objects. The studio also produces publications documenting its architectural philosophy, such as the cine-novel 'For a Novel Architecture.' Scenography and installation work, including photography exhibitions and light installations, represents an extension of the studio's spatial design expertise into cultural programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Design Services Full-service architecture design spanning concept development, site analysis, landscape integration, and construction documentation for residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and hospitality projects.
• Interior Design Interior architecture and design services including furniture design, material selection, and spatial configuration for residential and commercial interiors.
• Heritage Transformations

Quantifiable outcome

• AD100 recognition for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dalal SteelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on prefabricated low-cost and ecological housing experiments. Partner for Gazebo Houses project using affordable prefabrication and ecological strategies.
• MegaprefabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on prefabricated architectural solutions for affordable housing projects.
• Atelier Trente TroiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'A Journey of Light' exhibition at Immeuble de l'Union for WeDesign Beirut 2025. Light and art installation curated and designed together.
• BlankpagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member collaboration from 2008 to 2016. Joint practice working on multiple projects before Karim Nader founded independent studio.
• Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for relief efforts rebuilding Beirut - commissioned repair of 10 schools in West Beirut.
• Julien LanoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotographer collaboration for 'Vision from Beirut' project - analogue black and white photography exhibition of Beirut, first installment of traveling exhibition.
• WeDesign BeirutcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibition partner for Vision from Beirut (2024) and A Journey of Light (2025) events. WeDesign Beirut is a major Lebanese design initiative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• John Pawson: London-based architect and designer with a globally recognized minimalist, contextual approach spanning residential, cultural, and retail commissions. Comparable in luxury positioning, cross-typology scope, and authorial design philosophy.
• Annabelle Selldorf: New York-based architecture practice known for cultural institutions, galleries, and luxury residential commissions with a refined, contextual design language. Comparable in cultural-institution focus, luxury residential work, and boutique-firm positioning.
• Studio Mumbai: India-based architecture and urban design practice working on cultural, residential, and public projects with a craft- and material-led, philosophically grounded approach. Comparable in boutique scale, philosophy-driven design, and international competition participation.
• Peter Marino Architect: New York-based architecture firm specializing in luxury retail, residential, and hospitality interiors for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Comparable in luxury positioning, AD100 presence, and integrated architecture/interior/furniture design service model.
• Bernard Khoury / DW5: Beirut-based architect operating internationally with a contextual, intellectually rigorous approach to cultural, hospitality, and residential projects. Comparable in Beirut base, international project reach, and design-philosophy-led practice.
• Caruso St John: London/Zurich-based practice known for cultural, heritage, and high-end residential projects with a refined material palette. Comparable in cultural and heritage transformation focus, boutique scale, and AD100-equivalent reputation.
• Vincent Van Duysen Architects: Belgian boutique architecture and interior design practice known for luxury residential, cultural, and hospitality projects with a strong material and contextual sensibility. Directly comparable in scale, typology emphasis, and AD100-style positioning.
• SAOTA: Cape Town-based architecture firm known for luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial projects across Africa, Middle East, and Europe. Comparable in luxury residential focus, international reach, and multi-office structure.
• Studio KO: Paris-based architecture and interior design studio founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, working on luxury residences, hotels, and cultural projects across multiple geographies. Closely comparable in scale, philosophy-led design, and tri-continental project reach.

Broad incumbents

• David Chipperfield Architects: London-based established practice with deep specialization in cultural and heritage/museum projects. Comparable in heritage transformation ('reprise') work and cultural institution commissions, though operating at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blankpage-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Karim Nader Studio