Yabu Pushelberg operates as a global design studio with a portfolio that spans hospitality, residential, and product sectors. The firm carries out projects across diverse cultural contexts, including New York, Beijing, Hakone, Bali, and Sanya. The creative team balances work on residential towers with public spaces and curated product collections.
New Projects and Collaborations
The studio has a busy schedule for the coming year. They are set to open 255 East 77th Street Residences in New York. Other hospitality projects include the Ritz-Carlton Beijing and Hotel The Mitsui Hakone. In Bali, KARV at A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Jimbaran Bay is opening, along with Regent Sanya in Haitang Bay. Beyond buildings, the firm continues to explore the relationship between objects and architecture through partnerships with Louis Poulsen, Poliform, MULI, and Teyo.
The firm leaders discussed their creative process during a recent interview. Glenn Pushelberg noted that inspiration frequently comes from unexpected objects, such as fruit or fixtures. One designer looked at an alarm clock and considered how the form might transform into a bathtub. George Yabu added that finding inspiration where one is not supposed to look often leads to originality. Moving from generic trends toward tactile, memory-based details adds a layer of psychological comfort to these spaces. It suggests the architecture serves as a subtle companion to daily life rather than a temporary stage for display.
To work with international brands, the firm prioritizes the people involved. They seek partners with a unique point of view and a willingness to explore the unknown. The creative director stated that a different perspective helps a project reach a destination neither partner would have found alone. They also look for partners who value building a lasting relationship over a single transaction.
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Designing for hospitality has evolved significantly. The studio looks less at trends and more at how people actually live. A hotel must accommodate people who might want to work in a garden or find quiet time in a lobby. The boundaries between work and rest are much looser now. The designers recently completed their first lounge for Riyadh Air at King Khalid International Airport. They have since spent a significant amount of time thinking about what travelers actually need in these environments.
Timeless Design Principles
Pushelberg notes that designing for a trend gives an object an expiration date. The studio begins by asking what the space needs to solve. They ask how it should function. They ask how it should feel. They ask what the right materials are for the way it will be used. These questions give the work a purpose beyond its appearance. Relevance comes from understanding people. Longevity comes from making thoughtful decisions about how something is made and how it will age over time.
Yabu states that timelessness is not a specific style. A designer can create something very quiet or quite expressive. Both types can last if there is depth to the work. Materiality and craftsmanship play a large part in this success. The team works closely with artisans. They understand what a material can do. They know where to push its boundaries and when to leave it alone. The goal is something that becomes more interesting as people live with it. One cannot declare a design timeless when it is finished. People tell you it is timeless by continuing to use and appreciate it.
Future Projects and Creativity
Yabu hopes to design a tented safari resort or lodge in Africa. There is interest in creating comfort while keeping people connected to what is around them. The team wonders how much one really needs to add to achieve this. Another wish is to design a museum or gallery. Solving the problem of when to give a space character and when to step back is an exciting challenge for the designers.
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Pushelberg observes that hospitality is reacting to how people live. The sector is expanding to trains, yachts, private airplanes, and other forms of travel. Following the completion of their lounge for Riyadh Air at King Khalid International Airport, the designers realized the opportunity to shape the entire journey. They have spent years thinking about what people need in these environments.
Yabu says the team stays creative by staying curious. They ask questions constantly. An ordinary thing can surprise a person if it is viewed differently. One must leave room for that surprise. It involves not always looking for a particular answer to a problem.
Pushelberg describes this mindset as an attitude rather than a ritual. A person must be willing to ask questions and change their mind. George and Glenn do not always see things the same way. This difference keeps the conversation interesting. One of them notices something. The other takes that thought somewhere else. This exchange keeps the creative process moving forward.
