In Profile:
Keith Pillow

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense? :

AI is the question of the moment. I embrace new tools, but the romantic thinking behind good design cannot be replaced by a machine, the more we experiment with it, the clearer that becomes. I keep returning to Bauhaus, to mid-century, to the post-modernists of the late eighties, movements with enough depth and range to still feel relevant today.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future. :

Good design, to me, is iconic and memorable. It’s emotional and sensible to its audience and surroundings. It has to be functional and relevant, and wherever possible, affordable and timeless.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be? :

Start with direction, not decoration. Understand the business objective, the audience and the scope before a single material is chosen. The best light fittings and furniture in the world won’t save a project without an identity. Design should be judged through the eyes of the people who live in it, not the people who designed it.

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards? :

Recognition like this rewards more than a finished space, it rewards the years behind it. It matters to me for projects like DoubleTree by Hilton Malta and Sabi Beach & Kora precisely because we lived every stage of them, not just the final finish.

What projects are you currently working on? :

We are currently working on a diverse mix of international and local projects. Internationally, our portfolio includes two apartments in Miami, a house in Bangalore, a retail store in Taiwan, and a house in Bellagio.

Locally in Malta, we are managing a large volume of projects, primarily focusing on prominent hotels such as the NH Collection, Mövenpick, and Radisson Red.

What was your favourite project to work on and why? :

If I had to choose, Cugó Gran Macina stays with me, not for its scale, but because we lived every stage of it, from convincing investors to take on a historic restoration, through to the final handover. DoubleTree by Hilton Malta and Sabi Beach & Kora sit close behind, for the same reason, we didn’t just dress a hotel and a beach club, we shaped the whole experience of both, indoors and out.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why? :

The same one, Cugó Gran Macina. Getting it off the ground took years before a single wall was touched. But the harder the game, the sweeter the reward at the end.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing? E.g. Lighting companies, furniture companies :

For me, it’s less about one particular product or service and more about the team behind every project. Design is never a one person job. The whole DAAA Haus team plays an important role, from our architects and engineers to our project managers, who each bring their own expertise to the process. Just as important are the talented local tradespeople and craftsmen we collaborate with. Their skill and attention to detail are what ultimately transform our ideas and designs into something tangible.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months? :

Growth beyond Malta and Milan. We’re building DAAA Haus into a name that travels, taking on more international work out of our Ragusa and Mumbai studios, and bringing the same story-led approach to a wider stage.

Your most treasured possession? :

Books about architecture and design

Your favourite holiday destination? :

Mykonos

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? :

I couldn’t pick just one. A tapas counter in Madrid, an elegant room in London, a bar in Bali, a café in Paris or Milan.

Your favourite book, film & song? :

Book: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrar
Film: One Week, and Lion
Song: U2

Your favourite food and drink? :

Food: Cold Cuts and Crudi
Drink: Wine

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? :

A bottle of wine, a sunny afternoon, a café somewhere good, family and friends around the table.

If you weren’t in this sector, what would your alternative profession be? :

A chef. Without a team of designers to lead, I’d be lost in a kitchen instead, happily.

Anything else interesting? :

Passionate and energetic, he’s always on the go. When he needs to slow down and clear his head, you’ll usually find him out on a long run or taking on his next marathon.