Martin Brudnizki Studio's Enchanted Oceanic Design for Sexy Fish Dubai
Studio Martin Brudnizki's vision for Sexy Fish Dubai turns marine maximalism into a bold, immersive masterpiece.
Mar 28, 2025
If Alice tumbled down the rabbit hole and into the depths of the ocean, she'd find a world where the wonders of the deep come alive. Here, in Dubai's Sexy Fish restaurant, corals glow, mythical creatures lurk, and opulence shimmers like sunlit waves. This Japanese-inspired dining destination is designed by the London- and New York-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio as a 'marine maximalism' experience.
The adventure begins at the entrance, unfolding like a hidden cave beneath the ocean's surface. A soft aquatic glow reveals a striking teal blue octopus sculpture by the English artist Damien Hirst floating over the reception desk, its presence both mesmerising and surreal, setting the stage for a world where the extraordinary reigns. The surrounding walls sprawl with intricate shellfish and coral motifs transforming the space into an intricate underwater tableau—one that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
Walking into the main dining area, a golden central bar commands attention, crowned by a sculpted column that stretches to the ceiling. Soft, hidden lights glow through its translucent coloured glass cladding, casting an ambient radiance. The warmth of the space is enriched by deep green upholstered dining chairs, their tones echoing the mysteries of the sea.
Above, large glass koi fish drift weightlessly, their transparent forms capturing movement as if suspended mid-swim, tails curling in an unseen current. No detail is overlooked—even the golden glass table lamps resemble baby jellyfish, their delicate glow pulsating like gentle creatures adrift in an endless ocean.
Lighting in the space is more than just illumination—it's an orchestrated experience that breathes life into every corner. Designed by London lighting studio 18Fifty, it subtly guides the eye without overwhelming, flowing through the bar, gliding over the precious stone marble flooring, and exuding a sense of understated elegance within this carnival of oceanic excess.
No detail was spared—not even the bathroom. Draped in coral pink marble and onyx, you might think that's the pinnacle of luxury. But at its center, a shellfish-inspired fountain cradles the sinks, like a whimsical scene from 'The Little Mermaid'—if Ariel decorated her cave with trinkets from Barbie's world. Glass wall sconces shaped like shells cast a soft glow, while vibrant coral reef wallpaper wraps the space in underwater fantasy. And just when you think the journey is winding down, the ceiling blooms with cascading pink flowers, keeping the spectacle alive.
Photography Credit: Martin Brudnizki Studio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
3 days ago
- CairoScene
Meet Mo Islam: The Podcaster Helping Rewrite Saudi's Story
Somewhere between the quiet hum of production gear and the clink of ceramic coffee cups, Mo Islam leans back in his chair, eyes focused but posture relaxed—the kind of composure you only earn after 160 episodes, a thousand follow-ups, and five years of never missing a beat. We're in the softly lit studio of The Mo Show. Nestled in the heart of Riyadh's evolving media district, it's one of the most distinctive podcasts to emerge from the region—not just in sound, but in purpose. Mo has hosted Rio Ferdinand, Gary Vaynerchuk, Princess Reema bint Bandar, and the CEO of IWC. He's moderated Boris Johnson. He's sat across from astronauts, Saudi sports champions, Formula E founders, fintech pioneers, and the quiet architects of cultural change. His guests are not chosen for virality but for credibility, conviction, and the ability to mark a moment. Which makes it all the more striking that this entire platform was built by someone with no formal background in media. He'd spent over a decade in oil and gas—nowhere near a studio, a script, or a strategy deck. 'I had absolutely no connection to the media industry,' he tells me. 'I mean, maybe a little bit of interest when I was in school in England and there was some radio...' The real shift happened during COVID lockdown. Six to eight weeks at home gave him space to reflect—and time to binge-watch podcasts. One episode in particular, featuring tech thinker Naval Ravikant on The Joe Rogan Experience, cracked something open. 'That episode spoke to me,' he says. 'I saw the industry right before my eyes. I acknowledged we don't have anything like that on a local level in Saudi.' It wasn't just the content. It was the format—long-form, unscripted, independent. No networks. No protocol. Just people talking. And in Mo's case, a glaring gap: there was no one doing that kind of deep, unfiltered conversation out of Saudi. Especially not in English. 'I didn't want to spend another day building someone else's dream,' he says. 'The information revolution is among us. So I went from oil and gas, which was industrial revolution, to the media space, which is the information revolution.' He signed up for a podcasting masterclass. Bought the gear. Started learning. For the next three years, he juggled it all—his job, his family, and the slow, steady building of The Mo Show. Mo grew up in Jeddah, the eighth of eleven siblings, before being sent to prep school in Berkshire and later university in Boston. That back-and-forth shaped him: Saudi by origin, but fluent in the grammar of Western discourse. 'I think in English,' he says—and that clarity of language would become his clearest tool. If there's a single thread that runs through every episode—beyond the polished cadence of his voice or the off-guard honesty he draws from his guests—it's this: a desire to correct the record with precision, persistence, and, crucially, in English. 'In the early days I was asked a lot about why am I doing it in English by my fellow citizens,' he recalls. 'That's when I knew that okay, clearly my content isn't for them... Let me double down on my strengths as opposed to working on my weaknesses and put something out there fully in English to hopefully one day with consistency be a source of soft power for the kingdom. I think we achieved that today.' And he has. Consistency, more than anything else, is his secret weapon. 'In the last five years, we have put out about an episode every 11 days,' he says. 'The consistency element really is the only thing that eventually works in your favor, like the seventh wonder of the world.' Princess Reema's appearance—arguably the show's flagship episode—was a moment of quiet validation. 'She is someone who can go on any interview show she chooses, yet she came on my show and helped empower me. That really showed me that I'm on the right track.' Increasingly, Mo Islam is not just hosting—but moderating on global stages. From Boris Johnson and Karim Benzema to astronauts, finance chiefs, women's football leaders and Formula E founders, Mo has become the go-to English-speaking Saudi voice for public discourse. Today, The Mo Show has sponsors like Tim Hortons, IWC, Noon, and Saudi Airlines. It's backed by KAFD, Riyadh's futuristic business district. International guests reach out directly. Whoop, the American performance wearable company, didn't just sponsor the show—they sent their CEO on as a guest. He's even shared a short exchange with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. And yet, ask Mo what drives him, and he doesn't mention numbers or monetization. 'I love the craft,' he says simply. 'I used to love updating the website as much as, you know, 1, 2, 3, we're rolling... It never really felt like work. It's like a dream job for me.' Even now, when his strategy head Greg begs him to delegate, he stays deeply involved. 'He understands that I'm very much involved because I love the craft,' Mo explains. 'And I guess that's maybe why I've been doing it now consistently for five years... because it never really felt like work.' There's an unmistakable clarity to the way he speaks about purpose, and it cuts through even when the conversation turns light. A trip to Cirencester this summer with his wife and kids. The memory of updating the studio website himself. The fact that some of his family 'were a bit worried' during the early episodes. 'Historically, Saudi freedom of speech, you know, choosing to put yourself out there was very much not the norm,' he admits. 'But I knew that through my message and my intent and my patriotism… I'll always be the first line of defense for Saudi.' The Mo Show is ultimately a calibrated response to years of narrative absence. 'I honestly felt that the Wester Press was intentionally ignoring the positivity that exists on the ground here by way of achievements or projects.' he tells me. 'Yet a rising tide lifts all boats... Just because one region or country is on the up, it doesn't mean that it should come at the cost of a country going down.' He speaks from experience. His cousin, a former rower at Cambridge, went on to compete for Saudi at the Tokyo Olympics after being supported by the Ministry of Sports. 'Actors, musicians, if you are talented and you are fit for representation, you will be empowered by the top,' he says. 'That's what I've noticed in the last couple of years as I've peeked behind the curtain... and knocked on the door of excellence.' That clarity—paired with consistency—is what has made The Mo Show not just successful, but sustainable. Now, Mo is thinking about expansion. 'We are working on the show spinning off into a new touchpoint,' he hints. 'A medium that will coexist with the show as we know it.' He won't say more than that, not yet. But it's clear whatever comes next will carry the same DNA: self-funded, self-built, self-aware. An English-speaking Saudi voice that doesn't speak on behalf of anyone, but speaks with clarity, conviction, and a command of both form and content. 'We need this first line of defense in English,' he tells me again, near the end of our conversation. 'The people at the top... they can't break protocol when they speak. I can.' And he has. Quietly, consistently, and without compromise.
CairoScene
4 days ago
- CairoScene
Mared Blends Sarcasm & Sincerity on Cairo-Coded Track ‘Samo Fein?'
Cairo-based rapper Mared teams up with producer YONYO on 'Samo Fein?', a sharp, humorous release blending cultural critique, childhood nostalgia, and everyday contradictions with playful clarity. Jun 27, 2025 Cairo-based rapper MARED continues to carve his own lane with 'Samo Fein?', a new release that merges personal quirks, cultural references, and satirical edge into one sharply produced package. The track, produced by YONYO, plays like a conversation between friends, or a social commentary wrapped in humour and memory. With his trademark laid-back delivery and quick wit, Mared lists everything from food trends to toxic masculinity, taking aim at contradictions that feel both ridiculous and real. 'Samo Fein?' balances sarcasm and sincerity, delivering critique through childhood nostalgia and clever turns of phrase, all while keeping things deeply Cairo-coded. The production is conversational yet cinematic, with YONYO inserting verbal prompts and sonic nods to a shared youth shaped by chaos and comedy. Whether he's unpacking masculinity or name-dropping local snacks, Mared turns cultural noise into relatable bars.
CairoScene
4 days ago
- CairoScene
Select 340: Mixed by Naomi
Paris-based DJ and vibes curator Naomi presents us with a playful mix of percussive bass, hip-hop and R&B to get you warmed up for the festival season. Jun 27, 2025 This Saturday on Select, Paris-based Apple Music host and DJ Naomi takes charge. Her sets are known for being irresistibly danceable, where Afro-Caribbean rhythms and bass music pulse through rap and R&B tunes. Naomi has been a resident of Rinse France since 2021, curating two monthly shows: Club Gems and R&B Gems. Her select set is an energetic summer-leaning mix of percussive, synocopated rhythms with deep bass cuts, and subtle nods to her hip-hop and R&B roots–a playful hour to warm you up through the festival season. The set features hard-hitting tunes like 'LESSGO' by ABBEL and 'Freak Like Me' by Ziggy Twiss. Listen to the full set below: SceneNoise · Select 340: Mixed by Naomi
