Architecture for People: Herzog & de Meuron

Architecture for People: Herzog & de Meuron

Why do some buildings feel like they belong to their place, while others never do? In this episode of MERED Talks, our host Harley Jenner is joined by Natalia Ermolenko, Chief Product Officer at MERED, and Olga Bolshanina, Partner at Herzog & de Meuron, one of the world's most celebrated architectural practices. This conversation reveals Herzog & de Meuron's "inside out" design philosophy: why they never start with aesthetics, but with climate, culture, and how people want to live. 🎧 Hit play to discover: • The "inside out" approach: how life within shapes exterior identity • Why glass towers often fail in GCC climates • How Riviera Residences balances privacy, community, and contributes to urban life • Why MERED created more than 35 apartment typologies in the building • How landscape, greenery, and microclimate influence daily wellbeing • The role of materials and local identity in architecture Listen to the full episode to understand why architecture isn't just what you see—it's how you feel, how you live, and whether a building truly belongs to its place. MERED website: https://mered.ae MERED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mered.ae/ MERED on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mered-ae/

Pininfarina: This Building Was Designed Like a Ferrari

What makes Italian design instantly recognisable and instantly trusted? In this episode of MERED Talks, our host Harley Jenner is joined by Michael Belton, MERED's CEO, alongside Giovanni de Niederhäusern and Chiara Gibertini from Pininfarina to explore a 95-year design heritage evolving from Ferrari to residential towers. This conversation goes beyond aesthetics, revealing Pininfarina’s engineering-driven approach, how quality in Italy is embedded in both culture and regulation, and the difference between Italian design as a label and as a holistic approach. 🎧 Hit play to discover: • Why Pininfarina's motto is "beauty + technology = impact" • The historical meeting between Battista Pininfarina and Enzo Ferrari • What truly defines timeless Italian design beyond trends and luxury • What "quiet luxury" means in real estate • What separates authentic branded residences from marketing exercises 🎥 Listen to the full episode to understand why some designs make you feel like you never want to leave. MERED website: https://mered.ae MERED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mered.ae/ MERED on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mered-ae/

Why International Investors Trust Dubai?

Why are so many international buyers choosing Dubai real estate? In this episode of MERED Talks, our host Harley Jenner is joined by Mikhail Podkopaev, Sales Director at MERED, and Dorota Mudz, Associate Director at FAM Properties, to explore what’s really driving global demand for property in Dubai. From European investors seeking long-term value to end users drawn by lifestyle, safety, and opportunity, this conversation breaks down the motivations, concerns, and decision-making process behind buying property in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. 🎧 Hit play to discover: • Why European buyers are shifting their focus to Dubai • The biggest fears international investors have, and how they’re addressed • How Dubai’s regulations protect buyers • What makes off-plan property a compelling investment strategy • What's so special about the lifestyle and communities that Dubai offers?  Listen to the full episode to understand what makes Dubai a place to build your future. #MEREDTalks #MERED #RealEstatePodcast #DubaiPodcast#DubaiRealEstate #UAEProperty #PropertyInvestment #DubaiLifestyle #OffPlanProperty #GlobalInvestors MERED website: https://mered.ae MERED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mered.ae/ MERED on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mered-ae/

The Six Pillars: How Great Properties Are Created

What does it really take to turn an idea into a place people love to live in?   In this episode of MERED Talks, Harley Jenner speaks with Natalia Ermolenko, Chief Product Officer at MERED, about real estate's most misunderstood role: the Product Manager.   Natalia reveals how this role emerged to bridge the gap between sales dreams, design ambitions, and construction realities. This conversation explores how the Product Manager connects vision with reality, ensuring that what is promised is exactly what people need and experience when they walk through the door.   🎧 Hit play to discover: • Why real estate needs a “product” mindset, and what was missing before • The “three pedals of a developer” and why synergy matters • How developers balance design, construction, and market demand • The six pillars of creating a great real estate product • How the right questions and small decisions shape the living experience   🎥 Listen to the full episode to see why the best developments need someone who cares less about what's behind the wall and more about how you'll actually live.   #MEREDTalks #MERED #RealEstatePodcast #DubaiPodcast #ProductManagement #LuxuryRealEstate #PropertyDevelopment #DubaiRealEstate MERED website: https://mered.ae MERED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mered.ae/ MERED on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mered-ae/

How Smart Materials Save Money and Improve Health

How do developers decide what actually goes inside a building? In this episode of MERED Talks, our host Harley Jenner is joined by Yazan Al Khalidi, Chief Commercial Officer at MERED, and Anwar Nusseibeh, Chairman of The Nano Company, to explore the hidden layer of real estate development most buyers never see: materials, technology, and the partners behind them. From nanomaterials to smart construction thinking, this conversation reveals how the choices made long before a building is completed can shape everything from sustainability to the health of the people who live inside. 🎧 Hit play to discover: • How developers choose the right partners in a market full of suppliers • Why innovation in construction isn’t about trends, but long-term value • What is graphene and how it could transform modern buildings • How materials affect everything from electricity costs to air quality • What kind of innovations new generations will expect from the buildings they live in   🎥 Listen to the full episode to discover the invisible technologies shaping the future of real estate. #MEREDTalks #MERED #RealEstatePodcast #ConstructionInnovation #SmartBuildings #DubaiRealEstate  #AbuDhabiRealEstate #LuxuryRealEstate #DubaiPodcast #UAEProperty MERED website: https://mered.ae MERED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mered.ae/ MERED on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mered-ae/