Dubai-based XBD Collective has announced the appointment of Marc Torres as its new Managing Partner. Torres joins Founding Partner Ellen Søhoel and Marc Roca Bravo, Managing Partner and Design Director to solidify the firm’s leadership team.
“XBD Collective is delighted to welcome Marc Torres to our Management team. Hailing from Spain with an impressive track record spanning over 15 years, Marc boasts a remarkable global journey, having collaborated with clients from all over the world. He brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to our team and is an invaluable addition to XBD. We look forward to the innovative ideas and insight Marc will be able to offer and his distinctive perspective on architecture and spatial design,” Søhoel says.
“With both Managing Partners, Marc Roca Bravo and Marc Torres, we now have a dynamic ‘Spanish Duo’ on board, and we eagerly anticipate the architectural synergies that will subsequently unfold.”
Torres has previously studied in Barcelona, Sao Paulo, Lausanne, and Berlin with professional experience in London, Dubai, and a four-year tenure in Perth. He returns to Dubai for the first time since his work with renowned international design consultancies such as Perkins + Will and Callison RTKL from 2014 to 2019.
During this time, his unique perspective shaped landmarks including Address Beach Resort Bahrain, Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, and confidential luxury private residences.
“I can’t wait to revisit my previous projects, now that they have been built, allowing me to scrutinise the results of the original design visions and to observe the dynamics between users and communities and my creations,” says Torres.
“Simultaneously, my enriching experiences in Australia, where architecture is guided by a profound sense of purpose, have deepened the reservoir of my craft. I am looking forward to exploring how I can transpose and apply these newfound insights to projects in the Middle East and beyond, fostering sustainable progress and prosperity, to the mutual benefit of our valued clients and the ultimate beneficiaries of our architectural endeavours.”
Torres joins XBD’s management team as Lee Nellis is departing from the company. In recognition of Nellis’s contributions to the private residence architecture division of XBD, the consultancy’s leadership extends its heartfelt gratitude for his efforts and commitment.
Established by Søhoel in 2015, XBD Collective is an award-winning firm with a team of 79 professionals, including architects, interior and landscape designers, visualizers, and dedicated support staff, based across its offices in Dubai, UAE; London, UK; and Kochi, Kerala, India. Søhoel welcomed Marc Roca Bravo as Managing Partner in 2021, adding a new commercial dimension to the architectural and interior design portfolio of the company.