IFI World Interiors Day (IFI WID) is an annual global event organised by the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI). Described as akin to Earth Day for the design world, it brings together design professionals, industry leaders, branded real estate specialist, students, governments and the general public to explore, learn, and celebrate the value of interior architecture and design.
Recognised around the world throughout the entire month of May and celebrated formally on the last Saturday of May the day is marked by events and activities around the world, all tied to a theme chosen by IFI’s global community of interior architecture and design associations.
Designing Through Change – Building for Resilience
This year’s theme is accelerating debate around what future-proof design should deliver, with growing emphasis on adaptability, wellbeing, sustainability and long-term liveability.
Few sectors illustrate this transformation more clearly than branded residences. Once driven primarily by prestige names and hospitality associations, the sector is now entering a more scrutinised era, as today’s buyers ask different around design philosophy and lifestyle.
The shift is already reshaping buyer priorities. Ultra-high-net-worth buyers are swapping martinis for cold plunges, with growing demand for wellness-focused amenities, including saunas, recovery suites and spas, that are replacing traditional entertainment-led features such as bars and private cinemas.
The trend reflects a broader move towards restorative living and health-conscious design. But increasingly, wellness luxury is expanding beyond amenities alone to shape the wider residential experience.
Michele Galli, CEO of The One Atelier, has long advocated for this shift. “Branded residences are entering a new era. Buyers are becoming more discerning about quality, longevity and the lifestyle a development genuinely delivers. To maintain long-term relevance, the sector is evolving alongside changing definitions of luxury, particularly around wellness, sustainability and experience-led living.”
Projects such as ELLE Residences Dubai Islands, conceived by ANAX Developments with creative direction by branded real estate experts, The One Atelier offer wellness-led communal spaces, landscaped social environments and curated interiors designed to encourage connection, balance and everyday liveability, integrating wellbeing into routine living rather than positioning it as a standalone feature.
At the same time, sustainability is also becoming central to how branded residences are designed, built and experienced.
ETRO Residences Phuket, another of The One Atelier’s projects, sits within the Gardens of Eden development on Bang Tao Beach, one of Thailand’s most coveted coastlines.
More than 70% of the 33-acre estate has been preserved as open green space, natural parks and wetlands, while roads and parking are placed underground to create a fully pedestrianised environment.
The development also incorporates more than 1,000 native trees, organic farming spaces, wellness-focused water features and passive cooling principles throughout the masterplan, reflecting growing demand for lower-impact luxury living.
World Interiors Day 2026 highlights a growing reality across the global luxury property market: labels alone no longer sell luxury. As buyer expectations continue to shift, the future success of branded residences will increasingly depend on how effectively developers can deliver resilient spaces.
Cover Image ETRO Residences Phuket. Images and information supplied by The One Atelier
BRESI (www.brandedresi.com) is the world’s first marketplace, news media platform, and advisory company dedicated exclusively to the branded residences industry. Operating as a leading global network for the sector, BRESI connects high-net-worth buyers, investors, property developers, hotel groups, and industry professionals worldwide.
