Interiors that move us, materials that speak with discretion, spaces that linger in our memories. With her unmistakable style of minimalist lines, fine materials, and natural palettes, Katty Schiebeck has been named Ambiente Designer of the Year 2026.
Rigor and warmth: the poetic design of Katty Schiebeck
The award comes at a crucial moment for the sector: the Barcelona-based Uruguayan designer is one of the most influential and authentic voices on the international stage addressing the need to design more human, engaging, and sustainable spaces.
photo: ©Katty Schiebeck Studio
Schiebeck is known for her ability to balance function and atmosphere, rigor and comfort. Her projects in the world of high-end hospitality—realized in cities such as Doha, Hong Kong, and Lisbon—express a timeless aesthetic, where every detail contributes to a cohesive, refined experience.
“When we think of hospitality, we often imagine comfort, good service, or making someone feel welcome. But for us, as an interior design studio, hospitality goes far beyond that. At its core, hospitality is an experience—it means creating environments that awaken emotions, touch people, and remain in their memories. We want every space to be immersive, to speak to the senses, to surprise with warmth. This is how our concept for Ambiente 2026 came about: a place that radiates calm amid the lively trade fair atmosphere—an oasis where visitors can pause, breathe, reconnect, and recharge. Designing hospitality means creating experiences that live on beyond the space.” Katty Schiebeck
The Interior Design & Architecture Hub: a space to think, feel, and design
To celebrate this recognition, Schiebeck designed the new Interior Design & Architecture Hub, which will enliven Hall 3.1 at Ambiente 2026. More than a simple exhibition space, the Hub is a curated platform where architects, designers, and contractors can collaborate and inspire one another. In this sensory and immersive experience, the concept provides a contemporary interpretation of hospitality.
Conceived as an “oasis” within the fair, the space embraces visitors with an understated yet warm architectural language, featuring wood, marble, diffused light, and harmonious proportions. The idea is not to showcase products, but to suggest environments where beauty and function coexist. Rounding out the experience, the Hub features an Academy with conferences, certified lectures, and talks by some of the leading voices in international interior design.
A key figure for the design community
The presence of Katty Schiebeck at the heart of the Design 2026 program is a strong statement for a fair that is increasingly focused on design culture. Through her work, the Interior Hub becomes a meeting place for a truly international design community, where interior architecture is expressed with balance, emotion, and intelligence
photo: ©Katty Schiebeck Studio
Ambiente 2026 thus recognizes the value of those who know how to combine imagination, materials, and sensibility. And Schiebeck, with her silent, profoundly contemporary elegance, is the ideal guide for this new chapter in modern living.
