Villa 85, Dubai

Award-winning, multi-disciplinary practice, Nakkash Design Studio unveiled the interiors of Villa 85, a signature luxury residential project in the making for the last 3 years. Located in Dubai’s expansive and laid-back quarters of Al Khawaneej, this 6-bedroom villa with an impressive build-up area of 1,200 sq. mtrs is the dream house of a young Emirati family.

As with any Nakkash Design Studio project, the brief was articulated through a process of discovery to truly enable a concept-driven and human-centric approach. The principal design team facilitated questionnaires, workshops and in-depth dialogue with the client to uncover insights on their identity, lifestyle, aspirations for their new home and how they wanted the space to be remembered.

The well-travelled couple proved to be a perfect example of the new generation Emirati, keen to balance traditional and modern values. Honing in on the couple’s love for travel, Nakkash Design Studio developed an overarching theme for the interiors – one that celebrates freedom of movement through fluid lines, materiality, double volume spaces, natural light and evocative symbols.

The entry into this stately residence is through a crafted wooden door with a bronze circular pull handle and framed by glass panels to create a solid yet airy feel. The arrival experience is heightened by a double volume atrium, washed with beams of natural light from the skylight above.

Travertine, a contemporary favorite, is used copiously as the main architectural finish in the residence, cladding the floors and walls with its earthy elegance. Evoking the desert landscape, the undulating lines on the walls draw the eyes towards a hand painted fresco of a sky dotted with bronze bird sculptures. Framed through archways, the birds in flight speak metaphorically of joyful journeys, setting the tone for the gradual discovery of the rest of house.

The formal majlis, situated towards the left of the entrance hallway and accessed through a flat archway, is a statement in muted opulence. From the custom-built false ceiling to the furniture and accessories, curved lines extend the narrative of freedom and flow. Non-symmetrical, uneven forms like the nature-inspired chandelier from Serip and smaller décor pieces celebrate organic design.

The color palette throughout the house is intentionally subdued, reflecting a shift in Emirati aesthetics towards a subtle expression of luxury. Browns, beiges, greys and blues conjure the earth and the sky while touches of metal add gleam, like the sun shining through the clouds.

Nakkash Design Studio adopted an inventive approach to creating art pieces using blocks of Spanish Emperador marble in varying sizes and depths to create four large 3-dimensional wall features. A serene onyx sculpture of a visage and a curved bookcase from the studio’s Tanwir collection launched in Downtown Design 2019 are other curiosities adding to the mood of the space.

A sliding metal door from the formal majlis leads into the formal dining room, tastefully decorated with a blue version of the same Serip chandelier, a floating buffet with bronze finish drawers and curved wooden shelves symmetrically mounted on either side. A hand painted fresco with the bird motif and dune shaped wall cladding with cove lighting, elements central to the design concept, make a reappearance in this space to amplify the theme.

Located on the building’s main axis, the sunken majlis with the fresco is the primary vista from the entrance. Taking pride of place in the heart of the house, this informal majlis is framed by two travertine walls rising up to double height and generously bathed by natural light from the French doors leading out into the patio and landscaped garden. Round shapes bring softness and intimacy to the space with its circular seating and coffee tables. The symmetry of the space is embellished with four fire-torch like wall sconces.

Curved furniture pieces from Brazil and Italy populating the room are gently offset by a pair of linear coffee tables. Like the rest of the residence, browns and powder blues color the space, but here, a welcome accent of royal blue pops through a rich rug and high back sofa. The room is also furnished with a bespoke shelving unit showcasing the client’s prized collection of Chinese urns.

A travertine staircase with a solid plate balustrade in bronze finish leads to the first floor of the residence, housing the bedrooms and a large TV room for the family. Custom made circular furniture, marble, wood and Bauhaus style wallpaper all come together to convey an ambience of modern luxury.

Moving through the residence, there is a sense of anticipation as hidden spaces, elements and vistas become apparent. Among several such instances including a moment upstairs where the connecting corridors, the oculus shaped fenestrations and round wall mirrors align to create the impression of a meticulously designed set from a Stanley Kubrick film.

Villa 85 is both grounded and dramatic at once. Deliberately minimal and precise, traditional and modern. It is a fine illustration of Nakkash Design Studio’s three Cs that define their every project: Conceptual, Creative and Clean.