DUNES
VILLA

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Total area: 1000 sqm
Status: under construction

This bespoke residence allocated in Abu Dhabi, commissioned by a discerning client who specifically requested a darker palette, represents a masterful balance between brooding elegance and ethereal light. "The client desired something that felt both sheltered and expansive," explains the project's lead designer. "They wanted spaces that could cocoon in darkness while still capturing the extraordinary quality of desert light."

Materiality

What distinguishes this project is its profound material sensibility—the understanding that minimalism need not be austere when materials are allowed to express their inherent character. The controlled palette of travertine, bronze, plaster, oak, and glass creates a serene backdrop for daily life that feels neither trendy nor temporal.

"The design will mature gracefully," predicts the lead architect. "These materials develop patina and character over time—the stone will subtly change color, the bronze will develop a deeper luster, the plaster will respond to light differently as it ages. It's a living composition."

For the client, who sought refuge from the blinding desert light, this home offers not merely darkness but a nuanced interplay of shadow and illumination—a contemplative sanctuary where materials speak in hushed tones and every detail contributes to a singular vision of contemporary elegance rooted in the geological character of the Emirates.

Living area

The entrance sequence immediately establishes the project's distinct language. Bronze-finished vertical panels create rhythmic divisions that simultaneously screen and reveal the spaces beyond. These towering metallic elements function as architectural sculptures, their dark patina catching light in unexpected ways.

"These bronze dividers were custom-fabricated to create a sense of ceremonial passage," notes the designer. "We wanted guests to experience a gradual unveiling of space rather than an immediate reveal."

Perhaps the most striking feature of the main living area is the dramatic cascade of pearl-like LED lighting that tumbles from the double-height ceiling. These delicate strands of illumination—inspired by traditional prayer beads—draw the eye upward, emphasizing the impressive volume while providing a ghostly counterpoint to the residence's darker elements.

The seating arrangement centers around channel-tufted modular sofas in a warm oatmeal tone. Their curved forms and plush upholstery create inviting conversation areas, anchored by a monolithic marble coffee table with a circular depression at its center—a nod to traditional Bedouin hospitality vessels.

master bedroom

A striking feature of the master suite is the integrated library area, where floor-to-ceiling shelving in dark walnut creates an intimate reading nook. The shelving system, supported by brass posts and featuring an intricate geometric composition, houses a carefully curated collection of books and objects.

Above, a contemporary chandelier—a constellation of varied glass forms suspended from a brass armature—provides ambient lighting while serving as a sculptural focal point. A curved bouclé sofa and woven leather chair create an inviting seating arrangement, while a circular marble coffee table anchors the space.

"The library area within the bedroom was essential for our client, who wanted a space for evening reading without having to leave the master suite," notes the designer. "It creates a room within a room—an intellectual refuge."

In the master bedroom of this Abu Dhabi residence, the client's vision for a darkly sophisticated interior reaches its most intimate expression. Here, the design team has crafted a sanctuary where sleep, contemplation, and daily ritual merge seamlessly through carefully calibrated materials and lighting.

"The master suite needed to feel like the ultimate retreat within the home," explains the lead designer. "We approached it as a series of interconnected experiences—from sleep to dressing to bathing—all unified by a consistent material language and an atmosphere of absolute serenity."

The bedroom properly establishes its character through a masterful interplay of textures. A sculptural upholstered headboard, rendered in warm taupe suede with distinctive leather strapping details, spans the wall behind the bed. The straps, secured with brass studs, create a subtle geometric pattern that suggests both craftsmanship and restraint.

"The headboard design references traditional saddle-making—a nod to Bedouin culture—but interpreted through a contemporary lens," notes the designer. The bed itself, upholstered in a nubby bouclé fabric, appears to float above a carefully composed area rug featuring organic linear patterns.

Beside tables in ebonized oak provide minimal surfaces for essentials, while custom pendant lights—featuring ribbed glass cylinders suspended from brass rods—offer precisely controlled illumination for reading. The brass details echo the metalwork found throughout the residence, creating visual continuity.

Throughout the master suite, textiles play a crucial role in softening the architectural envelope. Custom area rugs featuring organic patterns ground each zone, while layers of bedding in neutral tones create inviting comfort. Drapery in a subtle linen weave filters the harsh desert light while maintaining privacy.

"We approached textiles as another layer of architecture," notes the interior designer. "Each fabric was chosen not just for its aesthetic qualities but for how it would age and patina over time."

A curved vanity desk in dark-stained oak provides a dedicated space for grooming rituals. A brass-framed arched mirror, suspended from delicate rods, captures multiple reflections while a sculptural table lamp with an alabaster shade provides flattering illumination.

A dramatic glass-fronted wardrobe system, framed in bronze-finished metal, transforms clothing storage into an architectural feature. The transparency allows filtered views to the palm garden beyond while creating an interplay of reflection and depth. Within, precisely arranged shelving houses a curated wardrobe like objects in a gallery.

"We wanted the act of dressing to feel ceremonial," explains the designer. "The glass vitrine creates a sense of display while maintaining the overall minimalist aesthetic."

The master bathroom elevates daily cleansing rituals to an art form. A freestanding tub carved from a single block of travertine serves as the space's centerpiece, its organic form contrasting with the geometric precision of the surrounding architecture. Above, a contemporary brass fixture combines decorative flourish with functional lighting.

"The bathroom is conceived as a private hammam," explains the designer. "Every material choice—from the honed travertine to the bronze fixtures—was selected to create an atmosphere of warmth and luxury while maintaining the project's overall restraint."

The shower area, visible through elegant glass partitions, features a sophisticated dark stone treatment with integrated shelving and a rainfall shower head that emerges seamlessly from the ceiling. The herringbone-patterned flooring throughout the bathroom adds subtle texture while unifying the space.

The walk-in shower, enclosed in bronze-framed glass, features walls clad in ribbed stone that creates subtle texture and visual rhythm. A floating vanity in fluted travertine spans one wall, supporting integrated sinks with minimalist brass fixtures. Twin circular mirrors, suspended within brass frames, reflect the palm garden visible through carefully positioned windows.

Dining Room

Mancave

Home Studio

Majlis

Throughout the residence, walls become canvases for architectural reliefs that reference modernist geometries. In Majlis area, bas-relief panels create an abstract composition of linear elements that adds subtle texture without disrupting the space's serene neutrality.

"These sculptural wall treatments operate almost like architectural drawings brought into three dimensions," explains the artist who created them. "They provide visual intrigue while maintaining the overall sense of calm we aimed to achieve."

"The green upholstery was a carefully considered departure from the otherwise neutral palette," reveals the interior designer. "It references the oasis vegetation visible through the expansive windows, creating a subtle connection between interior and landscape."

Perhaps nowhere is the project's ethos more evident than in the extraordinary bathrooms, where massive slabs of raw travertine have been transformed into monolithic basins. These stone elements appear to have been hewled directly from the earth, with rough-cut edges contrasting sharply against their precisely carved bowls.

"We wanted to create tension between the geological rawness of the stone and the meticulous precision of the metalwork," notes the designer. "The brass fixtures emerge from mirrors with torn, irregular edges that suggest the meeting of natural and manufactured worlds."

The vanity counter—a remarkable feat of engineering and artisanship—appears to defy gravity, with its rough-hewn edge seemingly hovering in space. Sleek brass pendants with angled heads provide targeted illumination, their angular precision creating compelling counterpoint to the stone's organic unpredictability.

Slender tubular pendants cast precise beams onto the extraordinary stone basin, their brass finish complementing the faucet's warm tones. The lighting creates an almost theatrical effect, enhancing the sculptural quality of the stone.

Hall

Kitchen

The kitchen continues the material dialogue with a dramatic island clad in the same raw-edged travertine used in the bathrooms. Its natural striations provide the only pattern in an otherwise rigorously minimal space.

"We treated the kitchen as a sculptural installation rather than a purely functional zone," notes the kitchen designer. "The stone becomes a topographical element—almost a landscape—within the architectural shell."

Reflective surfaces—mirror and polished metal—create moments of spatial expansion, multiplying light and visually extending the boundaries of rooms. These reflective moments are carefully placed to capture views of the desert beyond, bringing the exterior landscape into dialogue with the interior.