Dubai Villa
Walid Rashid

Dubai Villa

Marie-Claire Mrad as Architects

This 380-square-meter villa in Arabian Ranches is home to a young dynamic couple, who envisioned their home to be edgy with an industrial but luxurious feel.

The villa interior features a double-height foyer and an open-plan public area surrounded by huge windows forming an L-shape around the house. The 250-square-meter outdoor terrace with a starlight-lit pool and a relaxing lounge with a BBQ area wraps around the house, and the lush greenery provides an oasis ambiance with a privacy layer.

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid

The villa extends to two floors, divided between a public ground floor and a private upper floor.

The double-height foyer is a minimalist space with gunmetal walls and a skylight. It creates a perspective leading the eye towards the bar area, the main highlight of the space, with a backdrop of cactus plants.

All the interior walls were removed leaving only the structural columns. This results in an open space where all the functions communicate together and are in perfect harmony. Four main areas (main living area, bar area, TV area and kitchen) are set side by side without any visual obstruction, yet keeping the definition of each space intact.

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid

The folding pocket windows ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, extending the vision from the inside to the outdoor pool, and ensuring a sunstruck interior ambiance.

A sculptural staircase with black marble and a steel balustrade turns around a rainfall of customized lighting fixtures to lead to the upper level. The first floor consists of a private area with a master suite including a walk-in and a bathroom, along with three bedrooms and their en suite bathrooms. The guest bedroom with its bathroom is in the ground floor, with its door hidden in the TV unit wall.

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid

The overall feel is an edgy modern interior with a luxurious touch. This was translated in a play of materials and textures. The white walls contrast with the gunmetal steel cladding and the warmth of the walnut wood. The highlight of the space is the Patagonia bar top, a raw gem at the heart of the bar area.

The true luxury resides in the conception of the project. Everything is customized. From the furniture to the lighting, every single detail was thought of, conceived and executed specifically for the space.

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid

Team:
Architect: Marie-Claire Mrad
Main Contractor: Bull Contracting
Photography: Walid Rashid

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid

Material Used:
1. Flooring: Grey large ceramic tiles
2. Interior lighting: Custom-made, brass and gunmetal finish steel
3. Interior furniture: Custom-made, walnut wood, leather, Patagonia Quartzite, brass and  gunmetal finish steel

photo_credit Walid Rashid
Walid Rashid
Project Credits
Product Spec Sheet

Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
Sports Hall by Grido architekti references functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture
14 Feb 2025 News
Sports Hall by Grido architekti references functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture

Czech architectural studio Grido architekti has designed a sports hall for the pupils of an elementa... More

UNStudio’s new Chongqing development balances demand for high-rise living with health and well-being of residents
10 Feb 2025 News
UNStudio’s new Chongqing development balances demand for high-rise living with health and well-being of residents

International architecture and design practice UNStudio has completed 18T Mansion, a high-rise resid... More

Archello houses of the month - January 2025
5 Feb 2025 News
Archello houses of the month - January 2025

Archello has selected its houses of the month for January 2025. This list showcases 20 of the m... More

Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”
4 Feb 2025 News
Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”

A project that was thirteen years in the making, the new Polish Embassy in Berlin officially opened... More

Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno
31 Jan 2025 News
Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno

Brno-based ika.architekti has built an upcycled sauna using an array of old materials. The project i... More

Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors
27 Jan 2025 Archello Awards
Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors

Archello is pleased to announce the first group of its esteemed jurors for the newly launched Archel... More

HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature
27 Jan 2025 News
HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature

Vietnamese architectural studio HGAA was included in Archello’s list of the 25 best architectu... More

Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension
27 Jan 2025 News
Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension

Cambridge-based architectural studio Mole Architects has completed the upgrade and extension of an e... More