Island Villa
Chris Goldstraw

Island Villa

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Redefining coastal living within an urban context, Island Villa is situated along Dubai’s constructed shoreline. Designed by SAOTA, with interior décor by ARRCC, the project maximises its site by opening the home toward the sea, using careful layout, transparency, and materiality to deepen the connection between indoor spaces, the surrounding landscape, and the broad coastal views. Framed outlooks across the Arabian Sea maintain a deliberate connection to Dubai’s skyline.

photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch

SAOTA’s design emphasises fluid connections between spaces and climate responsiveness. Expansive, column-free openings on the ground floor dissolve the boundary between inside and out, creating seamless continuity between living spaces, shaded terraces, and gardens. Carved courtyards and outdoor rooms regulate light and ventilation, applying passive cooling strategies and creating opportunities for outdoor living.

photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch

Upstairs, bedrooms and a gym face panoramic sea views. Across the villa, deep overhangs, custom screens, and articulated façades choreograph light, shade, and privacy. Bespoke glass-reinforced polymer screens and patinated copper details reference regional craft traditions while offering shade and visual interest.

Bush-hammered light stone cladding evokes coral textures, offset by darker honed flooring to reduce glare. Generous eaves, shaded glazing, and cross-ventilation integrate environmental performance into the architectural language, rather than adding it as a technical overlay.

ARRCC’s interior decor extends the architectural vision, interpreting the beach setting through tactile, restrained furnishings. Drawing on a Scandinavian sensibility, the interiors favour warm minimalism, natural materials, and a sense of calm over decorative excess. Soft neutral textiles, leather accents, and brushed metal details introduce subtle richness without overwhelming the space.

photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch

ARRCC also collaborated with OKHA to craft bespoke furniture reflecting the villa’s architectural rhythm. The result is a quietly sophisticated interior aligned with the client’s vision for a grounded, contemplative home.

Island Villa distils coastal living into a refined architectural expression — balancing openness with privacy, and light with shade — offering a calm retreat shaped by its site and defined by restraint.

photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch

Team:

Design Architects: SAOTA

Project Team: Philip Olmesdahl , Joe Schutzer-Weissmann, Nasreen Larney, Bobby Labrou

Interior Decor: ARRCC ID

Mark Rielly, Nina Sierra Rubia, Amy King, Amy Kidger, Kelly Fischer, Ariane Bissict, Nicola Dicey

Local Consultant: High Performance Directive (HPD)

Contractor: Al Tayer Stocks (ATS)

Engineers: High Performance Directive (HPD)

Quantity Surveyor: High Performance Directive (HPD)

Lighting Design: Lightistry

Landscape: NLME

Photographer: Chris Goldstraw 

Art Consultant: RESERVOIR

Copy: SAOTA

photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
photo_credit Adam Letch
Adam Letch
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