Nomad House is a contemporary residence in Dubai that blends Canadian and Moroccan tribal influences into a contemporary family space.
The villa is located in a prominent older residential area of Dubai and had been purchased as a family home by the new owners, who saw great potential in the three-bedroom property. We were entrusted to design a contemporary interior with a complete renovation taking the structure down to shell and core that would resonate with the Canadian and Moroccan homeowners and epitomize their design sensibilities whilst creating a space that was comfortable and livable. Many authentic and cherished artifacts had been acquired over the years and needed to be incorporated into the space, such as ornamental lighting from the souks of Marrakesh, feathered sculptures from a First Nations artist and vintage photographic artwork that maintained special meaning for the couple.
Two pieces from their collection particularly stood out as a focal point that we were able to build the concept around - black & white vintage photographs acquired from both countries featuring a Canadian First Nations man and another of a Moroccan Berber woman. The tribal aesthetic inspired by their clothing and jewellery created a base for the home\'s concept using feathers, metal, embroideries and leather throughout. A monochromatic colour palette was punctuated by striking ethnic patterns and tactile furnishings that bring character to the space without distracting from the modern aesthetic of the refreshed structure.
Charcoal feature walls were introduced throughout - hand-trowelled by local artists for a textured finish with a touch of silver metallic flecks to catch the light. In the dining area we designed a 3D illuminated custom Kufic calligraphy artwork with the phrase - "Where there is peace there is love - where there is love there is peace". Statuario and carrara marbles compliment the space as waterfall counters in the kitchen and a new fireplace in the lounge. Monkey pendant lighting from Italian brand Seletti, were selected to add a touch of whimsy and playfulness to the dining area and the playroom. While the overall theme may appear sophisticated, this is a family that also has a sense of humour and small personal touches such as these give the home character.
Mid-century modern classics from Hans Wegner, Bertoia and Eames can be found as highlights throughout the space. Vintage archive fashion prints hang in the master ensuite.
We worked to attain responsibly sourced, sustainable and fairtrade carpets that would tie the concept together with culturally appropriate designs whilst making conscientious choices.
Upstairs in the nursery, customised artwork was painted onto the walls, and a miniature tipi was added to create the feeling of a cosy, ethereal ‘hidden forest’. We designed the hand painted walls in a silhouette style with a tribute to the Atlas mountains in Morocco and the lush forestry in Canada’s Algonquin Park.
