Login
Registered users
The house on Pearl Jumeirah Island, Dubai, was created from an interweaving of geometries and chiaroscuro effects
Designed by MMA Projects, Villa ABK in Dubai is a private home by the sea that appears to have been sculpted from limra, a white sandstone from Turkey. With four levels and 4000 m2 of floorspace, the house is on the unique and spectacular Pearl Jumeirah Island.
The architects have brought Villa ABK to life with an interplay of geometries and chiaroscuro effects produced by interweaving shapes and light. The internal and external spaces blend together in alternating full and empty spaces, accentuated by the texture of the façades, whose light, thin cladding slabs feature relief patterns, giving the home a contemporary feel while creating intriguing effects with light.
The different functions of Villa ABK’s open, bright spaces flow without interruption from one to the next, letting in both light and nature to breathe life into the interiors. The home occupies a large site and has a generous outdoor space with an area for sport and relaxation, including a padel court flanked by lounge areas. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool.
The four levels of the home host different functions. At ground level, there’s a big open space that, with its large windows, welcomes guests in much the same way as a majlis – the traditional place for receiving and entertaining guests in Arab homes. This space leads to a second living area, the dining room, and a double-height kitchen with genuine visual impact, largely created by its marble island that incorporates a wooden table. Still at ground level but at the back of the house is an office area and two guest rooms with private bathrooms.
The level above is dedicated to the family, with four bedrooms and the master bedroom all opening onto a long terrace. The rooftop has two living areas and a covered terrace used as a comfortable and intimate barbeque area. The ancillary rooms, staff areas, and entertainment areas, including a home theater and cigar lounge, are at basement level.
Villa ABK’s white limra limestone cladding uses contrasting finishes to separate the upper and lower sections of the home, with relief patterns used on the bottom and a more delicate pattern used above. To give the home a greater dynamism, different stone textures are used, ranging from curving bamboo to embroidered fabric and a sculptural plissé pattern.
Three wall finishes were used for the interiors: gray Verde Antigua marble, Canaletto walnut, and Fior di Bosco marble, which was also used for the curved staircase to the first floor, A second staircase to the upper floors features brushed brass and glass panel balustrades. Outside, the paving is gray basalt combined with large matt white ceramic slabs.
The double height of the kitchen is accentuated by a graceful light fitting made of leather straps and LEDs, while the living area has a mother-of-pearl chandelier. A home automation system controls the lighting, providing the right illumination levels to every area of the house in an efficient and sustainable way.
>>> Discover four homes in Dubai designed by Memar Architecture
Location: Pearl Jumeirah Island, Dubai, EAU
Completion: 2023
Client: Private
Architect: MMA Projects
Building Area: 4000 m2
Suppliers
Bathroom Furnishings: Gessi, Duravit
Wallpaper: Vescom
Ceramic Tiles: Atlas Concorde
Doors and Windows: Oikos
Lighting: Delta Light, Simes
Photography by Natalee Cocks, courtesy of MMA Projects
