< Previous Your LIFE 100 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 A PERSONAL STAMP From the moment you walk in, there’s an instant wow factor, that’s further compounded when you realise what a treasure trove of art and design pieces decorate the already impressive abode. It is immediately clear that the art collection is the focal point of this space, with everything else placed around it, giving it prominence. “I personally handled all aspects of interior design because I believe that everyone has the ability to be the creator of their own home. After all, home is where the heart lives,” Snow tells us proudly. She loves embarking on a dialogue with artists, “As an advocate for art, my foremost mission is to amplify the voices of these creators. In stark contrast to the world of interior design, artists are the architects of imagination, forging uncharted realms within the spaces they craft. Guided by their wisdom, I’ve come to view a home as a living sculpture, perpetually evolving in its form.” And even though the entrepreneur, who is always looking to invest in the next pre-IPO unicorn may be new to the Middle Eastern art scene, her family has always had discerning taste – and priceless pieces. “Growing up in a family that cherished Chinese antiques, porcelain, and modern Chinese art, I developed an appreciation for the beauty found in artistic pieces,” she explains. “The defining moment of my collecting journey occurred during the inaugural International Biennial of Chinese Contemporary Art in 2005 in Montpellier [France], where I acquired my first artwork by Chinese artist Zhou Chunya.” She continues on that path today, and in this country is an active patron of both the Louvre Abu Dhabi and The Dubai Collection. “My underlying philosophy is that art, life, and business should be free from unnecessary borders and restrictions in order to stimulate and encourage innovation.” From a room full of sculptures and paintings to a wall of Birkin bags, vivid colours play a central role in Snow’s overarching décor HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10005/12/2023 11:39 Your LIFE 101 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 CREDIT HERE Your LIFE One space that has more muted hues is the bedroom, where neutrals dominate HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10105/12/2023 11:39 Your LIFE 102 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 An avid host, Snow loves to have guests over to share a meal around a massive central Lazy Susan HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10205/12/2023 11:40 Your LIFE 103 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 Snow’s eclectic collection includes pieces from Louise Bourgeois, Annette Messager, and Anish Kapoor as well as Hassan Sharif, Abdulla Lutfi , Shaikha Al Ketbi and Ayesha Hadhir HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10305/12/2023 12:18 Your LIFE 104 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 Your LIFE In Snow’s home, every surface is an opportunity to truly celebrate creativity HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10405/12/2023 11:41 Your LIFE “I am not afraid of change because it is leading me to a new beginning” THE SURREAL FABRIC OF SNOW’S IMAGINATION Each piece that’s displayed in Snow’s house is signifi cant, and like a page in a diary, serves as a reminder of a specifi c time. And together, the work serves as a “tapestry of my life in Abu Dhabi.” Challenges were swiftly overcome too; “Transforming a high-ceiling space into a cosy living area required some thought and creativity,” she agrees, insisting of the maximalist outcome that, “Th ese challenges were ultimately a joy to overcome.” Having such a serene setting is very diff erent from her Shanghai property, an 800-square-metre penthouse in the pulsating heart of the city. “Each home has its own unique spirit and character, refl ecting both the culture and people that inspire me,” she reveals. “When creating my current Abu Dhabi home, I wanted to incorporate elements of the country that I admire, as well as my own Chinese culture.” An illustration of her heritage is an open tea ceremony area, which she admits is “My favourite room, infl uenced by my father who is a tea collector. I hold great respect for my Chinese culture and lifestyle. Th is space allows me to share that traditional side of me with friends.” A key element of her aesthetic is the ability to juxtapose unusual objects and textures, and this comes out in her personal style too. “I appreciate a mix of international designers of diff erent styles. I admire designers such as Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Saint Laurent, as well as many talented young designers,” she says as she shows us her show- stopping Birkin-bedecked wall. ALL IN THE DETAILS It is clear from the outset that Snow follows her own rules when it comes to acquisitions. Highlights include “artwork from the UAE-based artist trio, Ramin and Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian. Th ey are my favourite artists of our time. Th e trio are winners of the prestigious Black Mountain College Prize – and many museums have hosted their exhibitions and acquired their work. Th ey open a window to another world, taking us on a journey away from the ordinary, away from everyday life.” Her Abu Dhabi home boasts a diverse range of renowned artists, including big names like Louise Bourgeois, Annette Messager, Franz West, Anish Kapoor, Ben Vautier, Otobong Nkanga, Oroma Elewa, Shadi Habib Allah, and Beate Kuhn among others. “I am also a proud collector of local Emirati artists Hassan Sharif, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Shaikha Al Ketbi, Rawdha Al Ketbi, Ayesha Hadhir, and Abdulla Lutfi ,” she exclaims while showing Bazaar around her property. Not limiting herself to just canvas, sculpture and installation, her furnishings are peppered with design stalwarts too. Items by Ettore Sottsass, Pierre Jeanneret, Gaetano Pesce, Brecht Wright Gander, India Mahdavi, Pia Maria Raeder, Souraya Haddad, Marilyn Massoud, Zein Daouk, Mary-Lynn & Carlo, Nadine Roufael, and Victoria Yakusha are all featured in this spellbinding apartment. She elaborates that “My home is a refl ection of my love for diversity, blending cultural creations from artists like the American Betty Woodman to Algerian Baya Mahieddine.” SETTLING IN In a short span of time, Snow has sewn herself into the fabric of the country she now calls home. She self-deprecatingly laughs that one of her greatest claims to fame here, are the 200 robots her company supplied to EXPO 2020, earning her the honour of being bestowed with the China’s Goodwill Ambassador title. But it is clear, as this investment mogul and managing partner of Pine Capital greets prominent personalities as she plays host from her favoured perch at DIFC’s Th e Arts Club, that Snow has been welcomed with open arms to the UAE. And that in return, she has embraced the country – and the Middle East – back with equal warmth, making herself eminently at home. 105 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 HBI_059_96-105_Snow li_13087815.indd 10505/12/2023 12:17 Your LIFE Step inside the vibrant, Art Deco-inspired New York City home of Adam Rolston, one of the world’s most inspired architects Words by JUMANA ABDEL-RAZZAQ Photography by JOSHUA MCHUGH Collecting HISTORY 106 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 One of 33 units in a quaint neighbourhood on New York’s Upper West Side, architect Adam Rolston was fi rst drawn to the 650-square-foot apartment he now shares with his partner, for its unusual layout and architectural details. Apart from the stunning view overlooking the Hudson River, this was the property’s greatest asset. “We loved the bones of this 1930s apartment and kept much of it intact,” shares Adam, who leads as Creative and Managing Director at multidisciplinary studio INC Architecture & Design. “Since I am slightly claustrophobic, a signifi cant change was opening it up to the stunning views of the Hudson River and bringing in more light. Th ere is something poetic about engaging with sunlight at various points throughout the day. It really adds to the story and feeling of a place.” Th e building, a relic designed by architect Israel L. Crausman, whose Deco style was brought to his work at the Grand Concourse, a famous thoroughfare in the Bronx; is characterised by its distinctive radius shapes, black metal, terrazzo, and an undeniable charm. IMAGES COUR TESY OF INC ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN HBI_059_106-115_Adam rolstons_13093856.indd 10605/12/2023 11:44The entryway of Adam’s residence immediately sets the design tone for the home: vibrant hues and soft lines amidst bold, stand-out structures HBI_059_106-115_Adam rolstons_13093856.indd 10705/12/2023 11:45 Your LIFE 108 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 108 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 HBI_059_106-115_Adam rolstons_13093856.indd 10805/12/2023 11:45 Your LIFE 109 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Winter 2023 CREDIT HERE Designed by INC, the Paint Pour rug collates analogous colours scattered through the room, while the infl uence of Havana’s affi nity for plenty of plants, reigns supreme Your LIFE HBI_059_106-115_Adam rolstons_13093856.indd 10905/12/2023 11:46Next >