< Previous The chair in the principal bedroom is by The Line Concept and the pendant light is from Normann Copenhagen. OPPOSITE PAGE: Sheibani and Babaee sit on the sofa with their poodle Ferferi. AD_040_60-67_Arena_Dubai_11750649.indd 6425/08/2021 03:50:33 PM65 INIMALISM IS NOT A TERM HABITUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH DUBAI INTERIORS. But in the case of this home, a restrained palette of mate- rials and a pared-back ap- proach to design has result- ed in a home that is built for luxury, comfort and ease. The house belongs to Shahryar Sheibani, an entrepre- neur who has started businesses in events, fashion, prop- erty and industrial trade, and who fi rst came to the city as a child; and his wife, mechanical engineer Saina Babaee, who moved to Dubai 11 years ago. Their one-year-old twins, Aylar and Adrian, poodle Ferferi and Persian cat Coconaz complete the young family. When they bought the house, in January 2020, they embarked on a six-month renovation project before mov- ing in that summer, working closely with interior archi- tect Bamdad Faghihi of Seeb Design, who, says Sheibani, ‘did a magnifi cent job bringing our vision to life’. That vision was inspired by the work of the Belgian ar- chitect and interior designer Axel Vervoordt, whose work the couple had discovered while browsing on Instagram, and who is known as much for his signature aesthetic – a blend of European tradition with Japanese simplicity – as for his starry client list (which includes Robert De Niro, Calvin Klein, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian). Here, that look, which is predicated on the use of natural mate- rials and the concept of ‘nobility without sophistication’, is translated into an interior that is muted and soothing, yet also full of warmth, texture and tactility. Parts of the exterior, including the garden and pool, were redesigned, but the main changes were to the interi- or. As well as replacing the entrance doorway, Sheibani and Babaee replaced the fl ooring with concrete-effect porcelain tiles, and the walls and ceilings with concrete- effect paint, to give a seamless, raw effect. Curves were added to the corners of walls, and arched entrance ways were created to lead into the living room and kitchen, helping to bring softness to the industrial look. The kitchen and bathrooms were redone, a walk-in closet was added to the master bedroom, and a cosy read- ing nook was created in the living room. Windows were expanded to improve the fl ow of natural light, and the lighting scheme throughout was replaced with a mix of subtle spotlights angled to illuminate artworks, and sim- ple, large-scale ceiling pendants. The minimalist aesthetic was a new direction for the couple, so when it came to sourcing furniture and art, they found they had to start from, literally, a blank slate. “Our old home was very colourful, from the art to the fur- nishing,” explains Sheibani. “When we decided to go for a more minimal concept, we put a lot of our pieces into storage and went on a hunt for new artworks and furni- ture for the new home.” Some of the pieces, such as the dining table and coffee table, were custom-made locally; others are by Italian and Scandinavian brands, such as the Kartell dining chairs, the TV room sofa and table from Danish brand Ferm Liv- ing, and a pair of Meridiani armchairs. Existing sofas were re-covered in calming, pale tones to fi t in with the neutral palette of the house. New artworks were also sourced, mainly by contempo- rary Middle Eastern artists including the Iranian painters Afshin Pirhashemi and Sima Shahmoradi, and are mono- chromatic in tone and large in format, bringing energy and impact to the serene backdrop. A fi gurative piece by the French-American sculptor Emmanuel Fillion was commissioned especially for the place where it stands, in the centre of the staircase. Everything adds up to create an effect that is pared- back without feeling austere; restrained in colour but packed with texture. In each room, the smooth surfaces of metal, stone, ceramic and wood contrast with the raw concrete effect of the walls and the softness of textiles. As for how the house meets the demands of a young, busy family, the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection and informs the aesthetic that inspired its design, is not only more forgiv- ing in practical terms, but also creates a calming, peaceful retreat from a fast-paced life. “The house lends itself to a lot of lounging; it always feels like you are on vacation here,” says Sheibani, whose favourite thing to do at home is to sit in the reading nook in the living room around dusk, watching the skyline as the sun sets. “Friends say the same,” he adds. “It’s a great space for having people over to sink into the couches to- gether, or on cushions on the fl oor, and while away the hours. We have fast-paced jobs and high-energy children and pets. Our home provides a great sense of serenity and calm.” seeb-design.com N AD_040_60-67_Arena_Dubai_11750649.indd 6525/08/2021 03:50:47 PM“ Our home provides a great sense of serenity and calm ” AD_040_60-67_Arena_Dubai_11750649.indd 6625/08/2021 03:50:58 PM67 ABOVE: An artwork by Amir Naser Akhlaghi Fard hangs above a pair of chairs from Meridiani. The vase is by Anissa Kermiche. OPPOSITE PAGE: Travel fi nds and curios are displayed in a corner of the TV room. AD_040_60-67_Arena_Dubai_11750649.indd 6725/08/2021 03:51:09 PM68 AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 6825/08/2021 04:21:35 PMHidden in Tulum, near Mexico’s Caribbean coastline, this modern day ‘ruin’ is dramatically framed by lush jungle UNDER THE ARCHES Words & styling Tami Christians Photography Nin Solis AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 6925/08/2021 04:21:46 PM70 W WE FOUND TUL UM INSPIRING FROM THE MOMENT WE ARRIVED , and soon realised there was a huge demand for beautiful architecture that wasn’t cookie cutter,” says young Mexican architect Ed- uardo Valdes Flores, explaining the inspiration behind Fosil, a fantastical residential project he dreamed up with Alexander Landsberg, his partner at design lab Terreo Studio. “We loved the vibe in La Veleta and the mix of people – Mayan families and creative folk from around the world.” The concept was to create a piece of architecture as art that resembled a modern day ruin – a mystical build- ing with simple, clean lines. The resulting design, a se- ries of staggered, vertical and perpendicular arches con- cealing the building’s front façade, is a poetic reference to classical architecture. “We wanted to create a modern design that would fi t into the Tulum vernacular, yet stand apart,” says Landsberg. “A structure that, when you come across it, makes you stop and ask yourself, ‘what is it?’” Visible beyond the arched volumes, the local white stone exterior, which is packed with fossilised shells, be- came the inspiration for the project’s name ‘Fosil’ (the Spanish spelling of Fossil). “Eduardo and I got the inspi- ration on a trip to Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains, where we found many ammonite relics,” recalls Lands- berg. “Here in Tulum, if you dig down under the earth, you will fi nd this stone with many fossilised shells, so there’s a connection.” Behind the fantastical facade lie seven private loft apartments, including this rough-luxe penthouse with soaring industrial-style windows and an inviting pool. Belonging to a LA-based musician with a young family, the holiday home is split across three fl oors and has a modern-rustic aesthetic, taking cues from Mexican de- sign traditions. The walls and fl oors of the apartments are covered in chukum (a limestone-based stucco mixed with resin from the native chukum tree), along with bathroom vanities, AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7025/08/2021 04:22:11 PMThe double- height living room is a serene, light-suff used space. All the furniture and accessories are by Terreo Studio. “It’s how we envision Tulum,“ says Landsberg. AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7125/08/2021 04:22:28 PMAD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7225/08/2021 04:22:43 PMABOVE: Surrounded by lush foliage, the dramatic arches rising up from the pool resemble a modern day Roman aqueduct. OPPOSITE PAGE: The dining table and chairs are by Terreo Studio and available from its La Valeta store. The handmade pottery is from the southwestern Mexican city of Oaxaca. 73 AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7325/08/2021 04:22:50 PMNext >