< Previous74 bathtub and showers. ‘Less is more’ is Terreo Studio’s design mantra: soft, natural weaves for curtains, locally sourced timber for furniture, matte granite for kitchens, linen for pillows and seating, and antique Yucatecan pottery complete the look. “The materials we choose must be honest,” says Valdes Flores. “We both love Mexico and a lot of inspira- tion comes from our travels, from the Yucatán to Méri- da, the old haciendas, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Oaxaca and Chiapas. We collect items for our inte- riors store, also called Terreo Studio, in La Veleta that we run alongside the architecture and design lab, collab- orating with artisans from all over the country.” A fusion of contemporary luxury with authentic Mex- ican design is evident throughout Fosil. ‘We try to create minimal but cosy spaces,’ adds Landsberg. ‘If we were to defi ne the Tulum style, it would be rustic and re- strained, with natural materials, light colours and earth tones. For us, the vibe is very important. We love the idea of creating the ambience of a country house, a farmhouse, a holiday oasis.” The design duo travelled for more than 16 months to collect ideas and visit creative people and places prior to starting this project, the insights they gleaned crystallis- ing once they had purchased the jungle-fringed plot of land in La Veleta. As well as the mountains and nature of Morocco, La Granja in Ibiza and Scorpios in Greece provided continual inspiration. But despite their exten- sive travels and Landsberg’s German nationality, Terreo Studio is very much rooted in Tulum for now, and it’s easy to see why. “It’s a small place but at the same time very interna- tional,” says Valdes Flores. “The weather is beautiful and we have those amazing colours of the Caribbean Ocean and the many cenotes and lagoons that dot the countryside. This is why we chose to live and work here.” @terreostudio ABOVE: Each loft apartment at Fosil has a private terrace or courtyard. OPPOSITE PAGE: Chukum-covered walls, fl oors and ceilings provide a calm backdrop in the principal bedroom. The bed linens are from Zara Home. “ For us, the vibe is very important. We love the idea of creating an oasis ” AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7425/08/2021 04:23:03 PMAD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7525/08/2021 04:23:21 PMAD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7625/08/2021 04:23:35 PM77 The rooftop swimming pool channels a classical aesthetic with niches displaying ceramic vessels. OPPOSITE PAGE: The low-key outdoor living area has framed views of the jungle canopy. AD_040_68-77_Arena_Tulum_11748595.indd 7725/08/2021 04:23:54 PM112 LAID-BACK LUXE Words Pratyush Sarup Photography Alex Jeffries AD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 7825/08/2021 04:01:23 PMIn Dubai, interior designer Sam Farhang has crafted a relaxed vision for contemporary living with all of his favourite things A work by Guido Legrand presides over the living room that also features a side table by Jaime Hayon, Cassina’s Utrecht armchair and marble sculptures by Luc Ledene. The blue artwork on the left is by Amin Fakharzadeh. AD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 7925/08/2021 04:01:30 PM80 DRIVING THROUGH THE MEADOWS, ONE OF DUBAI’S COVETED NEIGHBOURHOODS, a sense of Déjà vu is hard to ignore. Don’t get me wrong, The Meadows is immaculately pre- sented, beautifully landscaped with pristine lakes and dotted with the best amenities money can buy; but it is the rows upon rows of sand-coloured villas that usher in a dreaded sense of same-ness. As we approach the home of design entrepreneur, Sam Farhang the talent behind And Partners Interiors, I get a feeling that this is a Dubai home unlike many, and I am pleasantly surprised. Walking into his home is like being enveloped in a vision of contemporary chic. “Beige or brown shades will never enter my home or any space that I design,” he says, taking in my delight at his light and airy home that is bedecked in that illusive shade of white that is warm and inviting. “My styles is minimal. I like a clean white shell that I can bring to life with art and furniture. “ An appreciation for design was ingrained in Farhang since childhood; his mother has been in the furniture business for years with a focus on restoring art deco piec- es in Iran. “She would always make sure I learnt about the style, makers and history of the furniture she was work- ing on or was dealing in,” he recalls. “Replacing furniture at home was a regular occurrence!” And while he cites legends like Charlotte Perriand, Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier as his heroes, his in- spiration for a life in design is closer to his heart. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved interior design and al- ways appreciated art, furniture and lighting,” he says. “My uncle and brother are both architects. As a kid I used to busy myself with tracing papers, mechanical pencils and drawing equipment.” Over the years, he has built an enviable portfolio of design projects, from homes to ho- tels, across the Middle East and Asia. When Farhang fi rst saw this Meadows property in 2016, it was a typical, cookie-cutter Dubai villa. He want- ed to refi ne the layout, remove a few walls for a more open-plan living concept and replace the original win- dows with fl oor to ceiling glass panels. It is to his credit, that even though the developer did not approve some of the changes he wanted to implement, Farghang has craft- ed a calm oasis with an unfettered connection to nature. Here, in this seamless white space, an array of design icons rub shoulders; his most prized possessions howev- er, command attention from the walls. “I collect a range of art, all representing my mood and thoughts during a particular time in my life,” he says of an enviable portfolio that features a raft of Iranian and international artists and sculptors such as Farhad Moshiri, Arash Nazari, Koorosh Shishegaran, Guido Legrand and Luc Ledene amongst others. Mounted from a perfectly levelled false ceiling – a feat Farhang points out is diffi cult to achieve, and I concur – automated track lights by Flos bring each artwork to life with gallery-like exactitude. “Each and every piece I have in the house has a backstory. You can say I live with memories.” All the art notwithstanding, Farhang insists that this is a house for living in and not just appreciating. His vision is evident in the relaxed manner with which he has inte- grated design objects from different eras and styles. Works by Jaime Hayon and Farhang’s own plexi-glass creations alongside classics such as the 1934 Zig Zag Chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and Cassina’s Utrecht armchairs are here to be enjoyed and used. For this self-described homebody, who would much rather spend his weekend lavishing friends and family with home cooked food by the poolside, the past year was both challenging and uplifting. Whilst (and like for so many), it was diffi cult to see loved ones as often as he would like, he managed his projects from his sleek home offi ce with verdant views of the garden to relax his eyes upon. “At the beginning, the global crisis was nerve- wracking, with many projects going on hold,” he says. “Now, we are busier than ever. Clients are appreciating working with boutique fi rms like ours and are investing in good design.” As I get ready to head back into bustling Dubai, I am curious about what Farhang feels will be the next big thing in home interiors. “Comfort and quality,” he says without missing a beat. “Especially in a post-pandemic world, we are so much more conscious about what we in- vest in and the value it brings to our life. And everyone is getting a bit more Zen. From demands for meditation rooms and minimal spaces, to a light, neutral palette, calm and tranquillity is high on everyone’s wish list.” As his Meadows villa atests, Farhang is already way ahead of the curve. andpartnersinteriors.com D “ This is a house for living in – not just appreciating ” AD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 8025/08/2021 04:01:42 PMCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The designer at home, with a work by Koorosh Shishegaran in the background; the plexi-glass dining table was designed by Farhang; a work by the artist Emitis Soltani Abbassioun; the immaculate pool and garden; a vibrant work by Arash Nazari. AD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 8125/08/2021 04:01:52 PMAD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 8225/08/2021 04:02:04 PM83 FROM THE LEFT: Zig Zag Chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; desk from Farhang’s own designs; a monumental artwork by the Iranian artist Habib Farajabadi watches over the home offi ce. AD_040_78-83_Arena_Dubai Sam_11755631.indd 8325/08/2021 04:02:10 PMNext >