< Previous100 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 LIFE Your HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10027/09/2021 03:33:28 PMNot everyone is able to translate their vision from the drawing board to the canvas of life, but one glance at author and columnist Neha Hiranandani’s palatial home and you know that there is more to her story than an abundance of luxury nestled up in the clouds. Overlooking the Dubai skyline and featuring three bars, six bedrooms, 18 bathrooms and six terraces, the penthouse residence in Dubai Marina is something out of a storybook. Speaking of books, the author of the best-selling Girl Power! Indian Women Who Broke the Rules, has much to say about the women she selected to feature. “Selecting which women to profi le was easily my favourite and the hardest part of the project,” shares the fi rst-time author about a journey that began as a pet project for her daughter Zoya. “Of course, there are some household names but personally, I am very proud of the untold stories.” After reading Rebel Girls, a New York Times’ best-selling book featuring 100 stories about the lives of extraordinary women, Zoya wanted to learn more about such women from India. Determined to showcase the glorious stories of Indian women, Neha structured her research, and the concept became a reality when Scholastic published Girl Power! in 2019. The book has since become a bestseller and The lavish ‘grand room’ comprises several custom-made features such as the full-sized, bespoke ‘Tree in the clouds’ created by Italian artisans on-site; A world-class sound system from Artcoustic; Lighting by Martin Professional; A four-piece award-winning couch known as the ‘Walter Knoll Circle’ created using a single piece of furniture 101 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10127/09/2021 03:33:40 PMConnecting the 89th and 90th fl oors is the white Nautilus spiral staircase which leads to the Library of Collectors’ Editions. The surrounding walls and fl oors are made of Statuario marble and imbedded with Viabizzuno lighting 102 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10227/09/2021 03:33:49 PMgarnered hundreds of positive reviews. “I wanted to move beyond well-known women and tell stories of ordinary women who have done extraordinary things,” Neha says, and verily so. Among others, the reader will fi nd stories of a spy princess who parachuted into France, a warrior queen who defended India from the Portuguese six times, a domestic worker who went on to win the national award for healthcare and a sharp-shooter who learned shooting after becoming a grandmother. Looking to inspire other young women, Neha, who started her career with UNICEF after completing her education at Wellesley College and Harvard University, is eager to see what the new generation will make of such unforgettable stories. “From organising and using the power of social media to collaborating – the next generation are achievers and doers and I’m so excited to see what the next generation of women will achieve.” Working with the government and civil society to infl uence the education policy of Indian schools, and then spending a year and a half researching and interviewing the women for her book, gave Neha a unique insight into life from the other end of the spectrum, where she discovered the passion, struggle and determination of ordinary women. This inspiration then translated into fi nding a place to call home in Dubai, where she chose to start her family and design her dream home. “So many of the artists that inspired us blurred the line between fact and fi ction. This house is an ode to that, to the idea of the waking dream,” says Neha, explaining the aesthetic of the three-storey residence fi tted with fl oor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views of the city in what is the second-highest residential tower in the world. White marble interspersed with onyx and travertine lend an earthy tone to this home in the clouds, where an 18-foot-long cloud light named ‘le Nuage’ is installed by Wout Wessemius, suspended above a 22-seater dining table to further accentuate the airy vibes. “The home was inspired by the surrealist René Magritte who famously said: ‘If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a translation of the dream.’ And so, the house erases the line between the real and surreal with fl oating onyx, suspended staircases, hidden pathways and indoor clouds,” explains Neha. Offering a luxurious escape from the busy streets below, a walk through this penthouse blurs all notions of reality, creating the illusion of walking, waking, dining and unwinding amongst the clouds. On the 88th fl oor are four terraces, the family living area and the atrium lounge, where an Armani grey marble staircase fl oats over a stunning water feature. Above it hangs the ‘Oh Mei Ma’ chandelier by Ingo Maurer, handcrafted by artisans in Munich while the plunge pool on the same fl oor, one of the highest swimming pools, is situated 300 metres above sea level. Stepping onto the 89th fl oor, the library, home cinema and bar create a relaxing zone in between bespoke ‘his’ and ‘her’ offi ces fi tted with secret passageways and stately cabinets. The most astonishing element on the 90th fl oor is the ‘Tree in the Clouds’ which was built by Italian artisans to create the experience of sitting under a tree with the clouds fl oating by. “The idea is to play with the mind and set fi re to the imagination,” says Neha, of this place she calls home – a place where dreams really do become a reality. Above: The view from the 88th fl oor overlooking the Dubai Marina and JBR, the Dubai Harbour, SZR, JLT and the city’s glittering skyline. Each of the eight outdoor terraces, across three fl oors, are fi tted with Paola Lenti furniture Below: Author and columnist Neha Hiranandani fl ipping through her best-selling book Girl Power! LIFE Your 103 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10327/09/2021 03:33:54 PMFrom top: An interior view of the guest room comprising bespoke furniture, state-of-the-art electronics, walk-in wardrobes with a built-in safe and custom-made carpets; The spacious bathrooms include a full-sized rainshower by Gessi and a Spanish limestone bathtub including premium fi ttings and travertine marble LIFE Your COMPILED BY MARYANNE HAGGAS. PRICE APPROXIMATE 104 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10427/09/2021 03:34:00 PMALL IMA GES C OUR TES Y OF NEHA HIRANAND ANI. DESIGNED B Y LIGHT SP A CE DESIGN, PHO T O S B Y MAHA NA SRA EDDE AND 8TH S TREET S TUDIOS The Armani grey marble staircase opens into the atrium lounge and fl oats above a gorgeous water feature; The 20-feet-high ceiling holds the ‘Oh Mei Ma’ chandelier by Ingo Maurer 105 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_98-105_AFL_Neha_11678009.indd 10527/09/2021 03:34:13 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 106 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_106-111_AFL_Niche corner_11673846-7Sept_11789257.indd 10627/09/2021 03:36:09 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE OF L I F E Enlivened by island-inspired shades and indoor greenery, it’s hard not to fall in love with interior designer Neeshay Nouman’s vibrant villa in Abu Dhabi Words by AYESHA S. SHEHMIR Photography by AASIYA JAGADEESH Colours An interior view of the living space featuring a custom-made shelving unit from The Emporium UAE; Sofa from Al Huzaifa; Coffee and side tables from West Elm and artwork by Zeeshan Ali HBI_050_106-111_AFL_Niche corner_11673846-7Sept_11789257.indd 10727/09/2021 03:36:17 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 108 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The blue-white base palette of interior designer Neeshay Nouman’s airy Abu Dhabi home in Saadiyat Island recalls the serene waters of Greece, complemented by calming greys, mustard yellows and beautiful, faux indoor plants. Upon entrance is an Iranian rug sourced from West Elm, adorned with geometric patterns akin to those found on Islamic prayer mats. An abundance of warm sunshine fi lls the home through fl oor-to-ceiling windows, accentuating the light-coloured furniture. Neeshay, who lives with her husband and two bright young sons, moved into the home – just a three-metre walk away from the sandy Saadiyat Beach – during the summer heat. “I was instantly besotted by all the natural light pouring in from all angles, the lush garden and this beautiful Birds of Paradise tree planted right outside our formal living area,” recalls Neeshay. “The surroundings are absolutely beautiful and we feel very blessed to have that sea breeze around us.” One can’t help but feel a sense of utter joy roaming around the villa, which has clearly been styled with just that intention. Neeshay is the founder of The Niche Corner, an interior design fi rm based in the UAE, fuelled by the ethos that every space should come to life through joyous décor and colour – something her grandmother and mother instilled into her from an early age. “To make up for the lack of snazzy fl ooring in our home, we have tried to invest more in long-term furniture and beautiful rugs that will serve us not only now, but in future too.” T The dining table in Neeshay’s colourful home was sourced from The One, Dubai and wooden buffet console and rug from Wood & Steel Furniture HBI_050_106-111_AFL_Niche corner_11673846-7Sept_11789257.indd 10827/09/2021 03:36:23 PMCREDIT HERE 109 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_106-111_AFL_Niche corner_11673846-7Sept_11789257.indd 10927/09/2021 03:36:38 PMNext >