Al Barari Apartment
Al Barari Apartment
BONE
MANUFACTURERS
Design Itch, Kvadrat, Prado, Quadro Design, Slo Ceramics
ARCHITECTURAL PRINICIPAL & DIRECTOR
Achraf Mzily
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FF&E
Natalie Mahakian
ARCHITECT & COORDINATOR
Inass Mzily
TECHNICAL ARCHITECT
Lorenz Gamboa
YEAR
2025
LOCATION
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORY
Apartment Interiors
Text description provided by architect.
Nestled in the lush heart of Dubai's Al Barari community, this 150 sqm apartment was reimagined as a warm and soulful sanctuary that echoes the surrounding greenery.
The brief was to create a home that feels like an extension of the landscape—a space where mid-century influences and contemporary sensibilities coexist with ease, and where natural light, flow, and materiality guide the design language.
Originally a one-bedroom apartment, the layout was reconfigured to introduce a second bedroom and a second full bathroom, all without compromising on openness or intimacy.
The transformation centered around enhancing functionality and spatial coherence. This meant reducing oversized, underutilized areas and introducing a raised circulation path that now connects the entrance to the master suite.
This intervention created subtle topography within the apartment, defining communal zones without enclosing them, and offering uninterrupted views across the space and out to the landscape beyond.
At the heart of the apartment sits the kitchen—an intentional departure from conventional layouts. Flanked by the dining and living areas, it serves as the central element for both daily rituals and hosting.
A handcrafted spinal joinery cabinet acts as a spine to this open layout, tying together the main spaces while offering storage, display, and subtle division. A lilac-toned curtain slides along its length, introducing lightness and flexibility.
Materiality played a central role in establishing mood and comfort. A tactile lime-based stucco envelopes the walls and ceilings, bringing warmth, texture, and acoustic softness.
In contrast, handmade glazed green tiles punctuate the surfaces with depth and vibrancy.
Kvadrat curtains in coral, green, and lilac tones add softness and chromatic rhythm, while rich nut-toned timber and cork floors ground the interior in a natural palette.
The bedrooms are finished with cork—a forgiving, quiet material that enhances the sense of calm and comfort.
The bathrooms showcase bold material juxtapositions: stainless steel cladding for the custom shower-bathtub enclosure contrasts with soft-hued Portuguese stone, playing with temperature and texture in a single, sculptural gesture.
Throughout the home, contrasts—rough and smooth, matte and glazed, opaque and translucent—define the experience.
These layered textures are not simply aesthetic; they're emotional cues that encourage lingering, reflection, and a deep sense of belonging.
This project reflects a continued exploration of space as a living entity—one that evolves with its inhabitants and engages all the senses.
