Elegance and luxury in the heart of Dubai.
Villa Sontuosa is a residence in Umm Al Sheif, in the western reaches of Dubai. The interior pairs fine materials with classical European-style furnishings inflected by Art Deco, a register that holds historical reference and contemporary luxury in measured balance through pieces by Baxter, Poliform, Poltrona Frau, and Giorgetti. The project was developed by Etereo Design in collaboration with Interni and takes its cue from the spatial logic of the resort. Composed of several living areas alongside a spa and a private gym, the house is conceived to read as a place of repose.
Drawing on both Italian and Middle Eastern references, the villa is a contemporary residence built around pieces from Minotti, Flexform, and Molteni, and detailed in marble, bronze, and smoked oak. Marble is the defining material of the house, with more than twenty-five varieties sourced from quarries around the world, some custom 3D-printed, deployed as a connective element throughout the rooms.
The stones selected for the principal spaces include Yves Saint Laurent marble in the kitchen, Collemandina in the dining room, Calacatta Grigio in the guest bathroom, and Chinese White Beauty in the principal bedroom.
Etereo Design's brief was to produce an elegant and contemporary interior in fine materials while accommodating the cultural and social practices of the client. To that end, a separate guest wing was developed, divided from the family living quarters by sliding doors and timber shutters that allow the two zones to function independently or as a single continuous space when required. Alongside the aesthetic program, the studio dedicated significant work to sustainability, with particular focus on water and energy conservation.
The glazing, specified with high UV performance, is fitted with a drainage system that feeds a collection tank used for irrigation. In keeping with the regional setting, the project also incorporates Mashrabiya, the traditional Middle Eastern screening technique, which moderates daytime heat while admitting light and air through the residence.
