Private residence, Saadiyat Reserve, Abu Dhabi. The brief: monumental but livable. In a climate that hits 45°C in August, that meant solving for passive cooling before anything else.
Massive volumes of light travertine. Every corner rounded, every overhang calculated for shade — the south-facing ones cut direct solar gain by roughly 30%. Not a decorative choice. The difference between a usable terrace and a heat trap.
The entrance is the one loud moment: a cast bronze arch with a hammered texture. It marks the threshold and then gets out of the way. Inside, everything quiets down around an internal courtyard with a central tree. Light and air enter. The street doesn’t.
Rear facade opens fully to a sunken lounge and pool. Large-format porcelain tiles, textured plaster, fire features. The sunken position drops ambient temperature a few degrees compared to grade — basic physics, works reliably.
