(2001) Sheikha Fatima Palace

Balancing the formal and private realms within this 7,700 sqm palatial retreat demanded a highly nuanced approach, one that reconciled the complex personal needs of its end users with a design language that mediates between ostentation and restraint.

At the ground level, privacy is paramount. Two master bedroom suites and four bungalow suites are arranged along a single-loaded arched corridor that curves gracefully around the swimming pool, culminating in a gym and clubhouse pavilion. This layout ensures that residents enjoy seamless access to the gardens at all times, while preserving an atmosphere of intimacy and seclusion. Each bungalow is slightly elevated to optimize views over the landscaped grounds, with independent access from a private rear road—providing flexibility tailored to the age and needs of its occupants.

Public functions are purposefully separated to the first floor, accessed via an arched ceremonial ramp. This level accommodates the two grand reception halls (majlesses) and their adjoining dining, sitting, and projection rooms, all arranged axially around a dramatic central hall. Large aquariums animate the skylit volumes throughout the day, reinforcing the spatial grandeur. Material selections—aged barrel roof tiles, pink Carrara marble, gold mosaics, red marble columns, and solid oak window frames—imbue the architecture with a richness befitting its royal stature.

The architectural vocabulary combines a soft palette of materials with water features, fountains, and extensive gardens, producing an uplifting resort-like quality. In doing so, the project transcends the conventional typologies of palace design, becoming instead a carefully orchestrated environment that elevates both spirit and lifestyle. It is, at its essence, a weekend retreat of distinction: simultaneously formal and familial, ceremonial and personal.