Restoring and transforming a 1980’s Jumeirah Villa to create a multi purpose space and new customer journey through the Villa 515 premises.

With an existing perfumery & daytime cafe on the property, the perfumer client approached Non to further expand the Villa 515 offering to include a Restaurant on the Ground Floor and multifunctional spaces for offices, private dining, events & exhibitions on the newly formed Upper Floor by puncturing the roof level and placing a spiral staricase as the central focus. The staircase was inspired by the swirling fumes of the bukhoor scent once burning and the construction of the old forts found in the UAE, the spiral staircase is finished with a clay from Clayworks to resemble the traditional construction of forts also giving it depth with the texture. Once on the first floor you are presented with an unexpected roof garden with views of the low rise Jumeirah Neighbourhood.

Drawing on a local vernacular, The Barjeel room was positoned on the corner of the building creating a distinct feature at Villa 515. The raised structure and arched shaped windows follow the traditional Barjeel language evoking a sense of nostalgia. With the use of a foldable glass system, the spaces are able to close and retract depending on the use, giving it flexibility and an ability to transform. On the ground floor, the building envelope was punctured on all sides to connect it back to the garden, through french doors, sliding windows, and randomly placed square openings.

A variety of tiles were used throughout the project, from the herringbone terracotta tile, bejmat tiles, and a custom palm print pattern born from the clients existing perfume brand, Tola.