A Stone Island thrusts from the ocean sheltering an inner world. A serene and mysterious Mansion is imbedded in a limestone wall and shaded by a dichroic glass crystal shaped akin to the sails of a dhow. Gardens flow from the arcing wall framing views back to Doha and the Gulf. Deep time is evoked by Qatari limestone in juxtaposition to the “James Bond 007” aspects of the villa. Limestone slabs shelter and embrace a luxurious interior life with interconnecting gardens, terraces and pools.
Dune forms, Saif, Hilal all inform the subtly arcing Qatari Limestone Mansion walls. The Mansion’s massing as it plunges into the sea recalls Zubara Fort. Massive walls with a surface rough hewn by the desert wind protect the mansion from the elements and while containing a white marble interior analogous to an oyster shell containing a pearl. The desert seems still and calm but as the day ends it comes alive - the inner garden becomes an inviting oasis during the cooler nights. At night the dichroic glass crystalline structure, recalling the sails of a dhow or inviting Bedu tents, glows like firelight. |
