In a prestigious pocket of Dubai’s Arabian Ranches, a once-traditional villa has been transformed into a striking contemporary home where brutalist minimalism is softened by craftsmanship, light and a deeply personal design language. Interior architect Marie Claire Mrad reimagines raw materials and sculptural form through a bespoke approach that balances boldness with warmth.
Set within Al Mahra, a sought-after residential community known for its landscaped parks, walking trails and proximity to world-class amenities, the villa belongs to Christopher Hani, owner and CEO of Bull Contracting, the firm responsible for the project’s general contracting and joinery works. He shares the home with his wife, Bridie Ellen, and their young daughter. In their mid-30s, the couple’s energetic lifestyle and love of entertaining informed every design decision.
Completed originally in 2007, the villa drew from traditional Arabic architecture, with earth-toned exteriors and an emphasis on outdoor living. The full renovation, however, dramatically redefined the interior. All internal walls were removed to create a flowing open-plan layout that moves around a dramatic double-height staircase and opens seamlessly onto the outdoor pool terrace.
“The concept itself was not typical of Dubai’s residential projects,” says Marie Claire Mrad. “We introduced elements such as brushed stainless steel wall cladding, a glowing bar made of Patagonia — a rare and luxurious natural stone — and fully customized furniture and lighting to create something truly bespoke for this villa.”
At the heart of the home is the luminous Patagonia stone bar, shipped from Lebanon and stretching over 13 feet in length. Acting as both visual anchor and social hub, it contrasts sharply with the surrounding palette of charcoal, steel grey and dark stone. “These colours were chosen to highlight the raw beauty of the materials while creating a moody atmosphere,” Marie Claire explains. Touches of blue add freshness and relief, preventing the darker tones from feeling too heavy and introducing a refined contemporary elegance.
Natural light plays a crucial role. A central skylight draws daylight deep into the home, while a sculptural staircase becomes a focal point connecting the two floors. “I wanted the home to feel bold, yet warm and livable,” Marie Claire says. “The interplay of natural light through the skylight and the opening façade, along with the contrast between rough textures and softer elements guided many design decisions.”
One of the project’s greatest challenges lay in material restraint. “The main difficulty was working with raw materials such as brushed stainless steel, lava stone, and charcoal steel, finding the right balance so that they made a bold design statement without making the house feel cold,” Marie Claire confesses. “It was about delicacy in the use of these materials to ensure the overall atmosphere remained warm, inviting, and livable.”
A fully bespoke philosophy underpins the entire home. Every piece of furniture and all lighting were designed and executed by Marie Claire Mrad’s Beirut studio. Technical ingenuity was equally important. Instead of conventional sliding doors, Bull Contracting installed a remote-controlled mechanism allowing all glass panels to slide to one side, opening the interior entirely to the outdoor terrace and pool.
Spanning approximately 425 square metres across two floors, with an additional 320 square metres of outdoor living, the villa is designed for both openness and privacy. The ground floor houses the kitchen, bar, dining and living areas, a guest suite, family room and powder room, all oriented towards the terrace. Upstairs, private quarters include a generous main suite with freestanding bath and walk-in wardrobe, along with three additional en suite bedrooms.
Art and global influences complete the home. A Spider chandelier by Mb-Designlab Paris anchors the main living space, while a dramatic face mask sculpture by Cape Town artist Marco Oliver commands the double-height stairwell. Sculptures from Thailand and a painting from Bali further enrich the layered narrative, creating a home that feels both worldly and deeply personal.
Bold yet elegant, raw yet refined, this Dubai villa is a testament to how brutalist minimalism can be reimagined through warmth, light and bespoke craftsmanship — a home designed not just to impress, but to be lived in.
Credits
Interior design by Marie Claire Mrad, Instagram: @mc_mrad
Images: Walid Rashid, Instagram: @walidrsd
Production by Karine Monié, Instagram: @karinemonie
