ABOUT

Rona began with an existing five-bedroom beachside villa on Palm Jumeirah. The house had an exceptional location, but its architecture and interior planning did not make full use of it.

The project called for a fundamental rethink of the property rather than a surface-level update. Partial demolition, extension works and architectural changes gave us the opportunity to reconsider how the house should connect with its surroundings and how each part of the interior should relate to the next.

Concept

The waterfront became the reference point for the renovation.

We wanted the experience of the house to become progressively lighter and more open as you move toward the rear of the property. Larger glazed openings bring the pool, beach and water into the living spaces, while the new exterior uses simplified white volumes, dark window frames and transparent balcony balustrades to give the original villa a completely different architectural identity.

Inside, the aim was continuity without making every room identical. Warm timber, pale stone, smoked glass and soft neutral fabrics form a common material language, but each bedroom and bathroom has its own composition and character.

The entrance and staircase were treated as important parts of the experience rather than circulation spaces. The double-height foyer uses a suspended sculptural light, large mirrored surfaces and tall stone planes. Beside it, the timber staircase becomes a visible architectural element through glass balustrades and integrated step lighting.

Execution

The transformation involved the exterior and interior as one coordinated project.

The building was partially demolished and extended before the new layout, facade and internal spaces were developed. Large openings were introduced toward the pool and waterfront, while the rear terrace was reorganised to create a closer relationship between the main living rooms and the outdoor areas.

The family and formal living rooms were given different roles. One centers on a travertine-clad television wall and relaxed curved seating. The other faces the waterfront directly, with a conversational furniture arrangement and a large suspended light defining the space.

Private rooms continue the architectural approach. Headboards become part of full wall compositions rather than separate furniture pieces. Wardrobes are integrated behind smoked glass. Dressing areas combine storage, mirrors and custom joinery, while bathrooms use stone, timber and translucent fixtures as part of the same material story.

Lighting was integrated into stairs, joinery, wall junctions, mirrors and ceiling details. This allowed the architecture and materials to provide much of the visual character without filling the rooms with decorative elements.

Result

The completed villa feels fundamentally different from the house that preceded it.

The waterfront now influences the experience of the home from the main living areas through to the bedrooms and pool terrace. Interior spaces feel connected without becoming repetitive, and practical elements such as wardrobes, dressing tables, television walls and bathroom storage have become part of the architecture.

What began as the renovation of an existing Palm Jumeirah villa became a reworking of how the property relates to light, movement and its beachside setting.

The result is a contemporary family home whose identity comes from the relationship between architecture, interior detailing and the water outside.