Nasayem
Location
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Category
Residential
Scope
Brand, Space, Product
Awards
- Architecture Masterprize: Residential Interior, Winner
- Built Design Awards: Interior Design, Residential Winner
- Interior Design Best of Year Awards: City House, Honoree
Selected Press
Design Milk, New Norm, Marie Claire, Design Anthology, Architectural Digest: Middle East
Nasayem—an Arabic term meaning "gentle winds"—is a private residence that reinterprets the nomadic traditions of the client’s Bedouin heritage, blending cultural reverence with environmental sensitivity. Inspired by the resilience, adaptability, and artisanal legacy of desert tribes, the design harmonises communal gathering with intimate retreat, creating a sanctuary that balances connection and solitude.
The central courtyard, home to a 200 year old Olea Europaea tree
Nasayem inspires an architectural approach that recognises the wind not as an external force to resist, but as a co-creator in the built environment.
The design weaves together the desert-born typologies of Maghrebi riads and historic Emirati courtyards—a dialogue between tradition and place. Courtyards anchor the home as both a social nucleus and a climatic mediator, channeling airflow for natural ventilation while offering shelter from sun and wind-blown sand.
Isometric sketch of arabic courtyards
Layers of solid teak latticework soften the sun’s intensity, casting patterns of light and shadow that define boundaries between public and private spaces. Operable panels slide and pivot to modulate light, air, and privacy—creating a home that breathes with both climate and inhabitant.
Beyond function, the screens evoke Abu Dhabi’s architectural heritage where structures once responded poetically to the desert, now reimagined through cross-cultural dialogue and sustainability.
A cellar transformed into a collector's retreat—a cabinet of curiosities to be savoured.
Curvilinear geometry creates fluidity within the circulation, orchestrating movement between its dual access points—the main entrance and kitchen passage. Clad in light plaster, its organic contours contrast with the courtyard’s geometric screens, creating sanctuary for private tastings or intimate gatherings.
Bespoke shelving, lighting, coffee table, and seating—each element an invitation to linger and pause
The lounge's bespoke coffee table is a sculptural take on Middle Eastern villages. Like all custom furnishings in the space, it is a story made tangible—designed with intention, shaped by hand, and inspired by the transient beauty of the desert. Drawing from the simplicity of Bedouin shelters, the mystery of lost desert cities, and the ever-shifting lines of sand dunes, these pieces embody a sense of movement and memory.
“Spelaion” Lantern
“Kangaroo” Lounge Chair
Wood carving details on bar counter
Kitchen cabinetry & marble work
Teak latticework and hand-carved wood are harvested from cultural influences of the nomadic Bedouin tribes, transforming functional elements into meaningful cultural touchstones—details that honor tradition while bringing warmth to modern spaces.
Master bathroom
Vanity featuring bespoke wall lights
The residence allocates rooms for both physical repose and mental restoration. Weaving wellness into the home, dedicated spaces for mindful rituals—areas for meditation and breathing exercises—are separate from the bedroom to create space.
The outdoor areas are natural extensions of the interior, blurring boundaries between architecture and landscape to create harmony with the surrounding environment.
The living pergola filters sunlight across the pool terrace
- 1. Gym
- 2. Car Park
- 3. To Basement
- 4. Service Kitchen
- 5. Open Kitchen
- 6. Playroom
- 7. Winery
- 8. Washroom
- 9. Dining
- 10. Entrance
- 11. Courtyard
- 12. Terrace & Pool Deck
- 13. Lounge
- 14. Living Room
- 15. Guest Lounge
- 16. Guest Suite 1
- 17. Guest Suite 2
- 18. Pool
- 19. Jacuzzi
- 20. Spa
- 1. Terrace
- 2. Canopy
- 3. Washroom
- 4. Atelier
- 5. Office Mantuary
- 6. Open Mezzanine
- 7. Terrace
- 8. Kids Room
- 9. Kids Washroom
- 10. Walk-in Closet
- 11. Master Salon
- 12. Master Bedroom
- 13. Ensuite Bathroom
- 14. Nursery
- 1. Washroom
- 2. Laundry Room
- 3. Cinema
- 4. Beverage & Snacks
- 5. Car Park
- 6. To Ground Floor
