Filled with sculpture-like bespoke furniture this gallery-esque modern villa in Amman, Jordan, is the result of something quite rare in residential design: the owner giving a creative carte blanche to the designer. “I was lucky enough to have clients who trusted me completely, and I was able to work on the project from its inception, collaborating with the builder,” says Tarek Dada, the Lebanese designer who set up his own studio in Beirut in 2020 after working in his family business, Nabil Dada Interior Architects, which he had also co-directed for years.
The clients are a young couple in their 30s who are passionate about art and design and are well acquainted with Dada's flair for craftsmanship and experimentation with ancient materials such as bronze and wood.
Must Read: This Modernist Villa in Amman Packs a Punch With a Powerhouse Collection of Art
The greatest design stories from AD Middle East, delivered to your inbox
The space proved, however, to be challenging: “The configuration of the house, 600 square metres on three levels, was long and narrow, due to the morphology of the environment. So I designed in detail every piece of furniture, which was otherwise difficult to find, to make the space functional,” he explains. It opens on the middle level, which is the more formal area, with a dining space and a small private lounge. The lower level is the one most dedicated to socialising, overlooking the garden with a pool and an outdoor kitchen area, and, inside, houses a casual living room and the guest area with independent access. The top floor features the bedrooms. "I am trained as an architect, and I also really enjoy designing bespoke furniture to create strong connections between objects and spaces. Sofas, tables, lamps, bar furniture... Almost everything is custom-made to best interpret the taste of the hosts while allowing perfect circulation in the rooms," the designer says.
“Some examples? The dining table is narrow and long, like the room, and is custom-made. At the entrance, on the other hand, there is a large space for which I designed a curved, generous and sculptural sofa: when you enter, you see the back and it is very beautiful, it immediately gives the feeling of a cosy nest. For the living room, I designed two sofas that are set quite far apart to emphasise the airiness of the space, with a coffee table at the centre. All the pieces are made by very talented craftsmen with whom I have been working for years, thanks to the career that began with my father, Nabil; they were quite surprised at my requests for lacquers and shapes, but in the end, they too were thrilled with the result. I rely heavily on their advice. One craftsman, a very good artist, created sculptural pieces and oxidation finishes. The pieces mix bouclés, patinas, lacquers, linens, velvets,” Dada shares.
The importance of materials
“Material sensitivity,” as Dada describes it, was a key concept for this modern villa in Amman. “The dining table has a glossy finish that reflects the light, but also blends in with the environment,” explains the designer, who chose a neutral palette with a few intense colour accents like burgundy which he introduced in the lounge area in an unexpected way.
Similarly, the staircase is covered completely in brass, and its architecture also accommodates and envelops the sofa: “I could see in my mind how over time the material will have a patina, and the burgundy fits perfectly. In addition, the staircase has a gradient; the brass is darker at the base and gradually becomes lighter. Over time, the oxidation will also be different and nuanced,” Dada adds. Upcoming projects? “A house for a couple of collectors, also in Amman, a project in Saudi Arabia and one in Dubai, which is a house that I'm designing in collaboration with other designers and artists. I really believe in collaborations.” @tarekdada
The greatest design stories from AD Middle East, delivered to your inbox
