The Still Abode

The Still Abode is a minimalist residential renovation located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, designed by D’Ora Tokai Designs. In Dubai’s Victory Heights, a fragmented villa has been reimagined through careful spatial restructuring and material cohesion. The 350 m2 project addresses a common challenge in suburban residential architecture – how to transform compartmentalized layouts into flowing environments that support contemporary family life without abandoning a sense of enclosure and intimacy.

The original plan suffered from disconnected rooms and awkward circulation patterns that left corners underutilized and sightlines interrupted. D’Ora Tokai Designs approached the renovation by clarifying movement and visual continuity. A central structural pillar was removed and replaced with a concealed beam, opening the living room to unobstructed garden views. This single gesture fundamentally altered the spatial experience, allowing light and perspective to extend through the interior rather than stopping at arbitrary thresholds.

Arched portals and softened corners appear throughout, framing zones without creating hard boundaries. These curves are not merely decorative – they guide movement and establish transitions between spaces while maintaining an open plan’s generosity. The approach recalls the spatial logic of Mediterranean architecture, where thresholds are celebrated rather than minimized, but rendered here with contemporary restraint.

Material continuity anchors the intervention. Oak flooring runs throughout the home, providing warmth and tactile consistency across zones. Custom cabinetry with curved profiles echoes the arched language, creating formal relationships between fixed and movable elements. In bathrooms, terrazzo pebble tiles introduce gentle texture against otherwise smooth surfaces, offering a controlled moment of variation within the restrained palette.

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