Let's face it, city living is not easy. There's the traffic, the pollution, the daily grind of work in an artificial environment, never mind the stress that accompanies it.
And anyone who lives in Dubai will testify that here, it is particularly difficult. In fact some would say that the only way to cope with this energetic city is to have an escape, somewhere you can go to at the weekend to unwind and leave your worries behind.
And all that is exactly what Sufian Ali Saeed Bin Suloom's Fujairah villa offers. It is an oasis of calm situated in a tranquil environment by the beautiful beaches of Fujairah.
The first thing to hit you about this stunning villa is the sea. Its extremely close proximity to the Indian Ocean permeates the interiors, and this is evident from the moment you cross the threshold.
Too often modern architecture ignores its surrounding environs, so it's refreshing to find a building that does not look out of place, not only from the outside but also in terms of its decor..
Walking through the spacious rooms, you can hear the gentle sound of the waves as they lap upon the shore, the far-off cry of seagulls and the singing of the wind as it wraps itself around this unique structure which, for Sufian, Chairman of the Bin Suloom Group, has been nothing less than a labour of love.
Bought two years ago, it is hard to believe that it was once little more than a rundown holiday home with crumbling walls, mildew and broken pipes. Even then, seeing its potential, Sufian was determined to make it his own.
“This villa was been built by a gentleman from Sharjah, but it had never been used,'' he tells InsideOut. At the time I was planning to buy a farm in the Northern Emirates. I wanted somewhere where I could bring my family and friends on the weekend and get away from the stress of Dubai – just leave the city behind and forget about everything.
“I saw an ad in the newspaper advertising a farm in Fujairah, but when I got there, the man showed me this villa located on the seafront. ‘Where is the farm?' I asked and he said there never was one, but if I really wanted a farm, he could show me one.''
Although Sufian agreed to see the farm, he couldn't get the seafront villa out of his head. “Driving there, I kept thinking about the place and its amazing view of the ocean. When you stand there and look out, the vista takes your breath away. The air is crisp and clean and there is nothing else for miles around. I thought to myself, ‘Hold on, why do I need a farm in the middle of the mountains?' I asked the man to take me back to the house. I had one more look and I decided to take it.''
That was just the beginning of Sufian's relationship with this villa. Today the elegant home, which stands proudly in front of the sea and the barren rocky landscape of Fujairah, has been completely gutted and rebuilt, but it still maintains its original structure.
According to Daousser Channoufi, Chief Architect and Chairman of the architectural firm Draw Link, this was a much harder task than building a place from scratch. “The main challenge lay in remaking this villa using the existing structure,'' he says.
“Before we began work, it had a very basic architectural style. Only the land had any real value because the house was so rundown. But by adding to the structure instead of demolishing it, we have managed to make it a contemporary and attractive weekend villa,'' he says.
The revamped building was raised a full metre above the ground and has underlit, terraced steps outside that lead straight to the water's edge.
The garden was replanted with a green lawn and statuesque palm trees. The swimming pool too was completely redone. When once it was an unattractive, open-air pool with Romanesque arches, not in keeping with scale, now it would fit quite well in a five-star hotel complete with its Jacuzzi, steam room and plunge pool, as well as comfortable seating and wooden doors.
Inside, the initial four bedrooms – two upstairs and two downstairs – have been extended to make five spacious bedrooms. The open-plan layout allows for high ceilings and plenty of light to pour in through the large windows.
The house faces northeast, which is perfect for the Fujairah climate, as this means that the only direct sunlight that hits the house is in the early morning.
Senior architect and designer Salma Adlou and interior designer Fahda Barrak, both of whom also work for Draw Link, played an integral part in the building's overhaul.
“The main idea was to convert this home into a place purely for relaxation. We wanted the architecture and interior design to reflect this, providing a total contrast to the stressful life of the city,'' explains Salma.
“The challenge was two-part. First we tackled the extension and attempted to make the best possible use of the space, and then we tried to make the interior reflect the surrounding area,'' says Salma. The end result beautifully mirrors its environment.
“We used natural materials that were locally sourced as much as possible,'' says Fahda, “such as the white marble tiles on the floors, the grey granite, wooden furniture, glass surfaces and linen curtains. The walls and furnishings are predominantly white to give an open, airy feel, and we tried to echo the sea with touches of turquoise and blue in the furnishings. Soft mood lighting was another feature enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere.''
The end result is a luxurious home which, although clearly contemporary in style, has a homely and relaxing feel. Walking through its elegant interior, it is easy to imagine Sufian and his family and friends relaxing in the comfortable chill-out areas and open-plan sitting room, enjoying long meals in the dining space, and generally having fun, the sound of music, laughter and companionship resonating from the house.
“We go every weekend,'' explains Sufian. “It is exactly 142 kilometres from my home in Mamzar, Dubai and it takes me just an hour and a half to reach by car. On the weekends, I sometimes go with mine and my sister's family, about 12 to 13 people in total. The kids love it and they especially love the pool. Other times I bring my friends and we barbeque and go diving, and of course, they enjoy themselves immensely.
“All week long I look forward to going to my villa in Fujairah on the weekend, simply to escape the stress of city life, leave behind my worries and just relax,'' he smiles. “Everything we need is at hand. And now that it is all set up, it's just like having my own private resort.''
