Born in the USA

Rayban-wearing security guards and a bevy of uniformed reception staff flank your passage as you enter the upscale complex that is Dubai World Trade Centre Residences. One of the first sights is of two uniformed men armed with numerous cloths trying to remove a small mark from a wall. I hear them muttering to themselves as they rub the cloth vigorously across the stain under the watchful eyes of a reception staff member. Home truth says it takes only a few seconds to make a good first impression. In this case, the complex has hit the bullseye. Precisely, one suspects, how the management wants it to be perceived: high end, very classy and home to a discerning few.

This sun-drenched, double-storey penthouse filled with strong silhouettes and an even stronger architectural aesthetic makes quite a few other penthouses in Dubai appear modest in comparison. Neel Shukla, owner of Four Seasons Ramesh Gallery, remembers how his company first embarked on this project. "The client had seen our advertisement in InsideOut magazine on one of his stays in Dubai. Upon his return to France he contacted us via email. On a subsequent trip to Dubai he made a point of visiting our showroom and fell in love with our furniture and lighting collections and we were hired almost immediately to execute the interiors of his penthouse."

A 3,900 square foot space, the apartment is made up of four bedrooms with the formal living and dining area and one bedroom on the ground floor. The family living room is on the upper level. Neel says, "Communication was definitely a major challenge, as the client resides overseas and only visits Dubai occasionally. This penthouse was going to be his personal residence here so his participation was key. We had to wait till he visited Dubai in order for major decisions to be made and sometimes this led to delays."

"Once underway, the project proceeded exactly how I had envisioned it. There was just one area that didn't seem to work to plan and that was the main entrance. A soaring ceiling leading to a well-like space meant that the space displayed a sense of coldness and the slightest noise echoed. I suggested that the client place a large chandelier in this location. We thought that would serve to rectify the situation, but we found out that there was no way the ceiling would be able to support such an endeavour. The client was sceptical and did not want us to break the ceiling, but I gave him my word - if he wasn't happy with the end result, we would put everything back the way it was. Not only did we have to break the ceiling but we also had to provide new wiring to install the chandelier. This was not an easy task as the penthouse was a finished space and extending the wires from a nearby area was challenging, as was refinishing the space. But all's well that ends well and the client was very pleased with the result."

A small alcove in the entryway holds a beautiful piece of art glass from Murano. "We created a series of these art glass sculptures which were commissioned for the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City," says Neel. "We always produce extra artworks and sculptures for all our projects. The client wanted to place a unique piece in this alcove, so we proposed various options and he selected four sculptures. After placing each of them on site, he opted for this particular piece."

"The client was very particular about the way he wanted his home to look. He was very focused and specific in his brief," says Neel. "He did not want a very classical space nor did he want ultra-modern design. For our part, we envisaged the space as a luxurious environment which would not look opulent or over stuffy. He also wanted to evoke a homey feel to his penthouse. Creating a comfortable, living space was his primary objective with attention to detail and harmony in colour and style. He wanted the space to appear subtle and not reek of over-preciousness. When first presented with the brief, we had to create several mood boards and sketches to present to the client in order to ascertain whether we were moving in the right direction. This was the hardest part of the project, as is the case in most design assignments."

Four Seasons Ramesh Gallery was established in Dubai way back in 1970. Originally an art gallery, it evolved into a creative interior supplier of fine furniture, lighting and accessories from the USA and other parts of the world. "I used to work for Ralph Lauren Furniture in Miami," Neel says, " and once I came to Dubai, I realised that there was a need for American styled furniture and interiors. Our style is soft classical and we have gained a solid reputation in offering this style. Our clientele seem to like what we have to offer."

So what does Neel define as a particularly difficult project? "Every client has his or her own vision and demands. When it comes to residential projects, we have encountered various hurdles ranging from colour schemes to placement of furniture based on Feng Shui. Commercially, we are sometimes challenged by constantly changing design concepts, budgets and deadlines. We do look forward to those challenges though, as it keeps us on our toes whilst expanding our boundaries and it enhances our project portfolio."