House O in Jumeirah 3 has been reimagined as a sleek, contemporary home designed to suit the rhythm of modern family life
House O’s Elegant Revival in the Heart of Jumeirah
House O’s Elegant Revival in the Heart of Jumeirah

Project Location: Jumeirah 3, Dubai, UAE
Program: Renovation of Architecture, Interior Design & Landscape
Total Built-up area: 7,750 sqft
Status: Completed
Completion date: August 2024
Design by: archiSENSE studio
Design team: Raha Milani, Maryam Karji, Roham Milani
Photography: Oculis Project

The renovation of House O in Jumeirah 3, Dubai, aimed to transform an unremarkable and dated house into a modern-contemporary style, overcoming significant design challenges to achieve this transformation. The objective behind the design was to tailor the home to modern family life, focusing on effortless external and internal flow, increasing access to natural light, as well as forming appropriate divisions between private and communal spaces.

The original house, with its beige facades, small windows, and detached services, lacked aesthetic appeal and functionality. The house was completely redesigned and overhauled, focusing on clean lines, modern and contemporary aesthetics. The exterior was transformed from beige to an all-white façade, providing a sleek and cohesive appearance. All the windows were redesigned with respect to the floor plan using bronze metal and aluminum, maximizing natural light.

The ground floor of the house was designed to consist of repetitive arched windows. Whereas the arches along the pool at the villa’s entrance resulted in a dreamy juxtaposition between architecture and landscape due to its reflection and replication of arches, evoking a feeling of entering an intimate space. This feeling was further enhanced by the open space planning and fluid flow inside, making the experience of the spaces more connected and coherent. The use of arches helped frame different zones with its foreground and background, and allowed the landscape to penetrate through all the internal layers.

The new layout also ensured that the main living areas were oriented to enjoy the scenic surroundings and have a smooth and easy access to the guestroom, playroom, and services. Connecting these areas directly to the main house resulted in creating a more functional space. This change not only increased the usable areas but also provided an easy flow, enjoying the surroundings.

The previous guest bedroom on the ground floor was expanded to create a more functional space with a double height and panoramic views. This change gave the opportunity to have an open show kitchen with an island overlooking the family living and the backyard, along with a number of repetitive arched windows. The staircase was also merged with family living space and was replaced by wooden steps, metallic and solid balustrade, which not only added a modern touch but also allowed natural light to flood the interior space, improving visual permeability. A skylight was also added on top of the staircase, enhancing the flow of light and the sense of openness.

House O's new layout also ensured that the main living areas were oriented to enjoy the scenic surroundings
House O’s new layout also ensured that the main living areas were oriented to enjoy the scenic surroundings

The renovation of House O tried to transform a dated and impractical house into a modern, contemporary, light-filled home suitable for a small family. By focusing on functionality, flow, clean lines, practical materials, and maximizing natural light. The design team worked significantly to create a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing house that takes full advantage of its beautiful surroundings.