RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
WINNER Messila Villa, Kuwait, by Walid Sfeir
A collection that features works by Zaha Hadid, Yayoi Kusama, Shahriar Ahmadi and Ayman El-Saadawy, amongst other regional and international masters requires equally lofty staging. And that is exactly what the multifaceted designer Walid Sfeir and his team delivered for this majestic family home in the coastal Kuwaiti town of Messila.
Sfeir, who launched his design studio in 1995 is no stranger to grand homes; along with his sister Gina, an expert in antiques and furniture, he has masterminded luxurious spaces that effortlessly bridge cultures and time. With this home, that is part of a 15,000 square metres compound and features a vaulted, glass-capped courtyard, he ups the ante yet again. Tasked with designing the villa from scratch meant that Sfeir had to envision recurring themes that would connect not only separate houses for three generations of the family but also the grand outdoors. A composition of contrasting marbles, strong geometric patterns, luxe materials, handwoven textiles, sweeping arches and an unexpected colour palette that is both bold and soothing creates the perfect foil for a lifetime’s collection of sculptures and paintings whilst imbuing this multi-generational home of palatial proportions with warmth and character. This is clearly the work of a designer at the peak of their powers. walidsfeir.com