Luxury Villa Privacy with the Convenience of Apartment Living.

At Dewan, the role on The Melgrano was to translate a simple but ambitious idea into built form: how a home could combine the privacy, volume, and finishes of a luxury villa with the convenience of apartment living. Comprising just 12 residences and The Penthouse, each home was treated as its own villa, shaping the approach to layout, circulation, and spatial experience.

Working closely with the client, 3S Capital, and the interior designers at 1508, the focus was always on how residents inhabit and move through the building. The lobby and arrival sequence were designed to feel composed and intimate, balancing scale and materiality to create a grand sense of arrival. Each apartment is accessed via a direct lift, reinforcing privacy and exclusivity.

Inside, generous 3.5-metre ceilings and open-plan living spaces emphasise volume, while shaded terraces and uninterrupted views of the Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa connect the interiors to the surroundings. The interior architecture is framed by clean lines, with natural stone, bronze and brass-coloured metal accents, and wood-textured panelling beneath the balconies. Overhangs provide subtle shading, and façade lighting was carefully considered so that the building is elegantly illuminated without affecting the homes.

Amenities, including a 25-metre infinity pool, gym, and private spa, were conceived as extensions of the residences, offering spaces for relaxation and wellbeing. The Melgrano shows how careful consideration, restraint, and attention to the essentials create spaces that endure. When these principles guide the design, the architecture feels calm, measured, and lasting.