Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla by Mai Wahdan

Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla by Mai Wahdan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Zilver in Interieur en Tentoonstellingsontwerp Competition Category.

ZilverInterieur· 2026

Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla

by Mai Wahdan

A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Interieur Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla

Boektekst: Ridge House is een privévilla-interieur dat is vormgegeven door de dramatische bergkammen van AlUla. Het ontwerp vertaalt geologische massa en erosie naar gebeeldhouwde volumes, getextureerde oppervlakken en gecontroleerde schaduw. Dubbelhoge ruimtes versterken de verticale diepte, terwijl vloer-tot-plafond beglazing verre landschappen omkadert en het interieur naar de horizon verlengt. Op maat gemaakte GRC-bekleding en selectief kalksteenfineer creëren een monolithische maar verfijnde sfeer, waarin de expressie van ruwe materialen en ruimtelijke precisie een geaarde en meeslepende woonervaring definiëren.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Zilver

Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. Ridge House Primaire Functie: Privévilla is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Ridge House is a private villa interior defined by sculpted mass and material continuity. Unlike conventional luxury residences that rely on ornamentation, this project derives its identity from monolithic stone cladding, controlled shadow, and double height volumes. The strength of the design lies in its restraint, where raw texture, precise detailing, and framed mountain views create a grounded yet refined spatial experience shaped by depth and light.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total built up area 1240 sqm. The principal living space features a double height volume with approximately 7.2 m clear height, while remaining areas maintain standard residential ceiling proportions. The program includes 4 private bedroom suites with en suite bathrooms and an open plan living dining kitchen core. Feature walls utilize custom molded GRC panels fixed to concealed steel subframes, with selective 15 to 20 mm limestone veneer at focal elements. Integrated linear lighting is recessed within cladding junctions to emphasize surface depth and shadow articulation. Full height architectural glazing frames mountain views and ensures thermal performance.
Tags: Ridge House, Luxury Villa Interior, Mountain Inspired Design, Monolithic Interior, GRC Cladding, Double Height Living Space, Sculpted Volumes, Contemporary Residential Design, AlUla Residence
Production Technology: The interior is developed over a reinforced concrete structural framework. Feature walls are constructed using custom molded GRC panels mounted on concealed steel subframes to achieve large scale geological textures while minimizing structural load. Select focal elements utilize thin cut natural limestone veneer over lightweight cores. CNC fabrication ensured dimensional precision, while integrated grazing lighting enhances surface depth and shadow articulation.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was achieving a raw, mountain inspired interior without compromising livability and proportion. Translating geological mass into refined residential space required careful control of scale, light, and circulation. Balancing heavy textured surfaces with expansive glazing demanded precision in detailing and lighting integration. Production feasibility, panel weight limitations, and constructability were key technical constraints addressed through material research and system coordination.
Research: Type of Research: Applied interior design research. Research Objectives: To translate mountain geology into livable interior space while preserving comfort. Methodology: Spatial analysis and material prototyping. Data Collection and Tools Used: Site studies, client interviews, 3D modeling, and cladding mock ups. Participants: Client and technical consultants. Results: Balanced mass and openness. Insights and Impacts: Demonstrates how raw material language can enhance residential identity and experiential quality in contemporary housing.
Inspiration: Ridge House was conceived as an interior interpretation of the mountain ridges of AlUla and the client’s affinity for raw, elemental environments. The inspiration emerged from the geological character of the region, where mass, erosion, and shadow define spatial experience. The design investigates how interior architecture can evoke the permanence and gravity of natural formations while maintaining residential comfort. By sculpting volumes through material continuity and controlled light, the project seeks to create a grounded sanctuary where strength and refinement coexist in quiet balance.
Project Duration: The project commenced in January 2025 in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and was completed in July 2025. The design phase included concept development, spatial planning, material research, and technical coordination to ensure a coherent and buildable interior environment.
Operation Flow: Ridge House is organized around a central double height living space that acts as the heart of the home. Upon entry, the eye is drawn upward and outward toward framed mountain views. The open plan arrangement allows daily life and social gatherings to flow naturally without rigid separation. Private suites are positioned away from the main volume, creating quiet retreats while remaining visually connected. The layout balances openness and privacy, offering both shared energy and personal calm.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Mai Wahdan, 2025.
Team Members: Mai Wahdan
Image Credits: Image #1: Architectural Visualizer Mai Wahdan (Designer) Mai Wahdan, Ridge House, 2025.
Image #2: Architectural Visualizer Mai Wahdan (Designer) Mai Wahdan, Ridge House, 2025.
Image #3: Architectural Visualizer Mai Wahdan (Designer) Mai Wahdan, Ridge House, 2025.
Image #4: Architectural Visualizer Mai Wahdan (Designer) Mai Wahdan, Ridge House, 2025.
Image #5: Architectural Visualizer Mai Wahdan (Designer) Mai Wahdan, Ridge House, 2025.