Silver Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Ridge House Private Villa
by Mai Wahdan
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 22,290
- Verification code 32BCB48998 · Verify this award
About Ridge House Private Villa
Ridge House is a private villa interior shaped by the dramatic mountain ridges of Alula. The design interprets geological mass and erosion through sculpted volumes, textured surfaces, and controlled shadow. Double height spaces enhance vertical depth, while full height glazing frames distant landscapes and extends the interior toward the horizon. Custom Grc cladding and selective limestone veneer create a monolithic yet refined atmosphere, where raw material expression and spatial precision define a grounded and immersive residential experience.
Mai Wahdan's Ridge House Private Villa emerges as a compelling meditation on the dialogue between geological permanence and human habitation, positioning itself within the contemporary movement that seeks to honor natural materials while providing refined domestic comfort. The design demonstrates remarkable sensitivity in its preservation and celebration of the existing rock formation, which appears to have been carefully integrated rather than concealed, suggesting an architectural philosophy that privileges site-specific response over imposed formal systems. The technical achievement of this interior lies in its orchestration of scale relationships, where the monumentality of the stone feature wall neither overwhelms nor diminishes the human-scaled seating arrangement below, but rather creates a productive tension that elevates everyday domestic activities into experiences of contemplative dwelling. The chromatic strategy reveals sophisticated understanding of tonal modulation, with warm amber and taupe notes threading through textiles, wood, and decorative elements to create visual warmth against the cooler gray stone mass, while the strategic placement of matte black fixtures provides necessary visual anchoring without disrupting the meditative calm. One might observe how the pendant light installation functions both practically and poetically, its descending spheres suggesting celestial bodies or perhaps geological specimens rendered luminous, creating a vertical counterpoint to the horizontal repose of the seating below. The inclusion of dried botanical elements and the organic patterning of floor textiles extends the natural material vocabulary beyond the dominant stone feature, establishing a consistent environmental language that speaks to biophilic design principles and humanity's innate connection to natural forms. This work invites contemplation of how contemporary luxury might be redefined not through ostentation but through the patient appreciation of materials bearing evidence of deep time and the careful craft that honors their inherent character.
Press Kit
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Mai Wahdan, 2025.
Colors of Ridge House Private Villa
Design Interview about Ridge House Private Villa
Ridge House was inspired by the layered rock formations and natural landscape of AlUla. The design explores the idea of architecture emerging from the terrain, creating a strong connection between the built environment and nature. Through natural materials, expansive glazing, and biophilic design principles, the house was conceived to provide a calm, light-filled living experience rooted in its surroundings.
My main focus was to create a seamless connection between architecture and nature. I wanted to achieve a home that feels calm, timeless, and deeply connected to its surroundings, while maximizing natural light, views, privacy, and the overall living experience.
Ridge House serves as a prototype for future residential projects that explore the relationship between architecture, landscape, and wellbeing. The design principles developed through this project will continue to evolve and inspire future work focused on creating meaningful, nature-connected living environments.
The concept development and interior design process took approximately four months, including research, space planning, material selection, and the refinement of the overall design vision.
Ridge House was a commissioned project. The design was developed in response to the client’s desire for a contemporary luxury residence that feels connected to nature. At the same time, it provided an opportunity to explore my interest in creating architecture and interiors that draw inspiration from the surrounding landscape and promote a sense of wellbeing.
Ridge House is a commissioned residential project currently being developed for a private client. At this stage, there are no plans to sell or license the design, as it was created specifically for its intended site and client requirements.
I have always been interested in designing residential spaces because they have a direct impact on people’s daily lives. Ridge House provided an opportunity to explore how architecture, interiors, and nature can work together to create a living environment that is both functional and emotionally engaging.
Grand Interview about Ridge House Private Villa
The concept emerged from studying AlUla’s geological formations and the way nature has shaped them over time. I was inspired by their sense of permanence and wanted to translate that into a contemporary living environment. This led to the use of sculpted volumes, monolithic surfaces, natural textures, and carefully framed light, creating spaces that feel carved from the landscape rather than simply built within it.
AlUla’s landscape was the primary influence behind the project. The material palette was inspired by the region’s natural tones and textures, leading to the use of stone-inspired surfaces, earthy colors, and organic forms. Spatially, the design emphasizes framed views, natural light, and a strong connection to the surrounding environment.I believe the future of residential design lies in creating spaces that respond to their context rather than following universal trends. Designs that draw inspiration from their location tend to feel more authentic, meaningful, and timeless.
The use of custom GRC panels allowed us to achieve the visual depth and scale of carved stone while significantly reducing weight and structural demands. The system provided greater design flexibility, enabling the creation of large monolithic surfaces and complex textures that would have been difficult and costly to achieve using solid stone.Beyond this project, I believe such solutions demonstrate how advanced materials can bridge the gap between aesthetics and performance. They offer designers new opportunities to create expressive, large-scale environments while improving efficiency, constructability, and sustainability.
I believe Ridge House’s strongest contribution is its ability to create a genuine sense of place. Rather than applying a universal luxury aesthetic, the design draws directly from the landscape and character of AlUla, transforming local geology into a contemporary living experience. This approach matters deeply to me because I believe the most meaningful designs are those that connect people to their surroundings, creating spaces that feel authentic, timeless, and unique to their location.
One of the most challenging aspects was achieving the visual weight and permanence of natural rock formations while maintaining the comfort and openness expected in a contemporary home. There was a constant effort to balance strong monolithic forms with natural light, soft textures, and generous spatial flow.Working through this challenge reinforced my belief that impactful spaces do not rely on scale or materiality alone. True luxury comes from balance—where powerful architectural expressions coexist with warmth, comfort, and everyday livability.
From the beginning, I wanted the landscape itself to become the project’s primary form of expression. Rather than relying on decorative elements, the design focused on proportion, texture, light, shadow, and material authenticity. Every design decision was evaluated against the original concept: if an element did not strengthen the connection to the geological narrative or improve the living experience, it was removed.This process taught me that restraint can be more powerful than addition. In luxury design, simplicity requires confidence, and I believe spaces often become more timeless when they are defined by clarity, material honesty, and a strong sense of purpose rather than excess.
Ridge House reinforced our belief that the most meaningful spaces are those shaped by their context, culture, and environment. Moving forward, this philosophy will continue to guide Luxentti’s work, encouraging us to create designs that are deeply connected to place rather than driven by global trends.We are particularly interested in further exploring innovative materials, biophilic design strategies, and contemporary interpretations of regional identity. Ridge House has established a foundation for creating experiences that are both timeless and locally rooted, and we look forward to expanding this approach across future residential and hospitality projects.
I hope Ridge House demonstrates that luxury can be expressed through authenticity, context, and material honesty rather than excess. By drawing inspiration from AlUla’s landscape and translating it into a contemporary living environment, the project shows how architecture and interiors can create a deeper connection between people and place.Its lasting legacy, I hope, will be encouraging designers and clients to embrace designs that are culturally grounded, environmentally responsive, and timeless in character. Ultimately, Ridge House is a reminder that meaningful luxury comes from creating spaces that belong to their surroundings and enrich everyday life.
Light was considered a fundamental part of the design from the earliest stages of the project. Since the concept was inspired by AlUla’s geological formations, it became clear that light would be essential in revealing texture, depth, and the sculptural quality of the surfaces. Rather than simply illuminating the spaces, the lighting was designed to interact with the architecture, emphasizing shadows, material transitions, and spatial volume.The use of recessed grazing light within the cladding junctions helped animate the surfaces throughout the day and night, enhancing the perception of depth and creating a more immersive atmosphere. In this sense, light became an architectural material in its own right, shaping how the spaces are experienced and understood.
The central living space was carefully designed to balance openness with comfort. The 7.2-meter height and full-height glazing were intended to capture the scale and beauty of AlUla’s landscape, creating a strong visual connection between the interior and its surroundings. At the same time, the proportions, material palette, and furniture layout were used to establish a sense of warmth and human scale within the larger volume.The goal was never to create a theatrical space, but rather one that evokes a feeling of calm and wonder. By combining expansive views with natural materials, controlled lighting, and intimate seating arrangements, the space remains both monumental and welcoming.