Muscat Villa

Muscat, Oman

This residence is situated on a ridgeline between the mountains and the Arabian Sea, overlooking the city and coastline of Muscat.  The building is conceived as a pavilion set in a garden, with all the major rooms in the house opening directly to nature.

One enters the compound through the a gate in the North site wall, crossing a reflecting pool and tranquil shade garden before ascending a few steps to the front door.  The walls of this exterior entry court are stacked stone quarried from the local mountains, which carry through into the entry foyer.

The main floor is oriented along a North-South axis, with walls of stone and full height mahogany paneling.  From the entry foyer and central gallery, one sees diagonal views to the gardens through the living spaces, gardens at the end of the gallery, an interior garden in the central courtyard/ circulation space, and patterned daylight from a large skylight over the double height stairway space.

All the main living, dining and family spaces are oriented along the Western edge of the building, framing and opening to a generous garden area and views.  Large cantilevered roofs protect the floor to ceiling glass doors, which slide open and disappear into adjacent walls.  These roofs also shelter exterior seating and dining areas as extensions of the interior spaces.

In contrast to the openness of the main floor, the upstairs bedroom floor is quite private and closed.  The glass walls are set deep within the building, with exterior patterned screens for privacy and sun protection.  There is a private living room upstairs and several bedroom/ bath suites for family.

The pool is set at the edge of the West garden with its own garden pavilion, living and entertaining spaces.  The locally quarried stone wraps this area and further connects both the interior and exterior of the house to its desert mountain landscape.