Nasayem—an Arabic term meaning "gentle winds"—is a private residence that reinterprets the nomadic traditions of the client’s Bedouin heritage, blending cultural reverence with environmental sensitivity. Inspired by the resilience, adaptability, and artisanal legacy of desert tribes, the design harmonises communal gathering with intimate retreat, creating a sanctuary that balances connection and solitude.

Rooted in Saadiyat Island’s natural context, our concept, Tales of Wind, is an architectural approach that recognises wind as a co-creator in the built environment. Shaping the surrounding landscape as well as the function of dwellings, the wind informs spatial orientation and material, proposing an architecture of responsiveness.

The clients envisioned a home that blended social spaces for family gatherings and entertaining, while maintaining privacy for relaxation, wellness, and work. The ground floor layers social spaces—open kitchen and dining, lounge and living room, and children’s playroom—with access to outdoor areas. Above, the first floor prioritises seclusion, housing the master suite and private lounge, children’s rooms, and a private office-atelier. A curved design language flows throughout, softening the space and creating fluidity.

Materiality draws directly from the desert landscape. Surfaces are finished in powdery, matte textures that evoke weathered stone and sun-bleached sand. Neutral plasters, raw timber, and natural stones create a grounded palette that feels both elemental and enduring, emphasising tactility and softness within a minimalist framework. Fabrics are lightweight, woven from natural fibres in shades of clay, and bone, reflecting the layered tones of desert terrain. A soft, muted colour palette that draws directly from nature and its more complex hues invites balance and harmony, while connecting residents to the landscape.

Handmade teak latticework screens—inspired by Bedouin geometric motifs and mashrabiya screens—define thresholds between public and private realms while allowing residents to modulate transparency and airflow. This creates a home that breathes, responding to the climate and personal needs. Beyond practicality, the screens are a tactile reminder of Abu Dhabi’s architectural heritage, where structures once responded to the desert.

The double-height central courtyard is a dialogue between the desert born typologies of the Maghrebi riads and historic Emirati courtyards. This focal point serves as a central gathering space and passive cooling system within arid climates, while the open mezzanine above establishes visual and spatial connections, both vertically and horizontally.

Nasayem is a testament to sensory storytelling, where light, wind, and heritage converge. It is a retreat that honours its roots while embracing a living narrative of place, memory, and the gentle persistence of the desert’s breath.