Practically Perfect

• date
  2023 Volume 2, Issue 55
• publication
  ABODE 2 LUXURY MAGAZINE
• location
  UNITED KINGDOM
• author
  Tania Jacobs
• ORIGINAL CONTENT
  EXTERNAL LINK

It’s rare for a law firm to evoke a sense of calm and comfort, but A-Interiors latest design project for Saudi based Murafaat Law, does precisely that.

Expanding their portfolio from residential, to also commercial projects; this game-changing step for flourishing design firm A-Interiors, marks a major milestone for the agency and demonstrates how multi-faceted designer Anoud Khalid Mishaal’s quintessential aesthetic can be.

Though slightly less colourful than her previous projects, the incorporation of organic and natural textures, effortlessly interwoven with minimalist sleek lines that both contrast but still complement the exposed industrial and raw finishes, marks Anoud’s signature style. It’s this pragmatic playful use of juxtaposing opposites, to showcase their symbiosis, that has made the agency a growing powerhouse in the Middle East.

One element, beyond their boundless enthusiasm, which A-Interiors consistently bring to their designs, is balance and scale; determining ways to fuse light with dark, industrial with natural, professional with personal and modern with traditional to conceptualise spaces that holistically blend together.

“One initial challenge that we faced when commencing with this project was height,” recalls Anoud. “The office infrastructure has exposed air conditioning units, but if we were to cover these with a false ceiling, it would drastically impact the balance of the space, so rather than obstruct it, we decided to embrace it.”

Painting the raw cement ceilings, AC vents and pipes in a soft grey colour, mirrors the silver travertine flooring, and creates a lightness which brought much needed breath and air to the rooms, in addition to creating a soft blank canvas for the office design.

“Murafaat is a boutique law firm, which allowed us more creative flexibility and freedom when designing the office space,” Anoud explains. This is reflected in the comfortable seating and geometric-shaped tables that dot the office to create the aura of a well- designed home. “Though most of the furniture we selected, is designed for an office, we paired the pieces to avoid matching them. This imparts a sense that individual items were collected, as opposed to curated,” she clarifies. “This also has the added advantage of allowing each piece to be highlighted for its own unique design and functionality.”

Distinctive lighting fixtures often epitomise A-Interiors style and the designer reflects on how her artistic approach had to be adapted on this occasion. “I’m partial to moodier lighting, however for a law firm, lighting needs to be practical and functional, as employees spend hours pouring through documents and paperwork on a daily basis,” Anoud adds. “To create the right balance between function and form, we added softer spotlights painted in dark tones to the ceiling, which created a cohesiveness with the executive office table lamps, that we further accented by incorporating dark drapes in the executive office and meeting room.”

A carved Arabesque-motif screen stands tall, yet not imposing nor ridged, at the firm’s entrance, casting mesmerising shadows that offer privacy without preventing light passing through. This calming ambience, coupled with nods to nature, in the form of trees and plants, adorning the office, effortlessly offset the darker tones that anchor the rooms.

The perfect balance that the designer strikes in her designs, by mixing unconventional materials, combining opposing design styles and creating spaces that continue to surprise and delight, will ensure the longevity of both A-Interiors creations and the timelessness of Anoud’s artistic integrity.