SKY VILLA, DELANO PENTHOUSE, DUBAI

Nestled on the prestigious shores of Bluewaters Dubai, the Sky Villa at Delano is the epitome of luxury and contemporary sophistication. Designed by La Bottega Interiors in collaboration with Ennismore’s in-house team, this premium 850-square-meter villa combines opulence with functionality. Featuring formal and family living spaces, a state-of-the-art kitchen, five ensuite bedrooms, and two panoramic terraces, the villa offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s iconic skyline.

Senior Lighting Designer, Suraj Francis, alongside Design Director Estefania Marquez below, gives us an insight into how the lighting scheme was developed for maximum effect.

The brief called for a seamless lighting experience that would effortlessly transition between vibrant social gatherings and intimate moments, all while embodying the essence of minimalist, luxury and modern sophistication. To achieve this, we selected low-glare, trimless Polefinity 50 fixtures across all areas, ensuring a sleek, unobtrusive aesthetic. For high-ceiling spaces such as the master living and dining areas, we introduced recessed ceiling slot details, allowing for discreet lighting that preserved a clean and refined ceiling design.

A carefully curated lighting layer with low-level, high-level, and decorative lighting was employed to craft dynamic, adaptable lighting scenes that could easily shift to suit any occasion or mood. This was made possible through the precision lighting control with DALI dimming system, which provided effortless adjustments for every setting. Architectural features, textures, and unique design elements were expertly highlighted, elevating the space’s aesthetic appeal and creating an atmosphere that exudes both luxury and a homely warmth for the guests.

As guests enter the villa, they are immediately enveloped in the striking presence of a corridor framed by travertine-clad columns, their rich texture accentuated by expertly orchestrated lighting. The precision of Minim fixtures at the lower-level casts a gentle, controlled light to accentuate the curves of the columns, creating a sense of sculptural depth. At the ceiling, the Polefinity 50 downlights with their narrow beam delicately graze the travertine, guiding the eye along the length of the columns and emphasizing their natural elegance.

This careful layering of light results in a dynamic interplay of shadows and highlights that transforms the space. The contrast between dark and bright zones not only defines the architectural form but also expands the perceived volume of the space, making the entrance feel both intimate and premium. This design strategy creates a harmonious balance, where light not only serves a functional purpose but also elevates the emotional experience of the space, inviting guests to journey deeper into the villa.

In the main living and dining area, the challenge of high ceilings was met with recessed ceiling slots and Quad 30 downlights, chosen for their exceptional flexibility. These downlights, equipped with four high-efficiency and high CRI LED engines, that is capable to rotate and tilt individually, allowing for precise directional lighting and seamless infill lighting. This adaptability perfectly suited the diverse design needs of such dynamic spaces.

The layered lighting approach continued with low-level, high-level, and decorative lighting. This combination ensures a consistent and adaptable lighting experience throughout the villa, whether it’s for cozy family gatherings or grand social events. For a clean ceiling aesthetic, we used low-glare trimless fixtures.

To enhance the curtains, we chose medium-beam Polefinity Pure 50 downlights. This choice created elegant light gradients, adding sophistication and texture to the space, setting the tone for a luxurious ambiance.

As a high-profile hotel project, the tight timeline presented significant challenges. With multiple teams working concurrently, we had to quickly make the changes in the design in response to changing site conditions. Revisions required us to quickly adapt, making changes to the lighting scheme without disrupting the project schedule.

This involved continuous follow-ups, coordination meetings, and site visits with the interior design and project management teams, allowing us to stay on track while maintaining the highest standards of lighting design quality.

The villa is naturally bathed in sunlight, creating a welcoming and airy atmosphere throughout. However, we deliberately designed the lighting to ensure a balanced lighting regardless of whether the blinds were open or closed. Understanding that guests have different preferences for their environment, we wanted to ensure the villa remained inviting day or night.

By fine-tuning the brightness levels in both architectural and decorative lighting, we created a harmonious ambiance that guests could easily control with the touch of a button. This simple, intuitive system ensures comfort and adaptability, offering a tailored experience for every guest.

Lighting serves as an invisible force that enhances the aesthetic of every room, casting warmth and depth while also responding to the individual moods and preferences of guests. Each carefully curated lighting scene not only adapts to the moment but also elevates it, creating an ambiance that feels both personal and premium. The penthouse now exudes a sense of peace and luxury, with lighting acting as an unspoken power that molds the environment, enhancing the overall guest experience in a way that only lighting can.