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Located in The Villa, a residential community in Dubai known for its lush greenery and diverse architectural styles, The White Arcade was originally designed in a Spanish architectural style, characterised by heavy proportions, decorative detailing, colourful tiles, and limited use of curves.

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Spanning approximately 7,265 sq ft, the two-storey residence is organised around a central courtyard, with a layout that follows a clear geometric logic: an inner rectangular courtyard framed by a surrounding corridor, while an outer rectangle defines the overall footprint of the home.

The communal spaces on the ground floor open onto the courtyard, creating continuity between interior and exterior, while the bedrooms and private spaces are organised around the same axis upstairs, reinforcing a sense of orientation, rhythm and calm.

“From the outset, the brief was clear: the home needed to be where clarity replaces noise, softness replaces pressure, and space itself becomes a source of calm,” Tokai explains.

“It is a world intentionally crafted for a family who needed a place to breathe—an expression of D’Ora Tokai Designs’ belief in artful minimalism and the idea that well-designed homes restore the mind, elevate daily rituals, and refine the way families live.”

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Thus, the residence was pared back and given a more elegant, airy character, as strong horizontal and vertical lines establish order, and repeated arches soften transitions and create rhythm.

“While expressive, the original architecture felt bulky and visually dense,” Tokai remembers. “Rather than erasing this identity, the renovation reinterprets it through a European and Moorish architectural lens.”

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The few existing arches, whose quiet elegance held potential, became a point of departure. Drawing from both Moorish architectural rhythms and Mediterranean proportions, which are closely aligned with the family’s cultural heritage, the design team expanded this motif across the home—from doorways and windows to transitional openings and ceiling junctions, which now echo a sequence of soft, sculptural arches.

“On both the ground and first floor, these arched openings frame layered views into the double-height courtyard—creating glimpses of movement, light, and daily family life without visual clutter,” the designer explains.

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The inner courtyard was originally tiled, sunken and visually disconnected, and the design team developed three concepts centred on introducing a large lounge and a multi-generational ribbon-like structure.

They settled on the very first concept proposed, featuring a bespoke C-shaped DOT Objects sofa by D’Ora Tokai Designs that gently embraces the courtyard, complementing the curvature of the surrounding arches.

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“Placed as the first element encountered upon entering the home, it sets the emotional tone immediately: welcoming, calm, and quietly powerful,” Tokai says. “It has since become the defining gesture of the project.”

Above, the glass roof filters natural light across both levels, revealing new perspectives through the layered openings.

From there, the team created interiors designed to “hug, hold, and gently cradle” the client and her family, with a colour palette that is intentionally restrained, built around layered whites, soft neutrals, beige and warm browns.

“White, for us, is a form of clarity and discipline,” Tokai explains. “It heightens proportion, reveals light, and allows daily life to feel ordered without feeling strict.”

Meanwhile, green and yellow-gold accents add freshness, warmth and a subtle connection to nature without disrupting the architectural balance.

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This is especially distinctive in the sage-green preparation kitchen. A round window allows sightlines between the spaces, adding a hint of playfulness while maintaining the room’s practical function.

Furthermore, white quartz surfaces and backsplashes are accented with subtle gold veining, bringing a sense of refinement to the practical space where daily cooking unfolds.

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Finally, European architectural features—such as picture-frame wall mouldings, light oak herringbone flooring, extensive bespoke joinery, Spanish tiles and brass detailing—were introduced to bring order and symmetry in contrast to the scheme’s softer elements.

Besides that, a rich yet cohesive selection of natural stones runs throughout the project, including Carrara marble, travertine and white onyx. Additional marble pieces in warmer brown and orange undertones were introduced to add depth and warmth while remaining within a restrained, neutral palette.

“The result is a composed dialogue between different influences, translated into curves and lines—creating a fluid, elegant, and grounding home,” Tokai concludes.

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