Maison O Brings the Nile River into the Apartment

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a unique and spacious apartment design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Maison O.

The design approach for the apartment in the heart of Cairo is contemporary, with a concept of maximizing the Nile view in the space through using a reflective ceiling. This way you’d get a full view of the Nile River and its sailing boats anywhere inside the apartment - even in the dining area, which is located away from the windows, at the back-end of the apartment.

What was the client's brief? 

The client had a problem with the low ceiling and wanted to incorporate a sense of openness to the space, as well as modernize the apartment. Quality and speed of delivery were of great importance to the client.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Nile river was the main source of inspiration as we at Maison O made sure to extend it into the apartment and make it visible from any part of the space. The river even inspired the selection of colours, with emerald green being an accent colour symbolizing the agriculture around the banks of the Nile river.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The whole process from design planning to execution and furnishing was completed in a record of six weeks. On-time delivery was made possible thanks to amicable team effort and project management skills.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Striking a balance between coming-up with a creative design that fulfils the client’s request and ensuring quality execution and delivery in record time.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The awards celebrate creativity. They present a venue for brilliant global designers to come together from different walks of life and compete. In particular, being shortlisted as a finalist ensures an international recognition and makes a difference in how participating designers and design firms are positioned out of their home markets, while also paving the way for building global connections for future international collaborations.

Questions answered by Omar Gemei, Founder and Chief Designer, Maison O.