It's hard to mistake the area where Shahryar Sheibani lives. True, some of the gleaming skyscrapers that surround it have a slight whiff of Manhattan, and a few other blocks could pass for Chicago, but it is the glistening iconic structure that lies just a few metres away that articulates its exact location - Burj Khalifa, Dubai, the tallest building in the world.
As the sun disappears into the horizon and a lurid orange dapples the sky, we stare at the awe-inspiring view, a soft mist emanating from the fountains that have just begun their evening's performance settling on our skin.
In pictures: Shaz's Downtown Burj villa
As Sting's Desert Rose fills the air, the fountains shoot water up as high as a 50-storey building - a perfect embodiment of Dubai's insatiable thirst for drama. This scenery and the home's layout appealed to Shaz the very instant he saw it. After having done the rounds with realtors, looking at strange apartments with even stranger layouts, Shaz spotted this gem quite unexpectedly. Needless to say, he is very happy with his purchase and loves the apartment-villa feel. In local real estate parlance, this young Iranian couldn't have done better.
Shaz, as he is known to his friends, smiles when we tell him this, as if used to gushing ensuing when people enter his home. A lot of people live in skyscrapers, but what is unexpected about Shaz's home is that he lives in an independent villa with a little garden attached! Shaz arrived in Dubai 28 years ago, when he was still a toddler. He and his parents have since lived and built their lives here.
The excitement and the buzz that Dubai generates was the catalyst that propelled him to buy into its real-estate market. The building where he lives, one of many in the Downtown Burj area, is rather nondescript, so for us to find a villa in its midst seemed like a stretch.
The lift doors open to reveal a floor with neat, square gardens attached to double-storey houses. A leafy, grassy walk later, we are inside Shaz's podium villa. A dramatic painting by Iranian artist Shadi Ghadirian, which Shaz won at a fiercely contested auction, greets us at the entrance. Shaz, naturally, is rather proud of his acquisition but as we walk deeper into the home, we find many more such gems. Almost in deference to the red painting of a shy Iranian damsel, a brazen red console by B&B Italia has been placed underneath.
Once inside, Shaz proceeds to explain how his dream home became a reality. He enlisted the help of interior designer friend Liza Jimenez to give his new apartment an Alpine cabin feel. This look has been so cleverly executed that you almost expect to see swathes of snow lying on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows, instead of the sun-soaked city-in-the-desert panorama.
The large balcony jutting out and overlooking the surrounding lakes provides the perfect setting for many an evening spent with close friends. So dramatic is its location and so restrained is the interior, that in this dichotomy lies the villa's real charm.
Living room
The Alpine cabin feel is most pronounced in the living room with Norwegian Oak Frost wood flooring. Shaz enjoys walking barefoot on it and feeling the grainy, knotted texture. A cavernous ceiling cove, which he found useless, has also been clad in wood to add architectural detailing and warmth.
Having always loved the idea of a brick wall in his house, Shaz was advised by Liza to clad the stairwell wall in slate and enhance the warmth, adding more texture.
A comfortable couch by B&B Italia was a gift and sits adjacent to an Established and Sons aubergine couch and Polyform chairs. A large custom-designed shelving unit takes up an entire wall and has been placed strategically to allow room for Shaz’s collection of ornaments and books.
Kitchen
The kitchen area has been totally revamped and is now an airy space with large windows that open onto the garden. To keep the modern-yet-warm aesthetic consistent throughout the home, the back wall has been painted in a warm terracotta shade.
The mostly white Mediterranean-style kitchen was imported from Italy and custom-designed to fit the space. Shaz tends to collect interesting pieces when he travels, and these find their way into various corners of the home.
A painting by Syrian artist Thaier Helal shares space with chandeliers by Ingo Maurer.
Master bedroom
The master bedroom has an incredible view of the surrounding lakes. The dramatic vista is balanced with an equally dramatic interior.
Masculine tones and a vibrant red feature wall showcase a deep red leather, padded headrest. Donna Karan sheets tone down the effect. The space is clean and uncluttered, an aspect Shaz loves best about his podium villa. And the fact that it has a huge garage attached, means all storage is niftily tucked away and out of view.
Second bedroom
A colourful painting by Moutea Murad provides a vibrant background in this bedroom. Technically, this space was designed as the master bedroom with a large, attached bathroom and double sinks, but as it is the smaller bedroom, Shaz prefers to use the other bedroom as his own.
A beautiful matt gold bedspread by Donna Karan lends softness to the space. This bedroom, like the balcony, has stunning views of the tower and the fountains.
Devjani Cox is a freelance writer
