Z Majlis by NIU Studio
18 Sep. 2025Architects, Giorgio Palermo and Elena Gregorutti I Photography by Oculisproject
Z Majlis is a bold reimagining of contemporary desert architecture that redefines the relationship between luxury, landscape, and lifestyle. Conceived as a holistic concept design, it resists the temptations of spectacle and instead builds its identity through restraint, spatial clarity, and a deep respect for material authenticity. More than a residence, Z Majlis is envisioned as a sequence of experiences that elevate daily living while remaining rooted in cultural and environmental sensitivity. It is not simply a house divided into rooms but a carefully orchestrated journey through spaces that speak of calm, dignity, and permanence.
From the outset, the ambition of the project was to challenge conventional notions of luxury, which too often rely on size, ornament, and excess. Z Majlis instead achieves a quieter sophistication, one that draws strength from silence, proportion, and the natural qualities of its materials. By resisting decorative flourishes, the design cultivates a timeless presence, embodying elegance through subtlety rather than ostentation. The residence demonstrates how architecture in the desert can be monumental without being overbearing, bold without being brash, and contemporary while remaining deeply connected to its context.
The exterior of Z Majlis appears as if carved directly from the desert floor. Monumental walls of rammed earth form the outer shell, their layered texture recalling the stratified geology of the surrounding landscape. Interspersed with these masses are planes of corten steel, their weathered tones introducing warmth and contrast while echoing the arid terrain’s mineral richness. These materials are deliberately chosen for their ability to age gracefully, shifting in color and texture under the desert sun and wind. Subtle elevation changes and recessed thresholds create dynamic silhouettes, while the integration of native cacti, grasses, and stone planters ensures the architecture feels inseparable from the land.
Inside, movement through the majlis is choreographed as a progression of sensory experiences. Guests arrive at a shaded entry where scale compresses to create intimacy before the architecture expands into a dramatic double height gathering hall. Here, floor to ceiling glazing frames a curated garden, blurring boundaries between interior and exterior. Furniture is minimal yet refined, with modular green seating, stone benches, and brushed metal fixtures enhancing the atmosphere of calm hospitality. The effect is one of openness balanced by warmth, where space itself becomes an act of luxury.
Descending from the gathering hall, a staircase clad in patinated metal leads into the exclusive garage beneath the majlis. Designed for an avid collector, this subterranean chamber is far more than storage. It is a curated exhibition space where polished concrete floors and rammed earth walls create a setting of solidity and permanence. Skylights and integrated lighting illuminate the sculptural forms of the vehicles, transforming them into art pieces. The garage embodies the project’s theme of celebrating personal passion through architectural expression, turning an ordinarily functional space into a dramatic destination.
The Private Suite is accessed through a softly lit entry that leads into an elevated dressing area with bespoke cabinetry and a mirrored island. A short corridor with a discreet pantry connects this zone to a lounge and bathing area, where a walk-in shower, and minimalist finishes create an atmosphere of wellness and retreat. From the dressing area the sequence continues with a gentle descent into the bedroom, partially enclosed by a low partition to preserve intimacy while maintaining spatial flow. Full height glazing links the bedroom and lounge to a secluded garden, allowing nature to extend into the living experience.
Adding an unexpected dimension, the Private Bowling Cave reinterprets leisure as immersive architecture. Conceived as a sculpted tunnel, it combines sweeping rammed earth walls with corten steel details, creating an environment that feels at once elemental and refined. Indirect lighting traces the curvature of the vaulted ceiling, enhancing shadow and depth while acoustics heighten the intensity of play. This is not a conventional entertainment room but a spatial theatre, where the act of bowling transforms into ritual and spectacle.
The strength of Z Majlis lies in its ability to surprise while maintaining harmony. Each space reveals itself gradually, building a rhythm that shifts between openness and intimacy, serenity and intensity. This orchestration creates more than a collection of luxurious amenities, it cultivates a deeply personal way of living that engages memory, emotion, and the surrounding landscape. By prioritizing authenticity and experience, Z Majlis demonstrates how architecture can inspire new models of desert habitation, proving that boldness is found not only in form but in vision, and that true luxury emerges when design touches the spirit as much as it serves the body.
