The Japanese Design Philosophy Reshaping Luxury Living in Dubai

In a city defined by ambition and architectural spectacle, creating something genuinely distinctive is no easy task. Yet Wedyan, the debut development within Al Ghurair Collection’s new super-prime residential portfolio, is attempting to do exactly that.

For this exclusive Design Insider feature, we spoke with Sultan Al Ghurair, the visionary behind Al Ghurair Collection, and internationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma about the thinking behind Wedyan, a project that seeks to redefine luxury living in Dubai through wellbeing, nature and design. Together, they discuss creating a residential experience that feels less like a conventional high-rise development and more like a sanctuary within one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

Named after the Arabic word for valleys, Wedyan draws inspiration from the movement of water, sand and landscape. Designed by Kengo Kuma, whose work is known for creating a dialogue between architecture and nature, the building introduces a softer architectural language to Dubai’s skyline through layered forms, natural materials and carefully curated outdoor spaces.

The development also marks the launch of Al Ghurair Collection, a new super-prime residential offering from one of Dubai’s most established developers. According to Sultan Al Ghurair, the ambition extends beyond creating luxury homes.

“Above all, we wanted Wedyan to feel like a personal sanctuary,” he explains. “Somewhere that anticipates residents’ needs, elevates daily rituals and offers a sense of ease. By investing in the details that elevate convenience and personal wellbeing, we have created spaces that foster maximum comfort, liveability and connection.”

That emphasis on wellbeing is reflected throughout more than 65,000 square feet of shared amenities. Rather than treating wellness facilities as standalone destinations, the design integrates wellbeing into the broader residential experience, creating a series of spaces that support different rhythms throughout the day.

For Kengo Kuma, this layering of experiences became central to the architectural concept.

“The spaces where people go about their daily lives offer a contrast ranging from lively areas for socialising to quiet rooms for rest,” he says. “We designed Wedyan with the aim of allowing people to enjoy this gradual transition from busy liveliness to tranquil spaces. I believe the defining feature of this project is that although it is within the same building, it allows residents to experience this progress from activity to tranquillity.”

This philosophy extends beyond wellness into the project’s social spaces. Residents move through a sequence of lounges, dining environments and communal areas designed to support different forms of interaction while maintaining a sense of calm.

“What caught our attention was Wedyan’s potential to encompass the full diversity of human activity,” Kuma explains. “Wedyan is conceived as a large house containing a collection of smaller houses. Just as the grand rhythm of human behaviour encompasses the smaller rhythms of our daily movements, this architecture creates a harmony of these dual rhythms.”

Alongside more traditional wellness amenities, Wedyan introduces a range of spaces dedicated to creativity, leisure and personal interests, including podcast studios, cinema rooms, gaming facilities and sports amenities. Select residences will also feature standalone terrace pavilions inspired by Japanese tea houses, designed to be adapted as meditation rooms, private offices, art studios or creative retreats.

“Right from the beginning, we believed that Wedyan would attract residents with distinctive passions,” says Al Ghurair. “The amenities are not simply lifestyle add-ons, but an integral expression of our philosophy on the future of super-prime living. They are designed to ensure that residents can fulfil personal, social and business needs seamlessly within their home environment.”

These pavilions also reflect Kuma’s longstanding interest in creating meaningful connections between architecture and nature.

“Wedyan features a distinctive terrace,” he says. “It is not merely a space sandwiched between floors. Our design creates a room that utilises a deep eave, where one can meditate, connect with nature and feel at one with the surrounding environment.”

The development includes several highly tailored features that reflect its design-led approach to luxury living, from bespoke glazing designed to protect art collections from Dubai’s intense sunlight to oversized lifts capable of transporting large sculptures and antiques directly into residences.

For Al Ghurair, these details reflect a broader shift in how luxury is being defined.

“This, for us, is the ultimate expression of super-prime living,” he says. “Creating homes that not only serve as legacy investments for generational living but also as deeply personal spaces that reflect identity, foster belonging and support a diversity of global audiences.”

As Dubai’s residential market continues to evolve, Wedyan offers an alternative to the city’s increasingly crowded luxury landscape. Rather than focusing on status alone, it explores how architecture, nature and wellbeing can work together to create a more meaningful residential experience.

“We approached the project with the notion of a single organic whole,” Kuma reflects. “Different functions, different experiences, all working together as one living environment.”

In a city that rarely stands still, Wedyan proposes something increasingly valuable: a place designed not simply for living, but for living well.

Thank you to both Kengo Kuma and Sultan Al Ghurair for their time.