M House
Since the onset of the pandemic, many of us have been experiencing what it has been like to live in our homes — to truly inhabit them in every sense of the word — for the first time. Spaces have been transformed — into home gyms, makeshift offices, or mini classrooms for the children.
As we look to the future after COVID-19, we have no doubt that as our collective priorities have shifted, so too has our approach to home. As people start to prioritize quality and comfort of the home, they also start to imagine what else the future may hold, and how quickly the spaces they inhabit can accommodate those changes.
At AlHumaidhi Architects, we have always believed that good design does not shy away from, or simply accommodate, change — it celebrates it. As an extension of yourself, great homes progress and grow in tandem with you. That is why we build houses for life — ones that are built to not only stand the test of time, but to bring joy to your life in all its seasons.
We recently interviewed the owner of M House about how life at home has been since the onset of the pandemic. Here is what she had to say:
How did you used to inhabit your space before COVID-19 & the national lockdown versus after?
Our house has made this lockdown more bearable because I can always sit outside within the privacy of our courtyard. The courtyard is great because the temperature is always either cooler in the summer or warmer in the winter. Right now, there’s a great deal of natural light and a nice breeze coming through.
How has the architecture of the space accommodated your needs during lockdown?
I love all the spaces within our house and I love how natural light enters it from every corner. This has made all the difference in our experience during lockdown. We used to spend most of our time in one living room but we now find ourselves inhabiting all the rest of the spaces — especially when we can open up these indoor spaces onto the courtyard garden.
What is your favorite part of the house?
My favorite part of the house is the green living room in front of the garden. My husband likes the garden and his office, but lately he has been loving our daily living room.
What is your favorite time of day or season in your home?
My favorite time of day is the morning or sunset, and my favorite season has to be either spring or autumn — anything but summer! We really enjoy opening up the interior spaces onto the exterior spots, so cooler weather means we get to enjoy that more.
Now that you are spending more time at home, have you noticed something about the house that you never noticed before?
We used to spend less time at home and when we did, we would mostly spend it in our daily living room. However, now that I’m spending more time in other spots, I am loving all the spaces that have natural light, especially the area of the house near the skylight. I also love the area in front of the garden.
Why did you opt for a firm to design your home (versus buying an existing property or allowing a contractor to build your space)?
I wanted to build a house based on my requirements — one that would be studied well by an architect, not just built by a contractor. The AlHumaidhi Architects firm has the ability to study every space properly and utilize as many areas as possible. The main strengths are the way AlHumaidhi Architects have ensured the presence of natural light everywhere, and that the indoor spaces always open up to the outdoors. I am looking forward to designing my next project with them, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
