Led by designer Pallavi Dean, Dubai-based studio Roar has refreshed Mezza House, a restaurant in its home city. The modern update draws inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of the Yarmouk River Valley and a variety of Levantine cultures.
“Our client wanted to redefine what a contemporary Levantine restaurant should look and feel like in Dubai today, so we thought the Yarmouk River Valley—with its vast diversity—has the perfect connotations,” Dean says. “During concept development, we kept coming back to the Yarmouk River Valley. This is where Jordan meets Syria, where the lush riverbed rises up to meet the jagged mountains, and where summer meets winter. It is also a designer’s dream: the landscape offers an incredible array of textures and colors as inspiration.”
Conceived as a succession of flowing spaces, the open interior floorplan is outfitted with a labyrinthine network of golden pipes set against a soft backdrop of rose and green tones. The integration of biophilic elements—a Roar signature—also abounds, with rattan furniture, natural wallcoverings, and floral arrangements suspended from walls and ceilings.