A vacation apartment overlooking the water already sounds like a pretty good escape. But for architect and interior designer Mohamed Alqari, the spectacular Bahrain Bay view was just the beginning.
Inside the Four Seasons Private Residences at Bahrain Bay, Alqari was working with a sleek contemporary shell designed by Gensler. The challenge was to make the 1,937-square-foot apartment feel less like a polished new-build and more like a place its owner would actually want to disappear to.
For this Bahrain Bay apartment, Alqari took inspiration from the sea, sunlight, sand, and horizon—but skipped the obvious beach-house clichés. Instead, he translated the feeling of the waterfront into soft colors, tactile materials, artwork, and plenty of curves.
Those curves are everywhere. Rounded sofas, curved mirrors, organic rugs, and sculptural furniture soften the apartment’s straight architectural lines. The Matera dining table by Sebastiano Tosi for Mogg is inspired by water-smoothed pebbles, adding another subtle connection to the sea.
The palette keeps things relaxed, with creamy whites and sandy beige providing a light backdrop. Turquoise, deep blue, forest green, and yellow appear in smaller doses, bringing just enough color without competing with the view. Walnut paneling adds warmth and depth, while natural materials make the luxury interior design feel inviting rather than overly polished.
Then there’s the art. Sculptures by Bahraini artist Jamal Al Yousif, Martin Berger’s Flow, vintage 1970s Wassily chairs, and furniture sourced from around the world give the home a wonderfully collected personality. Locally made pieces sit alongside finds from Italy, France, India, Indonesia, and beyond.
The open layout keeps the living, dining, and kitchen areas connected to the waterfront, while the art and furniture are arranged almost like a private gallery. The result is beachfront living with plenty of character—warm, artistic, and relaxed enough to make you forget you’re staying in a high-rise apartment at all.