Egyptian architect Hany Saad and his wife, Tunisian star Dorra Zarrouk, create a sophisticated retreat that shifts perspectives through design.
Dorra Zarrouk and Hany Saad. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Know what you want. This is the golden rule for being your own client, according to Egyptian architect Hany Saad. At the helm of his namesake firm since 2003, he has completed more than 800 projects across Africa and the Middle East. In 2022, he took on the challenge of building the marital home he shares with famed Tunisian actor Dorra Zarrouk, who has been beloved in Egypt for over a decade. The two got married at the end of 2020 in a lavish ceremony in El Gouna and now reside in Katameya Heights, New Cairo, in what Zarrouk describes as the perfect home. “What I love most about this house is how each space is thoughtfully designed to invite in natural light and allow the air to flow freely, creating an uplifting atmosphere,” she says. “The minimalist design, combined with soft, soothing details, makes me feel not just motivated but also deeply comfortable, safe, and at ease.”
The dining area with Serip Bout chandelier, Glas Italia Sturm und Drang mirror, Reflex Angelo Esse dining table, Milady chairs, and Vertigo Buffet sideboard 237. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Saad attributes the calming aesthetic of their 800-square-metre abode to what he calls “Inside Out architecture,” in which indoor and outdoor spaces are not treated as separate concepts. Nestled among rolling hills, the house’s large windows, open floor plan, and earthy materials foster a grounding connection to nature while maintaining a modern, sophisticated allure. The three floors are joined by a staircase and elevator, allowing for easy movement throughout. In the basement, situated at street level, there are wellness features including a salon and nail spa, gym and massage room, and Jacuzzi and sauna area. “This approach allows for a harmonious flow between the interior and exterior, creating a cohesive environment that maximizes natural light and incorporates the beauty of the landscape into the design.”
Hany Saad and Dorra Zarrouk at their Katameya Heights, New Cairo home. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Turning this concept into a reality, however, was an all-but-relaxing process requiring vision and the will to overcome the certitude of challenges along the way. “One of our primary goals was to achieve the highest levels of transparency while ensuring the home remained a private sanctuary,” Saad shares. “We wanted to create an airy environment that offered unobstructed views, without compromising the sense of seclusion and comfort. Balancing these elements required innovative design solutions and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that the home felt both expansive and intimate.”
The bedroom consists of furniture by Frato and has two spacious dressing rooms and bathrooms. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
With over two decades of experience as the founder of Hany Saad Innovations, the seasoned creative has a history of pushing the limits of possibility. He was the mastermind behind the designs of East Side Mall by New Capital Castle Development, Garden 8 Mall, and the Vinci boutique luxury living compound located in the New Capital, among many other commercial, administrative, and residential projects. He refers to his team as “pioneers in space utilization who believe both in engaging tradition and in breaking it.”
Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Saad strove to honor this approach through every aspect of his personal domain. Both visual appeal and functionality were considered when deciding on materials. For the elevations, for example, glass allows for an abundance of natural light to flood the interior spaces. “It perfectly aligns with our design concept of openness and connectivity with the outdoors,” he remarks. Inside, marble and Italian porcelain were chosen for their elegance and durability, bringing a polished touch of luxury. Starting with the central double-height entrance, the ground floor consists of two main reception seating sections, a soft kitchen with a full glass wall, a bar, and a main dining area. Meanwhile, the top level is where Zarrouk and Saad’s bedroom can be found, complete with two separate, spacious dressing rooms and bathrooms.
The indoor bar with Porada Ester barstools, Reflex Angelo Comfort barstool, Living Divani Extra Soft sofa, and Pianca Contralto side tables. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Throughout the house, the couple opted for a consistent modern-meets-natural palette of grays, whites, and blacks, resulting in a warm elegance with the incorporation of wood. Furniture and lighting were selected to both contrast and add to this color scheme through texture and stand-out design. Pieces by renowned brands including Vondom, Giorgetti, Talenti, Vibieffe, Reflex Angelo, Pianca, Living Divani, Gloster, Arketipo Firenze, and Cattelan Italia, among others, epitomize what Saad calls “the dialogue of the space” – formed by the different elements that embody the lifestyle being expressed. Outdoors, the experience continues, where a seating area juxtaposed with the placement of a pool on the same exact plane gives a new perspective.
Outdoors, a seating area is juxtaposed with the placement of the pool on the same exact plane, giving a new perspective. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
With every angle and architectural line carefully considered, this property fills its role of being a peaceful refuge for a busy couple with successful yet demanding careers. With 311 000 and 17.1 million followers respectively on Instagram, the entrepreneur in Saad and creative mind in Zarrouk – who is also the founder of fashion brand Maison Dorra Zarrouk – sometimes need to escape from the public eye. With this home, they can do exactly that.
A Giorgetti couch in the guest reception. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
The powder room with locally sourced wallpaper. Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Photo: Louay Nassar & Sarah Gaafar
Originally published in the September 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
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