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Filli Cafe - Nas House
Filli Café at NAS House extends the biophilic design language of its host space, creating a serene architectural setting where natural materiality and social vitality converge.
NAS HOUSE, AL BARSHA, DUBAI - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Type:
COMMERCIAL F&B INTERIORS
Location:
NAS HOUSE, AL BARSHA, DUBAI - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Overview
Located within the vibrant setting of NAS House, a wellness focused destination in Dubai, the Filli Café is conceived as an architectural extension of the existing biophilic design ethos. Rather than imposing a distinct identity, the intervention by Mashal Architects, led by Ar. Ahmed Mashal, aligns with the broader spatial narrative of NAS House, allowing the café to emerge as an integrated social node within the environment.
The design prioritises continuity of material and atmosphere. Natural timber tones, subdued finishes, and vertical greenery are employed to create a calm yet vital interior that resonates with the wellness oriented character of the host space. A restrained palette is elevated through precise detailing such as linear counters in pale wood, seamless wall treatments, and integrated signage in brushed metallics to achieve a clarity of form that foregrounds function without distraction.
Biophilia is embedded not as an ornamental element but as an architectural device. Green walls frame the service counter, softening the orthogonal lines and mediating between interior and exterior thresholds. The signage and brand integration are deliberately subtle, allowing the café to harmonise with the natural light and landscaped edges of the site.
At an urban scale, the café acts as both threshold and retreat. Externally, the discreet placement of the Filli emblem against the whitewashed NAS House façade reinforces its connection to the collective identity, while internally, spatial planning emphasises fluid circulation, transparency, and visual openness.
The result is a design of quiet precision, a café that sustains the spatial logic of NAS House while establishing a distinct, serene setting for communal gathering through tea culture.