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ASEEM AGARWALA, admittedly possessed with contemporary architecture, is filled with the can-do spirit.
He didn’t let the fact that he and his wife, Elke Van de Velde, lost out on three urban lots discourage him.
He wasn’t bothered that the plot of land they eventually did buy wasn’t for sale. Or that it had a driveway running through it.
And, finally, he wasn’t overly concerned that the angled setback on the smallish, slopey 2,000-square-foot lot would in any way compromise the design of his family’s future home.
Instead, all of that has made their ker-pow of a house everything it is today: a shock tucked among the cottages and Craftsmans and Midcenturys of Phinney Ridge. The living room cantilevering out like a diver on the high board. The staircase, set over a window, transparent. Outdoor spaces, because the house filled the lot, connected to the structure; off the side, on the roof. White aluminum composite rainscreened panels paired with cedar rainscreen and stucco. And glass, glass, glass; the windows both fir and aluminum, depending on which exterior material they meet up with.
“Everybody assumes you can’t have a new house in a nice neighborhood for under a million dollars, but you can,” Agarwala says. “Well under.”
“But we were very strict,” says Van de Velde, a commercial fashion photographer. “And we researched everything ourselves.”
Agarwala, a thoroughly modern man and research scientist at Adobe, found the not-for-sale lot by searching satellite images online. And his architect, Chris Pardo of Pb Elemental, on Facebook. With the birth of daughter Zia, now almost 3, the couple needed more than their Fremont townhouse could offer. Besides, it lacked the contemporary design they craved.
“We’ve seen their stuff over the years,” Agarwala says of Pb Elemental. “We were linked on Facebook, and Chris is an avid poster. I wrote him and told him our budget and asked him how far off we were. He said we weren’t off at all.”
“We didn’t expect to build,” Van de Velde says. But here they are. The couple are naturally goal-oriented. they met 11 years ago in Belgium, and since then have finished school, launched their careers, started a family and built their dream house. Whew. And the house, 2,510 square feet, overseen by project manager Dave Biddle and built by Logan’s Hammer, was finished in nine months, March 2011.
“They asked us to make a folder of things we liked,” Van de Velde says.
“We have colorful furniture, so we didn’t want a super woody interior,” Agarwala says.
“We needed lots of windows,” she says.
“My kitchen is real important to me, and I have all the power I need here,” he says, patting the BlueStar cooktop. “Our only constraints were practical, not aesthetic. for instance, our backyard is on the roof.”
Now that it’s mostly over, except for a few pieces of art to be hunted down, the couple says the whole deal was fun. they would like to do it again, in fact, about 10 years from now.
“It’s hard not to look at Redfin and at building lots,” says Agarwala, who also found lots for, and shared his architects with, two friends.
“We were really concerned about the neighbors not liking it,” Van de Velde says of their perfect house/odd lot. “But we had a party and had them over. I’d say 95 percent like it.”
“We still have people come by, put on the brakes,” says Agarwala. “But it’s an eclectic neighborhood.”
Rebecca Teagarden is associate editor of Pacific Northwest magazine. Benjamin Benschneider is a magazine staff photographer.
UAE. Atlantis, the Palm, the leading entertainment resort destination in the Middle East, will be honouring Ramadan with Asateer, a spectacular beachfront tent where guests will be able to enjoy evenings with family and friends in an ambience of time-honoured traditions. Asateer offers eight dedicated Majlis areas, prayer rooms and complimentary valet parking.
Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Palm, Asateer evokes sensations of nostalgia for the golden era of Arabia. Meaning ’myths’, Asateer provides an ambience filled with traditional activities, including card games, chess and backgammon. For a contemporary twist, each Majlis has a playstation and a large television. throughout the stunning design and contemporary folkloric atmosphere of the tent, guests will be entertained by Oud and Tableh players playing timeless Arabic favourites.
“Last year, Asateer proved to be the ultimate place for family and friends during Ramadan,” commented Serge Zaalof, Chief Operating Officer, Atlantis, the Palm. “This Ramadan, we look forward to welcoming back the community to honour the Holy Month of Ramadan in Asateer with old favourites and new surprises throughout the tent.”
Guests can enjoy traditional Foul Moudammas and Balila stations, as well as a wide variety of Ramadan fresh juices such as: Jallab, Laban Ayran, Kamr Al Deen and Karkadeh. Guests will be impressed by the new signature dishes this year including Asateer Assorted Manakish, Asateer Kenafah and a Tahina fountain.
In addition, guests will be able to enjoy new continental dishes during Suhour including the Asateer Beef Burger, calamari, a variety of Italian and Indian dishes and a mix of international desserts. Guests will also be dazzled as they watch traditional Arabic ice cream being prepared right before their eyes in such favourite flavours as pistachio and rose water. Tempting Arabic sweets such as Osmaliya with Ashta, Katayef and Znoud El Sit will also be on display.
Asateer will offer a traditional Iftar buffet to awaken the senses at AED 165 per person, inclusive of water and Ramadan juices. Children below the age of three years are admitted complimentary, while those children between three and 12 years of age are invited to enjoy Iftar at Asateer for AED 80 per person.
Suhour will be offered nightly from 9pm with an extensive a la carte menu offering classic favourites and new surprises, as well as fresh Ramadan juices. Set menus are also available for groups of 30 guests and above, starting at AED 165 per person.
Guests can also enjoy Iftar and Suhour at Levantine which offers a true taste of Arabia and a variety of cuisines from the region. the set menu can be enjoyed for AED 165 per person inclusive of Ramadan juices and soft beverages. the panoramic show kitchen and elegant atmosphere provides a perfect setting to break the fast.
Kaleidoscope, which features a primarily Mediterranean menu with North African and Indian speciality dishes, will also be offering traditional favourites alongside a range of international dishes. the interactive, open kitchens feature live cooking stations and an impressive Iftar buffet for just AED 185 per person. the restaurant offers an inviting environment that is perfect for families looking to spend Ramadan together.
Guests looking to extend their time at Atlantis can benefit from a special Ramadan package rate of AED 895¹ per room or AED 995¹ per room including Suhour for two. Those looking to enjoy Atlantis and Iftar for two can enjoy a rate of AED 1095¹. Iftar can be enjoyed in Asateer, Levantine or Kaleidoscope. Guests will enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Aquaventure, the region’s largest waterpark and the Lost Chambers, an underwater world, together with preferential rates to swim with Atlantis Dolphins at Dolphin Bay. In addition, younger guests can enjoy a complimentary afternoon session to the Kids Club or Club Rush for teens.
During Ramadan, the Avenues, a sophisticated retail promenade that features over two dozen shops featuring top names in fashion, design and local artistry, will remain open until midnight during weekdays and until 1am on weekends.
Club Rush, the ultimate hang out experience for teens, provides a perfect venue for them to chill out, recharge and make new friends, is offering special Ramadan activities. these include daily Henna sessions, daily family movies at 4pm, in addition to an Arabian Nights Themed Evening (once per week). the Atlantis Kids Club offers a daily supervised activity programme with a focus on adventure, fun and exploration through group play. this Ramadan, kids can enjoy henna/face painting, Ramadan inspired crafts and a daily family open house offered from 8:30pm – 10:30pm.
To create an unforgettable Ramadan experience Atlantis joins Emirates NBD, one of the leading banks in the Middle East, and Infiniti, the youngest luxury automotive brand in the world represented by Arabian Automobiles to create an unforgettable experience in Asateer.
“Customer convenience is a significant driving force at Emirates NBD, and we are constantly looking for partnership opportunities that will enable us to provide customers with greater value-added benefits,” said Saif Al Mansoori, Deputy Head Group Marketing and Branding, Emirates NBD. “This year, during the Holy Month of Ramadan, we are pleased to partner with Atlantis, the Palm and their preferred automobile partner Infiniti to offer customers special car loan packages. Visitors to the Asateer tent can avail of special auto loans from Emirates NBD to invest in a brand new Infiniti.”
“Following its launch last year, Asateer has become one of Dubai’s premium Ramadan venues thanks to its spectacular views back to the Palm and the Dubai shoreline, commented Michel Ayat, CEO of AW Rostamani “Arabian Automobiles Infiniti is delighted to partner with Asateer for the first time where we have worked to subtly integrate the Infiniti brand and give guests the opportunity to test drive the Infiniti product range during their evening’s experience.
The notion of the ‘honoured guest’ is central to the Japanese culture of hospitality and we believe this provides a great synergy with the ambience of Asateer. We wish everyone Ramadan Kareem.”