.jpg)
Designs associated with equestrian culture have, for centuries, been about luxury. Long before Hermès elevated accessories for horsemanship into status symbols with its elite leatherwork, oil paintings of glossy, muscular black and chestnut horses were displayed in the banqueting halls of palaces and incredible private homes. While these paintings still create an air of grandeur, it’s how you keep your living horses today that makes the real statement.
The indoor Alfursan horse arena, completed this year in Zallaq, Bahrain, by architectural and interior design studio Palm & Palazzo, is one of the most beautiful of its kind ever created. As you’d expect from a purpose-built structure within the grounds of the royal stables, every detail has been laboured over and refined. There are sofas with bridle-inspired leather detailing on their upholstered arms (very 21st-century Hermès) and, while the architecture makes use of modern steel construction for practicality, it also looks wholly classical – the exterior is covered in bright gypsum, a decorative finish that nods to historic craftsmanship.
“We wanted to mix Bahraini imagery with eclectic elements of contemporary design,” says Maryam Alansari of Palm & Palazzo. One of the most striking aspects of the project is its ceiling in danchal, or sandalwood, which has long been part of the vernacular of Bahraini architecture – beams showing the organic ripples of recently cut timber stretch across contrasting polished black wood beams, which, in turn, run across thatched palm. It’s an ornate flourish in a vast, pristine space of white walls, dark wood and geometric floor tiles. Everything was made from scratch to accommodate seven horse boxes and up to 50 guests.
“There are three entrances to the arena,” explains Alansari. “The main entrance takes you to where the horses train, then we have an elevated sitting area that’s two metres higher than the arena to give you a better view of the space. On the other side are the horse boxes and the tack room, where the riders store all their special equipment and tools.” The cabinetmaking in the tack room is remarkable, like superb cabinets in a luxury boutique. Elsewhere, there are black-and-white chequered floors worthy of a stately home, a breakfast area with contemporary versions of Windsor chairs, and a grand collection of modern Middle Eastern art. There is also a hand-carved bannister that ends in a profoundly chic spiral gesture, akin to a musical note.
The wood throughout the building appears to have been created to match the colours of the horses themselves, while a powder room offers a singular, strong statement in red. “I wanted to go really bold with that one space,” says Alansari. “We also spent a lot of time on the colour of the lighting throughout the main arena. There’s a lot of natural daylight, but events also happen after dark, and most arenas have spaces lit with a cold white light. We wanted something warmer, so we had to custom-design the whole thing.”
The Bahrain horse arena, Alfursan, is deeply glamorous, with access granted solely by the owner, Shaikha Noora Bint Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, patron of the national dressage team. This isn’t just a handsome set of stables; dressage is one of the most romantic expressions of horsemanship. “Most people want to see endurance and horses jumping,” says Alansari. “Dressage is about the connection between the rider and the horse, so the horses create certain movements that look like they are dancing. We had to create layers of rubber as part of the floor for functionality. The horse has to be… bouncy.” While riding is the passion of many, there’s something about dressage – and this new arena in Bahrain – that feels extraordinary. Dressage dates back to 350BC, when Athenian soldiers saw it less as equestrian ballet and more as a way to school your horse for battle. Today, it’s an Olympic sport, but it’s also an art. It’s about beauty. Which is why housing it in somewhere so exquisite feels appropriate. Bring on the dancing horses! @palmandpalazzo
