The majlis is a cornerstone of Arabian hospitality — a formal reception room where tradition, status, and generosity are expressed through architecture. AB Concept, the Hong Kong-based firm known for their cross-cultural interiors, was commissioned to reimagine this tradition for a prominent Qatari family. The stone specification had to honor local heritage while introducing international material sophistication.
Crema Marfil, Spain's most iconic limestone, formed the foundation. Sourced from the Pinoso quarries in Alicante, this stone has been used in Mediterranean architecture for over two millennia. Its warm beige tones, caused by iron oxide dispersed through a microcrystalline calcite matrix, provide a neutral backdrop that unifies the majlis's diverse design elements. We selected premium grade blocks with uniform coloration and minimal veining.
Verde Tinos, a deep green marble from the Greek island of Tinos, was used for the prayer niche (mihrab) and the wall surrounding the traditional coffee hearth. The stone's intense green, caused by serpentine minerals formed during regional metamorphism, contrasts dramatically with the Crema Marfil. The mihrab panels were cut to precise geometric patterns and inlaid using a technique reminiscent of traditional Islamic geometric tilework.
The most dramatic element is the Onice Bianco backlit ceiling panel, measuring 4 by 6 meters. The white onyx, sourced from the Iranian deposits near Kerman, was sliced to 15-millimeter thickness and laminated to a translucent honeycomb panel structure. LED backlighting in adjustable color temperatures allows the ceiling to shift from warm amber during daytime gatherings to cool white for evening events, mimicking the desert sky's color transitions.
The completed majlis has become a reference project for contemporary Arabian interiors, demonstrating that traditional forms gain new meaning when executed in materials selected with geological precision rather than decorative convention.
A majlis must feel both eternal and intimate. Stone is the only material that carries both qualities naturally.
— AB Concept