Jaipur's iconic step wells are reinterpreted in this Dubai rug showroom

Interior design studio Roar looked to the architectural vernacular of Rajasthan’s capital for its Jaipur Rugs showroom.

The retail space is located in a former warehouse in Dubai’s Alserkal district, and it maximises its expansive 780 sq m with layers of repeating stairs and arches, which evoke Jaipur’s distinctive visual language.

According to Pallavi Dean, the studio’s founder and creative director, these forms were the result of a fascination with the city’s step wells – water sources accessed by recurring levels of staircases.

She says they ‘played a significant role in functioning as traditional water systems, as well as being hubs of social and cultural interactions. ‘Transposed into an interior setting, this element brings a very special spatial experience for the visitor.’

In Roar’s interpretation, the stairs are covered in brightly coloured carpet and lead to arch-shaped niches showing off more of the rug’s colour and pattern. The studio has also designed a pair of immersive gallery-style spaces that see every surface hung with rugs.

There are other subtle hints to Jaipur’s history and design vernacular in Roar’s use of rose-coloured carpets and copper-lined arches, referencing its long-held nickname of The Pink City.

Alserkal Avenue, A3, 17th St, Al Quoz, Dubai, United Arab Emirates