David/Nicolas Crafts Horsemanship at Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts

Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts, known as ADREA, is part of a cultural initiative dedicated to classical horsemanship. As the fifth school of its kind and the first established beyond Europe, ADREA is grounded in the Arab tradition of 'Furusiyya', where horsemanship is shaped by discipline, skill, and the transmission of knowledge. Performances, education, and immersive learning experiences form the basis of the institution, placing practice and study in close proximity.

Within this context, the design studio David/Nicolas was commissioned to shape two key spaces: the Equestrian Library and the Saddle Workshop. Founded in 2011 by David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem, the studio operates between Milan, Beirut, and San Francisco, with a practice rooted in craftsmanship and close attention to material, proportion, and context. Approached by ADREA to design the school’s reading and learning space alongside its saddle atelier, the project introduced the designers to the world of horsemanship, a discipline outside their personal experience.

“For ADREA, we wanted architecture to speak through material, rhythm, and proportion. Drawing from Emirati equestrian traditions, we designed spaces that feel rooted in heritage yet contemporary, where craft, movement, and the bond between horse and rider quietly shape the experience,” David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem tell SceneHome.

The intervention focused on coherence across both spaces. Materiality, rhythm, and proportion reference Emirati equestrian culture through construction and use. The designers’ interest in working with the past while remaining attentive to present conditions informed the spatial language of the project. The interiors draw from the tactile environment of the stables and from the rituals of horsemanship, allowing function to guide spatial decisions.

In the Equestrian Library, curved steel shelving establishes a continuous rhythm. Conceived as a space to be navigated slowly, the library unfolds like a promenade, encouraging browsing and pause. The shelves organise books and archival material while shaping circulation and defining the atmosphere of the room. Wooden elements, including oak and mahogany, introduce warmth and texture, while smaller reading nooks create moments of enclosure within the larger volume. The space supports focused study and informal exchange through its measured structure.

The Saddle Workshop addresses the physical nature of equestrian craft. Leather, brass, and working tools shape the environment of saddle making. Designed as a place of instruction and repetition, the workshop accommodates the teaching of traditional techniques, where tools and materials remain visible and within reach. Robust surfaces and careful detailing support daily use and long-term durability.