Designing the Extraordinary: Onyx and the Architecture of Confidence

Every project begins with a spark. For Onyx, that spark was the idea of movement, of fluid lines, light and luxury inspired by the form of a yacht. The result became more than a high end villa design. It became a statement of confidence for Nellis Architecture’s first completed project on the African continent and a symbol of how contemporary residential architecture can carry identity across geography.“This project asked us to be both brave and precise,” says Lee Nellis, Principal Architect. “Extraordinary architecture happens when ambition is balanced with care. A home has to feel grounded and connected to its place, no matter how bold the concept.” This year, Onyx in Sierra Leone received a Five Star Award for Best Architecture, Single Residence, Sierra Leone at the African Property Awards 2025 to 2026. The recognition marks a milestone for an emerging Dubai based architectural firm with growing international reach and reinforces a belief that creative ambition and crafted execution can translate across cultures, climates and expectations.     Origin, Challenge and Reinvention   The story of Onyx began not with a blank page, but with an inherited design that lacked direction. The original proposal was structurally workable, but aesthetically limited, a common condition in fast developing contexts where speed outpaces design quality. “We received a previous design that was, honestly, quite poor,” recalls Valentina Ezhova, who worked on the concept and modelling. “We decided to start fresh, keeping the structure but transforming the facade into something fluid and sleek.” Rather than layering decoration onto an existing shell, the team reimagined the building altogether. The new concept was rooted in motion, aerodynamic curves and the refined surfaces often associated with yacht design. Form became a continuous gesture, reducing mass and creating a sense of effortless, contemporary confidence. Lee had long been fascinated by yacht design and the way it expresses movement through sculpted curvature. That fascination became both aesthetic inspiration and architectural strategy. The villa was reconceived as an object shaped by light, air and flow, elevating it from conventional residential architecture into something sculptural, modern and memorable.   Luxury, Context and Cultural Meaning   The client requested premium, high end detailing with a strong visual presence. The challenge was whether a luxury villa design could create identity without overwhelming its surroundings. “The client wanted to see as much luxury as possible,” says Pieter Delport. “The challenge was to do that with sensitivity to context. The surrounding area was not traditionally luxurious, so the villa had to stand out without shouting. We used timber cladding, organic lines and subtle tones to make it feel sophisticated but grounded.” Material choices carried the narrative. Timber softened the contemporary form. Light, organic geometry gave the building rhythm and balance. Soft earth tones allowed the villa to sit confidently in its regional landscape rather than appear transplanted. Luxury was expressed not through glare, but through clarity, proportion and restraint. In doing so, Onyx demonstrates how a trusted architectural firm can deliver bespoke, high end residential architecture that respects both client aspiration and local fabric.   A Door That Created Identity   The villa’s name came from its most striking feature, a monumental backlit Onyx door that glows like a sculpture at dusk. What began as a request for something grand transformed into a signature gesture that shaped the home’s identity. “It started as a client request for something grand,” Valentina says, “and we made it a signature. The Onyx door became the heart of the design. It set the tone for the rest of the villa, refined, layered and quietly confident.” The same translucent stone appears throughout the property, reflecting light and animating space with colour, shadow and warmth. Paired with water features and a dramatic rain curtain surrounding a Cotton Tree, the national symbol of Sierra Leone, the material becomes an anchor of meaning rather than ornament. Architecture becomes a narrative of belonging, giving a contemporary villa a cultural heartbeat and turning a premium, custom home into a place that feels local as well as luxurious.   Designing Remotely with Responsibility   Designing Onyx required more than creativity. It demanded discipline, research and architectural responsibility. The team had never been to Sierra Leone, relying on remote study to understand culture, climate, construction limitations and material availability. “None of us had been to Sierra Leone,” Pieter explains. “We had to design remotely, relying on research to understand the landscape and culture. Discovering the Cotton Tree gave the project an authentic anchor. It helped us create something that belonged.” With limited access to up to date regulations, safety standards were referenced from Dubai, South Africa and Russia, applying global benchmarks to a local context. “It was about responsibility as much as creativity,” Pieter adds. “We had to make sure every decision respected both context and craft.” For Lee, this reinforced a core principle in the studio’s approach. “Being a leading architectural firm is not only about form or style,” he notes. “It is about how seriously you take duty of care. A beautiful concept is only successful if it can be built safely, perform well and live comfortably for decades.” Climate, security and construction logistics shaped building systems, specifications and material frameworks. The villa had to be elegant, but also durable, buildable and safe.     Learning Through Making   For the design team, Onyx became a professional turning point, particularly in the realm of digital modelling and complex geometry. “It was a modelling lesson,” says Valentina. “The curves were complex to build in Revit, and it pushed me to expand my skills. After Onyx, I decided to learn Rhino. It made me realise that great design always comes with learning.” The project reinforced a belief that contemporary architecture is not a static discipline, but a craft shaped through curiosity, iteration and growth. For a studio working across the Middle East and beyond, that mindset keeps each new villa design responsive, current and quietly innovative.   Recognition, Reflection and Direction   For Nellis Architecture, Onyx is more than a project. It is a declaration of what residential architecture can be when vision, discipline and trust align. “It was a concept we had never tried before,” says Pieter. “Seeing it realised, and then recognised at the African Property Awards, gives us confidence. It proves that our design philosophy, balancing beauty, craft and context, can resonate anywhere.” Valentina agrees. “I am proud of this one. I expected it to win. It stands apart.” For a young, Dubai based architectural firm expanding internationally, the recognition marks not only expertise, but identity. “Onyx confirmed that a Dubai based studio can design confidently for other regions while still feeling local,” says Lee. “It shows that if you listen carefully, research deeply and keep your standards high, the work will speak clearly in any context.”   The Takeaway   Onyx reflects what a contemporary architectural firm can achieve when it prioritises clarity of idea, precision of execution and respect for culture and climate. From the glow of its Onyx door to the sculptural sweep of its yacht inspired facade, the villa is a reminder that luxury is not only about display but about meaning. Architecture has the power to carry identity across continents, to transform conventional buildings into long lasting experiences and to express confidence without spectacle. When design is carried with intent, it does not simply impress. It endures.