This is the fourth Scafall home Dom’s curated and somehow each one manages to be more mind-blowing than the last (check our video’s page for more). BAIANA’s entrance was originally envisioned as a quiet transition, before revealing the home’s expansive interior, but Dom flipped the script entirely transforming that threshold into a high impact moment that sets the tone for everything that follows.
The journey begins at his Oost West gate where you’re immediately greeted by lush, tropical foliage, and stone steps that lean into the raw, wild energy of the landscape. The massive concrete exterior walls of BAIANA transformed into living canvases where sweeping vines drape across the monolithic concrete.
“Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.” Salvador Dali
A beautiful hornbill stands proudly as a welcome-wagon, perched under The Bird House sign as if to say “wipe your feet before you enter!” or something that makes him feel like a little fastidious home owner; where also the playful choice of typography contrasted against its elegantly landscaped surroundings feels like a small wink and a nudge as if to say, you’re gonna have fun here.
When you enter, a concrete planter holds a towering tree in a display of symbiosis; tropical greenery clings to the trunk reaching upward, the first real hint of the way Dom embraces the height of BAIANA’s interior walls. The eye is drawn to the feature wall, a lush composition of tiered greens and botanical hints that pulls the tropical outdoors in from the very first step. Chest-up and tail-up, a bird stands proudly in its frame to greet you, while its cheeky little brother peers curiously into the music, wondering if that gramophone is just one big bird too, “is this your beak?”
The first floor hallway unfolds as a explosion of colour, and a curated celebration of all things avian. An antique bench holds a plant whose leaves mimic soft feathers, while nearby, a frame housing a photo of the home owners is ready to catch the beat with its webbed-feet. The space is anchored by a bold, geometric dance-floor of a rug, a mosaic of vibrant colour.
Stepping from the hallway, through the structural threshold, the space opens up to the kitchen. The kitchen embraces deeper, darker tones, acting as a calm transition between vibrant gallery and the open living area. Looking upward from the kitchen, the concrete walls dissolve into a deep pitch-black gradient where a whimsical installation of birds and clouds float in a surreal sky. While they seem distant from below, it’s a subtle tease of the perspective shift waiting for you on the bridge above.
In a small intentional pocket at the kitchen’s edge, Dom weaves in a poignant statement: a call to support the birdwatchers of Gaza paired with a stark stop sign. It’s a subtle installation, yet it’s impact is immense, fitting seamlessly into the house’s broader dialogue of nature and empathy.
“Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.” Wassily Kandinsky
As you step into the living room, the sheer scale of the artwork immediately commands your attention. Three massive frames stretch across the two-storey walls, creating a bold, immersive backdrop. The two outer pieces mirror each other in rough, raw line work, sliced through by streaks of yellow. Between them sits a whimsical mixed-media centrepiece, where superhero-like birds and words of peace emerge in a playful, surreal dialogue between styles. Above, the ceiling becomes part of the installation, with a hanging fan and angular spotlights that keep the energy moving upwards, their shifting directions mirroring the kinetic feel of the art.
The living space unfolds as a single, cohesive area, thoughtfully divided into two zones that blend seamlessly together each serving a different purpose. The first zone is a dedicated space for relaxation, a lounge area centred around a layered glass coffee table. The mood shifts at the bird benches, which act as a physical and energetic divider, moving the rhythm from the reclined ease of the lounge to the more upright posture of the dining area.
Beyond the living area, BAIANA’s glass doors act as living frames capturing the raw, untouched magic of a tropical wilderness.
After walking up the stairs to the second floor, the distance vanishes. The bird installation that felt like a distant tease from the kitchen is suddenly right there, an intimate encounter, before you see views of the rest of the house. Dom has thus turned the second floor into a suspended experience; a bridge that invites you to linger and oversee the dialogue between the kitchen space and the living area.
Stepping into the office is an immediate immersion. The space is defined by a rhythmic interplay of modular wooden cubbies and geometric patterns seamlessly integrated into the walls. This sequence of geometry and wooden weaving extends across the room and into the balcony, effectively expanding the office’s footprint.
The workspace is anchored by two desk spaces facing each other, blending classical elegance with Scafall’s Sharab Rattan Chair for a tropical infusion. Sitting delicately between the two work spaces is a miniature wooden pagoda, a tiered piece of art that serves as an intricate centrepoint between their two worlds. Framing this space is once again the beautiful woven/geometric walls, this time layered with a grid of vinyl records. Flanking the records are two pieces of traditional art, each highlighted by their own elegant spotlights.
Perched on one of our Sharab chairs is a toucan, guardian of the workspace, while anchoring the entire space is a rug so bold it can hold the energy of the entire room.
To preserve the sanctity of the bedroom, some details remain untold, not to keep them hidden, but to honour an all encompassing energy I experienced that is better felt than described. The view from the bed is anchored by a central window that frames a glimpse of the pool outside, but also frames an open palm sculpture, reimagined by Dom, stacked in descending tiers to create a form that feels like an ascending prayer.
Finally… a roof terrace, Dom’s bold addition to BAIANA, transforming the peak of the house into an expansive, al fresco entertainment area. Lined with side planters of swaying bamboo and vibrant tropical flowers, the space feels less like a roof and more like a hidden garden suspended in the air. A partial roof shelters the bar providing just enough cover to keep the space intimate, while leaving the rest of the terrace open to the sky.
BAIANA is a concrete monolith turned into Dom’s personal canvas. He has built a space that doesn’t just house a collection of art, it breathes with the same raw kinetic energy as the person that curated it. It’s a masterclass in how to turn a single detail into a statement, and how to turn a home into a living, breathing dialogue between nature and the unlimited bounds of imagination.
Dom, thank you for opening your home and your vision to me. Walking through your BAIANA felt like stepping into a world of your imagination, and as always, it was otherworldly. Thank you for the trust, and the inspiration all these years. As always, looking forward to our next collaboration.
If you want to see more of Dom’s work with Scafall homes, check our videos page.
♥