The Grove is a newly opened coffee house on the desert outskirts of Al Ain. Conceived as a quiet refuge for locals and visitors, the space channels the region’s landscape and muted colour palette to create an atmosphere of calm, grounded hospitality.

DuneBlocks by ARDH Collective were integrated throughout the project, shaping interior partitions, seating pockets and subtle transitions between zones. Their beige-sand pigment, achieved through the use of natural colourants, aligns the material with the tones of Al Ain’s desert and soft timber detailing, producing a cohesive visual language that feels both familiar and contemporary.

As light filters through the café throughout the day, the porous geometry of the blocks casts shifting shadows across floors and tabletops, quietly animating the interior without disrupting its sense of stillness. The blocks offer privacy and spatial definition without resorting to solid walls, promoting airflow and visual continuity in a climate where both are critical.

Crafted with care and deployed with restraint, the DuneBlocks contribute to The Grove’s broader commitment to sustainability, locality and design with purpose, demonstrating how small architectural interventions can meaningfully shape the character and atmosphere of a place.