WADI RUM, JORDAN—Jordanian fashion designer Nafsika Skourti recently took the concept of dining al fresco to a whole new level, thanks to her art installation-slash-temporary venue called “The Invisible Room.”
“I wanted to create an invisible structure in the midst of magnificent nature, one that was only discernible when it was illuminated,” explained Nafsika who, along with her sister Stephanie Skourti, runs her eponymous fashion label. “I wanted to showcase the majestic landscape of Jordan and bring visitors close to the source of what is exceptional in this land. The pure elements of breathtaking scenery, warmth, hospitality, and ancient cuisine. All I needed to do was add a neon frame and some orchids.”
To make it happen, the sisters joined with the Jordan Tourism Board to host their first press trip, which included international journalists, stylists, photographers, and influencers from the U.S. and Europe. As for the July 26 dinner, guests were only told that they would be going into the desert and that they should wear black tie. On site, they were given luxe Nafsika Skourti pieces to don.
The soft mauve tablescape featured customized plates with gilded flatware by the Tabletop Company, desert rock centerpieces, and towering white and pink orchids.Photo: Courtesy of Nafsika Skourti
“We wanted to create a unique experience to bring our guests from all different cultural backgrounds together and unite them under the stars and moonlight in this special place,” the sisters explained. “We wanted to bring our guests into our ‘Invisible Room’ where there are no borders, only light, uniting us all.”
After traveling into the Wadi Rum desert in southern Jordan via pickup trucks, guests were greeted by an oud player and the glowing neon box, a strong contrast against the soft sands of the landscape. The steel structure measured almost 15 feet wide, 20 feet long, and eight feet high, with a transparent table set for 14 in the center. The LED lights strung along the frame lit the space for the evening.
But how do you build a dining room in the middle of the desert?
Guests dined on Jordanian mezze and the traditional Bedouin meal called zarb.Photo: Courtesy of Nafsika Skourti
The space’s soft mauve tablescape featured customized plates with gilded flatware by the Tabletop Company, centerpieces made from desert rocks, and towering white and pink orchids. Guests dined on a traditional Bedouin meal called zarb, which is a meal prepared underground in ovens.
“I hope that the memory of Wadi Rum will be vivid in the minds of my guests for many years to come. The reds of the rocks, the serenity of the desert and the stars,” Nafsika said. “Through experiencing the Bedouin traditions through our guidance, I believe we were able to understand deeper the true value of our region and the commonality of our human experience.”
Dinner guests included journalists, stylists, photographers, and influencers from the U.S. and Europe.Photo: Courtesy of Nafsika Skourti
Nafsika and Stephanie Skourti worked with the region's Bedouin tribes to set up the space.Photo: Courtesy of Nafsika Skourti
