Dubai’s first truly unique 4 star modern family beach resort will be remodelled and redesigned by Woods Bagot. The firm has been appointed by new owners, Jebel Ali International Hotels, to undertake the design services.
The recently completed hotel - to be named Ocean View Hotel - provides uninterrupted sea views and prominent frontage to the popular Jumeirah Beach Residence Walk. The ‘Walk’ being one of Dubai’s most fashionable outdoor destinations, offers exclusive shopping, hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.
Woods Bagot has been tasked with combining a contemporary international aesthetic with locally relevant elements.
Nadine Watson, interior design leader for public areas, explains the inspiration behind the remodelling:
“For inspiration we related to Dubai’s more recent recognition as a centre of excellence in industry and compared it with the ‘industrial age’ and the coinciding art nouveau period in Europe. This period witnessed a strong combination of elegant designs and brave engineering, resulting in some of the most admired structures and buildings to this day,” says Nadine.
“The image of New York’s high rise construction workers sitting on a girder in mid-air sparked the original concept of how to reference the industrial age, whilst bringing it forward into the present.”
Key design features include the introduction of new elements to the hotel podium facade that will enable the building to relate to neighbouring developments and create a point of difference. These elements are most prominent in the hotel entrance with the tangible theme infused throughout all areas.
The design will draw upon materials, colours and patterns that reflect the robustness of industrial solutions and at the same time relate to the maritime location.
The project is expected to be completed by November 2012.
Project team leaders
Alf Seeling, Design Director; Nadine Watson, Interior Design; Steven Velegrinis, Landscape and Urban Design features; Priya Mrinal, project leader and coordinator and Cecilia Clason; Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) for guest rooms and related areas.
About the featured designer
Nadine Watson is a highly experienced senior interior designer with a proven career in international hospitality, residential and retail projects. Working for companies such as Hirsch Bedner Associates, Broadway Malyan Architects & Designers and Decovar Orient, her experience spans over 22 years.
Nadine has worked in South Africa and the Middle East and most recently on projects such as Kempinski Hotel, The Wave, Muscat and Saadiyat Island Beach Resort, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
10 Trinity Square London granted planning permission
Cloudscape: A fusion of design excellence and technology
Five Star Award: Public service architecture
The majestic new Royal Randwick: An invitation to racing royalty is on its way
The virtues of sophisticated living, exquisite design, and mesmerising views
Winning design draws connections between economy, ecology and culture