Dubai, UAE
A very large complex of buildings made up this individual project. Comprising 3 zones of accommodation, the central block housed both the client’s family apartments as well as an additional wing of 8 suites for guests. A guest majlis was set aside for visiting dignitaries with its own accommodation, F&B and other public spaces and a third block housed a Thai styled Spa.
All on one level, the client asked for contemporary styling with a variety of different marble and timber finishes as well as a predominance of bronze and brass. Unusual for such a project, each space had to be designed differently from its neighbour in both interior architecture and FF&E. Across the project, no two rooms have the same architectural interior design, lighting, furniture or fabrics. A holistic approach was not what the client wanted.
Given the need for an individuality across each space, a particular design language was not needed and Smallwood provided the client with 10 different schemes to be developed for the principal spaces including a special Thai scheme for the Spa.