With design furniture and bespoke art pieces scattered around, the lobby also serves as an open-space gallery.
Since its soft opening, the long awaited InterContinental Dubai Marina was already getting good reviews as one of the rare hotels in the region that successfully combines dual concepts — of a hotel and of a museum. Following the client’s brief to create the hotel for those who prefer to “live in” rather than to “stay at”, the design concept was conceived by Draw Link Group and it revolves around a contemporary museum atmosphere punctuated by different artworks that are scattered around.
Sharing a podium with two residential towers in the Bay Central development, this five-star hotel is owned by Dubai-based developer Select Group and is composed of 39 floors, has 328 hotel rooms and residence suites, and six food and beverage outlets.
“When we set out on this journey, our intention was to not only differentiate the product in terms of service by partnering with a world class brand and operator such as InterContinental, our intention was to also differentiate the product in terms of its design identity,” says Rahail Aslam, CEO of the Select Group.
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“The hospitality market in the UAE follows a predominantly traditional style of interior design, so our brief to Draw Link Group was that form was definitely to follow function, but at the same time to create a design that was minimalist with clean lines. A contemporary yet inviting space that would make a striking first impression and leave a lasting impact on guests. With Giacometti-inspired sculptures and fascinating contemporary art installations, Draw Link not only delivered our vision but managed to exceed our expectations.”
The most challenging objective for the designers was to reconcile the client’s brief for innovative and distinctive interiors while offering the comfort of a five-star hotel, for which InterContinental is known.
Draw Link Group chairman Daousser Chennoufi explains: “To be honest, it wasn’t easy in the beginning to create this balance. InterContinental has its own standards and brand guidelines, but they were very cooperative. It was a new adventure for all of us — the owner, the hotel operator and for us, but we all believed that this hospitality market is saturated with standard five-star hotels and that we needed to offer a different kind of experience to the guests who appreciate both luxury and modern design.”
Positioned in unexpected locations and yet forming an integral part of the main design, the artworks range from gigantic sculptures to subtle engravings and paintings. In addition to their aesthetic benefits, the artworks were conceived as a specific way of creating landmarks and helping guests to navigate through the hotel.
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