World class designers and architects at Atlantis, The Palm

Atlantis, The Palm 1 November 2008

Led by the vision of Sol Kerzner, Executive Chairman of Kerzner International, an esteemed roster of internationally known architects, designers and landscapers have joined together to create an entirely original destination resort at the new 1539-room Atlantis, The Palm on The Palm Jumeirah.

Redefining the Dubai resort experience, Atlantis, The Palm showcases the design talents of Jeffrey Beers of Jeffrey Beers International (JBI), David Rockwell of The Rockwell Group and Adam D. Tihany of Tihany Design. Interior resort designers Wilson and Associates, design architects Wimberly, Allison, Tong and Goo (WATG), and the innovative landscape architecture of EDSA were also involved. The resort also features works by world-renowned artists Dale Chihuly and Albino Gonzalez.

With its enviable position atop the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, The Palm opened in September 2008 and serves as the new gateway to Dubai. It features water themed amusement at AQUAVENTURE, an open-air marine habitat featuring extensive fresh and salt-water pools and lagoon exhibits, a seemingly endless stretch of beach, luxury boutiques, a choice of restaurants including four celebrity chefs, an exciting nightclub, Spa and Fitness Club, and 5600 m² of meeting and function space. Each dimension of the resort offers a taste of Arabia, as well as a playful nod to the ocean and the myth of Atlantis-from sun-kissing spires and Moorish archways to a sunken city filled with exotic sea creatures and suites with a fish eye's view into an underwater haven.

THE ROYAL TOWERS - ARRIVAL
Arrival in the Royal Towers Grand Lobby presents a dazzling interplay of water, light and sound with a wall of windows offering stunning vistas of the azure waters of The Palm and beaches along the Arabian Gulf. Guests are also reminded of the surrounding sea thanks to sounds of a cascading water wall.

For Atlantis, The Palm, artist Dale Chihuly has created his first installation in the Middle East - a glass sculpture that brings the essence of the sea and its inhabitants to life. The result, which took almost two years to create, is a 10 metre high sculpture with over 3,000 pieces of intensely-coloured blown glass ranging from fiery oranges and reds to tranquil blues and greens and is surrounded by a reflection pool.

The lobby's 19 metre high arched ceilings feature eight hand painted murals on canvas by Spanish artist Albino Gonzalez, one of the world's foremost interpreters of ancient mythology. The murals, which depict the solar calendar's development and illustrate the seasons of the year, also bring to life Arabian myths and legends and tell the story of the ancient mythological city of Atlantis.

ACCOMMODATION
A majestic walkway leads to the Wilson and Associates-designed entrance, welcoming guests to the guest rooms of The Royal Towers at Atlantis. Each room and suite boasts breathtaking views of the azure Arabian Gulf or the tranquil waters of The Palm Jumeirah. Accommodation ranges from deluxe rooms to larger suites with walk-in wardrobes, dressing areas and jetted tubs. Interiors feature contemporary décor of earth tones while splashes of colour bring the ocean indoors. Decadent bathrooms outfitted with marble floors, granite vanities, rain showers and twin vessel sinks provide guests with a luxurious oasis for relaxation.

The resort's three signature suites include:
§ The iconic Bridge Suite spans the East and West Towers, measuring 924 square metres. Reached by private elevator, this three-bedroom enclave overlooks The Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf through floor to ceiling windows. The suite features a dining room with a gold leaf table to seat 18, a large lounge area plus the latest technology including six high definition televisions with DVD players, surround sound theatre-style audio and music through CD players and iPod docking stations. Both the master bedroom and the second bedroom feature his and hers bathrooms, whilst the third bedroom has two double queens and en suite bathroom.

§ The two Lost Chambers Suites feature master bedroom floor-to-ceiling window walls looking directly into the Ambassador Lagoon, creating an illusion of being beneath the sea. With stunning interiors by Wilson and Associates, the aptly named Neptune and Poseidon Suites each stretch over three floors. A sweeping staircase leads from the foyer to the large living and dining area that overlooks the Ambassador Lagoon and are supported by a butler's pantry. Watch the marine animals swimming by from the pedestal jetted tub in the master bathroom or enjoy a rainfall shower with its six body jets. A playful entertainment lounge offers guests XBOX, Play Station 3 and Nintendo WII facilities on a high-definition television.

DINING
Regarded internationally for creating stunning dining venues to showcase some of the world's most celebrated cuisines, designers Jeffrey Beers, David Rockwell, Adam Tihany and Wilson and Associates have each brought their incomparable style and design to the Arabian culinary scene.

The distinctive style of Jeffrey Beers is discovered throughout Atlantis, The Palm. He worked in partnership with Parisian Chef Michel Rostang to create Rostang, The French Brasserie, and with Italian Chef and British television personality Giorgio Locatelli to design Ronda Locatelli. Beers also created Sanctuary, the resort's state-of-the-art nightclub.

For Rostang, Beers designed a traditional French restaurant with modern twists. A wine display and raw bar adjacent to the kitchen offer a lavish presentation of oysters, prawns, mussels, crab claws and scallops, all which complement the modern French cooking. Antique mirrors contrast with modern design elements of exposed metal along a curved vaulted barrel ceiling reminiscent of the Paris Metro, while a free-standing bread station, glass-blown light fixtures and a distinctive macaroon display, all designed with glass and metal, add a contemporary flair to the dining area. Styled with deep raspberry walls and contrasting dark mahogany wood mill work reminiscent of delectable pastries, a custom in-house patisserie features an open baking kitchen.

To create a rustic yet stimulating environment for Ronda Locatelli, Beers blended the charm of the Italian countryside with the modernity of Dubai. A calming water pond juxtaposed with a custom built fireplace greets guests upon entering, while a central stone clad structure houses four pizza ovens and grounds the space. Diners relax on wood basket seating pods and various sized circular wood trellis' adorned with fiery custom glass light fixtures hang suspended over the entire space.

The Rockwell Group collaborated again with world-renowned Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to create Nobu, the legendary chef's newest restaurant. Using traditional and modern Japanese elements, the restaurant features natural elements of ash, river stones, woven textiles and fishing baskets juxtaposed with more man-made ideas of light and composition to create a rich and spectacular dining experience.

A curved river rock wall marks the entry to the Nobu bar, providing casual seating for dinner guests and a hot spot to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. The solid timber bar is backlit and translucent flower panels create private areas around the centre of the lounge. A sushi bar, encased in black bamboo and embedded terrazzo, contrasts with the curving fluidity of abaca panels, while a white bamboo proscenium forms a theatrical backdrop for the sushi chefs at work. The private dining room is flanked by a frosted blue mirror service bar and a curved wall encrusted with metalwork flowers. Guests can relax on up-lit woven banquettes formed by colourful panels cascading down from the ceiling towards the floor.

Adam D. Tihany integrated bold and contemporary design for Saffron, the resort's modern, interactive buffet. Sleek and minimalist, the restaurant has high ceilings featuring strong red and orange colours in metallic and glass and chefs prepare fresh and innovative food - all shown on surrounding flat screens.

Wilson and Associates brings to life Seafire, a contemporary steakhouse. Guests are welcomed to the restaurant through a rustic, bespoke driftwood door and leather chairs allow guests to enjoy their dining experience in a relaxing setting. A timber tasting room allows guests to dine in private, or taste favourite vintages from the wine wall or from the bespoke six metre high wine cooler.

Finally, the Beers-designed Sanctuary provides an indulgent end to any evening. The decadent dance club, lounge and outdoor terrace features an oval dance floor surrounded by a suspended catwalk, rotating LED screens and moving projection throughout. The more intimate lounge opens to an outdoor terrace with a fountain surrounded by cabanas with bed-style lounges. Baroque details, custom pendants and fixtures, as well as an interpretation of Arabian architecture add drama and romance.

Notes:
Dale Chihuly is most frequently lauded for revolutionizing the studio glass movement by expanding its original premise of the solitary artist working in a studio environment to encompass the notion of collaborative teams and a division of labor within the creative process. However, Chihuly's contribution extends well beyond the boundaries both of this movement and even the field of glass: his achievements have influenced contemporary art in general. Chihuly's practice of using teams has led to the development of complex, multipart sculptures of dramatic beauty that place him in the leadership role of moving blown glass out of the confines of the small, precious object and into the realm of large-scale contemporary sculpture.

About Jeffrey Beers International
With over two decades of experience in both architecture and interior design, Jeffrey Beers of Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) has a reputation for creating unique and innovate designs that work in harmony with the location and environment. Recent national and international projects include The Cove Atlantis in The Bahamas; Cain at The Cove; ESCAPE by Vivre at The Cove; AURA at Atlantis, Paradise Island; Daniel Boulud's Brasserie, Wynn Las Vegas, FIFTY St. James in London, Ono in New York, Hilton Tokyo, Japonais New York and Chicago, Fontainebleu in Miami, Echelon in Las Vegas and China Grill Mexico City.

About the Rockwell Group
Founded 20 years ago and led by acclaimed architect David Rockwell, the Rockwell Group sets out to entertain the eye and the individual through creating an inventive and individual narrative for each project. The firm revels in designing restaurants that double as dramatic dining destinations that are characterized by rich materials and a sense of theatre. The multi award-winning company lists Nobu (including Nobu at Atlantis), Mesa Grill (at The Cove Atlantis), Town, Kittichai and Café Gray as some of the most recent additions to its restaurant roster and The Kodak Theatre (LA), Meadowlands Xanadau (NJ) and FAO Schwarz (NYC) as some of its larger real estate projects.

About Tihany Design
Tihany Design is a multidisciplinary design atelier with expertise in a broad range of projects with concentration on hospitality design. Founded in 1978, by architect and designer Adam D. Tihany, the firm dedicates itself to custom-tailoring its luxury restaurants and hotels to reflect each client's singular vision and unique brand of hospitality. Known for successfully integrating bold, contemporary designs in landmark spaces, Tihany Design's aesthetic is an unexpected integration of harmony, design and architecture.
Fueled by the international background of the firm's principal and its multicultural staff, Tihany Design projects - located in several of the world's most cosmopolitan cities and exclusive resorts - are characterized by their strong sense of place. Celebrating the unique tapestry of each particular locale, each project has its own identity and authenticity. Recent projects include Per Se (NYC), Le Cirque (NYC), Jade on 36 (China), and MO (Hong Kong).
About Wilson and Associates
TRISHA WILSON, President and CEO of Wilson Associates, has built her internationally acclaimed design firm around creating interiors for hotels, restaurants, clubs, casinos and high end residential. From five-star luxury resorts catering to every whim of the well-travelled elite to the charming whimsy of childhood dreams at Disney World in Florida and France... Wilson Associates' signature can be seen at every stop.

Specializing in interior architectural design, Wilson Associates was founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1978. To date, the firm has designed and installed more than 1,000,000 guestrooms in thousands of hotels worldwide. The firm offers the full range of interior architectural design services from initial space planning and design through construction documents and construction administration. To better service the company's clientele, and to further facilitate the use of global resources for all clients, Wilson Associates maintains offices in Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Johannesburg and Shanghai.

Wilson Associates is consistently named as one of the top interior design firms by industry professionals, and receives top honours annually in design competitions for both new construction and historical renovation. For years, Wilson Associates has been chosen by industry peers as most respected for work in the field of hospitality design and is a twenty time winner of the prestigious American Hotel and Motel Association's Gold Key Award for excellence in hotel design.

---

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• reddit
• StumbleUpon
• Twitter

---

Atlantis, The Palm case studies

Atlantis, The Palm news