[New] W Dubai – Mina Seyahi

DUBAI

Words: Ben Thomas Photography: © Owen Raggett

When entering a hotel room, it’s not often you are greeted by a chocolate viper head and a mock-up magazine starring your portrait as the cover shot, but at W Hotels, they like to do things differently.

Having debuted on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah in 2019, applying its energetic ethos to an area of the city dotted with similarly lavish resorts, the brand has now made its mark on the Mina Seyahi district, paying homage to the Middle East through a locally rooted design scheme.

Situated on an offshoot of Sheikh Zayed Road, the 31-storey structure harmonises with its glitzy counterparts but in fact speaks a different architectural language, soaring above the marina with an exterior that nods to the city’s rich seafaring history of pearling, fishing and boat-building. “The concept is inspired by Dubai’s strong relationship with the sea, and by local craftsmanship of boat-building fused with biomimicry,” says Aedas’ Global Design Principal Ignacio Gomez, adding that the roof of the tower forms a graceful swooping shape of the dhow – a traditional twomasted sailing boats used for trading goods and fishing activities – to reinforce the nautical theme, while the steel and aluminium façade shimmers gold in the sun to create a mirage-like effect.

Arabian influences permeate through the arrival experience too, with a giant sculptural tree flanking the hotel’s approach, a tribute to the Al Hakawati book – said to be the book of the storyteller – greeting guests at the entrance, and a seductive snakeskin floor providing a path to the reptileinspired reception area. Adding to the rich layers of visual

The W Lounge features a cosy bar with a jungle-chic aesthetic, brought to life by rainforest wallpaper, feline figurines and lampstands shaped like snakes tapestry, the lobby channels the atmosphere of a Middle Eastern souk through warm tones and gold accents, while a flying carpet explodes into a crystal chandelier, and a seating area takes cues from the halqas – or storytellers’ circles –that brought people together in days gone by.

“We wanted to open up the pages of the history book, with each area telling the story of the location,” says Marcos Cain, founder of Stickman Tribe, the Dubai-born studio entrusted with envisioning the hotel’s ground floor spaces. “Our aim was to be culturally and regionally aware, so we conducted research on local fauna and flora, as well as indigenous reptiles and animals, and landmark locations like the city’s Old Souk – where gold, spices and textiles have been traded for hundreds of years. In every space, guests will quickly get the idea they are in the UAE.”

The same principles were applied to The W Lounge, where a striking oryx sculpture rises above a central leather banquette, black marble flooring and winged armchairs. To the rear of the space, a cosy bar takes on a jungle chic aesthetic, with rainforest wallpaper, feline figurines that honour the Arabian leopard, and lampstands shaped like vipers. And stepping outside, the wildlife theme continues in the form of a larger-than-life scorpion sculpture, while Arabic heritage is imbued through canopies above the bar and seating areas that mirror the shape of tagine dishes.

But perhaps the most captivating artform on street level is a beaded installation that arches above the hotel’s retail outlet, which features names of the stories from the book One Thousand and One Nights – another nod to storytellers of the Middle East. “The ground floor has a whimsical approach, with an eclectic mix of colours, materials and finishes that reference the regional culture,” Cain explains, noting that Stickman Tribe sought to create a crescendo of elements that unified each zone. “Ultimately, the thread that knits the design together contains five key pillars: storytelling, poetry, art, history and tradition.”

This quintet of inspiration was also in the mind of Blink Design Group, which “channelled its alter ego” for the property’s signature restaurant, guestrooms and spa according to founder and Creative Partner, Clint Nagata. “With signature restaurant Ginger Moon, we wanted to create a beachless beach club,” says Nagata. “It’s barefoot luxury on steroids; somewhere guests can walk around without their sandals amidst a tropical theme featuring driftwood-like columns and handcarved elements.”

Returning to the wider theme, the 318 guestrooms and 27 suites tap into the ancient Arabic storytelling tradition of Al-Halqa, while at the same time referencing the traditional dhow boats that would dock in the Mina Seyahi port – or the ‘Port of Travellers’ as it is otherwise known – when the area was a hub for the copper trade during ancient times.

Before guests reach their rooms, the transition experience from public to private space takes them on an intriguing journey down a dark, moody corridor, which plays on the art of celestial navigation and its significance before the days of GPS. This creates a dramatic interplay with the lightfilled guestrooms, where floor-to-ceiling windows – neatly framed by Forest Group’s CS and KS curtain tracks – reveal views of the harbour below. Nowadays, modern vessels now throng the jetties, though Blink did pay tribute to the voyaging boats of old through headboards that evoke sails.

Other locally inspired touches include Arabian lighting that hangs by the bed to cast sunset tones over the neutral wall finish, as well as a shimmering fringe veil that tips its hat to the Arab Islamic culture of long floating abaya robes. “Our goal was to give the rooms a local feel, with touchpoints based on the hotel’s location within the city,” says Nagata. “Historically, this part of town was a port, so we fused references to the dhow with the essence of storytelling.”

The pièce de résistance of Blink’s scheme is the 160m2 E-Wow Suite on the 30th floor, where Nagata and his team were given free rein with the visual narrative. In keeping with the hotel’s aesthetic, they explored the centuries-old souk battles of poetry, where the winner would have their words written in golden ink and hung at the gates of Mecca. Putting this thread of history into practice, the firm incorporated golden fixtures – including a bedside chest reminiscent of a traveller’s trunk – and a lighting feature that flows like calligraphy. Such details are set against a sunset-inspired colour palette and an intricately crafted marquetry panel that echoes the storytelling ethos apparent throughout.

Adhering to the W brand’s typically audacious brand standards, the E-Wow Suite is also fit to host a get-together, with a bar that doubles as a DJ station and a living area separated from the two bedrooms by an airlock concept created using pressed metal embossed with poetic words. Acoustically, this means residents can throw a party in the living area while people sleep quietly on the other side of the wall. They can also head one floor up to newly opened rooftop bar and lounge, Attiko, which travels further afield to Asia for its verdant aesthetic; think lush greenery and an earthy palette.

In amongst these bursts of creative chaos, it was equally important for the hotel to offer a place of sanctuary that turns the whimsical experience down a notch while retaining the soul of storytelling and the spirit of the souk. The result is Bar-B Spa, an escapism-inducing space on level 30, for which Blink drew from the mythical landscapes and creatures gracing the pages of One Thousand and One Nights.

Taking centre stage here is a deep green manicure counter that doubles as a working bar – above which hang a series of Murano-style, organically shaped glass pendants that glisten in the light – while in more private areas like the couple’s treatment room, design details such as fairy-tale lighting and leopard print wallcoverings speak to the wider theme.

“Through the notion of storytelling, the owners wanted to create something fresh both for Dubai and the W brand,” says Nagata. It appears that their objective has been achieved, with guests flocking through the doors to discover what the mystical bazaar has to offer.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT

Owner / Developer: Wasl Hospitality & Leisure

Operator: Marriott International Architecture: Aedas

Interior Design: Stickman Tribe, Blink Design Group

Landscaping: Terra Firma

Main Contractor: Dubai Contracting Company

Fit-out Contractor: Dutco Interiors www.w-hotels.marriott.com