Natural surfaces, opulent furnishings and bespoke art by international artists makes this one of the best addressed hotels

Designer: WA International
Architect: Atkins Dubai

Next to the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Dubai, The Address has stiff competition in the design stakes. But once inside, the hotel’s own distinctive character shines through.

Design firm WA International worked with the scale of the architecture and the unusual form of the building (from certain angles it resembles a dazzling, high-tech lipstick case) to conceive truly unique and opulent designs. It’s no surprise the designers have scooped up two design awards for the hotel so far. Using lavish details like custom-designed chandeliers (made of more than half a million crystal beads, glass shards and blown-glass droplets) has resulted in a hotel bursting with contemporary grandeur.

While in one of the most prestigious business and leisure districts in the city, nestling in the heart of the old town, the overall inspiration for the interiors for WA International, collaborating with Dubai property developer Emaar, was actually taken from the dramatic and diverse landscapes of the wider Gulf region.

The rugged Hajjar mountains, the desert’s golden sand dunes and the brilliant blue hues of the Arabian Sea are a just a few of the hotel’s more exotic influences, manifest in a striking colour palette that runs throughout the hotel and its 196 rooms and suites. Meanwhile, natural surfaces such as rough stone, polished marble and wood are applied generously to all areas, alongside bespoke art and sculptures in glass, marble, wood and metal.

In addition to marble flooring, end-cut hardwood tables shows the circular grain of the tree trunk for extra detail. Other finishes include back-lit coloured glass walls and bronze metal beaded curtains.

One restaurant, Hukama, features dramatic lighting, dark St Laurent marble flooring and exotic zebrano polished wood to create a rich and more intimate dining area. In another restaurant, Fazaris, thousands of amber-glass droplets have been suspended from sensuous curves cut in the ceiling and lit from above.

A softer approach was taken for the hotel’s spa and health club, where candlelight leads the way to the 3,300 sq m space stretching over two floors. Here, a light limed-teak veneer on the floor contrasts with the dark walnut finish used throughout the rest of the hotel. Blocks of solid wood used as feature tables give a very natural and organic feel to the spa, where recreation and relaxation activities include an aroma room and an ice cave.

The hotel rooms and suites are finished in dark, curved wood panelling contrasted with pure white cotton bedding. Oversized furnishings and large statement pieces were specified with the vast ceiling heights in mind, so that they wouldn’t be dwarfed in the spaces.

An additional 626 serviced apartments occupy floors 15-62 and have custom-designed kitchens, bathrooms and furniture. These apartments have their own reception area, which features a dramatic structural column clad in faceted mirrors.

Topping it all off is the Neos cocktail bar on the hotel’s 63rd floor. WA used black marble flooring and columns encased in bands of polished stainless steel to enhance the sultry colour palette. This imaginative adaptation of Twenties’ art deco decadence is the perfect match for the panoramic views on to the city below.