Claire Craig joined interior design practice WA International, London, in 1994 and launched the design studio for the Dubai office in 1996. She honed her skills in Canada, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Egypt before working for the architecture practice Scott Brownrigg & Turner (now Scott  Brownrigg) for five years then hospitality specialist Wilson Gregory Aeberhard, Spence Harris Hogan and Wrenn Associates in London. Craig has worked on numerous high-profile hotel developments.

Has there been an increase in hotel refurbishments, as hoteliers put off more radical building work?
We did expect there to be more refurbishment work in light of the downturn. However, I think many people were reserved about refurbishing too early, as there was much speculation with regard to how long the downturn would last, and subsequently how much construction costs would reduce. Undoubtedly Dubai slowed down with regard to the number of new projects, but in the past month or so it feels like things seem to be slowly picking up, and there is still a lot of work in other Emirates and GCC countries.

Has WA International itself witnessed much of a downturn in projects?
Unfortunately, a few very distinctive projects we were working on were suspended in the last quarter of 2008, but nevertheless we have been fortunate to be at various stages in all our remaining projects - and have recently signed three new contracts which we are very excited about.

What other projects are you working on in the Middle East?
Due to confidentiality agreements, we actually can’t disclose much of our current work, but we have been working on a few projects which will be opening their doors in the coming months in Dubai: a Sofitel hotel and Movenpick hotel will open near The Marina, in addition to an Ibis and All Suite hotel which will open in Al Barsha. We are also working on the new One&Only boutique hotel on Dubai’s Palm Island Jumeirah. Further afield, work also continues on a fabulous Resort Hotel in Bahrain, and an Intercontinental Hotel in Fujairah.

Design seems to work on a much bigger scale in the Middle East. Does this make for more challenging projects?
The vision behind many of Dubai’s projects is really inspiring. In fact, the opportunity to work on some of these world-renowned projects is why many expatriates in the construction industry came to the region. But there are challenges in every project, and whether you are designing a restaurant in the heart of a city or a boutique spa on an island shaped like a palm tree, each project is unique, and part of the fun of designing is creating something individual and well thought-out.

How would you say the taste and style of hotels in the Middle East differ from those in, for example, Europe?
In this region, generally as a result of cultural practices, there are a few elements which need to be considered when designing, such as prayer rooms or the ability to screen dining or bar areas during the month of Ramadan, which are obviously not found in Western hotels.That said, this part of the Middle East tends to be very international with a very diverse mix of well-travelled people from all over the world. As a result, taste and style is also very international.

How has the landscape of the Gulf region informed the interior design concept for The Address?
The overall inspiration for the interiors was taken from the dramatic and diverse landscapes of the Gulf region - from the rugged Hajjar mountains to the golden sand dunes of the desert; the brilliant blue hues of the Arabian Sea and the reds, oranges and golds of the beautiful sunsets. To emulate the landscape, texture, form and colour were layered into the spaces. We combined natural finishes such as rough stone with smooth polished marbles and warm, exotic wood. These were then complemented throughout with hues of blue, red, orange and gold, either through fabrics, sculptural pieces or the chandeliers.

Is the Burj Dubai a hard act to follow?
The Burj Tower certainly forms a centrepiece for the skyline, which is becoming more impressive by the month. But Dubai is home to some wonderful architecture and design, both externally and internally, and is being constantly challenged by new innovative design ideas throughout the region. This dynamic city encourages innovation.

What are the most unique aspects of The Address?
It’s very hard to single out just one thing as it was a labour of love for the team. The project was managed incredibly well by Mirage Mille and the close coordination by all consultants really helped the finished product come together. We custom designed some beautifully crafted furniture and sourced some very luxurious fabrics from all the major international fabric houses. We also had the opportunity to work with renowned artists from all over the world to commission unique pieces of art and sculpture.