From the A-shaped swimming pool to the capital ‘A’ carved into each and every sugar cube, Giorgio Armani has made his mark on every inch of his new hotel in the world tallest building.
On the other hand luxury hotelier Elisabetta Gucci is planning 40 hotels over the next 15 years in the Middle East, Far East and South America and aims to open its first hotel in Dubai at the end of 2010.
Armani Hospitality
Set into a corridor leading off from the lobby is a glittering showcase of Armani’s exclusive Privé accessories collection. Available for purchase by invitation only, these one-of-a-kind creations are a striking reminder of how closely fashion and hospitality sit side by side in this new property. At the end of the corridor are the Armani/Fiori and Armani/Dolci retail spaces, where guests can purchase Armani-inspired flowers and sweets.
The hotel exists as a larger-than-life showcase of Giorgio Armani’s creative breadth. The world-famous fashion designer is reported to have overseen every single element of the design, from soap bars to suites.
In fact, getting the shape and colour of the soap right took a rumoured 22 months, and was inspired by a pebble that Armani came across whilst on a beach in his native Italy. “I had not been involved with construction itself but I followed every single step in design and style,” said Armani during the grand opening of the hotel on April 27. “After five years of working on this project on paper I saw it for real. It was marvellous to see how it came to life.”
Armani Hotel Dubai occupies floors concourse to eight, as well as levels 38 and 39 of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The property consists of 160 rooms and suites, complemented by 144 private Armani residences, located on floors nine to 16.
Additional facilities include eight food and beverage outlets, including the Armani/Privé VIP lounge, and the world’s first in-hotel Armani Spa. Rooms come in a range of different types, ranging from the 45m² Armani Studio Room to the 340m² Armani Dubai Suite, which is priced at AED 45,000 per night.
Its prestigious location – and there are few more impressive addresses than the Burj Khalifa right now – coupled with the fact that it is the first Armani property in the world, placed the hotel very firmly in the global spotlight.
The design is defined by its simplicity. Unlike many of the region’s hotels, Armani Hotel Dubai is understated, and free of overly excessive design features. “There are no colours, no crystals, no gold leafing and no chandeliers in the building, at all. It is a totally different concept. It is very elegant, very exquisite, very refined. You will not see colourful fabrics or wallpaper. There is nothing hanging on the wall. You don’t see paintings or anything like that. The marble came from Canada, Iceland and northern Europe. The furniture was Armani Casa. It was supplied by Armani himself and we installed it for him”.
An air of mystery
Corridors give no indication of where they might lead. Intersected by reflective doors, all you see is your own reflection as you make your way from one end to the next.
Room doors are set flush into the walls of the corridors, and are made of the same wood so they are barely discernible. The impression is of a secret entrance to a mysterious destination.
Once inside the rooms, a sense of secrecy continues. Sliding panels and doors hide corridors, televisions, kitchens and cupboards, making journeying through the room a voyage of discovery. Guests can choose what they want to reveal and what they wish to keep hidden away.
But if a sense of secrecy abounds in the guest rooms, it is the direct opposite in the restaurants, where transparency is the defining characteristic. All restaurants have open kitchens, to enable guests to fully appreciate the effort that goes into their food.
Designing his first hotel was an experience that Armani relished. “The real difference is that when you design some clothing, journalists say after six months ‘it’s off’. With Hotel Armani it cannot be really the same. So it’s a much bigger commitment and a much bigger risk, which is why I love it,”he continued.
Gucci eyes boutique hotel
Elisabetta Gucci is a daughter of Italian fashion designer Paolo Gucci. Her partner Lorens Ziller at Elisabetta Gucci Hotels & Resorts said: “We intend to develop other hotels for the GCC, and outside our focus will be Russia, China, Far East, Africa and South America, particularly Brazil.” He added: “We would like to have 40 hotels in 15 years but think this can be over achieved.”
Dubai, which suffered the sharpest drops in hotel revenues regionally in 2009, is seeing signs of recovery with improved occupancies, as the Gulf’s tourism and trade hub emerges from the impact of the global financial crisis.
The emirate, one of seven comprising the UAE, is famous for its opulent hotels.
Ziller said: “If we had a 300-room hotel I would be seriously concerned. But even in the downturn there’s great potential for boutique hotels in Dubai.”
The Elisabetta Gucci hotel was originally scheduled to open by the end of 2009 but was delayed by a year, said Ziller.
Generally, the estimated cost of a luxury hotel could come to $12.7 million, said Ziller.
A night at the Elisabetta Gucci Hotel Dubai would cost as little as an estimated 1,500 UAE dirhams ($408.5) to as much as 25,000 dirhams ($6,808), Ziller said.
Guests will have the option to buy anything in the hotel from furniture and bed linen to slippers. Elisabetta Gucci works with Italy’s Formitalia Luxury Group to create exclusive interiors, furniture and art.
Source: constructionweek
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