Boutique Design - January/February 2018 - 38

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
DESIGN TEAM

Keane Dubai design team
CONTRACTOR

BW Interiors

BUILDING MATERIALS

CBM Gulf LLC - Construmat
Building Materials
Pegasus Innovative Decoration LLC
CEILING FEATURES/MATERIALS

Mint Creative Production
Stretch Ceilings Middle East
LIGHTING

Catellani & Smith
Delta Light
Loop.pH
Melogranoblu
Preciosa Lighting
Sharon Marston

WALLCOVERINGS

Muraspec

Gold on 27

Burj Al ArAB jumeirAh, DuBAi
Talk about high stakes. When Keane's Dubai-based team won an international competition to design a destination cocktail bar on the 27th floor of one of the world's tallest,
most luxurious and most recognizable hotels, the sky was the limit in terms of
creativity, as well as expectations.
The designers were tasked with flipping private banquet facilities located below
the hotel's famed helipad into a public haven unlike anything in the city. "The main
aesthetic concept was inspired by various states and shapes of gold metal, be it
smelting metal in liquid form or shimmering gold nuggets in smooth or rigid trigonalshaped hard forms," says John Rowley, the firm's head of projects for the United Arab
Emirates. Every element within the space follows that thread, most notably in the
ceiling design reminiscent of a singular liquid gold nugget above the bar.
Fiberglass and Styrofoam were hard coated with polyurethane to create the sculpture; then foil was added in multiple triangular shapes that recall the sharp edges of
raw metal. A smooth metallic gold finish, which the designers describe as both fire
retardant and easy to maintain, gives that immense piece its ultra-luxe luster. Rowley
says creating that custom feature was one of the core challenges, as it required the
integration of crystal glass lighting and all MEP services. Because of its complex shape,
massive size and the client's request to keep construction close to home, the piece also
had to be crafted locally.
The hallmark sculpture's shapes continue on the faceted brushed gold metal bar
counter's face, while custom vinyl wallcoverings display smooth organic silhouettes
inspired by smelted gold. Shimmering textured walls crafted from a combination of
bronze and gold metals, dynamic lighting effects and dark parquet flooring ingrained
with gold dust all speak to the designer's modern interpretation of Arabic luxury,
which takes cues from the city's riches and surrounding landscapes. Beyond that, the
open space's soaring ceilings and full-height glazing allow for a flood of natural light
while framing panoramic views of the sea and city. But creating a precious look didn't
mean forgetting functionality. The designers created a complete maintenance manual,
outlining all of the manufacturer-recommended, eco-friendly products best suited for
preserving the various materials. This is one instance where all that glitters is gold.
38

boutiquedesign.com January + February 2018

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - January/February 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boutique Design - January/February 2018