01 November 2016

Designers from the US-headquartered Wilson Associates are currently creating stunning architectural interiors for some of the luxury hotels and resorts coming up in the Middle East.

Among them are two key projects in the UAE: the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort in Ras Al Khaimah, and the Vivanta by Taj, Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai.

The Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is a luxury eco-themed waterfront property that showcases the natural beauty and rich heritage of the UAE’s northernmost emirate.

Expected to open in 2018, the 255-key resort will feature Maldivian-style water villas, and will include residential, hospitality and retail components. The hotel will overlook the mangroves and the area around the reserve will not be developed, in order to preserve the wilderness.

Developer RAK Properties signed with the Thailand-based Minor Hotel Group to operate the luxury resort. The property is situated in a secluded and picturesque area with a private beach, surrounded by an eco-reserve lined with mangroves. The area will feature a nature discovery centre for resort guests, suitable for birdwatching and stargazing.

The resort boasts a variety of health and sports facilities, as well as a ballroom seating and events area for weddings and celebrations, a dedicated kids’ club, and the world-famous Anantara Spa. In addition, guests will enjoy a diverse selection of restaurants, including a specialty Asian dining restaurant and a seafood grill.

Commenting on the design of the project, a spokeswoman for Wilson Associates says: “The design team was inspired by the idea of a relaxing eco-vacation and spa experience. 

“Guests are invited to take a deep breath, relax and unwind in a space close to the ground, where the earth and humanity combine. Using a neutral colour palette interspersed by a few fresh, trendy accent colours, the resort is a place where the mind can rest and the soul speak.”

The Presidential Suite will have immediate outdoor access to the beaches, and all of the suites have open, spacious rooms where guests have ample room to relax.

Meanwhile, the Vivanta by Taj, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, the Middle East’s first Vivanta by Taj hotel, aims to be a haven of modern elegance and a preferred destination when it opens in 2018. 

Rated third best global hotel brand by Conde Nast Traveller, Vivanta’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers hotel will offer five-star lodging near Dubai’s thriving business districts and iconic attractions.

Wilson Associates’ Dubai studio is creating the interiors for the 207-room hotel. Inspired to create a contemporary, elegant experience that is tied to a rich past, the design team is using a palette of calming, neutral colours that are warm and welcoming. A reflective water feature in the lobby area enhances the sense of serenity and calm.

Other projects that Wilson Associates holds credit for in the UAE include Emaar Properties’ Dubai Hills Estate, a mixed-use development with several unique neighbourhoods surrounding an 18-hole golf course, where its designers created the sales pavilion and a model villa in a traditional style; the Sofitel Dubai Downtown, which opened its doors in 2014; and the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, a luxury seaside resort on Saadiyat Island.  

In Saudi Arabia, Wilson Associates is responsible for creating the interior designs of a whopping 19 hotels in a development in central Makkah, including the recently opened Conrad Makkah.

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