Giant columns with golden eggs, a ‘tree of life’ comprised of flowers, a giant shisha, patterned carpets, ornate stained glass and intricate mosaic tiling – these are some of the striking features planned for a new hotel in Doha, Qatar, designed in collaboration with Dutch designer Marcel Wanders.
sbe, a privately-held lifestyle hospitality company, will launch its first hotel in the Middle East with the soft opening of Mondrian Doha, expected for spring this year (second quarter) and a grand opening by September.
The interiors are being design by Wanders, famed for his iconic Knotted Chair which created waves when it was launched in 1996. Doha-based South West Architecture is responsible for the design of the building, which is located next to the Lagoona Mall in the capital’s West Bay area. The location will act as a gateway to Qatar’s landmark Lusail City development.
Keeping in line with the theme of the tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, the hotel will have 270 rooms, which will feature lavish Swarovski crystal chandeliers and bespoke furniture in colours that aim to reflect the desert. There are five room categories – penthouse suites, studio suites, one-two bedroom suites and range of standard guestrooms.
The 27th floor is the most ‘mesmerising’ with a stained glass dome skylight and a custom-designed four-level high spiral staircase ‘giving the impression of extending into the sky. ‘
The hotel honours the nation’s national bird, the falcon. Paintings, portraits, headpieces, ornaments and a video art on falcons will be spread across the property to indicate this.
Mondrian Doha is expected to be a ‘culinary emporium.’ There will be 8 restaurants and bars – some of which will make their first entry into Qatar. Austrian-born American master chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck will be the spotlight. He is bringing his concept CUT by Wolfgang Puck to the country for the first time – wine and dine with beef galore!
Japanese Chef Masaharu Morimoto, will introduce Morimoto Doha – like sbe, the brand’s first to open in the Middle East.
As well as these features, the hotel will have a spa, an entertainment floor with a nightclub, rooftop pool and a skybar as well as a ballroom.
