Mondrain unveils MEA debut
Sbe will open its first hotel in the Middle East with the launch of Mondrian Doha, Qatar, in spring 2017. This soft opening will set the stage for Mondrian Doha’s opening celebration, which follows in late September 2017. The 270-guestroom hotel has been designed in collaboration with Marcel Wanders as and South West Architecture. The project marks Wanders’ first hotel in the region.
Sam Nazarian, founder & CEO, sbe comments: “We are delighted to open our first hotel in the middle east in Doha, Qatar which is one of the most dynamic cities in the region. We’re additionally set to open two more hotel properties in Dubai in 2017 and 2018 and a number of restaurants. I know that Mondrian Doha will be an incredible destination for international and local travellers alike. It will be also a fantastic destination for the locals to experience all our culinary venues.”
Sensitively rooted in local Arabic culture, Mondrian Doha will express tradition from a modern perspective throughout. The hotel is billed as the embodiment of Arabia through a modern lens, symbolic of the city’s growth and Qatar’s future.
Guests can choose from five room categories including penthouse suites, studio suites, one and two bedroom suites and a range of standard guestrooms – all of which feature Swarovski crystal chandeliers and bespoke furniture in hues that mirror the desert.
The hotel will combine bespoke Marcel Wanders design elements with local patterns, ornate Arabic writing and historic souks. Further details include giant columns with golden eggs, a ‘tree of life’ comprised of flowers, falcon video art, giant shisha, patterned carpets, ornate stained glass and intricate mosaic tiling.
Marcel Wanders comments: “Stories connect us to our history, our culture and to each other. Stepping into Mondrian Doha begins the first chapter of a wonderful story that unfolds around every turn. Conceptually, we have married local culture with a modern design aesthetic. While many themes are collectively layered throughout the hotel, each individual space tells its own tale. Guests may therefore have many different experiences and weave for themselves a collection of stories to share.”
The building is shaped like a falcon, Qatar’s national bird, and features references to the animal from paintings and portraits to falcon headpieces and ornaments. Located next to Lagoona Mall in the West Bay area, the property also acts as a gateway to the new Lusail City development.
Mondrian Doha offers eight restaurants and bars serving up Middle Eastern cuisine by international chefs. These include Wolfgang Puck, who brings his CUT by Wolfgang Puck concept to Qatar for the first time. Additionally, Japanese Chef Masaharu Morimoto introduces Morimoto Doha – the first eponymous Morimoto outpost to open in the Middle East.
Lastly, a striking, custom-designed four-level high spiral staircase acts as a focal point in the atrium, and leads guests up to a viewing platform. This sculptural piece gives the impression that the stairs extend to the sky, and provides a standing point from which to view panoramic scenes of the entire city. Additional facilities include an entertainment floor complete with nightclub, rooftop swimming pool and skybar, an exclusive spa and a grand ballroom.
