David T’Kint transforms JW Marriott in Riyadh
Riyadh Capital recently commissioned David T’Kint to rebrand its Burj Rafal hotel as the first luxury JW Marriott on King Fahd Road in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh.
Capturing the region’s charming nature through earthy tones accented in green, which emphasise when the ‘rain finally comes to the land, the first phase of the multi-year conversion includes the extensive transformation of the public areas. JW Marriott’s brand pillar of ‘be present in mind, nourished in body and revitalised in spirit’ was at the heart of the brief, allowing guests to experience nature in a tactile way through curated sensory touches. The studio’s inspiration also derived from an ancient poem of the Arabian Peninsular, which reads: “For when the south wind blows the sand over them, the north wind sweeps it away”.
With the design brief in mind, T’Kint and his team – Riham Farajy, Eilyn Xin, Majd Johar and Sara Alameen – introduced soft, organic lines that express Saudi Arabia’s ever-changing windblown deserts. As guests journey through the property, they are surrounded by a series of green elements cleverly integrated into the various interior spaces, immersing them in a world of peace, tranquillity and harmony.
The triple-volume lobby meanwhile is fronted by a glazed façade overlooking a landscaped outdoor water feature. The walls here are adorned with heritage-inspired patterns that resonate with the building’s modern exterior, while a seven-metre-wide reception desk is an imposing sculpture on marble flooring, backlit and highlighted by textured cladding. A Bomma pendant light installation of hand-blown glass also sparkles in the ceiling, depicting a clear desert night; the piece illuminates the comfortable, organic-shaped seating below. The hotel’s interactive concierge library further encourages guests to explore the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, The Capital Lounge serves up a luxury tea offering. Each piece of furniture has been hand-selected to create a sense of intrigue around the Rosso Levanto clad counter feature, with a tea cellar and sommelier completing the experience. Casa Cacao, a chocolate retail outlet, is the brainchild of the three Roca brothers, who are famed for El Celler de Can Roca, a three-star Michelin chocolatier in Girona, Spain. Their Spanish-style outlet inspires the tile-clad counter, whilst the rich walnut wood wall is the perfect backdrop for their artisan chocolate products.
Finally, The Kitchen on 3 is an all-day dining restaurant celebrating century-old culinary traditions. In line with the JW Marriott brand identity, lush greenery and splashes of colour create a nourishing atmosphere. The spice-filled dining experience plates up authentic Middle Eastern dishes in a modern market-inspired kitchen. The hotel’s partially refurbished executive lounge also includes exclusive benefits and privacy with pops of natural greens that play with otherwise peaceful neutral tones.
By nature, a refurbishment project is infinitely more complex than a newbuild property. When parts of a building are demolished, it’s common to find unexpected challenges. Supporting T’Kint on the project, FEBC sourced and procured all of the furniture, light fittings and accessories, while Bomma provided the decorative glass installation. Having completed the first phase in triple the forecasted time – just over one and a half years – T’Kint will now turn his attention to the 349 guestrooms and MICE spaces.
