Fairmont’s Saudi hotel nears completion
Richmond International was commissioned to design a luxury hotel and apartment interiors for a project which is due to open early next year, and will be operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The property will be called the Makkah Clock Royal Tower – a Fairmont Hotel.
The Makkah Clock Royal Tower is part of the Abraj Al Bait complex, which incorporates seven towers and is adjacent to the Masjid al Haram mosque, including the Kaaba, the most sacred site in the Islamic faith and the heart of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
“The importance of this religious location was a key factor in the creative process; the balance and simplicity of the traditional and modern Arabic design of the interior reflects the spiritual nature of the location and the sense of humility surrounding the Haram,” says Richmond International associate, Terry McGillicuddy.
The Makkah Clock Royal Tower complex includes over 500 shopping outlets and food courts over five floors in the lower ‘Podium’ section, luxury apartments on levels 30 to 52, five ‘Royal’ floors, the 1005-room Fairmont Hotel over 28 floors and utilises the 76 elevators to ensure smooth departure for guests, particularly during calls to prayer. The hotel has extensive conference and banqueting facilities, eight food and beverage outlets and a number of dedicated prayer halls.
“Among other things, the design had to take into account the sheer size and height of the complete complex and the circulation of the huge numbers of people likely to be using it – potentially up to 60,000 people at the peak periods of Hajj and Ramadan, which meant that stringent fire, health and safety regulations were imposed on the furnishings in the hotel and apartments,” says Terry.
The top of the building is adorned with a 40 metre diameter, four-sided clock that will announce daily prayers. It will be visible from 17 kilometres away and is five times larger than Big Ben.
Makka is the holiest city in the Islamic world. Its primary industry is to support the annual pilgrimage and the pilgrims who visit throughout the rest of the year. The annual Hajj pilgrimage alone attracts up to three million people to the city every year. With 76 stories and at 577 metre high, the Makkah Clock Royal Tower will become one of the world’s tallest towers.
