Sbe has revealed plans to launch its first hotel in the Middle East with the Mondrian Doha. Slated for a soft opening in spring 2017, the hotel will hold a grand opening celebration in September. The lavish 270-room property will feature designs from Marcel Wanders—his first project in the region—as well as from locally based firm South West Architecture.
Local Arabic culture will be reinterpreted through a modern lens, drawing influence from Doha’s heritage as a fishing village as well as its emergence as a thriving global capital. The hotel will be shaped like a falcon as a nod to Qatar’s national bird’s impact on Middle Eastern folklore and art. Project standouts include giant columns with golden eggs, a tree of life comprising flowers, giant shisha, patterned carpeting, elegant stained glass and mosaic tiles, and a falcon video art installation. The beauty of local patterns ranging from Arabic script to the historic souks will be featured as well.
The arrival experience will be punctuated by a stained glass dome skylight on the 27th floor and a custom four-level staircase, which will serve as the sculptural focal point of the space. Guests can choose from five guestroom configurations, including penthouse suites, studio suites, and one- and two-bedroom suites. All accommodations will be adorned with Swarovski crystal chandeliers and bespoke furniture dressed in desert-inspired hues.
“Stepping into Mondrian Doha begins the first chapter of a wonderful story that unfolds around every turn,” says Wanders. “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.”
Eight restaurants and bars will also debut, including the first Middle Eastern outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s sleek Cut concept and chef Masaharu Morimoto’s eatery Morimoto Doha.
