After a six-year construction period, the Dorchester Collection makes its debut in the Middle East with the Lana, Dubai.
French design agency Gilles & Boissier spearheaded the design of the hotel’s lobby, restaurants, guestrooms, and spa.
Breaking from the style of Dorchester’s European locations, the firm’s concept draws from the desert landscape of Dubai and the rich tapestry of cultural influence in the UAE, blending sleek minimalism with stylistic flair.
Modern meets traditional at the Lana, Dubai
In the lobby, two distinctive pink alabaster wings add depth to the space with layered cornices, arches, and curves, while varying stones create a kaleidoscope-like floor. An eclipse-inspired lighting fixture in the reception area is designed to be immaterial, flooding the space with light and creating a visual interplay between the dark elements and intimate feel of the lobby bar.
While the hotel’s public areas are characterized by a modern aesthetic, the rooms and suites take on a more traditional style. Here, an uncomplicated design palette incorporates marbles alongside walnut and smoked oak wood, creating a blend of light and dark that is emphasized by ambient lighting.
Gilles & Boissier enlisted locally available materials and manufacturers to craft the custom furnishings found throughout the hotel.
Curated art at the Lana
The Lana also boasts a curated art collection, including a glass installation by French-Lebanese visual artist Flavie Audi, which captures the city’s futuristic energy. Another eye-catching piece is a vertical wall installation by Franco-American sculptor Sergio Ruffato formed by thousands of brass balls as a nod to Dubai and its architectural mastery.
“We want guests who step into the Lana to be moved by their environment and for the design to speak to the unique position of a city surrounded by a desert and the rich fusion of influences that are apparent,” says Dorothée Boissier, cofounder of Gilles & Boissier. “At the heart of the Lana will be the guests, who travel from around the world, and the impeccable service from the Dorchester that will bring color and life to the spaces that we have created.”
More from HD:
How Hospitality Companies Can Shrink Their Carbon Footprint
AvroKO Designs the Jay Hotel in San Francisco
What I’ve Learned Podcast: Alejandro Bataller, SHA Wellness Clinic
