Standing 68 stories tall in the heart of Bahrain Bay is a modern, multifunctional tower designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)—a beacon in the Bahraini capital of Manama. Housed within the structure is the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay, whose lavish and dynamic design not only mirrors the spirit of the city but celebrates it as a destination. The hotel was among the first developments as part of Bahrain’s long-term strategy to promote Manama as a hub for tourism and trade.
“It was essentially meant to be a symbol of the great things to come,” explains Pierre-Yves Rochon, whose eponymous Paris-based firm designed the hotel. “We took the challenge—dealing with the duality of ensuring the hotel felt intimate, warm, and locally sensitive, but also balancing it with the massive architectural scale.”
Rochon and his team sought to reflect the ambitious and elegant nature of the locale with a contemporary, progressive, and tasteful design, steering away from an excess of punchy tones in pursuit of something that would age more gracefully.
“To design a hotel that remains as timelessly elegant and impactful years from now as it does on opening day, you must choose a palette that is overall soothing, harmonious, and sophisticated,” he says, adding “we still incorporated richer jewel tones as accents, whether in cushions, carpet, or artwork, to serve as visual break in neutral tones and provide an elevated sense of a lush resort atmosphere.”
Clean lines and Art Deco-inspired touches add a layer of complexity to the interiors while also harmonizing with local artwork and motifs. Enormous olive trees welcome guests beneath the porte-cochère and also appear throughout the lobby, and flanking the reception area are custom decorative plaster reliefs in the form of flamingos. The native species was depicted in place of palm trees for a more precise—and whimsical—sense of place for arriving guests. Regal Grigio Carnico marble floors span the lobby, accented by a limestone border and a custom handmade wool area rug in the lobby lounge that sets off intimate seating alcoves known as majlis.
Maximizing the city’s waterfront and urban vistas, a double-height window wall helps transition to the outdoor lounge, along with a transparent staircase down that Rochon created to minimize disruption of the panorama. “Nearly every part of the hotel takes advantage of the amazing sea and city views of Manama,” Rochon points out. “It’s a celebration of the outdoors and very resort-like.”
Out on the Azure pool deck, coral tones and materials like water-resistant terracotta floors are a nod to the island setting, while the team added modern Moroccan and Turkish elements into the 37,500-square-foot spa, including mashrabiya screens that infuse the space with natural light and breeze, while offering privacy.
When crafting the hotel’s guestrooms, Rochon drew influence from legendary oceanliner SS Normandie to complement the nautical location, with soft architectural elements juxtaposing soothing tones and rich materials. In the apartment-style presidential suites, for example, tones of blue, royal green, and beige are accented by warm white and black, while bespoke furniture in plush fabrics complements the luxurious aesthetic.
