Burj al-Arab
Interior
While the exterior of the Burj al Arab is expressed in terms of ultra-modern sculptural design, the interior guest space is a compilation of lavish and luxurious architectural styles from both the east and the west. The hotel claims itself as the first 7-star hotel in the world. The designation is pure hyperbole and self-promotion; however, the dominant interior design characteristics are opulence, luxury, and wealth.
The hotel boasts of 8,000 square meters of 22-carat gold leaf 24,000 square meters of 30 different types of marble.
Yet despite its size, the building holds only 28 double-storey floors which “accommodate the 202 bedroom suites.” Every guest room is actually a duplex suite. Even the smallest and least expensive option will cost around $900, while the penthouse costs up to $6,800. “Room” simply is not a fitting description, as the suites are in fact house size: they range in size from 1,800 to 8,400 square feet.
Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west. Elegant, white Tuscan columns and a spiral staircase covered in marble with a wrought-iron gold leaf railing show influence from classicism and art nouveau. Spa-like bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns on the floors and walls, with Arabian-influenced geometries, which are also found elsewhere in the building. In the mezzanine lobby, a fountain creates a “three-dimensional Islamic star pattern.” Pointed arches throughout, found in one of the hotel´s three restaurants, corridors between guest rooms, and at the top of the atrium recall a classic Arabian architectural design form.
History and description
Construction of the hotel began in 1994, and its doors were opened to guests on December 1, 1999. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Near the top is a helipad, and extending from the other side of the hotel, over the ocean, is a restaurant called Al Muntaha (Arabic meaning “Highest” or “Ultimate”) supported by cantilever. A remarkable element of its architecture is the outer beachward wall of the atrium, which is made of a woven, Teflon-coated fiberglass cloth.
The Burj al-Arab does not have ordinary rooms; rather it is divided into 202 duplex suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 square metres (1,819 square feet), and the largest one covers 780 square metres (8,396 square feet). It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in. The cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per night and increases to over $15,000 per night; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at $28,000 per night. The total cost to build and furnish the hotel has never been released.
The Burj al-Arab features the tallest atrium lobby in the world (180 metres, or 590 feet). The atrium can accommodate the Dubai World Trade Center building, which, at 38 stories, was the tallest building in Dubai from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s.
The interior design was done by Khuan Chew, Design Principal of KCA International. Other projects by Khuan Chew include, the Sultan of Brunei's Palace, Dubai International Airport, Jumeirah Beach Resort Development, Madinat Resort and much more.
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