“Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is the subtle intervention of beauty that doesn’t shout or try to be something that it is not,” explains renowned architect Shaun Killa, the visionary behind the building’s evocative design.
“To fit into Dubai’s architecture scene, we ensured that it would remain timeless by not being overly articulated in form but rather subtle, simple, and elegant – allowing it to be discovered and admired.”
The United Arab Emirates has long been synonymous with architectural wonder. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, completing a nautical trilogy with Jumeirah Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, is a masterpiece - both visually stunning and deeply immersive.
Appointed for his exceptional ability to create architectural statements with notable works including the Museum of the Future, Dubai Opera, and Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Killa’s brief emphasised design with intent, focused on enhancing the guest experience and creating a sense of intimate connection.
Drawing inspiration from the elegance and dynamic movement of superyachts, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab features a sinuous exterior with fluid lines capturing the graceful movement of a yacht gliding through the ocean. Killa’s groundbreaking design showcases the power of technology, with advanced software used to create complex, double-curved forms that would have been unachievable just a few years ago.
“We had to first decide what story we wanted to tell through our design, so we examined the properties along the beachfront to make sure that our narrative fitted in seamlessly with the existing properties. This is where we conceptualised our design story, one that would originate at Madinat Jumeirah and end at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab,” he explained. “Inspired by the world’s ultra-yachts, we aimed to evoke the sensation of being on water through the building’s curvatures, much like a yacht setting sail,” explains Killa. “With the advanced software and technology available today, we are able to create that fluidity in design and create double-curved forms. The residence building slopes in one direction while the other side curves back on itself, creating a sense of dynamic movement. Though stationary, the design gives the impression of the building moving in a direction.”
From the moment the car door swings open, the design invites guests into a new chapter of hospitality. One of the most striking features of the hotel is its arch entrance, an elegant structure weighing around 3,000 tonnes that perfectly frames the iconic view of Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, shimmering in the golden hues of sunset. It conjures a cinematic image of James Bond, stepping out of a sleek Aston Martin, silhouetted against the entrance – a scene of timeless elegance that the architect hopes will one day come to life.
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