W - Doha

W Hotels reached a milestone in its global expansion programme in March this year with the unveiling of W Doha. As part of plans to triple its footprint by 2011, the new hotel commemorated W’s penetration into the Middle East market. The hotel reflects the brand’s ambition to create a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife venues, and signature spas. W Doha furthermore offers a blend of traditional Arabic imagery with the contemporary cool design of United Designers.

After a longstanding love affair with W Hotels, United Designers were selected by owners J&A Jaidah Holdings to design the cutting-edge hotel, developing W’s brand values and signature elements in a way that was appropriate to its locality.

Local art, architecture and culture played a role in the conceptualisation of W Doha, with many elements in the hotel inspired by the curvature of the black pearl, a nod to the region’s lucrative industry before the discovery of oil.

“We wanted to capture the luxury of Arabian imagery, but with a modern twist,” says United Designers’ Founder Keith Hobbs. “The approach we took with W Doha was one of openness and respect in regard to Arabian culture and history. We wanted to honour the beautiful elements of Arab art and tradition, but approach it with an international modernity and coolness.”

Immediately upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a world of ‘wow’. The Living Room, W’s re-imagination of the hotel lobby, combines a sweeping staircase, water features, ceiling-suspended seating, and 179 hand-blown hanging lanterns inspired by the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Furnished for the most part by Donghia, seating comes in a variety of forms from amethyst sofas and club chairs, to ebonised birch side chairs upholstered in peacock. Scattered across the hexagonal coffee tables are a range of lifestyle and design titles along with chess sets, dominoes, and tic-tac-toe to add to the living room feel.

“We wanted to create a contrast between dramatic and sweeping spaces and tranquil, private areas,” explains Creative Director Ian Bayliss. “Our concept is one of quiet, defined extravagance. We used symmetrical designs, clean lines and innovative lighting which really energise the spaces.”

W Doha features 260 guestrooms, 31 suites, and 154 residences. The 240 ‘Spectacular’ rooms each measure 42m2, whilst the larger ‘Fabulous’ rooms are located in the corners of floors three to seven. In addition there are 16 ‘W’ Suites, and 14 ‘Wow’ Suites with panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. All rooms feature W’s signature bed with feather-top mattress, 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforter, as well as the Munchie Box (the brand’s re-interpretation of the traditional hotel mini-bar), and a host of in-room entertainment options.

Sleeper stayed in a W Suite offering luxurious design and state-of-the-art technology including the Bose Lifestyle audio system with surround sound, flatscreen LCD TV, DVD player, MP3 docking station, Tivoli radio, WiFi Internet access and high-speed laptop connectivity. The suite takes many of its features from the aforementioned curvature of the black pearl with rounded sofa, circular coffee table and Foscarini’s curved Twiggy floor lamp. Black lacquer and dark wood feature throughout with accents of yellow in cove uplighting and scatter cushions. Further lighting is provided by Flos’ super-bright multi-bulbed Taraxacum. Heavy curtains wrap around the perimeter of the suite opening at the touch of a button to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows. Views of the surrounding cityscape can be enjoyed from a swinging chair by Ferlea, hung precariously close to the edge.

In the bedroom, a king-size bed with rounded headboard is enveloped in black fringe curtains creating a boudoir effect. Hanging overhead are three Tom Dixon pendants with metalised copper mirror finish providing a warm glow.

Topping off W Doha is the 15th floor ‘Extreme Wow’ suite, W’s take on the traditional Presidential Suite. Its 320m2 of space features private massage and meeting rooms, full-size pool table and wet bar, a saltwater aquarium stocked with exotic sea life, and luxurious oversized bathroom with a ‘Rain Sky E’ shower by Dornbracht. “The wrap-around windows afford great cinematic views and from this became our inspiration: glossy film star glamour with Arabian inspiration,” comments Bayliss. “The palette is dark with blue highlights whilst the interior is organised to always be connected to the view.”

Unexpected touches include a full-size Horse Lamp by Moooi whilst a bowl of green apples ensures the room remains identifiable as W. Furniture is provided by a host of Italian names including B&B Italia, Zanotta, Cassina, Moroso, Poltrona Frau, and Molteni.

United Designers also conceptualised the design of the two restaurants developed with three star Michelin Chef Jean Georges Vongerichtan and said to be unlike anything in Doha at the moment. “For Spice Market we worked closely with the chef to produce an interior which reflects his vision and food style, inspired by the street foods of South East Asia,” says Bayliss. Additional F&B facilities include La Maison du Caviar serving decadent caviars; Wahm, a poolside bar and shisha lounge decked with cabanas; and Crystal Lounge, a sexy champagne bar with glossy black interiors and Baccarat chandeliers.

To unwind, W Doha offers the signature Bliss Spa, Sweat, W’s fitness facility, and Wet, a temperature-controlled pool with underwater music, multi-colour fibre-optic lighting and dramatic black mosaic tiles.
Despite this being their first W and their first project in Qatar, United Designers has succeeded in understanding the foundations of the brand and the city, integrating them into the design. The Arabic inspiration combined with United’s fun and glamorous elements and W’s signature Whatever/Whenever service, give the hotel a sense of place ensuring that W Doha could not exist anywhere else.

W DOHA
West Bay, Doha, Qatar, UAE
Tel: +974 453 5353
www.whotels.com

Rooms    291 guestrooms, 154 residences
Dining    Market by Jean-Georges, Spice Market, La Maison du Caviar
Drinking   Living Room, Crystal Lounge, Wahm
Leisure    Bliss Spa, Wet, Sweat fitness centre
Facilities    Wired business centre, meeting and events space