NEW YORK—sbe will open its first hotel in the Middle East with the launch of Mondrian Doha, Qatar this spring. The soft opening will set the stage for Mondrian Doha’s grand opening celebration, expected in late September 2017.
The 270-room hotel has been designed in collaboration with Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, along with South West Architecture, the architectural company of record for Mondrian Doha, responsible for the design of the building. This will be Wanders’ first hotel in the region.
Guests will be able to choose from five distinctive room categories including penthouse suites, studio suites, one- and two-bedroom suites and a range of standard guestrooms—all of which share the universal design details of Swarovski crystal chandeliers and bespoke furniture in hues to mirror the desert.
Sensitively rooted in local Arabic culture, Mondrian Doha will express tradition with a modern point of view throughout, according to the company. The hotel will incorporate bespoke Marcel Wanders design features with influences from the beauty of local patterns, ornate Arabic writing and historic souks. Standout, memorable elements include giant columns with golden eggs, a “tree of life” comprised of flowers, falcon video art, giant shisha, patterned carpets, ornate stained glass and intricate mosaic tiling.
Wanders commented, “Stories connect us to our history, our culture and to each other. Stepping into Mondrian Doha begins the first chapter of a wonderful story that unfolds around every turn. Conceptually, we have married local culture with a modern design aesthetic. While many themes are collectively layered throughout the hotel, each individual space tells its own tale. Guests may therefore have many different experiences and weave for themselves a collection of stories to share.”
One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales and stories, has also influenced the design of the space. Structurally, the building of Mondrian Doha is shaped like a falcon, with many references to the national bird of Qatar also found inside, from paintings and portraits to falcon headpieces and ornaments.
Mondrian Doha will have eight restaurants and bars. Middle Eastern cuisine will be at the heart of Mondrian Doha’s food and beverage offering along with internationally renowned chefs. This includes Wolfgang Puck, bringing his concept CUT by Wolfgang Puck to Qatar for the first time. Furthermore, Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto will introduce Morimoto Doha, the first eponymous Morimoto outpost to open in the Middle East.
Additional hotel facilities will include an entertainment floor complete with nightclub, rooftop pool and Skybar, an exclusive spa and a grand ballroom.
The location of the hotel next to Lagoona Mall in the West Bay area also acts as a gateway to the new Lusail City development.
Sbe plans to open two more hotel properties in Dubai in 2017 and 2018 and a number of restaurants.