HWKN designed InterContinental Dubai at The Heart of Europe as a contemporary island resort that blends Mediterranean elegance with luxury hospitality. Strategically placed along the luxurious Dubai shoreline, the 466-key resort unfolds across three perfectly curated sections, each oriented to capture panoramic views of desert beauty which surrounds it.
We implemented a defining architectural gesture of flowing mesh “curtain” façade, crafted from Teflon-coated fiberglass. The material is animated by wind and light and provides constant interaction with the building’s structure. This soft yet stable architectural layer creates a constantly shifting exterior identity and provides shade and privacy to terraces and guest rooms. The building’s rounded form embraces the waterfront, and shapes intimate plazas and garden lounges, which makes for a dramatic arrival sequence anchored by a lush, light-filled lobby.
Guests are welcomed to an enchanted interior space where they’re transported to a sanctuary of warmth and relaxation. It provides a generous experience, mirroring rich history and layered compositions designed to collaborate seamlessly with natural materials. There’s a feeling of elegance which everyone can appreciate and a grand hotel experience with emotional depth other hoteliers can aspire to.
The Heart of Europe integrates nine restaurants/bars, a state-of-the-art gym, spa, and over 700 meters of beach. It will also house various family-focused amenities including the Montessori-inspired Kingdom of Portofino and La Donna, an exclusive women’s spa and lounge.
We’ve conceived this as both an invigorating escape and bucket destination. The InterContinental Dubai embodies HWKN’s approach to the feasibility of ultra luxury hospitality, which combines expressive architecture and immersive landscapes, to create a new landmark for Dubai’s World Islands.
