Four Seasons DIFC

Recently crowned AHEAD MEA Hotel of the Year, the Four Seasons DIFC has been recognised for its ‘seamless design that captures the timeless and elegant DNA of the brand’.

The hotel’s impeccable craftsmanship, refined finishes and outstanding attention to detail make it a much-valued addition to the cityscape. But also, the project was a re-purposing of an existing building – a rarity in all-modern Dubai.

The design centred on sophistication and creativity rather than glitter and bling.

There was a real focus on high quality materials, like the lacquered wood panelling, Italian onyx and artworks – not to mention the yacht-like comfort of its exquisitely furnished guest rooms.

For the designer and architect, the challenge was to differentiate the hotel from the surrounding office towers and to give it its own unique character. The solution involved fitting the building with fin features and installing a tinted glass facade to provide visual drama as well as enhanced shade.

Intensive structural intervention was also needed using state-of-the-art carbon fibre reinforcement drilled into the existing concrete structure to strengthen it.