South West Architecture, developers of the Al Maha project currently under construction in Doha, Qatar has appointed Dubai-based, WA International to undertake the interior design for the Sofitel hotel element of the development.
Al Maha, which is owned by the Al-Mirqab Tourism Company comprises twin residential towers alongside the hotel development, totalling 52,000m2.
WA International is currently working on a number of other Accor properties across the Middle East, including a 450-room Sofitel at the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai; the Zamzam Sofitel Tower in Mekka and the Sofitel Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia.
"The Sofitel brand is very strong throughout the world and it has a great deal of flair. We want to blend it with a little Arabic style and colour to create a unique environment." said Claire Craig, Design Director for WA.
"It's good to work with Accor again, they have a real passion for their business and we share their desire to create environments which guests can really enjoy and identify with," she added.
In a luxury hotel market dominated by the Anglo-Saxon model, Sofitel emphasises its French roots as a point of difference: "We are convinced that all the key elements are combined with Al Maha Sofitel West Bay to create an extremely successful project, both financially and imagewise," says Christophe Landais, Managing Director for Accor MiddleÊEast.
Design features will include a spacious lobby incorporating back-lit mashrabiya panels behind the reception. Rooms are described as "fresh, contemporary and moody."
Other features include speciality restaurants, a cigar lounge, ballroom, spa facilities, health club, squash court, swimming pool, tea house and penthouse on the 24th floor. Piling works started in December last year and the hotel scheduled for completion in March 2008.
www.sofitel.com
