Design and Architecture

TOPLINE FACTS

• Operator: Kerzner International
• Architectural Designer: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Lead Architect: IBI Group
• Water Features: WET
• Residential Interiors: Sybille de Margerie
• Hotel Interiors: G.A Group
• Construction: Six Construct and Ssangyong
• Structural Engineer: Arup (Competition); WSP (Building Phases)
• MEP Engineer: Arup (Competition): WSP (Building Phases)
• Lighting Designers: Light Touch PLD
• Landscape Designers: SKS Studio and 40NORTH
• Building start date: 2016
• Total value: $1.6 billion
• Size: 406,000 square metres
• Site area: 173,210 square metres
• Materials used: 
  • 90,000 square metres of glass (the equivalent to 10 FIFA football fields)
  • 220,000 cubic metres of concrete
  • 2,400 piles across the site, some as deep as 45 metres
  • 45,000 tonnes of steel rebar
  • 5,500 tonnes of structural steel
  • 150,000 square metres of marble

DESIGN STRATEGY 

CONCEPT

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)

One of the world’s preeminent architecture firms, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), based in New York City, is the lead architect on the project. Recognised for excellence and innovation and driven by design, KPF creates buildings that demonstrate an extraordinary degree of craft and detail, elevating them to the highest levels of beauty and practicality.

The design of Atlantis The Royal rethinks the conventional concept of the ‘iconic tower’ and its role in the skyline of the rapidly growing city. Rather than focus on form only, the building centres on extending the idea of indoor-outdoor living. This idea is transcended vertically into a 500-metre-long, 178-metre-tall mega structure, operating as a permeable screen porous to people, light, and air. Atlantis The Royal was conceptualised as the ‘deconstruction’ of the traditional sculptural towers associated with Dubai, taking the form of a stack of individual blocks, each offering a bespoke private experience off of a single core. The individual series of blocks enhances the convenience of luxury and amenities for residents and guests, in what seemingly feels like a smaller and more intimate setting. The gaps between become outdoor courts, naturally ventilated and shaded, with incredible views over Dubai and the Gulf.

“There was almost a performance goal to our brief; an expectation ‘to blow the client out of the water’ and create a show- stopper of a building that would deliver a unique set of experiences. The building has a lot to do with entertainment. It’s not just a quiet place to go and relax and eat fine food—it’s about experiencing something you never imagined could be. The architecture sets this up really strongly with its vertical piling up of outdoor experiences in the pools and outside spaces.”  James von Klemperer, President and Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

“Rather than create another piece of ‘iconic architecture,’ we sought to create a series of ‘iconic experiences’ through the design of a building that, by being split into pieces, forms multiple gardens in the sky. This makes it possible to have all of the indoor-outdoor living experiences we expect in a beach-side villa raised in the air and creates a place where one can swim underwater in a transparent pool with views over the skyline of Dubai, thirty-four stories in the sky.” Elie Gamburg, Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

VISUAL IDENTITY

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)

The visual identity of Atlantis The Royal mediates between the classic form of the nearby Atlantis, The Palm Resort, and the progressive architecture of Dubai. The building’s mass grew out of a desire to break down the scale of the building – it is nearly ½-kilometre long and nearly ¼-kilometre high. By manipulating the slabs into a series of stacked blocks, KPF created a simple, repeating form that evokes the monumental arches and arcades of Roman aqueducts, where sun and sky are framed as part of the architecture itself. At night, the building will appear especially dramatic with the interior illumination of each of the openings, creating a clearly identifiable pattern on the night skyline. The resulting arrangement of form and void offers a fresh and new outdoor hospitality experience.

“Atlantis The Palm is a more literal quotation of architectural history. Our building is a modernist piece of architecture— yet the essential way it handles light and space, is actually very true to some beautiful traditions of the region. The way the structure acts as a sort of screen, which allows views to go both ways, could be seen to reference the screens of mosques and Islamic architecture. The building doesn’t really have a front or a back, which is unusual and this multi-directional aspect of the building is a special aspect of its design. James von Klemperer, President and Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

CONTEXT

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)

The curved façade and porous hollows within Atlantis The Royal were created in response to where the building sits. Positioned on the outer crescent of The Palm, this location allows the building to have two different types of waterfront views: towards the Arabian Gulf or the sheltered lagoon of the Palm Island and the Dubai skyline. The structure enables guests to take advantage of the views on both sides, many times from the same room or location.

“We like to think of it as a natural formation, sculpted out of the geographical character of the place, a landmark that feels as if it has always been there. If it were seen as just another tower, I think we would have failed.” James von Klemperer, President and Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates 

THE BRIDGE 

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)/IBI Group

The building’s two terraced towers step down towards one another to meet through the 90 metre by 33-metre-wide sky bridge, which features dramatic views of the Gulf and Dubai skyline. This 1350 metre bridge was lifted into place at a rate of 6-7metres/hour by eight hydraulic jacks via a strand jacking method and took 10 hours in total. This arch is a defining element of the Atlantis brand and has been reinterpreted for Atlantis The Royal. Atop of the arch is The Royal Mansion signature suite and the skybridge, a 90-metre-long pool deck, flanked by restaurants and lounges as well as an event space.

“One of the most memorable moments for me during the construction was when a 90-metre- long chunk of the building that spans between the two halves of the structure was hoisted up and put in place. This was an amazingly daring feat of engineering! It is going to be a very entertaining place to go, but at the same time, it is also a very serious piece of architecture. It has a longevity about it. And we hope this building will help take the city beyond the transitory, into something that feels more rooted, longer lasting—and timeless.” James von Klemperer, President and Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

GREEN CREDENTIALS 

Due to the prescience of sunshades and the depths of the terraces, most of the resort glass is fully shaded during the summer, and for much of the day during spring and fall. This allows the usage of clear glass whilst still achieving energy efficiency. In addition, the water across all of the fountains and water features is recycled on a continuous loop.

“There are a lot of techniques that have been employed throughout history to adjust to the light and the climate. There is a reason you see deep overhangs in front of openings in order to create shade and there is a reason that every courtyard, whether it’s in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul or the Alhambra in Southern Spain, uses shade and fountains. It is the same here: the techniques we have employed will keep the outdoor spaces comfortable all year round by amplifying shading and maximising breezes. Elie Gamburg, Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associate

INTERIOR DESIGN 

G.A Group

Water as a narrative

A collaborative process between Architectural Designer, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and G.A Group, the interior design of Atlantis The Royal centres on the notion of water and water-based moments throughout the property, rather than the ocean, as can be found at Atlantis, The Palm.

The original design brief was inspired by the oldest inhabitants of the Arabian desert, the Bedouins. Known for their resourcefulness and hospitality, the tribes would traverse thousands of miles across the sand dunes using water wells, which were the lifeblood of the desert, to navigate.  The precious commodity of water is constantly celebrated throughout the property, with water features, sculptures and moments peppered throughout to guide guests on their discovery of the resort.

Examples of this can be seen in lobby sculpture Droplets, which represents the first drop of rain in a dry desert, to the Deluge water elevators, which invites guests to quite literally walk-through water to reach the next part of the resort. Cloud burst light fixtures feature at each elevator bank and hundreds of raindrop shaped light pendants delicately stud the lobby ceilings.

Guestrooms & Suites

The theme of each guestroom and suite continues the connection with water but in a more refined and abstract way. From the soft lines of the sofa, to the undulating blues and turquoise of the carpet, guests are gently enveloped by the water theme. Each room category moves through this water theme to become more dramatic, the higher up the building guests go. From the gentle blues of the Seascape room, to the shimmering pearls of a Horizon Penthouse, all the way up to the dramatic hues of orange and red coral coloured walls of the Panoramic Penthouse.

LIGHTING DESIGN

Light Touch PLD

Unlike many resorts, the lighting design of Atlantis The Royal was developed as part of the overall architectural concept, helping to technically refine the design, in keeping with the vision of the resort. Designed to create fluidity and depth across the property, the lighting is an integral part of the guest experience and impacts how the building can be seen on the Dubai Skyline, all the way through to what guests see when they look out from their balconies at night.

Notable highlights include:

• The underwater lighting across the resort’s pools change from day to dusk and dark. As night falls sparkling fibres become brighter until all pools will glitter as guests look over their balconies.
• Light projections are used across the resort to create moving ‘art moments’, from aquariums complete with underwater LED screens to projection mapped bars at Cloud 22
• Within each Sky Court, light is projected onto the underside of the court (roof) to create a truly immersive experience at night. The replicates the shimmering water from the pools below.

LANDSCAPING 

SKS Studio and 40NORTH

SKS Studio and 40NORTH are the visionaries behind the exterior design of the entire resort, from conception. The Sky Courts feature suites with resort landscaping and stunning acrylic pools 46 storeys in the air. The brief to the design duo was to extend the guest experience found inside the property to the exterior and to celebrate the iconic architecture on a scale that feels comfortable for the guest.

“Atlantis The Royal is not a check-off box project, but rather a push-yourself-beyond-what-anyone-could-possibly-imagine-under-tight-time-restraints project. We’re thinking ahead to what will be cutting-edge in two to three years. One idea spurs an even better one, so changes are made, but one change affects 10 more down the line. Things happen in the field that evolve the landscape architecture design, yet we’re careful to hold on to the original vision as well. Atlantis The Royal is built for those who can travel anywhere in the world, and they chose this property.” - Sean Simms, President, SKS Studio.

The result is a contemporary look and feel, that responds to the building, and its curved façade. This shape is mirrored in everything from the lines of the pool to the trunks of the luscious date palms, dotted across the landscape. The detailing is notable, from the knife edge planters surrounding the pools to the pixelated diamond texture tiles along the walkways.

“Having been a part of now 3 different Atlantis projects around the world over 25 years, they continue to be some of the most technically challenging and professionally exciting projects we have had the opportunity to be a part of. This Client has always brought the best designers and builders in the world together to collaborate and create a one-of-a-kind luxury resort guest experience that you can get nowhere else. It’s a monumental achievement considering the scale of everything and the challenges that everyone has faced to complete the project. It’s going to be great to finally open it up to the world.” John Galloway, Founder, 40NORTH

The sky courts, sky terraces and sky pool deck are all moments where the resort landscape (typically found on the ground of a hotel) are transported vertically into the tower. These spaces are shaded from the floors above and ventilated by the oceanic winds and pools, creating passively cooled spaces that aim to extend the time guests can enjoy outdoors from 6 to 10 months of the year. These take inspiration from traditional Arabic courtyards, which are traditionally cooled by shading, plants, and ornamental fountains. All the resort’s elevated pools incorporate acrylic panels into their construction, inviting guests for a swim up to 43 stories in the air, while simultaneously looking out to the skyline and beyond. This surprising experience of being both over and beneath water is truly unique.

“Atlantis The Royal was an opportunity we took to think particularly imaginatively about how we could live simultaneously indoors and outdoors, while suspended in the sky. It’s amazing to see that moment when our collective fiction becomes fact. To swim underwater 43-storeys in the air, overlooking the city of Dubai— that’s an experience you just can’t find anywhere else. It must be one of the few places in the world you can see a skyline from underwater”. Elie Gamburg, Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

FOUNTAINS AND WATER FEATURES

WET

The architecture, water views, context and the Atlantis brand were all inspiration source points for the design process of WET’s fountains and water features, with the location of the resort on The Palm creating a constant visual connection to water with the bay and The Gulf on either side of the property. WET aimed to make the connection to water physical so visitors felt as if they were always surrounded by water. The connection is made through a series of water fountains along the resort’s main axis that guide visitors from their entry through FireFalls to their climactic finale, the Skyblaze feature. The fountains highlight the power of water’s presence and its effect on us whether creating quiet, contemplative moments or the spectacular. The combination of water and fire together in so many features at one location is something never seen before anywhere else in the world.

SURGE

WET

• 18,000 gallons of water
• 3,300 sqft
• Main road entrance

As guests drive up to the resort, they are met with a vast expanse of gushing water overflowing the vertical surface of the massive wall along the hotel drive and into the Porte Cochere, which appears to rise majestically from within. An expanse of water on an epic scale, the surface acts as a marquee for those viewing it from the road, indicating the powerful presence of water that lies within the resort. At night the programmable wall shimmers with light, captured and reflected in the individual droplets of each rhythmic wave.

ALIGHT

WET

• 10,000 gallons of water
• 4,500 sqft
• 14 FireWall Manifolds
• The only permanent fire and water feature in the Middle East
• The first of its kind fire and water wall in the Middle East
• Main lobby entrance

Two highly reflective waterskins flank the hotel entry reflecting the brilliant threshold of water and fire that frames the entrance path. Pushing the boundaries of glass technology, walls of glass clad in rippling water hold between them choreographed plumes of fire, rise on either side of the entrance, providing an unforgettable entry experience. As guests walk between them, they feel as if they are embraced by both water and fire. The fire pulses in a rhythmic pattern, the edges of its form softened by the textured liquid. The flashes of firelight separated from you by only glass, enhance the feeling of excitement as guests enter the resort.

DELUGE

WET

• 3,500 gallons of water
• 2,900 sqft
• The only elevator of its kind in the Middle East
• Hotel lobby

Twin elevators frame the view of The Palm vistas beyond the expansive lobby, with each 3-storey cylinder glass elevator immersed in a sheath of water flowing into glittering pools below. A first of its kind, Deluge whisks guests from the lobby to the mezzanine restaurants on the 3rd floor of the resort.

ELEMENTS

WET

• 189,000 gallons of water
• 10,600 sqft
• Water Candles and the technology were designed exclusively for Atlantis The Royal
• Atlantis The Royal is the only resort in the world with Water Candle/Fire technology
• Hotel lobby

As guests leave the lobby for the Elements Terrace to the exterior of the resort, they are greeted with a sunken lobby lounge nestled amid the reflective waters of the Horizon Pool. Home to a myriad of Water and Flame Candles. The water centered in each glow like a candle flame, and then some burst into true flames, as though the water itself is lit with fire within. Producing a dancing play of fire and water bubbles. Veneers of sheeting water coat the terrace edges, where guests can immerse themselves in the mesmerising vistas.

HORIZON POOL AND SKYBLAZE FOUNTAIN 

WET

• 865,000 gallons of water
• 24,300 sqft
• 168 cone shooters/20 oarsman/74 mini shooters/36 fog pods/46 strobe star strings/24 speakers
• 1,200 choregraphed, colour changing lights
• Fountain height of 28 metres
• First and only permanent fire and water performance fountain in the Middle East

One of the world’s unique performance fountains, Skyblaze provides an intimate viewing experience unlike any other. Where a ‘normal’ fountain is typified by a classical water formation arranged in rings and arcs. Skyblaze, is designed as a field, with water and fire expressions creating surprising movements as they appear and multiply from anywhere within the field. This arrangement leads to choreographies, gestures and patterns not possible on a classically configured fountain. Each and every performance is intimate to the viewer.

Lit with 1,400 choregraphed, colour changing lights, the jets create explosions of saturated colour resembling liquid fireworks. Integrated within this field, arcs of graceful feathery expressions create elaborate choreographies to music. A layer of  mist appears at moments, adding romance, suspense and mystery to the performances.

Taking place every 30 minutes, and with vertical streams of water soaring 28 metres in the air, this diversity makes each performance incredibly distinct. Guests may see exciting bursts of fire in one show but not another. One performance may feel romantic, illuminated in blues and purples while the next feels playful and celebratory in bright warm colours. The changing characters of the fountain make it one to return to again and again.  At night in between performances the shimmering black pool sparkles with hundreds of flickering lights like a starry sky.

JELLYFISH AND LOBBY AQUARIUMS

G.A Group

JELLYFISH AQUARIUM

Atlantis The Royal’s jellyfish aquarium is one of the biggest in the world and can be found in Horizon Bar. At seven metres deep and holding 63,000 litres of water, the aquarium is home to 4,000 Moon jellyfish (Aurelia Aurita) that have been bred at Atlantis, The Palm by a specialist team of aquarists within the resorts’ fish hospital. One unique aspect of the jellyfish aquarium is its kreisel (cylindrical) shape and flow. This ensures the jellyfish are suspended weightlessly in the middle of the aquarium and do not touch the sides.

AQUARIUMS

Atlantis The Royal’s three fish aquariums can be found in the main lobby of the resort. Home to 7,200 marine animals and 32 species, guests can see a vast variety of tropical fish, including purple tangs, lookdown fish and surgeon fish. The aquarium is managed by a team of hundreds of aquarists who maintain the aquariums and care for the marine animals across Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal.

Designed as an artistic interpretation of natural life in the middle of the desert, the three lobby aquariums at Atlantis The Royal are very much the differentiating factor between the lobbies of both resorts. Unlike at Atlantis, The Palm, where the aquarium and marine animals are the attraction, Atlantis The Royal’s aquariums use unique LED screen technology to create a dynamic light play between the resident fish and silhouettes to create a constant movement of schooling fish and dappled sunlight.

SCULPTURES AND ARTWORK

G.A Group

DROPLETS

At 11.5 metres tall and consisting of 5.5 tonnes of stainless steel, Droplets is the focal piece of artwork in the centre of Atlantis The Royal’s lobby. Representing the first cool drop of rain in a dry desert, Droplets gives life to the resort, as the onset of the rainy season does to an arid landscape. Droplets also provides a centralised visual representation of the water that can be heard throughout the lobby via various trickling pools and the cascading waterfalls of the Deluge elevators. Intrinsic to the welcome experience, Droplets also signifies to guests upon entry that this is the first of many water features and fountains found throughout Atlantis The Royal. Starting out as a small model, Droplets was first printed in 3D at one meter high before each piece was individually handcrafted at a studio in China. Each Droplet started out as a flat sheet of stainless steel before being hand-pounded into each drop’s current smooth shape – a timely and laborious process. Held together by a stainless steel ‘tree’, each Droplet was individually attached to the tree within the lobby via a crane, resulting in a ‘stacked’ look and feel. Quite an engineering feat considering the weight of each drop and the size of the artwork. From start to finish, Droplets took one year to create and install.

LAVA TREES

G.A Group

Conceptualised by master Czech glass and lighting brand Lasvit, Atlantis The Royal’s Lava Trees are one-of-a-kind. Standing at 6-metres high, each in a body of water, the two trees flank the entrance of the resort, providing an awe-inspiring first glimpse at one of many artworks unique to the resort. Handcrafted from the highest quality silica sand, the Lava Tree’s represent trees stripped of their bark on a shoreline, after the desert rains have receded. To represent the bark being encrusted with salt, each Lava Tree is studded with a deep red crystal.  Dynamic lighting is incorporated into the trees, with each light source having its own address, helping to create unique lighting choreography.

JUMPING WATER SPHERES (IN THE ROYAL GALLERIA)

G.A Group

Located within the lower ground level of the retail avenues, the stainless-steel jumping water spheres are set in shimmering pool and lit from beneath. Water jets shoot through the air in broad arcs and disappear into neighbouring spheres creating a playful and magical display between light and water consistent with the water theming throughout the property.

SWIRL CLOUDS

G.A Group

Located at the group check-in desk on the ground floor of the property and made from delicately sculpted fibre paper pulp, the swirl clouds are reinforced with ribs constructed from bamboo. Suspended from the ceiling, these delicate cloud shapes are maintained through a careful placement of thin wire. As visitors move around and change perspective, the reflections of light and shadow, the rounded curves, and the hollow space become an ever-changing form.

WALL ORBS

G.A Group

Located and set in opposing ends of the main ballroom, the crystal orb sculpture is a reinterpretation of a water droplet and a continuation of the Droplets sculpture in the main lobby.

FIRE & WATER

Located in the events space of the property and at opposing ends of the corridor, Fire & Water are a stylistic interpretation of the play between fire and water elements that can be experienced throughout Atlantis The Royal, both figuratively and symbolically.

DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL PINEAPPLE ROTISSERIE AND ‘THE DINNER ESCAPEMENT’ (CLOCK)

The most notable part of the Dinner design greets guests upon entry and takes the form of a Pineapple rotisserie and ‘The Dinner Escapement' (clock). Designed as a breath-taking spectacle that adds a unique layer of history and storytelling to one of the restaurant's signature dishes, Tipsy Cake.  Featuring a pulley system based on a 16th-century design used for the British Royal Court, the 2-metre-high clock is inspired by the watchmakers of Greenwich and the royal kitchen of Tudor England, and the system powers a clockwork spit roast located in the kitchen that cooks the pineapples. In the late 1800s, pineapples were regarded as the height of luxury, an exotic accessory that only graced the table at the very richest aristocrats' social gatherings, with a single fruit worth thousands of pounds.

FISH BAIT BALL

G.A Group

Located in the lower ground retail avenue, the Fish Bait Ball is a ‘floating’ 1.6-metre spherical optical lens, featuring 750 hand-blown glass fish.  In a magical optical illusion, the lens is home to an internal projector which displays moving shafts of colour, giving the appearance of the mass of fish jumping and swimming in sync.

THE SOAP BUBBLE / PLATEAU'S LAW 

G.A Group

Located in the VIP elevator lobby, the Soap Bubble shaped orb is a unique piece of artwork inspired by Plateau's Law. Plateau's Law describes the shape and configuration of soap films, with the sculpture representing the beautiful and perfect harmony of the inner geometry of a soap bubble. Brought to life in blue and red to represent the fire and water throughout the resort, The Soap Bubble is a unique interpretation on the droplets of water that feature throughout the lobby level of the resort.

BOULDER

G.A Group

Located in the spa garden, this beautiful natural boulder is the energy source for Awaken’s tranquil meditation garden. At 6 feet high, the Jurassic-Era rock was formed millions of years ago.

MUSHROOM TOWER

G.A Group

Located within the sky garden of the resort’s Skyscape Signature Suite, the stainless-steel Mushroom Tower is an abstract representation of a mushroom’s growth on a tree.  The artwork was inspired by the designers visit to China, where upon he found a beautiful piece of deadwood, covered in mushrooms. Over lunch, he removed and restacked the mushrooms piece by piece resulting in the first ‘model’ of what is now the 2-metre-high Mushroom Tower.

CLOUD 22 - TRUMPETS

G.A Group

Six acrylic trumpets adorn the 96-metres-high sky pool, bringing a touch of nature to the great heights of the resort. At over 5-metres tall, the Trumpets are topped by 110 flowers comprised of three parts per flower, resulting in 330 individually hand-blown pieces of glass throughout. Representative of the Sky Pools namesake, Cloud 22, each Trumpet is surrounded by its own individual vapour cloud which swirl around the flowers from day to night. 

CLOUD 22 - STEM AND BLOOM

G.A Group

Six Stem and Bloom installations line the sky pool and comprise of a dynamic stem and crystal chandelier that opens and closes to provide a delicate spot of shade or light for each cabana.

CLOUD 22 - THE HEAD

G.A Group

The Head is the unique fiberglass DJ booth that crowns the deck of Cloud 22. At 3.2 metres high, The Head’s stainless-steel skin is adorned by LED veins that pulse red to the beat of the music. During performances, the forehead of the Android style head opens out to reveal the DJ and decks.

CLOUD 22 - THE LOTUS BAR

G.A Group

Inspired by the shape of a lotus leaf, the white steel structure is 16 metres high and 26 metres wide from point to point.  Home to a swim-up bar and featuring mesmerising projection mapping, The Lotus Bar is the heart of Cloud 22.