Making an entrance

The lobby has been given a more homely feel.
[More Images]

In its former guise, the lobby of the Mövenpick Hotel and Apartments, Bur Dubai epitomised the ‘more is more’ approach that so often characterises design in this part of the world. With its gold and ochre colour scheme and over-the-top finishes, the lobby was desperately outdated and in need of a refresh.

Built in 2000, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts took over management of the property in 2003. In 2009, the company embarked on a renovation of all guest rooms, while the public areas were addressed in 2010.

For the lobby area, Mövenpick worked with Dubai-based Design Work Portfolio to create a more modern and inviting space. This is in keeping with a general move within the hotel company, which is promoting a more contemporary feel in many of its properties, explained Robert Barker, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel and Apartments, Bur Dubai.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

“If you look at The Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, and Ibn Battuta Gate, which has just opened, the new Mövenpick hotel has a much more modern feel to it. Open spaces, bright, clean, clear, vivid colours – that is the direction the company is going in. The name itself is quite old and traditional. But it’s an old name with a new image and a new direction. The company is growing very quickly and wants to present itself as modern and fresh,” Barker said.

The aim with the Mövenpick Bur Dubai lobby was to create a welcoming space infused with a more residential feel.
This is in keeping with the demands of the modern traveller, according to Barker, who over the course of his career has witnessed a definite shift in the profile and behavioural patterns of the average hotel guest.

“When I started in the business many years ago, hotels were a place to sleep in, and people used them that way. That was when probably 90% of travel was for business and 10% was leisure. Nowadays it’s probably 50/50. And even people that travel on business are probably adding a day or two of leisure on either side,” said Barker.

“So, customers are looking for a more residential feel, even in the guest rooms. And this flows throughout the hotel. You must have areas that guests can relax in. You have to build a kind of comfort zone into your property. The lobby lounge is no longer a showcase for the designer – it has to be a comfortable and appealing place for the customer to sit and relax in.”

To this effect, the lobby area was divided into ‘kitchen, dining and living’ spaces. To start with, Design Work Portfolio opted to move the reception desk, flipping it over to the opposite side of the lobby.

In the space where the reception desk used to be, Design Work Portfolio moved an existing wall and took some space from the back offices to create a new informal lounge area.

“In the old days, when you came here and were waiting for someone, there was nowhere to sit and have a coffee. So we carved out a new space and created an informal, timeless lounge where you can sit and have a coffee while you wait for someone, or even conduct a meeting,” said Martin Wojnowski, principal designer, Design Work Portfolio.

One corner of the lounge area now features a juice bar, while another is home to a striking cake display. Each type of cake is named after a precious stone, so the idea was to create a display case that would be befitting of jewellery.

The packaging and presentation of the cakes also builds on the idea of each being a precious stone.

“They are packed in what looks like a jewellery box. And instead of the box going into a bag, it is wrapped in a scarf,” Barker explained.