Omniyat unveils Zaha Hadid-designed ‘ME by Melia’ hotel’s artist renderings for ‘The Opus’ interiors

Omniyat unveils Zaha Hadid-designed ‘ME by Melia’ hotel’s artist renderings for ‘The Opus’ interiors

The over AED 2.5 billion project is more than halfway complete, says Omniyat Chief

Dubai, UAE, 13 May 2014: Omniyat, a leading developer in the Middle East, unveiled today the artist renderings of the Middle East’s first ‘ME by Melia’ hotel, designed by renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, in its flagship project The Opus.

Located in Burj Khalifa District, The Opus will feature signature limited edition furniture pieces designed by Hadid. Each individual piece is significant, but should be considered within the overall ensemble of Hadid’s architecture.

The renderings unveiled by Omniyat detail the unique interiors of the ME Hotel lobby, the vertical café, the lounges and the reception area.

“We are delighted to reveal today the interiors of the first ‘ME by Melia’ hotel in Asia,” said Mahdi Amjad, Omniyat Executive Chairman and CEO. “These images convey the remarkably inventive quality of Zaha’s work; expressing a sculptural sensibility that reinvents the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior.”

Hadid has designed a sequence of dramatic event spaces for the ME Hotel. Shaped by functional and programmatic considerations, yet dependent on the overriding formal language of the design, the interiors express Hadid’s investigations into the concepts of fluidity and of seamless spatial flow.

The ME by Melia hotel will feature Michelin star restaurants, lounges and cafes across an area of 250,000 square feet, with entertainment options selected from the best in the Middle East, New York, Miami, London and Las Vegas, according to Amjad.

The ME by Melia hotel is operated by Melia Hotels International, one of the world’s leading hotel companies that currently runs more than 350 hotels and 90,000 rooms in 39 countries in 4 continents.

This outstanding new project exemplifies the unique artistic vision of the award-winning architect. Combining innovative design concepts and engineering with materials of the highest quality, The Opus reflects Zaha Hadid’s enchanting world of design. The clarity of the architecture’s formal composition and bespoke interiors give The Opus a truly unique identity. Amjad added: “We expect the architectural quality and experience of The Opus in downtown Dubai to be a premier destination for visitors to the city, especially those who value originality, experience and design.”

Speaking on the progress of The Opus, Amjad announced that the over AED 2.5 billion project is more than halfway complete.

Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman & CEO –Meliá Hotels International added: “You always expect to be surprised by Zaha Hadid’s designs, but the renderings for the Opus building and ME Dubai go beyond what we could ever have anticipated.  Alongside the unique Aura Service offered by the ME brand and the Michelin star restaurants and bars in the property, there’s no doubt that ME Dubai will raise the bar for Dubai’s hotel supply.”

Escarrer added: “We are proud to have this amazing project in our portfolio and to be working alongside Omniyat for the ME brand’s first hotel in the Middle East – an incredibly exciting step for our brand!”

Dame Zaha Hadid DBE is a visionary architect who in 2004 became the first woman recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize, often referred to as ‘the Nobel Prize of Architecture’. Hadid’s architectural projects include the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games and the MAXXI: Italian National Museum of 21^st Century Art in Rome, while her fashion collaborations include Mobile Art for Chanel and unique designs for Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

ME by Melia is an international hospitality brand that spans the world’s global capitals of culture and cool, with its progressive mix of design-driven and experience-centric approaches.

Amjad added: “Today’s unveiling of Zaha Hadid’s artistic vision for the ME Hotel interiors demonstrates that Dubai is well on course to consolidate its position as the premier luxury destination in the Middle East and one of the world’s most dynamic cities.”