Grand Millennium (Bay Views) Hotel is a 20-storey, five-star hotel situated on the canal embankment of Business Bay, Marasi Drive. Designed in contemporary style, its plan form affords every room a view of the waterways and Burj Khalifa.

The hotel consists of 233 standard guestrooms and 18 suites, in addition to four food and beverage outlets occupying the podium above two levels of basement car parking.

Diar Consult was responsible for all architectural and interior design as well as post-contract supervision in all disciplines.

The design and planning of the hotel was a complex process due to a contradictory set of design guidelines that had been issued to developers of plots in Business Bay.

The guidelines stipulated that an arcade should be provided on the street and waterfront, connecting each plot in a continuous pedestrian route, with the intention of creating a promenade along the waterfront.

However, it also placed restrictions on what functions could be located at ground level and within the podium.

This would have resulted in a lifeless, uninviting and disconnected ‘promenade’ when coupled with the statutory elements required to be at ground level – including, among others, transformer rooms and waste collection rooms – and the space required for vehicular access.

By challenging the guidelines and acquiring special dispensations and approvals from the master developers, Diar Consult was able to locate parking in the basement and dedicate the ground level and podium to food and beverage outlets, a banquet hall, business centre and health club etc., thereby ensuring transparency and connectivity to the hotel and enlivening the promenade both visually and physically.

Project team

• Diar Consult: Lead architects, Interior design and post contract administration
• Ian Banham and Associates: MEP design sub-consultants
• B.S.T. Gulf: Structural design consultants
• Wrenn Interiors: Interior design of some public areas

In 1990 Diar Consult won the commission to design the clubhouse and ancillary buildings (rest huts, driving range pavilion, health club and gym) of Abu Dhabi Golf Club through an international competition set by the Abu Dhabi Municipality.

The competition brief set out Abu Dhabi’s aim to place itself securely on the golfing map of the world. Given this goal, Diar Consult chose to propose a cultural and emotive rather than institutional and rational approach. The proposal envisaged the clubhouse conceptually as a sculptural pavilion in a park.

The stylised sculptural form of the falcon, which is the national bird and emblem of the UAE and principal element of the logo of the Government of Abu Dhabi, relates the club to the UAE’s history and cultural heritage, resulting in an iconic statement building with the potential to become a sporting symbol of the emirate. Few golf clubs in the world can claim a more instantly recognizable clubhouse.

Barely within two years of its opening, the Finest Golf Resorts Collection ranked it in the top 50 golf destinations in the world, describing the clubhouse as ‘a wonder of modern architecture’.

A further international design competition in 1995 invited bids for interior design; and Diar Consult was once again successful and able to augment the architectural design with an interior as spectacular as the exterior. Beneath the 100m wingspan is sophisticated and luxurious accommodation, comprising three floors of restaurants, an executive meeting room and an extensive sports and fitness club – all fully equipped to accommodate any type of corporate or private event in a relaxed club atmosphere. One of the key characteristics of the design was to ensure that all the restaurants as well as the members’ bar would enjoy prominent and unhindered views across the 9th and 18th holes. Functioning almost as a grandstand to the golf course, the clubhouse, in addition to members’ facilities, provides an important social and community centre for residents of the surrounding area.

The inaugural professional event to be held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club was the European Seniors Tour Final in 2000. Feedback was unanimously positive:

“A fantastic golf course and incredible clubhouse…it will soon become known around the world and be recognised as one of the top golfing destinations” – Dennis O’Sullivan, event winner.

“Peter Harradine’s course is superb and Samir Daoud’s falcon-design clubhouse is nothing short of astonishing” – Tommy Horton, European Seniors Tour’s first Euro millionaire.

Since 2006, the National Course has played host to the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which is one of the biggest events on the European PGA Tour.

Design team

• Diar Consult: Architectural design, interior design, contract administration and post-contract supervision
• Halcrow International: Structural design sub-consultants
• Ewbank International Consultants: MEP design sub-consultants
• Peter Harradine: Golf Course Designer

Contractors

• Modern Development: Main Contractor
• Bin Brook: Interior Works Contractor

In 2003, Diar Consult designed a 20-storey, four-star business hotel in the downtown area of Abu Dhabi on behalf of United Al Saqer Group. The hotel takes the form of a tower in contemporary architectural style.

The ground and mezzanine floors are dedicated to the reception, public outlets, hotel administration and back-of-house facilities. The 150 standard guestrooms are accommodated within the efficiently planned typical floors, and there are two executive suites on each floor, articulated on the facade through the cylindrical drum-shaped towers. An all-day dining restaurant, business centre, and a health and fitness centre on the top floor enjoy panoramic views of the city.

In the initial master plan of the city of Abu Dhabi, the sub-division policy had limitations and shortcomings that resulted in a disjointed city fabric. The plots of downtown area were all subdivided into three sizes, 50 × 50 feet, 80 × 80 feet and 100 × 100 feet. Vision Hotel’s plot was the smallest of the three, presenting a challenge to the designer to achieve and balance the important factors of economic viability, operational business plan and architectural sense of identity within the confines and limitations of such a small plot.

Project team

• Diar Consult: Lead consultants, structural engineers and post contract administration in all disciplines
• Ian Banham & Associates: MEP design sub-consultants
• Dhafir Development & Contracting: Contractors

Al Wadi Hotel is a product of the strategic alliance forged between Diar Consult and Tange Associates, Japan.

Diar Consult was approached by private developer Reef Real Estate in April 2008. The brief was to design a 30-storey twin tower development in the Mizin area of Dubai, comprising a five-star hotel operation of 303 guestrooms and executive suites, food and beverage outlets, and conference facilities, in addition to 163 furnished and serviced apartments of one and two bedrooms in the style of a ‘1930s New York skyscraper’.

The design was prepared with Tange Associates who brought innovative concepts, efficiency and technologically advanced solutions to the project. The proposal is responsive to the brief while satisfying the stringent development control guidelines of the master developer of the Mizin area, namely, Dubai Properties. The challenge for the architects was to resolve their design ethos of responsive regionalism within the imposed New York style. The skyscraper was borne out of a specific time and place in which land was limited and urban economics demanded high density. Neither of these conditions exist in the context of this project. Nevertheless, the application of the aesthetic has produced an imposing and evocative proposal.

It was anticipated that the operator, Rydges, would manage the hotel, so the design was tailored specifically to their design criteria. The general arrangement locates residents’ and guests’ parking in the basement and podium; reception and lounge on the ground level; and spa facilities, including outdoor swimming pool, on the podium roof deck. All accommodation is provided within the two Art Deco influenced towers.

Design team

• Tange Associates, Japan and Diar Consult: Lead architects
• Ian Banham and Associates: MEP design sub-consultants

In 1993, Diar Consult was invited to participate in an international competition for the design of the clubhouse of Doha Golf Club. The submitted proposal won first prize, and Diar Consult was subsequently appointed as lead consultants responsible for the architectural, structural and MEP services and interior design.

The client’s brief stipulated that the design should respect the traditional architectural heritage and culture of Qatar; so, in line with these aspirations, Diar Consult created a design which conjures up the spirit and silhouette of a small old Arabian desert village with its wind towers, domes and open-air courtyards and terraces. Simplicity of planning is maintained throughout to reflect the simplicity of village architecture.

Internally, there is an exciting volumetric interplay providing the transition from one activity area to another. The entrance lobby/atrium of the clubhouse is an imposing double volume space, transparent to an external courtyard and the golf course beyond. As the heart of the clubhouse it connects and provides circulation into two wings: food and beverage outlets and viewing terraces to the right, and golfers’ facilities to the left. A sculptural staircase leads from the atrium to an upper-level restaurant and viewing terraces.

The clubhouse is located on the most elevated and prominent area of the site which gives it a commanding presence overlooking the golf course. The white façades provide a striking contrast to the surrounding fairways and greens of the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Peter Harradine.

The building was completed in 1996 and, since 1998, has hosted the annual Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a European PGA Tour Event.

The country club will offer residents of Dream City a unique and exclusive hub to enjoy sporting and social activities.

The country club is located along the canal embankment, easily accessible to residents of Dream City by car from the boulevard, by water taxi from the canal, or on foot while enjoying a pleasurable walk from their neigbourhood. The setting offers panoramic views from the various gardens and terraces, and from the interiors of the public function rooms, making this club a central hub for social and cultural interaction for all age groups.

Designed in an eclectic Indian classical/colonial style, the country club offers a fine dining restaurant, library and games room located on the first floor, while the ground floor accommodates a cafe/lounge with reception area, meeting rooms, state-of-the art spa and fitness centre and party room, all set within landscaped recreational grounds, including a swimming pool with a deck area. The club also offers water sports such as canoeing and kayaking.

The classical colonial design of this clubhouse contrasts in architectural style and scale to the otherwise modern and contemporary residential towers forming the various neighbourhoods of Dream City. This emphasizes its role as a destination and focal point of the community.

Mudon, meaning ‘cities’ in Arabic, is a new residential community for 50,000 residents that was master planned on a 678-hectare site in Dubailand.

It is the flagship development of Dubai Properties and comprises replicas of five Middle Eastern cities, namely, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Marrakech and Cairo, all within one large city. The residential component is supported by retail and commercial offices, hotels, restaurants and a golf course.

Having already designed the internationally recognized clubhouses of the Abu Dhabi and Doha Golf Clubs, Dubai Properties selected Diar Consult in September 2006 to design the clubhouse for Mudon Golf Club. The clubhouse was also designed to appeal to non-golfers.

The country club is designed as an Arabian castle elevated on a hill. In addition to the usual amenities, the clubhouse also has a private function room and terraces, a rooftop swimming pool and sunbathing terraces, and a fine dining restaurant.

Design team

• Diar Consult: Lead design consultants
• Ian Banham and Associates: MEP design sub-consultants
• Mace: Project managers

The clubhouse at Al Salam City Golf Club caters to both members playing on the 18-hole golf course, and residents of Al Salam City wishing to socialize at one of the restaurants.

The clubhouse was designed by Diar Consult in an Arabian style enriched with subtle accents of Andalusian idioms. Internally, the relaxed planning presents effortless flow from the main lobby through the inner lounges to the activity focused facilities, while offering transparency to the breathtaking views across the course to the silhouette of the city. The restaurants and bars on both the ground and first floors extend out onto terraces or private courtyards so that the surrounding environment can be fully enjoyed by all.

The Elite Hotel is a four-star urban business hotel originally operated by Swiss-bel, comprising 152 guestrooms and 16 suites, an executive lounge, four food and beverage outlets on the ground floor street frontage and a health club on the roof.

It is a low-rise building of five storeys over one basement, and is designed around a central courtyard, which allows daylight into the public outlets and recreational areas of the hotel.

Located on Al Mina dual carriageway which is flanked by low-rise buildings on both sides, the design’s main objective was to emphasise hospitality. It is designed in a grand European style, with Arabian accents in its modulation and facade vocabulary.

Project team:

• Diar Consult: Lead consultants, architecture, structure and building services, design and post contract administration in all disciplines
• Al Ghaith Building Construction LLC: Contractor

For decades the people of Iraq have been starved of public amenities for leisure and entertainment. This project aims to reinvigorate the once magical embankment of the River Tigris in Baghdad, and establish a visionary and revolutionary opportunity for social integration.

Diar Consult was appointed by Al Yamama Company in 2012 to prepare the concept master plan for the proposed development for submission to the Ministry of Tourism. The aim was to create an attractive recreation, family entertainment and leisure destination for the people of Baghdad and Iraq in the form of a self-sustainable and commercially viable adventure park.

The 450,000 m² site in Baghdad stretches for 2 km along an embankment of the River Tigris, bordered to the north by the Tigris and to the south by Baghdad University of Al Jadriya. Historically, the showpiece and entertainment centre of the city, “Abu Nuwas”, is in desperate need of the regeneration that a project of this type would bring to the district.

Hidd Al Saadiyat is a natural peninsula at the furthest extent of Saadiyat Island, now home to one of the newest and most prestigious lifestyle development areas in the UAE. The Hidd Al Saadiyat five-star boutique hotel represents Diar Consult’s design in response to a select international design competition for a private developer. The design embodies Diar Consult’s interpretation of the master developer’s brief and development control guidelines for a five-storey boutique hotel that maximizes the potential use of the allowable built-up area for both commercial and residential uses within a hotel context.

The proposal takes advantage of the deep rectangular plot to create a duality of character in the landscape, providing both lush structured water gardens and a pristine natural beach. Building elements are arranged in linear strips along three boundaries of the site, designed to maximize views of the gardens, beach and the sea beyond. Vehicular circulation is limited to the road frontage and side boundaries, thereby providing convenient and efficient access to the hotel chalets and beach bar and grill on one side, and to the executive hotel villas and beachside VIP retreat on the other. Infinity pools and exotic islands occupy the heart of the site and provide an enclave of tranquility and serenity that can be enjoyed by all guests.