HBA Designs Timeless Elegance at the
First St. Regis Hotel in the Middle East
Leading Interior Design Firm Creates Mediterranean Style with Arabic
Influences for The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
New York, NY -- HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates, the leading global hospitality
design firm of the world’s most anticipated hotels, resorts and spas, has completed
the design of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. Opened since
December 2011, the 377-room hotel is located on the pristine white natural beach
of Saadiyat Island and is expected to become a landmark resort for discerning,
well-traveled connoisseurs.
The resort design incorporates a blend of Mediterranean and Arabic influences
creating a unique and seductive address. Inspired by the tradition of the St. Regis
brand’s legendary New York hotel, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu
Dhabi features the hallmarks of St. Regis hotels including signature St. Regis
Butler Service, bespoke guest experiences and luxury accommodations tailored to
global travelers.
For The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, HBA took inspiration from
their surroundings and created a contemporary Mediterranean interior design with
Arabic influences. The style was further enhanced by the interesting use of local
products and elements. The overall pallet has a strong connection to the island and
is very light and airy with a number of natural and earthy materials, colors and
shapes including sand roses and seashells.
A stone floor, reminiscent of sand, was used throughout the resort and handselected from local quarries. Lighter woods with a wide grain and a natural finish
were also selected to create a calming ambience that flows through the food and
beverage venues, the guestrooms and suites as well as public spaces.
The ceiling of the hotel’s main lobby is a golden, recessed dome, typical of Italian
architecture. The floor is a striking custom marble and mosaic tile that is themed
on sea anemones, coral and sea kelp in the shapes of ribbons and medallions.
Overhead are custom-designed depictions of sea creatures formed in Prague from
crystal and hand-blown glass that are, with LED lights, programmed to fade and
flicker. Natural sea shapes and colors are also found in the patterns of the rugs and
in the art located on the tall lobby walls.
According to HBA Associate Ira Imerlishvili, “The most distinguishable feature is
the million dollar view you see upon entering the resort’s dramatic lobby. The
entire back wall is made of frameless glass overlooking the sea offering amazing
unobstructed views unlike any other in Abu Dhabi.”
Guest Rooms
With Mediterranean-influenced architecture and the surrounding natural
environment, the resort's luxurious living spaces range from the intimate to the
grand, from 55 sqm superior rooms and 85 sqm suites, each with a 10 sqm
balcony, to a majestic 2000 sqm, two-storey Royal Suite.
High recessed ceilings with a natural pallet make the rooms feel large and
expansive. Because natural elements predominate, every room is unique. Mindful
of the relaxed, resort atmosphere, the stone is honed rather than polished, and
finishes are rustic rather than highly polished lacquered rooms. Each room and
suite is complimented with a slightly arched private balcony that offers panoramic
views of the gulf, creating a very contemporary Mediterranean feel.
Spa
The serene atmosphere of the 3500 sqm Iridium Spa makes it an ideal place for a
total mind, body and spirit rejuvenation experience. Natural materials create a
pallet of pale gold, cream and darker tones of slates and marbles. Recesses of
domes are finished in a silver leaf, recalling the gold leafed domes in the resort,
while the luminous sky-like surface softly help illuminate the natural hues of the
spa.
Blending traditional remedies with modern technologies, the signature therapies
and tailored treatments can be enjoyed in any of the 12 treatment suites. For a
more intimate and exclusive experience, guests can choose to receive treatments
in one of three themed – Moroccan, Thai and Contemporary – Spa Suites with
private terraces and pools.
Dining
Celebrated Irish Chef Conrad Gallagher created the concepts of the resort’s food
and beverage and HBA helped bring his concepts to life with seven distinctive
themed venues. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort offers guests both indoor
and alfresco dining options with captivating views of the Arabian Gulf. These
include the Mediterranean-influenced all-day dining venue Olea, the NY-inspired
steakhouse 55 & 5th The Grill, the Southeast Asian Sontaya and the beach
restaurant Turquoiz.
Saadiyat Island
The island is a short 10-minute drive from the city center and a 20-minute by car
from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The pristine Saadiyat Island overlooks
pure white beaches and the warm azure seas of the Persian Gulf and is currently
being transformed into the new cultural center of the Arabian world. By 2020,
Saadiyat Island will have new Louvre and Guggenheim Museums as well as a
world-class performing arts center and concert hall and a New York University
campus.
For more information, please visit www.stregis.com/saadiyatisland.
About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is committed to delivering
exceptional experiences at over 30 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the
world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis Hotel in New York City over a century ago by John
Jacob Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and
anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service.
From Bal Harbour to Bangkok, Saadiyat Island to Shenzhen, the St. Regis brand caters to a new
generation of luxury travelers and continues to thoughtfully build its portfolio in the most sought
after destinations at the heart of today’s grand tour. Plans for the brand to expand its legacy
include much-anticipated St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in the Riviera Maya and in Asia, where St.
Regis has announced plans to open hotels in Changsha, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Lijiang,
Nanjing, New Delhi and Zhuhai. Additionally in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, St. Regis
will continue to expand in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Dubai and Mauritius. For more information
on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com, to explore our recent debuts visit
www.stregis.com/newgrandtour and for the privilege of residential ownership, please visit
www.stregis.com/residences.
About HBA
World-renowned as the “Number 1 Hospitality Design Firm” (Interior Design) and winner of six
record-breaking awards (2010 Hospitality Design Awards), HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates,
unveils the world’s most anticipated hotels, resorts, and spas. Leading the hospitality interior
design industry since 1964, HBA remains keenly attuned to the pulse of changing industry trends
governed by today's sophisticated traveler. The company’s international presence, depth of
experience, and detailed industry knowledge enables them to identify interior design trends at their
source, make definitive predictions about new directions and innovations, and influence design
standards at a global level. HBA’s ultimate objective is to add value, raise standards and enhance
the brand of a project's owner and operator.
HBA creates the signature look of traditional luxury brands, independent contemporary boutiques,
urban resort spas, world-class residences, restaurants, casinos, and cruise ships. From continent to
continent, each HBA interior is the result of a unique and sensitive response to location,
architecture, and client vision. With over 800 designers around the globe in 13 offices and a recent
expansion in Asia, HBA is a true global company with more than 75% of its employees now
outside the United States. HBA’s international presence, combined with its extensive knowledge
of the interior design industry, has facilitated the ability to rewrite the language of design with
each new project.
For HBA in Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo,
Singapore, Brisbane, Melbourne, New Delhi, Dubai and Manila, visit www.hba.com.
###
For further information, interview requests or images please contact:
Lemor Moses
Director of Public Relations
Lemor.Moses@hbadesign.com
818.642.1245