The New Water Feature At Dubai Festival City

Dubai Festival City is a vibrant multipurpose destination designed by Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, combining shopping, hospitality and entertainment in one of Dubai’s most famous waterfronts.

- Ana Mateus

The access plaza to Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza Hotels recently underwent a major requalification process (masterplan by Nikken Sekkei Ltd.), opening to the public in September last year. The centerpiece of the new scheme is a water feature designed, manufactured and installed by GHESA.

The objective was to design a site-specific ornamental water feature to create visual interest and contribute to the character of the space. An important premise was that the design could be appreciated not only from the pedestrian and vehicular points of view but also from a higher perspective in the surrounding towers.

GHESA’s design is inspired by the Biomorphic (Arabesque) pattern in Islamic Art and by the traditional gypsum-carving art. A floral pattern (flower rosette) is designed in high relief over shallow water pools and its contrast is enhanced using light and dark stone – Tiger Skin granite in the flower pattern and Absolute Black granite in the water pools. The use of this dark revetment was also intended to provide a contrasting background for the water elements.