Ahead of the curve
Identity|January 2021
The long-awaited ME Dubai by Melia, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, reopens its doors
Ahead of the curve

Set inside the Opus Tower in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa district, the newly opened ME Dubai hotel by Spanish brand Meliá is the first hotel to attribute both its interiors and its architectural design to Zaha Hadid.

From the outside, the giant cube-shaped building is clad in mirrored glass, with an amorphous void at its centre – an effect created by connecting its two towers from the top and bottom. ME Dubai sits just under the void, featuring 74 rooms and 19 suites as well as various dining offerings and The Atrium, an immersive space at the centre of the hotel that acts as a lobby and a welcome area, as well as a space for entertainment.

With curving sculptural balconies of the hotel jutting out into The Atrium, the expansive space features gleaming white marble floors and plush curved Ottomans that are upholstered in a rich burgundy hue and were designed by the late Hadid as part of Zaha Hadid Design, the firm’s design arm.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Identity.

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This story is from the January 2021 edition of Identity.

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