GREC Architects announced the November 1st 2011 opening of the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The luxury golf resort, owned by TDIC, (Tourism Development Investment Company), and operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, is an oasis for wellness and rejuvenation and is ideally situated next to the renowned Abu Dhabi Golf Course, home to the PGA European Tour Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The hotel was designed by GREC and an international team of consultants to enhance the offerings of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club without imposing upon the dramatic landscapes of the elite golf course. Chiseled stone exteriors and minimalist, contemporary interiors forged from rusticated gold limestone, petrified and reclaimed wood and warm hued accents give a simple yet rich feeling that integrates the club into the desert surroundings. To contend with the extreme desert climate, outdoor spaces are veiled in crafted architectural screens, accompanied by modern fountains, swimming pools, and a lush, vegetated leisure area. Hotel common areas have soaring ceilings that lead the eye up to the uniquely designed, winged rooftops that are the signature of the resort.
Greg Randall, the managing partner for the project explained “we wanted the hotel to serve as a sophisticated backdrop for the breathtaking landscape. The European PGA Championship Tournament is played here every year, so it was important that the design represents Abu Dhabi’s forward thinking as a modern city and its expanding presence on the world stage.” BD+C
Related Stories
| Aug 29, 2022
Montana becomes first U.S. state to approve 3D printing in construction
Montana is the first U.S. state to give broad regulatory approval for 3D printing in building construction.
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 175 Multifamily Sector Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Perkins Eastman, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, KTGY, and Gensler top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily sector architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes all multifamily sector work, including apartments, condos, student housing, and senior living facilities.
| Aug 26, 2022
Idaho Building Code Board considers gutting large part of state energy code
Idaho Building Code Board considers gutting large part of state energy code.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 25, 2022
7 things to know about designing for Chinese multifamily developers
Seven tips for designing successful apartment and condominium projects for Chinese clients.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2022
Top 155 Apartment and Condominium Architecture Firms for 2022
Solomon Cordwell Buenz, KTGY, Gensler, and AO top the ranking of the nation's largest apartment and condominium architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
University Buildings | Aug 25, 2022
Higher education, striving for ‘normal’ again, puts student needs at the center of project planning
Sustainability and design flexibility are what higher education clients are seeking consistently, according to the dozen AEC Giants contacted for this article. “University campuses across North America are commissioning new construction projects designed to make existing buildings and energy systems more sustainable, and are building new flexible learning space that bridge the gap between remote and in-person learning,” say Patrick McCafferty, Arup’s Education Business Leader–Americas East region, and Matt Humphries, Education Business Leader in Canada region.
| Aug 25, 2022
New York City’s congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic, cut carbon
Officials recently released an environmental assessment that analyzes seven different possible pricing schemes for New York City’s congestion pricing program.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Aug 24, 2022
Solutions for cladding performance and supply issues
This course covers design considerations and cladding assembly choices for creating high-performance building envelopes — a crucial element in healthy, energy-efficient buildings.
| Aug 24, 2022
California’s investment in ‘community schools’ could transform K-12 education
California has allocated $4.1-billion to develop ‘community schools’ that have the potential to transform K-12 education.
| Aug 24, 2022
Architecture Billings Index slows but remains healthy
For the eighteenth consecutive month architecture firms reported increasing demand for design services in July, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
