French design agency, Gilles & Boissier, reveal visually striking, exquisitely designed interiors for The Dorchester Collection’s first hotel opening in the Middle East; The Lana. Located in Dubai and open to visitors since February 2024, the design project took place over a duration of six years, with Gilles & Boissier working to design the lobby, restaurants, guest rooms and spa.
Representing a unique and modern approach for The Dorchester Collection, Gilles & Boissier has created an unparalleled refreshing and distinctive experience for guests, which aims to be impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Blending sleek minimalism and stylistic flair, Gilles & Boissier have taken inspiration from Dubai’s staggering desert landscape and the rich tapestry of cultural influence in the UAE to create a captivating fusion of traditions that reflect the multiculturalism of the city.
In a break from the Dorchester’s past style in European locations, Gilles & Boissier have created a visually striking, yet minimalist atmosphere, with bright colours and textures kept to a minimum in order to allow the personality of guests to colour the space throughout the hotel. An intriguing mix of raw and polished materials, locally sourced where possible, have been used throughout the hotel. A variety of marbles in shades such as pink and beige along with darker stones like grey and black, create a captivating layering effect.
In the lobby, two distinctive wings in pink alabaster serve as focal points, their soothing colour palette acting to counterbalance their prominence. Distinctive design details such as cornices, arches and curves are also prominent throughout and add depth and character to the space. Gilles & Boissier’s sensitive layering of materials is particularly evident in this space, showcasing different stone materials seamlessly integrated to create a kaleidoscope-like floor.
Inspired by an eclipse, the reception area’s lighting fixture is designed to be super immaterial, flooding the space with light, and creating a visual interplay with the juxtaposition of the dark features and intimate feel of the lobby bar.
While public areas boast a modern aesthetic inspired by the spirit of Dubai, the rooms and suites take on a more traditional feel, the exceptionality not found in the intricacy of the design but rather the sensations the designs invoke. In these spaces Gilles & Boissier have cleverly merged traditional and contemporary design elements to ensure a playful, unique atmosphere that is deliberately uncomplicated.
Designed to ensure an instant feel of calm and comfort for guests, the design palette incorporates Volakas and Calcatta Oro marbles as well as walnut and smoked oak wood, creating a blend of light and dark that is supported by ambient lighting. In the bathrooms, captivating views and natural light are thoughtfully combined to create a sensory experience, while English mouldings are extended from adjacent spaces into the bathroom to ensure a cohesive feel as the guests move between the two.
The furniture throughout The Lana was designed by Gilles & Boissier, with each piece intended as a response to the décor, taking into consideration shape and texture and using locally avaliable materials and manufacturers in Dubai. Gilles & Boissier also worked with The Lana to ensure a rich collection of artistic interventions, each meticulously crafted to enhance the space.
A collaborative effort involving both local and global artists, each work of art has been created and strategically positioned in the space to align with the unique vision of the artist. A glass installation by French-Lebanese artist, Flavie Audi captures the futuristic approach of Dubai and the city’s energy and light, while Franco-American sculptor, Sergio Ruffato, has designed a monumental vertical wall installation formed by thousands of brass balls, whose length and height acts a metaphor for Dubai and its architectural mastery.
More widely, classical European influences are notably woven throughout the space. Gilles & Boissier commissioned Atelier Prométhée to craft a bespoke, ornate vase for The Lana, echoing the model engraved by the renowned Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 18th century.
This later became widely known as the ‘Medici vase’ and is part of the collections at the Capitoline Museums in Rome. Other work selected by Gilles & Boissier and exhibited throughout The Lana include work by British sculptor, Matthew Simmonds, German artist, Katrin Paul and Australian collector and portraitist, Nancy Tschetner.
In designing the interiors for The Lana, Gilles & Boissier resisted trends, creating a space which will stand the test of time and enhance the overall Dorchester experience. This carefully considered, beautiful design provides a gateway for the life and vibrancy that will be provided by the guests who enter The Lana.
“This was a very exciting project for Gilles & Boissier. As a design studio, we believe in the importance of immersing the spectator in an atmosphere that evokes emotions and strong feelings. We wanted guests who stepped into The Lana to be moved by their environment and for the design to speak to the unique position of a city surround by a desert and the rich fusion of influences that are apparent.
At the heart of The Lana will be the guests who travel from around the world and the impeccable service from The Dorchester that will bring colour and life to the spaces that we have created.” – Dorothée Boissier, Co-Founder of Gilles & Boissier
