Omran and Musstir enter JV to develop Anantara Dhofar, as development in Oman picks up pace
by Kim Megson | 17 Feb 2016
The design features low-lying, white-clad buildings flanked by a turreted fortress-style entrance / Anantara
A new luxury Anantara hotel and spa complex will open later this year in Dhofar, Oman, with a design inspired by the region’s coastal fortresses.
The Anantara Salalah Al Baleed Resort is a joint venture between Omran – the state-owned company currently investing huge sums of money into the country’s hospitality sector – and property developer Musstir.
The resort will be located in the Salalah, the capital of Dhofar province, between a natural lagoon and the beach. The design features low-lying, white-clad buildings with intricate artistic flourishes popular in traditional Omani architecture. These are flanked by a turreted fortress-style entrance and a large tropical garden containing flowers, palm trees and an expansive moat-like water feature.
The Salalah Al Baleed Resort will have 136 guest rooms and pool villas, and an Anantara Spa and hammam offering both signature and local spa treatments.
Other leisure facilities will include tennis courts, a children’s club, an outdoor activity centre, a Middle Eastern beach bar, and a signature Asian restaurant. The resort will also offer boat rides to nearby cultural landmarks, including the Al Baleed Museum of Frankincense and Al Baleed’s UNESCO-protected Citadel and Grand Mosque.
International contractor Carillion is building the resort, which is scheduled to open by the end of Q3, and the developers are collaborating with Omran’s Tourism College to assist in pre-opening training programmes for potential staff.
“The opening of Al Baleed Resort is a major milestone for the region and reflects our commitment to developing the tourism sector to support the local economy on a long-term, sustainable basis,” said Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, chair of Omran.
“Salalah is a very popular destination, known for having some of the best beaches in the region, as well as a rich cultural heritage. The opening of this resort puts Dhofar firmly on the map for international travellers.”
Dr. Mohamed bin Ali bin Mohamed Al Barwani – founder and chair of Musstir, added: “This development is testament to the results which can be achieved through strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with the government. This is the first of its kind in Oman for the real estate and hospitality sector. It is a learning experience.”
At 300,000sq km, Oman is about the size of Italy, but with a population of just four million. This light human footprint combined with great geographic diversity has made the country attractive to international tourists.
A number of developers have identified Dhofar as a potential tourist hotspot, and the Anantara development will soon be joined by the Alila Salalah – a 125-key beachfront destination resort due to open in the second half of 2017.
Anantara luxury resort Oman architecture design OmranNew Omani luxury tented resort offers desert-themed hot sand treatment
Hyatt, Hilton and Mandarin Oriental in the frame for openings in billion-dollar Oman waterfront project
Traditional Omani design reigns at Al Bustan Palace Six Senses spa
Two Anantara Resorts slated for the Middle East
Oman chain opens women-only club
Alila Salalah resort in Oman to open in Q3 of 2017 with interiors by Blink Design
Oman documents heritage sites in attempt to attract tourism
New Salalah Rotana Resort to further promote Oman as a luxury destination
A new luxury Anantara hotel and spa complex will open later this year in Dhofar, Oman, with a design inspired by the region’s coastal fortresses. The Anantara Salalah Al Baleed Resort is a joint venture between Omran – the state-owned company currently investing huge sums of money into the country’s hospitality sector – and property developer Musstir. The resort will be located in the Salalah, the capital of Dhofar province,
CLD,SAB,HOT,ARC,DES,DEV,INV
More news
OPEN Architecture design soulful "Chapel of Sound" in China
by Andrew Manns | 15 Feb 2019
Chinese architecture practice OPEN have unveiled renderings of the Chapel of Sound – a cavernous amphitheatre currently under construction north of Beijing, outside the city of Chengde. The 790 sq m, roofless structure – shaped to resemble the curvilinear appearance of mollusc shells and human ears – will function as a concert venue and community space. The Chapel will also feature as a kind of temple to nature, providing panoramic
3XN Architects win contract to build multipurpose arena in Munich
by Andrew Manns | 14 Feb 2019
Danish architecture firm 3XN have been tapped to build an as-yet-unnamed stadium in Munich's Olympic Park. Set to occupy the site of the recently demolished Radstadion velodrome – the arena will feature three canopied ice rinks and an oval-shaped green roof that merges with the surrounding park landscape. Landscape design for the al fresco space and the ground-level concourse will be carried out by Latz + Partner. Another notable element
L'Avenue restaurant brings the French Alps to Fifth Avenue
by Andrew Manns | 14 Feb 2019
The first iteration of the popular Paris dining concept L'Avenue has opened its doors at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Designed by French art director and interior specialist Philippe Starck, L'Avenue stretches across the luxury emporium's 8th and 9th floors and boasts a wunderkammer-style main dining room as well as a lounge modelled after an alpine ski lodge. Dubbed the "Salon", the dining area, which Starck has called an
Ian Schrager's Edition Times Square eyes March opening
by Andrew Manns | 13 Feb 2019
The latest incarnation of Ian Schrager's Edition design concept is slated to open its doors next month in Manhattan. Billed as a reclamation of the essence of Times Square when it was "the microcosm of the best New York had the offer", the new hotel will feature 452 guest rooms, a fitness centre, and four storeys of public space, including two restaurants headed by Michelin-starred chef John Fraser, a terrace,
Chicago okays hotly contested Lincoln Yards mega-project
by Andrew Manns | 12 Feb 2019
The City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development (CPD) has greenlit plans to develop Lincoln Yards – a large-scale project that will see 50 acres of Chicago's waterfront transformed into a new urban attraction. Led by developers Sterling Bay and designed by practices Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, James Corner Field Operations, and CBT Architects, the US$6bn (€5.3bn, £4.65bn) development, which will occupy the former site of the city's manufacturing
Futuristic hotel with focus on "inner life" care takes shape in Paris
by Andrew Manns | 11 Feb 2019
Construction has begun on "Villa M" – an integrated hotel that will explore the many dimensions of healthy living and communal wellness. The brainchild of French designer Philippe Starck and Triptyque Architecture, Villa M, which stands for – among other things – "medicine, mutualism, and mobility" – will comprise a hotel, gym, restaurant, and bar, as well as exhibition, residential, and working spaces. Another major amenity of the property will
Rabot Dutilleul tapped to develop aquatic centre with world's deepest dive pool
by Andrew Manns | 08 Feb 2019
French construction firm Rabot Dutilleul has been retained by the city of Lille to develop an expansive, eco-friendly natatorium. Designed by German architects Auer Weber, the future facility, set to feature a 42.5-metre diving pool – the deepest in the world – will also comprise three swimming pools, a restaurant, a balneotherapy area, and a wellbeing centre with cryotherapy, sauna, and steam room facilities. Another highlight of the €78.5m (US$89m,
Conran and Partners-designed Das Triest hotel completes renovation in Vienna
by Andrew Manns | 08 Feb 2019
The Das Triest Hotel – originally designed by English architects Conran and Partners – has reopened following a multicomponent renovation. Situated in Vienna's Freihaus district, the hotel now features refreshed exteriors, 49 additional rooms and suites, and a 240 sq m restaurant. HD Architecken led the redesign of the building's facade, while Wehdorn Architecken was responsible for conceptualising the guest rooms – most of which provide views of the St
Historic Grand Port of Marseille to be reborn as seafront leisure hub
by Andrew Manns | 07 Feb 2019
French architecture firm Reichen and Robert (RR&A) have been selected to spearhead a €100m (US$113.4m, £87.3m) makeover of Marseille-Fos Port (the Grand Port of Marseille) – the largest seaport in France. Dubbed the "J1, La Passerelle", the new 29,106 sq m mixed-use structure, which will be located minutes away from the iconic Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée (MUCEM), will offer extensive recreational amenities, including a floating
Kerry Hill Architects to design minimalist resort within a secret garden for Aman Kyoto
by Jane Kitchen | 07 Feb 2019
Luxury hotel operator Aman will open its third resort in Japan this November with the launch of Aman Kyoto, which will include a spa concept themed around the property’s natural spring water. Situated in a hidden garden close to Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), the resort, with 24 bedrooms and two two-bedroom villas, draws on the country’s ryokan (traditional inn) and onsen (hot spring) concepts to provide an authentic yet contemporary
Henning Larsen to lead redesign of largest opera house in Paris
by Andrew Manns | 06 Feb 2019
Scandinavian architecture practice Henning Larsen have been tapped to expand the Opéra Bastille – the largest opera house in Paris. The renovated structure will feature an extended foyer, an 800-seat concert hall, workshop facilities, and a public garden path with links to the Viaduc des Arts and the rue de Lyons. First proposed in 2017 in response to a competition announced by France's Ministry of Culture and Communication, the new
Miraval’s new Austin resort includes 20,000sq ft Clodagh-designed Life in Balance Spa
by Jane Kitchen | 06 Feb 2019
Hyatt has opened Miraval Austin in Texas, US, the brand’s second wellness resort to open outside of its flagship property in Tucson, Arizona, US. Set on 220 acres in Texas Hill Country overlooking Lake Travis, Miraval Austin was previously the Travaasa Austin Resort, which was acquired by Miraval in December 2016, just before Hyatt acquired Miraval in January 2017. Offering 117 guestrooms and suites, a Life in Balance Spa, a
Reimagined Museum of Modern Art to open its doors in October
by Andrew Manns | 06 Feb 2019
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has announced that it will close this summer and reopen with expanded exhibition spaces on 21 October 2019. Designed by New York architecture practice Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in collaboration with Gensler, the MoMA's extensions will feature more than 40,000 sq ft (3,716 sq m ) of galleries – allowing for the inclusion of both new and re-choreographed exhibits. The
MQ Studio design modernist retreat in Beijing's Forbidden City
by Andrew Manns | 05 Feb 2019
Chinese interior designers MQ Studio Shanghai have created the PuXuan Spa and Hotel – the latest venture from the Urban Resorts Concepts (URC) brand – in China's famous Forbidden City. Housed in the Ole Scheeren-designed Guardian Arts Centre in the Wangfujing district, PuXuan is situated opposite the National Art Museum and features 116 rooms and suites, two restaurants specialising in French and Cantonese cuisine, a tea room, and an UR
Studio Gang unveil community-focused concept for Tom Lee Park
by Andrew Manns | 05 Feb 2019
American architecture firm Studio Gang have revealed the first set of renderings of their vision to regenerate the historic Tom Lee Park in Memphis, Tennessee. Part of what has been described as a "holistic redevelopment" of the Memphis riverfront, the revitalised public space, which Studio Gang is redesigning in collaboration with SCAPE Landscape Architecture, will take design cues from various riverside structures, machines, and transport vessels – such as docks,
Iconic Hawaiian Kona Village resort to reopen as Rosewood in 2022
by Jane Kitchen | 05 Feb 2019
Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) has appointed ultra-luxury hotel group Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to manage Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, which is set to open in 2022 after a complete renovation of the property. Located on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i, the iconic Hawaiian retreat has laid dormant since 2011. Conceptualised and developed by explorer Johnno Jackson in the early 1960s,
Quinn Evans Architects transform Neo-Gothic high-rise into Detroit's first extended stay hotel
by Andrew Manns | 04 Feb 2019
The long-abandoned cathedral-like Metropolitan Building – a relict from the Jazz Age – has been converted into the Element Detroit, a 110-room extended stay hotel. Refurbished by Quinn Evans Architects in collaboration with real estate developers The Roxbury Group and the Means Group, the refreshed property, which has been vacant since the 1970s, features a rooftop bar with an outdoor terrace, a fitness centre, and 7,000 sq ft (650 sq
Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC get approval for £1bn Olympia revamp
by Andrew Manns | 04 Feb 2019
UK architecture practices Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC have been granted permission to move forward with their plans to transform the Olympia London exhibition centre into a multifunctional cultural hub. According to YOO Capital – one of the developers spearheading the project – the £1bn (US$1.3bn, €1.1bn) expansion, recently approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, will see 2.5 acres of public realm created, turning the Victorian-era landmark into a "global force
Live like Bond: Aston Martin reveals 'Sky Amenities' floors with emphasis on well-being
by Andrew Manns | 01 Feb 2019
Set to go vertical in July, the highly anticipated Aston Martin Residences in Miami – developed by the same company that created James Bond's iconic getaway cars – will provide homeowners with four floors of health and wellness-centred amenities. Designed by studios Revuelta Architecture International and Bodas Miani Anger Architects, the 66-storey residential complex, which is taking shape at 300 Biscayne Way, will offer 391 condominium apartments. The Sky Amenities
SHoP-designed eco-park in Lower Manhattan edges closer to completion
by Andrew Manns | 01 Feb 2019
Pier 35 – an expansive recreation space taking shape in New York's Lower East Side – will soon be complete. Jointly designed by American architecture practices SHoP and Ken Smith Workshop, the riverside park – part of SHoP's 388-hectare East River Waterfront regeneration project – will feature 28,000 sq ft (2,601 sq m) of public realm, including pedestrian paths, picnic areas, and a screen wall that will be overlaid with
Arquitectonica and Martin Brudnizki team up to design Italy-inspired hotel
by Andrew Manns | 31 Jan 2019
Architecture firm Arquitectonica and interior designer Martin Brudnizki have designed the Mr. C Coconut Grove lifestyle hotel in South Florida. The 100-room retreat, which overlooks Biscayne Bay, rises six storeys and will feature several leisure facilities and terraces, including a fitness centre, garden, swimming pool, and spa with a private sauna, treatment room, and outdoor relaxation lounge. The nautical look of the resort – as shown by its azure and
Developer's plans for Thameside resort in 18th-century manor get green light
by Andrew Manns | 30 Jan 2019
British real estate company SUSD has announced that it has gained planning consent to develop the Grotto Estate – a 3.5-hectare country retreat on the banks of the Thames river in Lower Basildon, UK. Designed by Paul Forster, the future property, which will expand on a Georgian-era mansion said to have been designed by the renowned landscape architect Capability Brown, will feature 53 rooms and six two-bedroom detached lodges, two
China’s second Museum of Natural History site to open later this year
by Luke Cloherty | 30 Jan 2019
Construction of the main structure of the second outlet of the Chinese Museum of Natural History in Zhejiang is complete. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the museum is built into a sloping hillside in the city of Hangzhou and comprises an inner courtyard as well as several low-rise pavilions with exhibition halls and galleries. The galleries have been rendered in red ochre in order to match the clay earth of
A landmark reborn: Biltmore Hotel reveals extensive renovations
by Andrew Manns | 30 Jan 2019
The picturesque Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Miami – home to the largest swimming pool on the US eastern seaboard – has recently completed a US$30m (€26.2m, £22.3m) refurbishment. Featuring 271 renovated rooms and suites as well as a transformed lounge and common areas, the Biltmore also includes a 12,000 sq ft (11,148 sq m) spa centre with a built-in Himalayan salt sauna and steam room. Debatably the most prominent
Bernard Tschumi Architects complete industrial sciences museum in China
by Andrew Manns | 29 Jan 2019
Project teams have announced the completion of the Tianjin Binhai Exploratorium, a science and industry museum designed by Bernard Tschumi Architects (BTA). Featuring chimney-like spires and a bronze-coloured facade of perforated aluminium that resembles the iconic mudbrick fortresses and mosques of Timbuktu, the Exploratorium will mainly house galleries of exhibits on Tianjin's industrial past. The 33,000 sq m structure, BTA's first large-scale project in China, will also comprise offices, retail
Daniela Colli unveils many-splendoured designs for new Roman restaurant
by Andrew Manns | 29 Jan 2019
Italian architect Daniela Colli has revealed her vibrant and highly stylised designs for Liòn – a new restaurant and cocktail bar in central Rome. The recently constructed two-storey dining outlet, which brings together what the architect has called a "universe of materials" emphasises reds, blues, and yellows – an emotionally resonant colour scheme popularised by Frank Lloyd Wright. Covering an area of 210 sq m, Liòn also features geometric motifs,
Radisson Collection launches inaugural hotel in Georgia’s 8000-year-old wine district
by Andrew Manns | 28 Jan 2019
The Radisson Collection Hotel, Tsinandali Estate has opened its doors in Kakheti, Georgia – a region that pioneered the cultivation of wine-producing grapes over 8000 years ago. Set on an 18-hectare, hilly expanse near the Palace Museum of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze – the aristocratic father of the Georgian Romanticism literary moment – the 141-room resort comprises a number of cavernous and brightly painted spaces reminiscent of Romanesque interiors, as well
National Portrait Gallery announces £35.5m facelift details
by Luke Cloherty | 25 Jan 2019
The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London has released details of its redevelopment plans, which entail a new entrance, new public galleries in the building’s East Wing and a new learning space. Jamie Fobert Architects (JFA) have designed the plans with help from architectural conservation specialists Purcell. Three windows in the current facade turned into doorways, taking pressure off the existing main entrance and allowing for disabled and non-disabled access
Mystery Hotel Budapest prepares to debut in former Masonic lodge
by Andrew Manns | 23 Jan 2019
A unique hotel that once functioned as the main congregating place for various high society Hungarian Freemasons during the 19th century is set to open in February. Located in Budapest’s Terézváros district – a Broadway-like area renowned for its opera house and state theatre – the Mystery Hotel will feature 82 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a fitness room, as well as a courtyard spa outfitted with a sauna, Jacuzzi,
Work begins on Powerhouse Company-designed social hub in Amsterdam
by Andrew Manns | 23 Jan 2019
Construction has begun on a multi-use, community pavilion designed by Dutch architecture practice, Powerhouse Company. Located in the Amsterdam-Zuidoost borough near the new office of banking group ING, the 900 sq m, minimalist structure will feature a transparent facade with rounded corners and a green roof composed of wood and stonecrops. The pavilion will also be the home of the Traveller, a dining outlet created by Dutch restaurateurs Michiel Deenik,
company profile
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
features
featured supplier
cladkit product news
The tiles contain light-absorbing luminous pigments so they glow-in-the-dark
High-end tile supplier Designworks has created a range of illuminous mosaic tiles for commercial use. Designed to bring light into
...
Designer Alejandro Aravena created O to 'reconcile the needs of the natural and the urban environment'
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Herzog and de Meuron, Neri & Hu, MAD Architects and Elemental, the firm of Pritzker winner
...
cladkit product news
Bright Buildings will be showcasing its range of BrightOpen buildings
At this year’s Euro Attractions Show (EAS), design and architecture firm Bright Buildings will be exhibiting its range of BrightOpen
...
Tredje Natur has installed the pilot system of its Climate Tile system in the Nørrebro area of Copenhagen
Danish company Tredje Natur (Third Nature) has recently installed the pilot system of its innovative street paving system in the
...
cladkit product news
The panels are designed to maintain 'healthy spaces' and consist of Hemp husks fashioned into a natural porous membrane that absorbs sound
Russian design studio Aotta has developed a range of eco-friendly, sound-absorbing panels made from the waste products of hemp seeds.
...
Bartok Design creates traditional Japanese soaking tubs
Bartok Design, a Japan-based supplier of Ofuro (Japanese bathtubs), has completed a major installation at the newly opened SpaFusion at
...
