Basic Lodge Administration (GHM), a creator of trendy motels, has entrusted design agency WATG, and its inside design studio, Wimberly Interiors, with its third property within the GCC area, The Chedi Katara Lodge & Resort, Doha, Qatar.
Chargeable for a few of the world’s most iconic hospitality landmarks, WATG has drawn on its 77-year legacy to reimagine Doha’s luxurious panorama with its interpretation of Mughal heritage with a contact of Ottoman affect. Scheduled to debut in November 2022, The Chedi Katara will provide 59 elegantly-appointed rooms and suites in addition to 32 villas complemented by world-class culinary ideas alongside the beachfront of the Katara Cultural Village.
“For 30 years, GHM has launched the beautiful touches of Asian hospitality to wondrous locations everywhere in the world, melding refined luxurious with one of the best of every locale’s choices. We recognised WATG and Wimberly Interiors’ mastery in honouring a way of place and authenticity by seamlessly infusing sensory cues from the land and tradition into lovely design options,” mentioned Tommy Lai, chief government officer of GHM.
“This strategic partnership aligns nicely with our imaginative and prescient to develop GHM’s distinctive presence on the most charming and culturally vital locations with The Chedi model’s relentless pursuit of hospitality and design excellence.”
Sandwiched between desert and sea throughout a 66,000 sq m plot, the design of The Chedi Katara Lodge & Resort is closely impressed by Mughal structure and options parts of Ottoman heritage. The resort is comprised of 91 rooms, suites and villas along with 5 epicurean venues that embrace The Restaurant, The Foyer Lounge, The Cigar Lounge, The Seaside Membership and Marsa Katara. The orientation of the resort gives all guestrooms, lounge and restaurant areas privileged views of the primary pool and personal seaside.
“With The Chedi Katara Lodge & Resort, we saved in thoughts the architectural class of the locale and fused this with the avant-garde constructing’s design, supplies and hues, with delicate however obvious injections of The Chedi’s wealthy legacy,” mentioned Jeremy Heyes, Senior Vice President, WATG London. “The result’s an genuine design that embodies the vacation spot and breathes new life for all who enters to relish.”
From rigorously detailed body fretwork, to making sure exact accuracy behind the resort’s figurative parts and mouldings, all design parts of The Chedi Katara had been curated to be genuine to the material of Mughal design. The décor bears nice Arabic affect in each previous and new. Impressed from an exploration journey to Rajasthan in India, a lot of the façade is adorned with chhatris that’s typical of conventional Indo-Islamic and Indian structure. Refined particulars carved out of stone had been additionally specifically made to splay throughout the palatial constructing.
The epitome of understated luxurious, the regal Foyer Lounge makes a captivating centrepiece upon visitors’ arrival. Long-established out of a typical Mughal courtyard, the lounge’s 10m excessive ceiling and partitions adorned by unique Mughal and Indian-inspired artworks seize the grandeur of The Chedi Katara, alongside elegant hung tapestries of Ottoman affect. A big window turns into a transformative shifting canvas framing the close by sea, reminding visitors of their impending keep in a tranquil oasis. The lounge opens to a balcony which overlooks the primary pool beneath and unblocked views of the seaside.
Few modifications had been made to the property’s grasp plan to leverage on its distinctive location,
Which included its state of affairs on the northern finish of the famed Katara Cultural Village, nestled between the Arabian gulf on one facet and a canal on the opposite, permitting for dual-accessibility to the resort from both inside the village or from Lusail expressway by means of the canal highway. A public promenade within the unique construction was eliminated to let visitors wander alongside palm-lined courtyards and simply entry the non-public seaside to sunbathe. A separate stand-alone signature pier restaurant, Marsa Katara, was constructed for indoor, outside and personal eating, made accessible by an extended jetty journey throughout the azure blue waters.
In tackling Qatar’s difficult local weather, WATG’s architects ensured that the property stays principally enclosed and air-conditioned in its meticulous planning. Glass screens are put in in areas sometimes left open to the weather in temperate situations. Working with the Indian and Mogul design language, the screens had been glazed to look as genuine and near the constructing’s unique architectural particulars, moderately than stand out as one thing visibly overseas.
“We’re thrilled to debut Doha’s new beachfront landmark that can showcase trendy sophistication whereas remaining respectful of the majestic lustre of its Mughal heritage. The Chedi Katara, which is able to deliver GHM’s signature companies and A Fashion to Keep in mind to life, is the last word praise to the Qatari’s palatial way of life,” mentioned Morton Johnston, Basic Supervisor of The Chedi Katara Lodge & Resort.
The Chedi Katara Lodge & Resort is the newest property opening for GHM, including to the group’s robust pipeline of seven tasks in locations like Taiwan, India and Thailand. This contains The Chedi El Gouna, an upcoming beachfront resort slated to open in 2022 on the Crimson Sea in Egypt.
