Close-up inside the hotel dubbed “the most luxurious” of the super-rich: Where Beyonce solo $200 мιllιon
The $2.4 bιℓℓιоn luxury hotel in Dubai (together with its 17 restaurants and bars). The opulent new Atlantis The Royal deviates from the norm in numerous ways.
The Kerzner International hotel chain’s 406,000 square meter structure is remarkable from every viewpoint. It defies the monolithic convention for megastructures by being made out of a succession of slightly curved and stacked blocks that step down from the left and right to a 1350-meter “sky bridge” that spans the center. Together, the blocks form a straightforward repeating shape with spaces (referred to as “sky courts”) in between that allow wind and sunshine to pass through. This design was influenced by Mozarabic architecture and the arches of a Roman bridge.
795 rooms, suites, and penthouses are located in three “towers,” the tallest of which is 43 stories, and are accessible by elevator from three lobbies spread along the building’s half-kilometer length. And below, in beautiful gardens lined with date palms, shimmering pools sparkle.
In 2016, convincing the Kohn Pedersen Fox architects to take on the project required some cajoling. According to KPF president and design principle Von Klemperer, the first time the renowned firm designed something for Sol Kerzner, the pugilistic founder of Kerzner International, it was difficult enough.
