Zaha Hadid-designed hotel opens in Dubai

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Dubai’s hotels are among the most luxurious and extravagant in the world. But there’s one that’s about to set itself apart from all others in the Emirate.

ME by Melia, which receives its first guests Sunday March 1, will be the first and only in the global city to be designed by the late, world-famous architect, Zaha Hadid.

Designed by Zaha Hadid, The Opus, will house the first "ME by Melia" hotel in Dubai

Almost four years after her passing, Hadid is set to make her mark on the city as a boutique hotel within The Opus prepares to throw open its doors.

The Opus was first proposed back in 2007 as a commercial and retail development. Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) say the building is designed as two separate towers that merge into a singular whole taking the form of a cube. The two towers are linked by a four-story atrium at ground level and by an asymmetric three-story bridge that is 71 meters above the ground. The hollowed-out core allows those in the center of the building to have views of the outside world.

The Opus will house a variety of residences and a design hotel operated by hotelier group ME by Melia Hotels International

The cube’s interior is “carved” out to create a central void, in a similar way that won acclaim for her firm for the Morpheaus Hotel in Macau.

Nicknamed the “Queen of the Curve,” Zaha Hadid transformed skylines around the world with her bold, fluid designs, including London’s Olympic aquatics center and the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan.

Galaxy SOHO, China —

A modern Beijing landmark, Galaxy SOHO offers an example of Hadid's signature curves. They flow down from the building's four towers to a subterranean courtyard that was inspired by traditional Chinese architecture.

Port House, Belgium —

The only government building Hadid built, this structure serves as the Antwerp Port Authority's head office. A nearby square was renamed Zaha Hadidplein in honor of the late architect.

Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan —

One of the most recognizable buildings in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, the Heydar Aliyev Center is typical of Hadid's flowing architectural style.

Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan —

Featuring an 1000-seat auditorium, a museum and a number of other cultural facilities, the structure was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival's World Building of the Year award in 2013.

Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan —

Named after former president, Heydar Aliyev, the building was the source of significant controversy for Hadid, due to criticisms of Azerbaijan's human rights record.

Investcorp Building, UK —

Completed the year before Hadid's death, The Investcorp Building forms part of St Antony's College at the University of Oxford. Part-funded by Hadid's brother, Foulath Hadid, the facility is dedicated to Middle Eastern studies.

Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, Lebanon —

After launching a design competition, The American University of Beirut chose Zaha Hadid's proposal for its new Issam Fares Institute building. Completed in 2014, the facility features a 100-seat auditorium and a group of smaller rooms that appear to "float" above the main exterior courtyard.

Jockey Club Innovation Tower, Hong Kong —

Built for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this 15-story tower can accommodate 1,800 students and staff.

1000 Museum, United States —

Despite its name, the 1000 Museum in Miami is actually a 66-story residential complex due to open next year. The building features a curved concrete exoskeleton and large glass panels designed to glisten in the Florida sun.

CMA CGM Tower, France —

Part of a huge regeneration project in Marseille, the structure comprises both a 482-foot tower and an adjoining annex. Completed in 2011, this was Zaha Hadid Architects' first built tower.

d'Leedon, Singapore —

Completed in 2014, d'Leedon is a sprawling complex consisting of seven residential towers and 12 semi-detached villas.

Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, USA —

More angular than many of Hadid's creations, the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum is a contemporary art gallery at Michigan State University. The building's eye-catching facade is made from pleated stainless steel and glass.

Port House, Belgium —

The building's 2,000 triangular glass panels nod to Antwerp's history as a diamond trading city.

Port House, Belgium —

Hadid insisted on retaining the site's original building, a disused fire station.

London Aquatics Centre, UK —

One of Hadid's best-known buildings, the London Aquatics Centre was created for the 2012 Olympic Games, and has since been modified for public use. Its undulating form was inspired by the movement of water.

Dominion Office Building, Russia —

Completed in 2015, the Dominion Office Building can be found in Moscow's Sharikopodshipnikovskaya Street. Signature curves soften the edges of the building's vertically stacked layers.

Dominion Office Building, Russia —

A central atrium rises through the center of the building, with interconnected staircases joining the indoor balconies. Natural light floods in from the glass roof.

Through a series of drawings and photographs, the new book "Zaha Hadid Architects: Redefining Architecture and Design," highlights some of the Iraqi-British architect's most memorable creations.

How architecture's 'Queen of the Curve' redefined our cities

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Mahdi Amjad, executive chairman and CEO of Omniyat, the developer of The Opus, said: “The design conveys the remarkably inventive quality of ZHA’s work; expressing a sculptural sensibility that reinvents the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior.”

Zaha Hadid's 'carved' Opus

The interior designs for the hotel were also personally overseen by Hadid. “You always expect to be surprised by ZHA’s designs, but the Opus for ‘ME by Melia’ Dubai goes beyond what we could ever have anticipated,” said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO, Melia Hotels International.

The ME Dubai enters a crowded and competitive market. Dubai is known for its iconic Burj al Arab, the world’s tallest hotel and spectacular developments on its Palm Jumeriah islands. Situated in Downtown Dubai,The Opus sits near to theBurj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Dubai Mall and close to the city’s Jumeirah beach.

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The Opus is one of four projects by Zaha Hadid Architects that were shortlisted for the 2019 World Architecture Festival Awards. It is the only project directly touched by Zaha Hadid to be fully realized in Dubai. The iconic architect developed designs for the interlocking Signature Towers as well as the Dubai Opera House, however these projects were never realized.