Club Couture

When two luxury brands at the top of their respective fields collaborate, the elusive result is almost guaranteed to elicit envy and coax the aspiration out of all of us. When Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi announced its intention to host the Embassy nightclub's first franchise outside of its glamorous London base the expectations were high, and the interior scheme by Dubai-based design firm Estique Interiors does not disappoint.

The finishing adornments are currently being put to the ambitious scheme ready for its official launch at the end of this month. After winning the interior design contract a complex process of client negotiations ensued, presumably made all the more interesting by having two high-profile clients to impress. Managing partner, Estique, Ellen Sohoel explains: "Having three very important clients Glitterati, Emirates Palace and The Embassy London meant a certain amount of time was spent getting approval from all parties at each design stage. Our brief was based more on the feelings the clients wanted to evoke rather than specific details they wanted us to include. We knew that the design had to be very elegant and befitting such an exclusive club, but apart from that we were given a relatively free hand - a designer's dream."

The private members-club mentality is a surprisingly new addition to the Emirates night scene, but a concept that is anticipated to catch on very quickly with the region's glitterati and society movers. Sohoel comments: "Abu Dhabi is a very smart choice for Embassy to launch in, the city is entering the celebrity radar; it is the UAE's capital and its reputation and status is set to soar, so we knew we had to create something special."

In terms of the design concept, the club is essentially a roll-out, with the same trademarks of its London sibling, with the same chairs used, the same colour curtains, but this design is definitely more extravagant. Sohoel says: "We had to adjust the designs to the local market, and it had to befit the opulence of Emirates Palace too. The style is classical and inspired by traditional British tailoring and Italian elegance. It's designed to be a journey back to the history and heritage of the classical style - elegant and sophisticated but with a modern twist." Estique expressed this by using the glamorous hues of purple, burgundy and black, opting for details and materials in gold, aged silver, marble, dark woods and weather-beaten leather to evoke lavishness and decadence, teamed with glass crystals, dark colours, antiques and sultry focus lighting concepts.

The first design Estique submitted was more futuristic with an abundance of glass. This design was adapted when Norwegian lead designer Julie Johnsen joined the team, and the scheme was made warmer and more subtly luxurious. Johnsen explains: "The first designs just didn't capture the exclusivity of the club and so we set about making changes and specifying materials that would reflect the wealth and status of the members."

The site of the club is on the ground floor of the hotel, covering a total of 940m², including the kitchen and the back of house areas. Johnsen says: "The area was very long and narrow so it was difficult to achieve the maximum number of covers. There are also three large columns in the centre of the space so dividing it up was a real challenge. We worked on the floor plan for a very long time!"

Estique separated the areas into a restaurant, which can accommodate 86 diners inside and outside; a bar; a dance area; a VIP area and a completely private VVIP area with a separate entrance. "Having a VVIP area was important to the client, and this area has one way mirrored glass so the guests inside are ensured maximum privacy. The materials we chose for this area reflect the sense of exclusivity as well," Johnsen says. The lighting is by Murano and Estique custom-designed an elegant sofa with an intricately shaped backrest covered in golden artificial leather upholstery. Glitzy Roselle wallpaper complements a tented fabric dome effect on the ceiling.

In the rest of the club the walls are mainly covered with different wallpapers. One is Moroccan-esque with large swirling patterns; another paper is by Cole & Son, which is a sumptuous cream velvet patterned design. A glittering wallpaper by Roselle was also imported for extra shimmer and glass bauble wallpaper reminiscent of the coverings produced by Maya Romanoff adorns another wall for additional impact.

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