Moorish details

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Unique accessories provide authenticity to the design.

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Wilson’s sketch of the Imperial Suite lounge.

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The bathroom has a double sink and a large bathtub in line with current residential trends.

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The bathroom has a double sink and a large bathtub in line with current residential trends.

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Muted tones in the Deluxe Suite.

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Pale powder blue is used as an accent colour in the soft furnishings.

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Moroccan-style glass lamps add colour and interest to a sideboard.

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The suites have interesting spatial layouts with the three Royal Suites all having circular balconies and a designated office section situated off the lounge. This study area has custom-made lighting in a Moroccan style from Fine Art Lamps sourced from the US by Four Seasons Gallery, Dubai. In addition, the art and accessories in this office space have been deliberately chosen for their masculine attributes. The original art is again supplied by the Four Seasons Gallery.

All the furniture items in the suites are custom-made, mainly using medium to dark walnut veneers, some with Arabic patterns inlaid into the wood. Accessories and artifacts that were bought on visits to Morocco complemented the furniture. Campbell says: "We wanted to retain a level of authenticity in the design and so having original Moroccan pieces was vital."

Campbell's favourite part of the suite design is also one of the most authentic - the mushrabiya screens. "All the patterns on the carved screens are based on historical designs from a museum book we have in our resource library. We then made them from cherry wood that is dark stained to look like medium-dark walnut. Cherry is a very hard wood but easy to get fine carving out of." The screens are then backlit with energy-saving bulbs, which emits less heat than ordinary bulbs, making them ideal for use in this climate.

The Imperial Suite is yet to be handed over to the client, as the finishing touches are still being sourced and placed. The huge suite encompasses two floors, and the division of space was decided by the architect, to allow the greatest flexibility as it can be used as one big four bedroom suite, with two lounges and dining areas, or divided into two, or even four separate suites. Two staircases with intricately carved spindles flank the entrance foyer. Campbell says: "We originally had an ancient Arabic ironmongery pattern on the staircase but we substituted it for a design that could be produced locally. It evolved into a West meets Middle East intricate Arabic pattern in cast iron."

The suite is filled with unique one-off pieces, such as the door surround in the foyer, which is a period design dating from 1890's Georgian England. On the left side of the entrance there is a genuine antique door that would normally be entered from a side door of a Moroccan hammam.

On the top floor of the suite is a striking sideboard sourced by Four Seasons Gallery, which has five woods inlaid into it: Cherry, maple, walnut, oak and teak, with very intricate marquetry on the front. Moroccan inlaid boxes with detailed woodwork are dotted around the suite as well.

In the entrance area the ceiling is a hand-painted pattern in gold, silver and pewter leaf, while some of the walls are cleverly used to increase volume and depth by mirrors substituting wallpaper in the lower half of the wall. The lighting is based on a handcrafted Wilsons design and made by Preciosa in an antique nickel that will be applied by hand and adorned with delicate silk lampshades. The curtains are made from commercial silk and the sofa fabric is an opulent mohair/wool mix, both sourced from TD Fabrics in Singapore. The base colour scheme throughout the suite includes hues of muted gold and copper with accent colours of blue and red to tie in with a Persian feel.

By fusing modern interpretations of Moroccan classics with traditional handicrafts, Wilson Associates has created yet another striking hospitality project in the heart of Dubai's brand new Old Town.

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