Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
The Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, is the palatial landmark and luxurious hotel destination for the Northern Emirate. Inspired by the palaces of the Arabian Peninsular, the Waldorf offers 364 keys, 350m of beachfront and a multitude of dining, entertainment, conference and spa facilities.
dpa were tasked with designing the lighting for all public front of house and guest areas. Together with the creative talents of interior designers HBA, we undertook the transformation of one of the largest hospitality projects in the region into the 5 star quality environment that the Client expected.
Upon entering the hotel, the guests encounter large voluminous spaces, high ceilings, open atriums, views to balconies and upper levels. The challenge in lighting the public spaces was balancing the hierarchy of views and interior elements whilst retaining an interesting and comfortable perspective for the guest. Of equal importance, because of the large areas involved, was keeping energy consumption and maintenance to a minimum. This was achieved by placing emphasis on focal points and layering the lighting elements whilst utilising LED light fixtures with very good colour and dimming properties.
Each of the F&B outlets, conference facilities and extensive spa, has its own interior identity, and the lighting design and implantation was tailored for each space. As with the public areas, the guestrooms and suites are of a high level of finishing and materials. The lighting needed to be integrated and concealed as much as possible so as to not detract from the guest experience, but also to be easily maintainable and standardised as much as much as possible to ensure longevity to the appearance of the hotel.
Client: RAK Properties
Interior Designer: HBA