EMIRATES PALACE ABU DHABI

Tom designed the Emirates Palace from the beginning, while he was Managing Director of WATG in London., and negotiated a full consultancy service in alliance with engineers KEO from Kuwait, for the project delivery. The design evolved originally from a set of three projects into one integrated palace project. The brief was to create a base in Abu Dhabi for the revolving Gulf Cooperative Council Summit. The design places the council chamber at the heart of the development with an iconic atrium above it linking the 8 luxury suites for the rulers of the Gulf states. Each suite has its own access and links directly to the council chamber, while the main conference and theatre are connected with separate circulation to the luxury hotel. The hotel is managed by Kempinski and fronts a 500m beach. The red stone is symbolic of the colours at Al Ain, the home town of the ruling family and the building sits on a dramatic urban axis.