Ground Floor: Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Armani Residences
Built in collaboration with Emaar Properties and occupying floors nine through 16 of the Burj Dubai the 144 luxury residences range in size from 1,075 square feet to 2,150 square feet.
photos by: Richard Bryant/arcaid.co.uk!
April 1, 2008
When Giorgio Armani launched his Privè (or private) collection of limited-edition clothing, jewelry, fragrance, and home furnishings in spring 2005, his plan was to cosset the affluent client for whom quality and, most importantly, exclusivity, are valued above all else. Now the prolific Italian designer is putting his moniker on a limited number of private residences in Dubai.Built in collaboration with Emaar Properties and occupying floors nine through 16 of the Burj Dubai—a mixed-use tower that, when completed, will be the world’s tallest man-made structure—the 144 luxury residences range in size from 1,075 square feet to 2,150 square feet and are priced from approximately $3 million to $6 million. "The atmosphere I wanted to create with the residences is that of sophisticated elegance through a series of themed ambiences," says Armani, who utilizes a combination of overhead spotlights and freestanding lamps in the spaces. "I want to emphasize the pure shape of an item of furniture, the tactile warmth of a piece of wood, the luxurious softness of a fabric, or the unique appearance of an individual object."
Although each of his residences is being offered as
move-in-ready, Armani insists there is nothing formulaic about his design
approach. "Obviously there will be a consistency across all of the venues," he
says. "Whoever chooses to buy an Armani Residence probably feels close to my
style. But I certainly did not want to create a single template that would
become ubiquitous and diminish the possibility to give each location its own
personality." To that end, the client will be able to choose among different
color palettes and combinations of furniture according to his or her taste.
To further customize each residence, Armani modified some of
the pieces found in his Armani Casa collection with more unusual and precious
materials. "For example, the Danzica coffee table comes with a natural stone
surface, and the Essex armchair is covered with shagreen-embossed leather," he
says. "All the materials are carefully selected to convey a sense of
sophistication and uniqueness, while bearing in mind the need for practicality
at home."
The first Armani Residences are scheduled to open at the Burj Dubai in late 2008. The residences are an adjunct of the Armani Hotel Dubai, also to be located in the tower. Homeowners will have access to the hotel’s amenities, which will include a concierge, business center, library, spa, gym, and swimming pool, as well as housekeeping and 24-hour room service. A second Armani-branded hotel is scheduled to open in Milan in 2010, and the first Armani Resort will open in Marrakech the following year. "The agreement with Emaar Properties foresees the opening of at least seven luxury hotels in the most prestigious urban sites worldwide," says Armani. "We also plan to create luxury Armani Residences connected to each hotel, or even independently, if there is a suitable location."