New ‘Atlantis The Royal’ Is Geometric Sight With Blocks Stacked Atop One Another

Situated on Palm Jumeirah, better known as Palm Island, is Atlantis The Royal—the latest luxury outfit to open its doors on the sandy beaches of Dubai. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) Architects, the building directly faces the Persian Gulf, promising stunning views from within.

Housing nearly 800 guest rooms and over 200 private homes, the vast structure appears as a geometric marvel at first glance, with “boxes” stacked atop one another to form an eye-catching silhouette on the city’s iconic skyline.

Tim Kelly, Managing Director at Atlantis The Dubai, told Robb Report the newly-opened hotel wants to welcome guests with an entirely new experience—and what better way than with architecture that “sets this up masterfully.”

KPF, which designed both the old and new Atlantis structures, chose to link the structure’s six towers with a 300-foot central sky bridge, in an attempt to “dream big” and focus on “grand ideas” in order to create a unique and iconic building.

Within each of the blocks that form the hotel are cut-out openings that add depth and intrigue to the hotel’s façade, allowing light to shine out from within so the entire building appears illuminated once the sun sets.

Kerzner International, the company managing Atlantis, said the design was inspired by the classic arches and arcades of Roman aqueducts. Unlike other hotels, the structure doesn’t have an obvious front or back, making it a special multi-directional building.

In fact, the way the hotel—which required 1.6 million square feet of marble and 7.8 million cubic feet of concrete to build—can be viewed from both angles could be interpreted as a subtle reference to the screens seen in mosques and Islamic architecture.

Constructing the sky bridge was a feat in itself, as it needed to be lifted into position at 20 feet per hour using eight hydraulic jacks. Well worth it, as guests can now enjoy dramatic views of the Gulf while lounging at pools, event spaces, and restaurants that dot the bridge.

Check out more images of the incredible architectural project below.

[via Robb Report and Condé Nast Traveler, images via Atlantis The Royal (For editorial use)]