Dubai's latest landmark opened in February, right next to the World Trade Centre, proclaiming itself to be the city's first urban vertical resort. We think it is an architectural masterpiece. Spread across 530,000 square metres, One Za'abeel boasts dining, retail spaces, professional workspaces and two Kerzner hotels: One&Only's first urban resort and Siro, a new fitness- and wellness-focussed brand.
One Za'abeel was designed by Japan's Nikken Sekkei as two adjacent towers that, together, support a horizontal bridge section forming the world's longest cantilever, floating a hundred metres above ground level. According to its engineer, WSP, the two skyscrapers were built with a slight lean, so that when the Link was welded into place its additional weight gradually returned the towers to a straight, upright position.
This magical balancing act hides some impressive volumes, with one tower measuring 305 metres in height, the other 235 metres and the horizontal section, named The Link, running 205 metres long. In the absence of a beach and other water-based activities, The Link serves as the billion-dollar project's playground, with eight restaurants and the UAE's longest infinity pool, measuring 120 metres in length.
The 229 rooms at the One&Only were designed by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy, of Aman acclaim, while Siro's 122 rooms were designed by LW Design Group, the studio behind The Dubai Edition. We can't wait to go.
