Positioned on the outer ring of Palm Jumeirah, the W Hotel and neighboring residential towers celebrate the contrasting views to the city’s urban skyline in one direction… and to the infinite sea horizon in the other. These contrasting views droves the form and texture of design elements throughout the property, exemplified by the juxtaposition of geometric shapes and manufactured materials against sinuous, organic curves and softer treatments.
The design team’s goals included establishing a “flirty, not sexy” identity that responded to gridded and organic forms. Experiential zones are focused at the intersection of these opposing notions. The expansive pool deck features a city-inspired pool and “party zone,” populated with cabanas reminiscent of buildings arranged on a city grid and oriented toward the incredible Dubai skyline. Adjacent to this pool, a series of sinuous, cascading pools transport visitors optically and physically down to the beach, where the two concepts converge in a stunning beach with a celebratory atmosphere.
The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou
Blending Suzhou’s traditional artistry and craftsmanship with contemporary luxury, The Ritz-Carlton opened its first location in the city in early 2025 at the heart of the Suzhou Huamao Gu Su Li Mixed-Use Development. At ground level, the landscape design strikes a balance between refinement and function. A multi-use drop-off plaza sets a serene tone, anchored...
Virgin Hotel Dallas
The Virgin Hotel Dallas is a boutique hotel appropriately set within the city’s design district, carrying forward Virgin’s high standards of distinctive, comfortable luxury programs and experiences for guests. SWA worked with the architecture and interior design team to propose a modern spin on an urban hotel constrained by an extremely small site. Fronting H...
Grand Mansion Hotel
The Grand Mansion Hotel sits atop a historical museum on the site of a former palace, the ruins of which have been preserved and are now an extension of the main museum exhibit, with parts that can be seen across the street. The overall design concept was to reinterpret a traditional leisure garden featuring Japanese cherry, bamboo, and maple trees, and the gr...
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo
Known for mountainous tropical landscapes where the Sierra Madre range meets the Pacific, the Jalisco coastline is one of Mexico’s preeminent ecotourism destinations, home to the UNESCO-designated Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve and vast marine sanctuaries. Carefully sited for minimum ecological disturbance, the new Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo centers con...