PEOPLE
In an exclusive conversation with MuzwAa, the general manager and owner of Istanbul-based furniture manufacturer Parla talks about crafting bespoke furniture for Kerzner International’s latest hospitality offerings in the Emirati city.
By Irene Joseph Chiramel
5 August 2024
One Za’abeel is Dubai’s newest landmark with the world’s longest cantilever building | Image Courtesy of One Za’abeel
Designed by Japanese architectural firm Nikken Sekkei, One Za’abeel is one of Dubai’s newest landmarks. The mixed-use development, which comprises two towers that rise to 68 and 59 storeys, sits at a strategic position in the heart of the city — a gateway to the Emirati hub’s new business districts. But it is the horizontal structure called The Link, a sky bridge that connects the two towers over a live highway, that has this project in the news for it has been crowned the world’s longest cantilever building.
Housing premium A-grade offices, luxury hotels, residences, restaurants, bars, and commercial facilities, One Za’abeel offers a plethora of live, work, and leisure experiences. Among the hospitality highlights are SIRO and One&Only, the latest offerings from global hotel group Kerzner International. While the former is designed to offer a paradigm-shifting guest experience with its focus on holistic well-being and fitness, the latter is the group’s first vertical “urban retreat” that harmonizes with its context.
One&Only brings to Dubai Kerzner International’s first vertical urban retreat | Image Courtesy of Parla
Istanbul-based furniture designer and manufacturer Parla, an AarHuss Global strategic partner, collaborated on these two luxury properties with designers LW Design Group and Belgian creative Jean-Michel Gathy to bring their design visions to reality. In an exclusive conversation with MuzwAa reporter Irene Joseph Chiramel, the company’s general manager and owner Burak Öztunçman talks about the intricacies of working on the two projects, each with its unique design language, and how the Parla team was able to shape unique solutions for both.
Burak Öztunçman, General Manager and Owner of Parla | Image Courtesy of Parla
Irene Joseph Chiramel: How were you brought on board these two projects and what was the collaboration experience like for you and the Parla team?
Burak Öztunçman: Let me start with One&Only One Za’abeel, which is Dubai’s first vertical urban resort. The project marks the first time the luxury brand has opened in a tower rather than a traditional low-rise resort setting. The Dubai-based LW Design Group, renowned for their focus on eclectic details and sensory experiences, introduced us to the project. They presented a myriad of design briefs for different spaces, which provided us with an opportunity to demonstrate our comprehensive service and expertise.
Parla incorporated vernacular handcrafting techniques to create intricately carved wooden pieces for the Andaliman restaurant | Image Courtesy of Parla
IJC: So which spaces have you worked on at One&Only One Za’abeel and how was your design approach different for each of them?
BÖ: We were tasked to work on pieces for three restaurants — Andaliman, Street XO, and Tapasake — as well as the entrance lobby. Whilst the hotel is promoted as an urban retreat, the
interior design is geared toward making patrons feel at home so the furniture had to be fun and playful, while being state of the art. This brief helped us push our boundaries in the areas of design, product development and craftsmanship.
For instance, for the Balinese-themed Andaliman Restaurant, we incorporated vernacular handcrafting techniques to create intricately carved wooden pieces, hand-painted solid wood consoles and dining tables, and leather-woven seating.
The dining tables at Street XO combine metal with concrete | Image Courtesy of Parla
But the vision for Street XO, which is by Michelin Star chef Daviz Munoz, is very different. Just like the vibrant personality of Munoz, the global street food restaurant is peppy and urban, embodying the essence of street culture through a carefully curated selection of design elements, materials, and furniture pieces. So we designed the dining tables by combining concrete with metal to create a sense of play and tactility. The Venus XL dining chair from our collection was customized to fit the design theme by incorporating woven backs. And metal swing seatings were upholstered in high-quality leather, with the precision of patterned fabrics, ensuring that they matched at the seams.
The Venus XL dining chair from Parla’s collection, which was customized for Street XO | Image Courtesy of Parla
IJC: And how about the Tapasake restaurant? Can you tell us how the design elements enhance the dining experience there?
BÖ: Perched atop The Link, Tapasake is a Japanese Peruvian restaurant and day club drawing from a Nikkei-inspired ceviche venue that resembles a top-of-the-range luxury yacht. Comfortable lounge-style seating was to be prioritized to enjoy the skyline and dreamy sunsets. So we designed outdoor rocking chairs in solid iroko wood — a type of African teak — and PVD gold coating to enhance the atmosphere.
Parla designed outdoor rocking chairs in solid iroko wood for Tapasake restaurant | Image Courtesy of Parla
IJC: Now let’s talk about SIRO. It brings such a novel spin on hospitality to life, doesn’t it?
BÖ: Definitely. SIRO is a new brand from Kerzner and it seeks to change the narrative on fitness and wellness with the idea of biohacking at its core. One can enjoy an all-encompassing experience with opportunities to take part in activities such as HIIT, pilates, yoga, compression therapy, cryotherapy, dry needling and IV therapy.
Jean-Michel Gathy, the interior designer behind the One&Only resorts in Maldives and Montenegro, and the Aman properties in Venice and New York, created the design concept for the hotel. Inspired by its name, which refers to “white sand,” the design evokes the dunescapes of the region with a subtle visual palette incorporating sand motifs in textiles, artworks, and sculptural lighting. This is what really excited us at Parla. Whilst we thrive on the global reach of our services and products, to be part of a vision that respects local landscapes, cultures and communities felt very
close to our hearts.
SIRO’s design embraces a palette of black, white, and neutral tones | Image Courtesy of Parla
IJC: How did you tailor the furniture design to align with this unique concept and offering?
BÖ: Embracing a palette of black, white, and neutral tones, the overall design scheme exudes a sense of balance and harmony. Guided by LW Design Group, we set out to craft furniture and design elements that adhered to their vision of combining functionality with a sense of uniqueness. All case goods and loose furniture for the bedrooms and public areas of the luxury hotel were designed to align with the Kerzner’s commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable, and memorable guest experiences.
Parla designed all case goods and loose furniture for the bedrooms at SIRO, combining functionality and uniqueness | Image Courtesy of Parla
IJC: Did you face any challenges while working on these projects?
BÖ: At Parla, we thrive on challenges! Having previously worked on some very prestigious and diverse projects across the globe, such as the Grand Hotel Birmingham, the Nobu Hotels in Istanbul and London Shoreditch, and the Hutong Restaurant in New York, we will cherish the experiences at One Za’abeel particularly for the research and development opportunities they provided.
While working on SIRO, it was essential to ensure the furniture not only met the overall design scheme but also aligned with brand values. At One&Only on the other hand, each design brief was different, from traditional to modern, from creating a Balinese family-style restaurant with hand-crafted wood pieces to developing an urban look for Street XO, which required a versatile design approach right from conceptualization to execution. So we learned a lot and we’re very excited to build on our experiences and apply these insights to our next project with SIRO at Boka Place in Montenegro, elevating our creativity and expertise to greater heights.
