Hospitality Design - December 2013 - 83

3. The Gardens of
Versailles were a huge
source of inspiration for
the Sofitel.

4. Traditional Arabic
patterns make a
statement through
backlit screens at the
Doubletree Makkah.

automated collection system and station,
greywater treatment plant, and power station."
"This hotel complex dwarfs any development
on the planet today," says Abdul Suleman,
president and CEO of Equinox Hospitality, who
evaluated, recommended, and negotiated the
brands and operators for each hotel, as well
as identified design firms, purchasing agents,
and other consultants for the project. "When
completed and fully operational [it's being built
in phases], the JODC development will provide
lodging for an estimated 60,000 people daily and
some 15 million people annually."

Challenges and Opportunities

Any project comes with its challenges, and
this is one is no different. First and foremost
is the limited site. According to Baha, work
can't be done during the high seasons because
of overcrowding and traffic; there are only two
access roads, so coordinating the 250-300 trucks
that need to deliver materials and move waste
daily is a careful orchestration (one solution:
building various needed facilities onsite);
and construction of the hotels is happening
simultaneously with the execution of the
infrastructure, as well as rock blasting of the
harsh topography.
For the designers, understanding the global

3
Islamic culture of an area that many on the
project team can't visit was a must. For instance,
the buildings were designed to maximize
hotel rooms' and public areas' exposure to the
Holy Mosque. "Each of the hotel towers are
oriented along radial lines directed towards
the Kaaba, which is located in the epicenter
of the Holy Mosque," explains Larry Traxler,
senior vice president, global design, Hilton
Worldwide, which will manage 30 percent of
the rooms in the development across six hotels.
"This unique masterplanning created some
unique architectural geometry and significant
challenges to our goal of creating functional and
pleasing public areas and guestrooms. When
you layer on top of that the cultural restrictions
prohibiting [in most cases] the orientation of
toilets or the foot of a bed towards the Kaaba,
you can imagine how difficult it was to create
great guestrooms in these hotels."
Since all guests are on the same prayer

schedule throughout the day, the public areas-
especially the restaurants-must be large and
flexible enough to accommodate the influx of
worshippers during high season, and facilities
for the sexes must be segregated. Art depicting
any humans or animals is discouraged, and
artworks, paintings, and patterns are to reflect
the unique spiritual nature of the holy area. As
a religious retreat, connecting rooms and double
and twin bed layouts were common for families
and social groups traveling together, and absent
are bars, spas, or swimming pools.
"Design research is important, but it's
difficult to identify exact nuances about the
area or culture unless you ask many questions
and immerse yourself in the project," explains
Calvin Dix, senior associate of HBA, who is
designing the 657-room Hyatt Regency. "There
were several workshops where all involved
assisted on the orders of Islam."
On the product side, the travel restrictions

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