10.0.

0 INTRODUCTION - Interior Design of the Public Spaces

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

The purpose of this report is to present the schematic design for the
interior design of The Opera House Down Town, Dubai (OHDD)
public spaces (front of house areas)
which includes the following:
* THE BOX OFFICE ARRIVAL AREA
* THE LOBBIES
* THE BALCONIES
* THE JUICE BARS
* THE RESTROOMS
* THE CIRCULATION AREAS
which will form the basis for further development and coordination
during the next phase of detailed design.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* 10.0.0
Introduction
* 10.1.0
Narrative
* 10.2.0
Mood Boards
* 10.3.0
Key Plans
* 10.4.0
Rendered Plans
* 10.5.0
Interior Sections
* 10.6.0
Visuals
* 10.7.0
Box Office Details
* 10.8.0
Interior Details
* 10.9.0
FF&E
* 10.10.0
Finishes Board
* 10.11.0
Restrooms
* 10.12.0
Artwork & Sculpture Philosophy

10.1.0 NARRATIVE
The design inspiration for the Opera House Down Town Dubai is to
create an interior that is embedded in the culture and history of the
city and one that celebrates the unbreakable link to the sea,
sailors and merchants who brought wealth and prosperity to the city.
The sea, the creek and the Dhow are ever present reminders of
Dubais maritime past.
We have added another layer to the interior design concept which
is inspired by the traditional pearl divers of the region, allowing us
to take the opulence and pure form of the pearl to add glamour and
style which enhances the theatrical theme.
The elements chosen as a source for the interior architectural
themes are as follows:
The Sea
The Dhow
The Kamal
The Pearl

- fluidity of water, shimmer, reflection,

- rich warm woods, tradition, craftsmanship
- navigation, horizon, star constellations
- precious, rare, timeless

The combination of these elements will be used as a metaphor to

celebrate Dubais cultural past and will provide a constant reference
throughout the interior spaces.
There are many layers that can be extracted from these elements,
from the rich timber clad hull of the Dhow which acts as a dramatic
backdrop to the iridescent finishes of the architectural screening
features seen at the escalators that undulates upwards through the
vertical space leading the eye up to the vast 30m high atrium.
Suspended within this atrium is a shimmering, reflective light installation. This impressive light feature is inspired by the movement of
shoals of fish darting through the water.

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.2.0 MOOD - local dhow building trade

10.2.1 MOOD - inspired by the local pearl diving industry

HISTORY - PEARL DIVING TRADITION
For hundreds of years, the finest pearls in the world were found
in the waters of the Arabian Gulf. The ancient pearling industry
provided the only real income for the people of what is now the
UAE. The land was too barren to allow any farming and the people were generally too concerned with finding water, food and
other provisions to consider trying to make money. The barter
system was their way of trading.
A few families would leave the nomadic desert lifestyle and
settle on the coast to fish.
To gather enough oysters to make a living, however, required a
huge communal effort, as well as people who were able to dive
to depths of around 40 metres without equipment, in order to
access the offshore oyster beds.
In response to the increased demand for pearls, many more
families settled permanently in the coastal villages which began
to grow in importance and influence, making Dubai the city it is
today.

The ancient pearling industry provided our inspiration for the interior design concept direction.
The rich timbers of the auditorium facade depict
the traditional sailing vessel, The Dhow.
To compliment the masculine rugged nature of
the Dhow, delicate features, reflective, iridescent,
mother of pearl finishes, handcrafted pieces
provide not only an interesting contrast but
beautifully complete the interior spaces.

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.2.2 MOOD - elegant & opulent

10.2.3 MOOD - pearl divers and their tools

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.2.4 MOOD - fishing nets inspire ID forms & finishes

10.2.5 MOOD - inspired by traditional means of navigation

Navigational Tools - the traditional Kamal / astrolabe / compass / star constellations

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.2.6 MOOD - the play of light on water

10.2.7 MOOD - fluidity of water

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.2.8 MOOD - movement of shoals of fish

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10.2.9 MOOD - iridescent & reflective

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.3.0 KEY PLAN - Stage Level

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10.3.1 KEY PLANS

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.3.2 KEY PLANS

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10.3.3 KEY PLANS

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.4.0 RENDERED PLAN - Promenade Level

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10.4.1 RENDERED PLAN - Lower Balcony Level

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.4.2 RENDERED PLAN - Upper Balcony Level

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10.5.0 SECTION THROUGH MAIN LOBBY AREA

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.5.1 SECTION THROUGH MAIN LOBBY AREA

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10.6.0 PROMENADE LEVEL VISUAL - View 1

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.6.1 PROMENADE LEVEL VISUAL - View 2

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10.6.3 LOWER BALCONY LEVEL VISUAL - View 3

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.6.4 LOWER BALCONY LEVEL - View 4

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10.7.0 BOX OFFICE - plan & rendered elevation

majlis seating

reception desk

media wall

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.7.1 BOX OFFICE - details and ff&e

Majlis Area sculptural pendant lights

inspired by the organic forms of sea coral
striking 3-dimensional artwork floating in an edge lit glass
frame off set from the back wall
coffee & side tables formed from laser cut metal inspired by
fish scales

Reception Area glass box reception desk

organic glass sculptures glowing inside depict the
waves of the ocean
hand blown glass pendant lights, an abstract
reference to floating sea life
an etched glass backdrop depicting the navigational
shipping routes

Ticket Booth Area large media wall for advertising forthcoming

shows acts as a privacy screen to the ticket booths
behind
two full height niches at the back wall house large
commissioned theatrical sculptures

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10.7.2 BOX OFFICE - option 1 & 2 elevations

Box Office Elevation - Option 1 with etched glass to reception backdrop

Box Office Elevation - Option 2 with timber panelled reception backdrop

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.7.3 BOX OFFICE - reception desk details

OPTION 1 - laser cut stainless steel

Box Office Reception Desk OPTION 1 - inspired by sea coral

OPTION 1 - hand blown glass

OPTION 2 - hand sculpted glass

Box Office Reception Desk OPTION 2 - inspired by the movement of waves

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10.7.4 BOX OFFICE - feature lighting details

Reception Desk - pendant light feature inspired by jelly fish

Malilis Seating Area - pendant lights over side tables depict sea coral

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.7.5 BOX OFFICE - interactive media wall

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10.7.6 BOX OFFICE - visual

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.8.0 DETAILS - industrial style escalators

Industrial style escalators to access the lower and upper balcony levels are semi-concealed by an
undulating iridescent metal mesh screen with refective glass pieces suspended between the framing.
During the day the sunlight will play with the reflective glass panels creating interesting light patterns
on the surrounding interior surfaces.
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10.8.1 DETAILS - undulating metal mesh sculptural screen

Screen concept inspired by the traditional local fishermens nets

Metal Mesh Screen lattice framework approx 150mm x 150mm sections

suspended on tensile wire supports to adjacent slabs
with iridescent reflective glass panels inbetween lit with LED lighting

Sketch Elevation & Section of escalators and screen

showing the screen undulating through the slab cut-outs adjacent
to the industrial style escalators

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.8.2 DETAILS - F&B pastry counter concept

F&B counters situated under each escalator on the Promenade Level with the undulating iridescent screen acting as a backdrop
Counter FInishes - alabaster counter top with mother of pearl facade and stainless steel back counter with a cantilevered glass box pastry display at the front
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10.8.3 DETAILS - JUICE BAR

The Juice Bar situated centrally in the interior promenade space is recessed into the
dhow bow creating a jewel box cave like feature with a back drop of etched glass depicting the navigation map lines and the main counter made up of a back lit alabaster top
and a mother of pearl facade

Marble Flooring

Timber wall cladding

Mother of pearl

Navigation route map inspiration

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.8.4 DETAILS - PANORAMIC GLASS LIFTS

panoramic lifts soar up through the interior triple volume atrium maximising the fantastic views
industrial metallic rope detail cladding surrounds each lift core to add depth and texture and to hide the structure
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10.8.5 DETAILS - flooring design inspired by navigation routes

The main flooring with its light grey tones
create a subtle, grounded backdrop to the surrounding interior detailing.
The thin criss-cross lines of water jet inlay bianco
white marble are inspired by the navigational
shipping routes annotated on maps and create an
added layer to visually connect the interior to the
exterior public realm.

astrolabe design metal inlay in marble flooring

at promenade level exit to public realm

light grey marble flooring with bianco marble inlay to depict navigation lines

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.8.6 DETAILS - atrium light feature inspiration

atrium light feature inspiration - sunlight capturing the water droplets of a fishermans net
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10.8.7 DETAILS - atrium light feature concept design 1

The above sketch is a section of the art piece. This design is

meant to connect all visual references of the inspiration in
one harmonious movement of emotion,
form & light

shoals of fish swimmng through water above

sound waves digitally depicted below

Our inspiration for developing this atrium light feature - the poetry of light reflected on the waters surface,
the way in which light captures the ripple effect of water and the undulating shapes of sound wave patterns

10.8.8 DETAILS - atrium light feature concept design option 1

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

a dynamic sculptural form floating above the public areas dropping 20meters through
the interior volume creating movement and excitment

Light feature to have an inner skeletal structure of

laser-cut plexiglass which will then be wrapped in a
hard textile net with clear crystals
The light source is to be a wave effect LED system so
although the light fitting is static it will have the illusion of movement

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10.8.9 DETAILS - atrium light feature concept design option 2 & 3

water droplets on a fishermens net sparkling in the sunlight

inspired by the beauty of movement of a shoal of fish reflecting iridescent light as they
move gracefully through the water

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.8.10 DETAILS - sail features to ceilings

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10.8.11 DETAILS - reflected ceiling concept

CEILING ILLUMINATION
Fluid edge lighting to accentuate the balcony form, pearl
shaped light pockets and projected illumination
referencing the Arabian sea encapsulate the lighting
concept

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.9.0 FF&E - organic & eclectic

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10.9.1 FF&E - sculptural & reflective

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.10.0 FINISHES & FABRIC BOARD

The materials for the public areas are a simple palette of natural stone flooring, rich wood wall cladding, etched glass and satin matt finished metal with an accent of mother of pearl
and crystals, creating a timeless and elegant interior with a hint of glamour and opulence.

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10.11.0 RESTROOM MOOD

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.11.1 RESTROOM PLAN - STAGE LEVEL

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10.11.2 RESTROOM PLAN - PROMENADE LEVEL

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.11.3 RESTROOM PLAN - LOWER BALCONY LEVEL

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10.11.4 RESTROOM PLAN - UPPER BALCONY LEVEL

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.11.5 RESTROOM PLAN - VIP restrooms

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10.11.6 STAGE LEVEL RESTROOM ELEVATION

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.11.7 RESTROOM VISUAL

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10.11.8 RESTROOM FEATURE PENDANT LIGHT FITTING

Restroom feature light inspired by sea

anemones
Made of hand blown glass components of
aqua marine and crystal clear blues
Lit with LEDs

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.12.0 ARTWORK & SCULPTURES

The philosophy behind the artwork & sculptural installations are to relate in an abstract way to the ocean & the opera, creating sculputural 3-dimensional pieces that evoke
interest throughout the interior space

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10.12.1 PUBLIC REALM MOOD - water features

Opera House, Downtown Dubai

10.12.2 PUBLIC REALM MOOD - movement & reflection

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