GM Architects has won the contract to design the interior of the Jumeirah Al Sahel Resort & Spa in Bahrain. The Lebanon-based firm will work on the five-star property with DSA Architects.

The resort is being designed to offer a retreat-style stay for local and foreign visitors and is set to open by the end of 2019. It will feature rooms and villas for accommodation and a variety of entertainment options including family restaurants, a cinema, a teen room, kids club, conference centres, a juice bar, several bars and lounges and spa facilities.

“The new face of the hotel is deeply rooted in local traditions and lifestyle, and embedded with a vision of modern luxury. The design by GM Architects is a representation of the journey taken by pearl traders for millennia beginning in the heart of the city, a place of cultural exchange and lively interactions, to Bahrain’s shores, scattered with fishing huts and where life is intertwined with the sea, and finally on to the vast ocean on board a traditional boat or ‘Banoosh’ in search of pearls and new worlds,” said a company spokesperson.

According to a note from the firm, the architects’ main goal was to create a unique destination through a holistic approach, which keeps in close contact with the local culture, while assuring a relaxing and luxurious environment in line with the high standards of the Jumeirah hotels.

Speaking about the design of the lobby, private rooms, ballrooms and the business centre, GM Architects said it was influenced by the surrounding city. Additionally, the firm notes it added details around the hotel that are inspired by the local arts and crafts, such as the hanging glass installation, as well as the aesthetic of weaving grass native to the area.