The Design Director and Partner of Hirsch Bedner Associates in Dubai – David T’Kint – reveals his design collaboration for the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi.

Situated on the waterfront at Al Maryah Island, the FourSeasons Hotel Abu Dhabi presented an idyllic canvas for David T’Kint’s latest design project in the Emirates capital. The luxury property features 200 guestrooms and 38 hotel suites offering picturesque views of the city’s skyline and the Arabian Gulf.

Hirsch Bedner Associates collaborated with five design firms on the inception and development of the hotel’s interiors by selecting and designing custom-made furniture and lighting to create a refined and sophisticated space, while creating a warm and welcoming environment utilising transitional design details inspired by local motifs illustrated in the carpets, walls and furniture of the hotel. Guestrooms and public areas featured contemporary accessories with touches of gold and white, adding an element of light into the interiors. In addition, the signature Four Seasons motif was presented in the organic, leaf-like designs in the accessory collections.

David describes how the local aesthetics of Abu Dhabi inspired the interior design scheme of the hotel. He states, “Abu Dhabi as a city is much more understated than Dubai, however, that does not mean it is any less interesting. We reflected this in our approach to the Four Seasons, which is layered and sophisticated, albeit not in your face.” He adds, “The geography of Abu Dhabi is also unique, being a collection of islands inclusive of Al Maryah.” The waterfront location of the property presented inspiration for the interiors with multiple colour palettes illustrated in guestrooms with jewel tones in emerald and pale sapphire-accented hues. David says.

As one of the five design firms to work on the project, David describes the highlights and challenges of the collaborative process, “Working on the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi has been a particular adventure for us as designers as we have been brought in relatively late in the process. We developed our work based on existing conditions, which is not the typical way we approach our projects, however working hand-in-hand with the developer and the Four Seasons was truly successful and evident when you see the results.”

Since moving to Dubai in 2014, David has led HBA’s development in the Middle East region. He describes how the local hotel design scene has evolved recently.

He adds, “The mid-tier segment has been experiencing a boom. In order to attract visitors from all over the world, offering a vibrant, fresh design at a reasonable cost has proved to be essential.”