The design of the recently-opened three-star Rove Hotel at Dubai Parks and Resorts emanates the personality of Rove, the Dubai born-and-bred global lifestyle brand – artsy, cool, and fun – interlacing a world of wonder and thrills as a subtle nod to its adjacent theme parks.

However, the design keeps an overall balance of sophistication and avoids being too thematic.

H2R Design, the award-winning design studio known for creating renowned commercial and hospitality spaces, was responsible for the entire interior design of the hotel including its 579 rooms, public spaces, furniture, lighting and accents over an area of 26,938 sq m.

The hotel caters for both children and adults.

The project was completed in Q2 this year. Shapoorji Pallonji – part of the Indian business conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group – was the contractor.

The brief by the client, Emaar, was to create a space for thrill-seeking ‘rovers’ to enjoy, while being at the heart of the action, says Husain Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design.

“We designed this space with the contemporary generation of travellers in mind and developed ways to keep them connected and engaged. Our aim was to harmoniously bring together four contrasting elements including the bold amusement park themes, UAE’s culturally-inspired surroundings, the need for connectivity and the essentials of hotel stay – tranquility. We achieved that by creating a natural flow from room to room and throughout the public spaces of the property,” he explains.

H2R Design was inspired to create a physical representation of the brand tag ‘explore without borders’ with the free-flowing spaces and playful touches re-defining the Rove experience.

With respect to its location, H2R Design took particular themes from each of the three exciting theme parks and waterpark, and merged them into an eclectic hotel stay experience, taking into consideration the mindset of today’s travellers.

The lobby ... guests are greeted with a ‘Marhaba’ sign in Arabic and a tilted Rove pin drop.

The artwork selected throughout the hotel celebrates the brand ethos linking to the context of location, adding character and voice. In the lobby, guests are greeted with a ‘Marhaba’ sign written in Arabic on the ceiling with lights, and local artist Tarsila Schubert was commissioned to create the lenticular wall artwork at the entrance. The Rove pin drop is tilted, as though it is breaking off, to accentuate the playfulness of the context the hotel is in.

Hand-tufted carpets installed in the reception area symbolise queues at carnival rides while other areas are defined with full immersion colour blocking such as the yellow game room and suitcase lockers.

Hanging rattan lights highlight the higher tables and create zoning within the space. Communal tables have been equipped with internet connections to serve as working stations. Metal Tolix chairs used in all the other Rove properties have also been included, linking to the brand identity.

Fun and quirky elements can be found throughout the hotel including wall pipes, large colourful bubbles, artwork accessories and wall graphics.

Although the hotel accommodates both children and adults, a specific kids’ area was introduced considering the kids who will visit the theme parks. Digital and analogue entertainment were added such as a PlayStation and arcade games, a giant chess board, table tennis and poufs for lounging.

The exposed ceilings, working in tandem with the natural lighting, promotes a feeling of openness.

Timber screening and the decorative pieces strategically placed on the shelves allow the natural lighting from the large windows in the dining area to shine into the lobby. The exposed ceilings working in tandem with the natural lighting promotes a feeling of openness while black painted ceilings and crossing beams contrast against this lightness.

Bi-folding doors have been installed sectioning off the lobby and all-day dining room in order to maintain the interactivity of both spaces.

Hasan Roomi, brother of Husain and also a co-founder of the firm, says the design of the interiors was inspired by the Rove brand’s DNA which is playful, quirky and celebrates all the intricacies of Dubai life. The immediate context of Dubai Parks and Resorts provided an additional layer of inspiration and allowed the creation of a playful hideaway for families visiting the park, he adds.

H2R Design created a colour palette that is a bold interpretation of a vintage carnival embedded with warm timber and grey backgrounds. This design approach was applied to the lobby, central barista counter, lounges, all-day dining area, gym, game room, suitcase lockers, and self-service laundry sections.

However, as playful as it is, the design maintains a sophistication which can be seen throughout the property. Accents and details are bright and cheery yet flow into more relaxing spaces to ensure a comfortable experience. Ensuring the openness of spaces while maintaining a strong flow and connectivity throughout the spaces elevates the guest experience within a theme park-driven context.

Fun and quirky elements can be found throughout the hotel including wall pipes, large colourful bubbles, artwork accessories and wall graphics.

The Roomi brothers described this as a dream project, saying very few challenges were faced in the delivery. Consultants, contractor and client worked together harmoniously to create a shared vision, making it a joy for H2R Design to be a part of this project, they say.

H2R Design is an award-winning London and Dubai based design firm founded by the two young dynamic UK-born brothers with Middle Eastern background. It maintains a diverse commercial portfolio with primary focuses on the hospitality, food and beverage (F&B) and retail sectors.

The brothers have designed some of the most renowned commercial and hospitality spaces across continents, including Tom & Serg, The Sum of Us, Paperfig, Leopolds of London, Alamein Hotel Egypt, Two Café, Symphony, Candylicious, Parkers, Hardee’s, Pizza Express, Cassette, Rose Poudre, Rove Hotel at Dubai Parks and Resorts, Bagel Yard and Asma, in addition to a wide spectrum of other upcoming projects.

Its clients include Emaar Hospitality Group, Emaar Malls, Roya International, Al Abbar Enterprises, Mohamed Al Hilal Group, Emaar Properties, Imkan, Pizza Express, Foodsters and many more.