OBMI, the leading international architectural design and consulting firm specializing in master planning, hotel, and resort design, announced its appointment as lead architects for The Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Palm Hills in Egypt. As principal designers, the company revealed the final design concept of the 160-room luxury hotel, featuring magnificent uninterrupted views of the great pyramids of Giza.
True to OBMI’s signature approach to sustainable design, the firm’s architects drew inspiration from Egypt’s rich heritage and cultural influences, to create a modern resort capturing the region’s mystical aura and unique architecture. Regarding the firm’s design program, OBMI’s CEO Doug Kulig, expressed, “It is our privilege to lead such a remarkable project in one of the world’s most iconic destinations. Egypt offers a perfect canvas for us to create a timeless yet contemporary resort that greatly incorporates regional materials and historic traditions. Our holistic approach reflects the principles of sustainability as well as our dedication and attention to the sensitivity of local customs.”
According to Kulig, OBMI’s vision will be felt throughout various architectural elements such as the hotel’s metal columns, designed to resemble the structural elegance of the papyrus plant, and the introduction of various water systems, inspired by ancient irrigation canals settled along the famous Nile Basin. Reinterpreting the aesthetic of the Egyptian architecture, the firm included different courtyards and semi-enclosed outdoor spaces positioned in sequence, designed to provide guests with a sense of intrigue as they explore the resort’s multiple passages.
OBMI’s design also calls for accommodations with views of the Egyptian skyline and a 1,390-square-meter spa, in addition to a Golf Club House. Exclusive privileges at the signature Golf Club will include concierge service, meeting rooms with elegant dining rooms, lobby lounge, poolside grill, and two specialty restaurants featuring exquisite menus and stylish interiors.
Set to open in 2012, the hotel will also include a state-of-the-art 840-square-meter grand ballroom, a junior ballroom and a boardroom for conferences and receptions. Additional hotel features include two swimming pools, a health club, and a shisha terrace.