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Congratulations to the architects and designers who have made the region a culinary oasis.
Like the preparation of a fine meal, designing a restaurant is a combination of heart, soul and refined set of skills mastered only after the passage of time. These destinations are revered by locals because they offer a taste of the region – as well as an authentic experience.

When LW design was commissioned to redesign the beloved local French restaurant, Brasserie du Park, they knew it would require a bit of extra care. Their fresh, modern interior needed to maintain the original spirit, as it has long been one of Dubai’s favourite for its high-quality French cuisine.
The brief was to create a modern, Deauville-inspired, French brasserie feeling that would offer an interactive experience between the guests and chefs. It was essential that guests would feel as if they were a part of the lively kitchen activities – particularly in the bakery, live cooking stations and chefs table. And because it offers fare for meals throughout the day, they needed to create a design that was light and airy, yet sophisticated.
LartePaul Bishop’s brief for Larte asked for a showcase that would be a platform for the best of contemporary Italian design, culinary creativity and artistic expression. Located in Dubai’s Design District, the initiative of this venue was a joint venture between Roya Hospitality and the Altagamma foundation – a committee of high end Italian cultural, fashion and design brands from differing sectors that are united by a continuous search of innovation and quality which for 25 years has been bringing together globally recognized ambassadors of Italian style.
Looking to exhibit their brands in a media and product-driven space, it was designed to be a combination of open kitchen, bar, lounge and bistro to offer an all-day dining experience guided by the philosophy of bello, buono e ben fatto’meaning ‘the beautiful, the good and the well-made’.
Seventy SeventyLW Design put a new spin on the an under-utilized mezzanine level at the Park Hyatt Dubai Creek, transforming it into a stand-alone 70’s inspired bar lounge which draws inspirations from the music, fashion & iconic style of the super-glam era.
As guest arrive through smoked glass doors, they enter a world of 70s music, fashion and style. Recessed shelving with curved corners displays transistor radios, gramophone players and framed vinyl—as well as Danish design classics. The menu? Cleverly presented in original 70s album covers.
The Fish HouseLike its cuisine, the design for The Fish House is warm, welcoming and revels in the art of simplicity. The architects had a clear task: to develop and design a licensed boat-to-table restaurant concept that was as special as the individual palettes to which the restaurant caters.
The architects embraced the unique elements of the existing site, including the view of Dubai Creek, the fountain show and 9-meter width terrace while using a cool palette and contemporary furnishings that speak to the nuanced, yet classic, cuisine inspired by inspired by local heritage.
The result is a restaurant with an abundance of character (rather than cliches) that’s very much at at home in within the 5-star luxury of the InterContinental Hotel Group.
View the complete list of this year’s shortlisted projects here.

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