Hotel The Marquee by ALTER EGO Project Group

Category: Best Luxury Hotel Architecture for Hotel The Marquee in Saudi Arabia 

Under the Arabian sun and the starry desert sky lies the snow-white pavilions of the Marquee Hotel. A retreat that feels as though it is situated somewhere between the past and the future, the ultra-modern seven-star boutique hotel with 40 villas is a truly luxurious oasis.  

The concept of the architecture was based on the marquee pavilion used by Oriental nomads since ancient times. The distinctive character of the architectural plan lies in the juxtaposition of the unusual mountainous landscape resembling a snapshot from Mars and the pavilions whose circular geometry makes them look like a science-fiction settlement. 

The spherical shape also serves functional purposes, including protecting guests from the harsh sun.  Another unique feature of the construction is that there is no need for outer load-bearing walls, so they can be made of glass. Each villa is equipped with a swimming pool with its own ‘island’ in the middle, a rest area, and a fire pit, and several villas on the ground floor have a tropical garden.   

The hotel’s design mirrors that of the villas. The public area is a group of pavilions united by glass domes. Lighting plays a big role in this unique project, and both interior and landscape lighting systems are designed to remain unseen by customers’ eyes.  

The interior décor is modern and echoes the architecture, with minimal straight lines. A curtain system controls the degree of openness and light. The essence of the hotel is the absence of visual noise throughout.