Interior design studio Bishop Design has revealed the designs behind Deseo – an urban terrace, restaurant and lounge inspired by Latin America – at ME Dubai.
ME Dubai is the first ME by Meliá in the Middle East designed by the late and renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
Located in the The Opus by Omniyat building, in the heart of the Burj Khalifa District, ME Dubai is the only hotel project where Zaha Hadid personally designed all of the interiors and exteriors.
The property consists of 93 rooms and suites across three floors. The legacy hotel presents three owned F&B outlets including Deseo, The Atrium by Zaha Hadid and Central Cosmo Tapas and Bar.
Deseo is a South American inspired contemporary urban terrace, restaurant and lounge situated beside the modern rooftop pool overlooking the Dubai skyline.
Dubai-based Bishop Design was enlisted to reinvent the original pool deck and create a versatile spatial dynamic that could transition between day and night.
Taking inspiration from Tulum in Mexico, fabrics, texture and colour became paramount in the design firm’s conceptualisation.
Bishop Design began the design process by extending an existing small seating podium to encompass an entire decking platform, before establishing a wider built-up area and converting a rectangular planter into a double-sided bar to achieve equal sight lines from each side.
A removable deck has also been incorporated along a section of the pool to bring a VIP area experience to the venue. The DJ platform floats above the water feature and allows for a double-sided view from the pool and lounge.
Repurposed Gandia Blasco furniture from the previous design has been used to outfit the space, along with additional items sourced from regionally acclaimed Interior 360. Meanwhile, the lighting of the space has been thoughtfully considered to balance the myriad of colors and tones within.
Aztec and floral patterns adorn the assembly of rugs, cushions and fabrics within the venue, while large pots that were acquired from site have been stamped with striking art details and are enhanced with additional heavy vegetation to create a layering of exotic greenery.
Extending this design language to include the façade, a thicker skin of foliage contributes to the lush green blanket that wraps around the entire environment; creating an oasis within an urban context that starts a discourse with the buildings that surround it.
The bar area at Deseo showcases artisanal tiling and graceful shading, while a swing adds to the playful attributes of the space, inviting guests to sit back and relax. Elsewhere, suspended fabric features adorn the pergola structure, which encompasses the raised seating platform, creating a play of shade on the deck during the day.
Introducing a Latin affair and a new definition of ultra-lounge, Deseo is the embodiment of Tulum, inviting guests to enjoy bespoke cocktails and eclectic bites.
Bishop Design has also oversaw the design of Botanica at ME Dubai, a green F&B space dedicated to imbibing hand-crafted gin and tonics and speciality cocktails. Enclosed off from the lobby area, the venue serves up an edited menu of lights bites within a sophisticated environment.
