demo

89

Utopia, rebooted

NOMA,COPENHAGEN

A world-class

spin-off

LOUVRE ABU DHABI,ABU DHABI

Great fortunes like to associate
themselves with great art,
but the United Arab Emirates
has mostly channeled its
spectacular wealth into spectacular
structures, man-made islands and
signature skyscrapers, often built by
migrant laborers working in dubious
conditions. All that applies to the
Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened in

2017. Its larger aim, however, is as lofty
      as the $1 billion paid to the Paris original
      for the name and contents—namely, to
      turn Abu Dhabi into a cultural capital.
      It helps that the Monets and van Goghs
      are displayed in a Jean Nouvel–designed
      complex that is itself a work of art. Its
      signature feature: an aluminum dome

This resort takes hospitality

to a whole new level—below

sea. Following its opening of

the irst transparent-walled,

underwater restaurant in 2005, the

Conrad is now on track to unveil an

underwater residence in November.

Known as Muraka (“Coral” in the local

language), the $15 million, two-story

hotel villa will be partially submerged

more than 16 ft. below the surface of the

Indian Ocean. “[Maldivians] grow up

respecting the moods of the sea,” says

Ahmed Saleem, the resort architect.

“This combined with global warming

makes designers think ‘outside of the

box’ in designing structures above and

below the sea.” Guests who don’t want

to wake up encircled by a menagerie of

marine life can choose to sleep in one

of two above-water bedrooms. The

residence will also come with a gym, a

bar, an ininity pool and an ocean-facing

bathtub, all for a reported $50,000 per

night.—Casey Quackenbush

After his restaurant Noma received
two Michelin stars and was named
Best Restaurant in the World four
times, chef René Redzepi did
something extraordinary: he closed it and
set out to build a new one. The Noma that
reopened in February, about a mile down
the road from the original, is Redzepi’s
version of “utopia
for a restaurant”; its
on-site, 65,000-sq.-ft.
farm and three
greenhouses enable
chefs to harvest
ingredients from
their own backyard.
As a result, tasting
menus (which start
at $350) feature
only seasonal,
local food—it’s
either “seafood
season,” “vegetable season” or “game and
forest season.” The dining area, a series
of exquisite, light-illed rooms designed by
architect Bjarke Ingels, is an added bonus.
“Honestly, I think our food tastes 10%
better because people love our space,”
Redzepi says.—J.Z.

comprising 7,850 stars that do with light

and shadow what palm trees do in a

more traditional oasis.—Karl Vick

Marine

menagerie

CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND,

RANGALI ISLAND, MALDIVES

AN OFFICE

BUILDING

MADE NEW

THE MURRAY,

HONG KONG

CULTURAL

COMING-OF-AGE

DESIGN SOCIETY,

SHENZHEN, CHINA

In a landmark

1960s former

government ofice

building, architects

Foster + Partners

have transformed

corporate asceticism

into irst-class

comfort. The tower

opened in January

and offers 336

spacious rooms and

a rooftop restaurant

with panoramic

views of Hong

Kong’s skyline and

Botanical Gardens, a

rare green expanse

in a densely packed

metropolis.—C.Q.

In the late 1970s,

Shenzhen was a

small town and

the centerpiece of

China’s economic

liberalization.

Today it’s one

of the country’s

wealthiest cities,

and this sprawling,

coastal arts center

symbolizes its

coming-of-age.

Of note is the unique

collaboration with the

U.K.’s Victoria and

Albert Museum that

sees exhibitions on

the power of design,

including pieces from

the V&A’s permanent

collection, take

center stage.

—Suyin Haynes