Giardino Palazzo Versace, Dubai
Words: Juliet Kinsman
I
n 1942, Don Loper created the now-iconic Martinique Banana Leaf wallpaper for the Beverly Hills Hotel and at this 215-room hotel and its two wings of condos, the House of Versace channels the same tropical aesthetic. In many ways Giardino is the restaurant
equivalent of Jennifer Lopez’s iconic plunging dress from the brand. The Italian fashion label is rarely associated with minimalism or
restraint when it comes to colour, pattern or personality. And when it comes to destinations that display an appetite for ‘more is more’ interiors and conventional gold-plated interpretations of luxury, Dubai is front and centre. But for those whose tastes veer towards simple, low-key and humble the bold jade-and-white wallcovering - the same as the shirts and ties worn by the servers – of the maximalist Giardino may prove surprisingly appealing. Dubai Creek, where the hotel is situated, is an area of an everdeveloping city that is primarily still under construction. It’s yet to flourish into the picturesque, leafy, saltwater-side neighbourhood it is forecasted to become, with Palazzo Versace’s own landscaped enclave at the centre of what’s labelled the Dubai Culture Village – with plans for a mixed-use district of Arabic architecture and traditional-style souks. The huge 16th-century-inspired ‘palazzo’ is a many-floored behemoth amid dual carriageways. Walk into the hotel’s soothing main lobby though and it’s a refined display of craftsmanship. Above, three tons of Czech crystals sparkle from a chandelier, and below, a million and a half mosaic tiles were hand-placed to create the magnificent signature Medusa flooring. Handcrafted mosaics
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