Cultural integration is the name of the game at the first of Trump International’s duo of Dubai golf developments, with the Damac Hills-sited course wrapped around a 30,000-sq-ft clubhouse that celebrates “transparency”.
“There were two main considerations when designing the clubhouse to be an open, interactive space. We wanted it to merge with the greenery beyond and not act as a structural barrier to the golf course itself,” says Souheil Moufti, vice president of interior design at Damac Group. “Secondly, there needed to be continuity of the theme throughout the interiors.”
“We also wanted the guest journey through the clubhouse to not be constricted by the expectation of form necessarily following function. So, we played with the overall layout to optimise the potential flow in and between the different areas,” he says.
The clubhouse’s bold physical presence is softened by the use of a central void, which allows for a 180-degree perspective of the Gil Hanse-designed golf course.
“The clubhouse sits on the edge of the course and is our jewel in the crown, as a striking physical statement that defines the Trump International golf footprint,” says Moufti.
A suspended open walkway connects the building’s two wings and its light, airy feel is further accentuated by an angled slatted oval canopy roof and the use of large expanses of glass that “bring the outside in”. According to Moufti, yellow-hued stone cladding, which follows a desert-themed colour palette, and oak wood elements were fundamental to the design, as he explains: “These natural elements act as a constant reminder of the course’s desert origins.”
Damac worked with local firm Greenline Interiors, as part of its commitment to supporting local expertise.
The Trump stamp
It’s only once you step inside that the Trump brand really makes its presence felt.
Head to the right, past the golf pro shop, and the family firm’s signature brand palette of black, white and gold come to life with a black polished contoured reception desk, slender brass-columned area separator and white marble staircase leading down to the changing rooms.
The North American country club treatment is evident in the member facilities, from the brand crest emblazoned throughout, to leather chairs from the Trump by Dorya collection and requisite plush carpeting as seen at other Trump golf clubs.
“The grand light fixture in the members’ reception area is a piece of art in itself, and plays on the shape of a golf ball. And in the changing rooms, we have a series of male and female vintage golf-themed prints that add a unique point of difference,” says Moufti.
“Both Trump and Damac are known for developing luxury properties, not only in the Gulf but internationally, and this played a big role from drawing board to delivery, with luxury details carried through every aspect of the interiors to create a glamorous but subtly elegant ambience. What we have created is true to the Trump style philosophy but with a clear nod to Dubai and the region,” he says.
Designed to drive business
Food and beverage operations also have a major role to play within the clubhouse’s commercial offering, with Moufti highlighting the importance of the guest journey through the clubhouse’s collection of individual spaces.
The Ninth sports bar, which is located on the ground floor above the member facilities, features a dark hardwood floor, marble bar and burnt caramel brown leather-clad stools overlooking the outdoor terrace and out to the course.
Up on the open walkway, the Assana shisha lounge also sports a stunning Italian silver onyx marble bar counter, Thermowood beams overhead and casual cube seating, while the elevated infinity pool occupies its own private deck.
To the left of the main clubhouse entrance is a trio of dining and relaxation venues, each of which segues seamlessly into the next, although the members-only bar is reserved for a favoured few.
Casual all-day-dining venue, The Terrace, has a Californian vibe with the large open-plan family-friendly space surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows and featuring light wooden tables, dark wood flooring, rustic culinary-themed artwork and visual points of interest such as the black wire lighting fixtures that riff off the design of the clubhouse roof.
The journey through each successive area reveals a well-thought-out design and mood progression with a black marble corridor adorned with gold and black framed golf-centric photographic works of art and sculptural artworks, both specially commissioned by Damac, leading into the cosy members’ bar.
This private enclave, with its turquoise velvet banquette and bar seating and collection of retro-styled soft cream and coral sand-upholstered chairs and tables set against the backdrop of a 24-carat gold leaf covered bar, oozes sundowner sophistication.
A touch of trompe l’oeil inspiration is evident underfoot with white and grey veined marble giving way to its corresponding black counterpart, and reinforcing the day-to-night appeal of the bar as it connects through to Fifth Avenue, the club’s fine dining restaurant.
“Here, we built on the blue palette of the bar and used a dark blue plush velvet for the banquette seating plus a rich, warm golden sandy hue for the chairs. This intimate space has a 1920s Manhattan feel, and we lined the walls with dark wood and mirrors to play up the theme as well as open up the room,” says Moufti.
Design transparency
For Moufti and the team at Damac, the goal of integrating the course and club under the “bring the outside in” mantra also meant a special focus on window dressing, as he explains: “As well as regular artwork we use each window as artistic device that frames the golf course; a kind of natural artwork.
“And in the winter months, the outdoor terrace, which runs the length of the building, is an extension of the interiors, with fire pits and intimate or group seating areas.”
A second Trump International Golf Club project is in the works, with Moufti hinting that while it will have the same DNA, the final look and feel will offer something completely different to the market.
