Page 30 - Panorama Eng

ART & CULTURE Panorama Issue 2 / Summer 2020 30
Inside the hotel in the lobby area, appropriately dubbed the Living Room, is in fact, a traditional Arabian majlis with a modern twist. Adorning the ceiling are outsized installations of Omani kummas. These embroidered caps are part of the Omani man’s national dress. It is amidst this authentic setting that guests relax and unwind in typical majlis fashion.
Omani themes also resonate elsewhere within this delightful property. Suspended from the ceiling of the Great Room is a design feature inspired by the casting of fishing nets by Omani fishermen, a common scene on Muscat’s beaches and an integral part of the country’s rich heritage. Similarly, the WET Bar which is popular with the hotel’s patrons and visiting guests alike is inspired by the Bimmah Sinkhole near Qurayyat,
a picturesque lagoon of crystal clear turquoise waters. The Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, while symbolic of a cosy Bedouin tent, features an incredible ceiling dotted with thousands of tiny lights, reminiscent of a star-filled desert sky.
All 279 guestrooms and suites at W Muscat provide unrivalled views of the Sea of Oman and incorporate design elements that borrow heavily from the surrounding mountains and the windswept deserts beyond. Noteworthy
is the example of the WOW and E-WOW suites, where art deco detailing exudes traditional Omani charm.
Suffused into the ‘crossroads’ theme of the property are symbols of Omani hospitality, reflected in the traditional coffee pots placed in niches around the hotel. Guests and visitors will also be struck by the profusion of animal-inspired themes and designs, denoting not only elements of Oman’s celebrated fauna, including the Arabian Oryx and Gazelle, but also the Sultanate’s longstanding links with the African continent.