herzog & de meuron unveils lush tower with aman group

janu dubai set to rise over dubai’s financial district

Herzog & de Meuron takes to the UAE to design Janu Dubai, a mixed-use development bridging hotel, residences and workspaces. The single vertical address is set to be developed by H&H in partnership with Aman Group, and will introduce the Janu brand to Dubai through a pixelated tower recognized by curving columns.

Sited at Al Mustaqbal Street and 17th Street, the building will occupy a major spot within the financial district’s dense grid of offices, galleries, and restaurants. Its 1.3 million square foot footprint will accommodate a 150 room hotel, 57 branded residences, a private members’ club, offices, and retail.

images courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron

tactile architecture to contrast a glassy skyline

Herzog & de Meuron design the Janu Dubai tower with a compact, sculpted massing that reads as mineral and weighty against Dubai’s glassy skyline. Shadow and texture is favored over reflective glass, as terraces and planted edges carve depth into the facade.

Together with H&H in partnership with Aman Group, the architects shape the building through recesses and projecting volumes that frame outdoor rooms in the sky. Balconies and gardens step along the elevation, allowing planting to soften the perimeter and infusing interiors with greenery.

The fifty-seven residences occupy the most panoramic levels, organized with a range of layouts that extend from two bedroom homes to a triplex penthouse of over 11,000 square feet. Interiors are defined by high ceilings that reach up to 3.5 meters, broad windows, and a restrained palette of hand finished plaster, natural timber floors, and monolithic stone kitchens and baths.

the pixelated facade is defined by curving vertical columns

mixed-use programming by herzog & de meuron

Residential access is set back and hidden among a landscaped drop-off which guides residents away from the street. The entry lobby rises to eighteen meters to create a tall, shaded volume that slows the pace of arrival. Concierge services, private car lifts, and dedicated high speed elevators shape a smooth sequence from street to home.

Higher in the tower, a full floor of amenities forms a communal retreat. An infinity pool faces the skyline, while lounges, dining rooms, terraces, and a fitness center encourage lingering. Access to the Janu Spa and Club extends the wellness program into the hospitality component, linking residents to the larger ecosystem of the hotel.

For Aman Group, the project marks an expansion of the Janu concept into an urban Middle Eastern context, while for Herzog & Meuron, it will be the firm’s first built work in the United Arab Emirates.

the columns carve depth into the elevation