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Haitham Abdelrehim

Dubai, UAE · Private members' club · 2024 · FACE Architecture + Design

The Mercedes-Maybach Society

An early concept study defining the programme and material direction of a members' club through six chapters and a series of reference boards.

Location
Dubai, UAE
Year
2024
Sector
Hospitality / Automotive
Scope
Concept and art direction

The project

The brief extends the Mercedes-Maybach experience beyond the car into a private members' club in Dubai. Six programme groups structure the proposal: arrival, brand showcase, hospitality, art and culture, wellness, and business. Together they accommodate visits of different kinds, from a meal or an exhibition to a meeting or time in the library.

The presentation develops the intended character of these spaces through curated references. Stone, bronze tones, smoked glass and controlled lighting provide continuity, while each chapter tests a different scale of gathering and degree of privacy. The boards establish a design direction for subsequent spatial development; they are references for atmosphere, materials and use, rather than renders of a resolved club interior.

“The club is conceived around reasons to return: dining, culture, work and time with others.”

Project details

Location
Dubai, UAE
Year
2024
Sector
Hospitality / Automotive
Typology
Private members' club
Scope
Concept and art direction
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — A concept and art-direction study for a Mercedes-Maybach members' club in Dubai.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The club brief extends the ownership experience into hospitality and shared social spaces.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Six programme groups establish the structure of the club and the presentation.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The arrival chapter considers the first transition from the city into the club.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Arrival is treated as a sequence of thresholds before members reach the shared rooms.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Reference study — stone, metal and filtered light establish a material direction for the entrance spaces.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The brand showcase chapter brings vehicle display and retail into the club programme.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The showcase gives the cars a dedicated setting within a broader hospitality experience.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Reference study — lighting and display platforms frame the vehicle as the centre of the room.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Boutique references test how smaller objects might be displayed with the same attention as the cars.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The hospitality chapter establishes the club's principal settings for gathering.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Different dining formats give members a choice between casual visits and more formal occasions.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Bar and lounge references explore a social centre organised around a counter, seating and low light.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — General dining references balance shared tables with smaller places to sit.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Fine-dining references study a closer scale of lighting, upholstery and table setting.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The cigar and wine room introduces a more enclosed setting within the hospitality programme.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The art and culture chapter reserves a role for exhibitions and events within the club.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Cultural programming gives the club a reason to change over time.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Exhibition references consider both physical objects and digital displays.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Event references explore how the club could accommodate gatherings beyond everyday dining.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The wellness chapter introduces spaces for rest and physical activity.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Wellness provides a quieter counterpart to the club's social programme.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Reference study — warm materials and controlled light establish the intended character of the wellness centre.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — The business chapter adds places to work and meet within the club.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Business facilities allow a visit to include private meetings as well as social time.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Workspace references combine individual desks, meeting settings and places for informal conversation.
The Mercedes-Maybach Society — Library references explore a quieter room for reading, working and small conversations.