Zaha Hadid Architects' giant glass cube, featuring a super flowing void in the center, nears completion in Dubai, located in the city’s Burj Khalifa district. 

ZHA's new hotel, named Opus, has been captured by architecture photographer Laurian Ghinitoiu and the recent photographs show that the building is almost complete with its outer skin.

The 84,345-square-metre is designed for Omniyat and will house the first "ME by Melia" hotel in the Middle East. The 20-storey building will accommodate 12 restaurants, a rooftop bar and office spaces. The 7 extra floors will be placed below ground. 

The hotel will be operated by Melia Hotels International, one of the world’s leading hoteliers with more than 350 hotels in 39 countries, "ME by Melia" hotels are located in cultural capitals across the globe with their progressive, design-driven approach.

The most characteristic feature of the hotel is its "giant irregular void" that links two glazed tower with smooth transition so as to two separate towers will appear as a single volume.

The other reason of design is to provide views to the exterior from the centre of the building. With this approach, ZHA provides free-formed fluidity of this eight-storey void contrasting with the precise orthogonal geometry of the surrounding cube. 

"The Opus will be aligned with Omniyat’s vision of treating each project as if it were a unique work of art," said Mahdi Amjad, Executive Chairman and CEO of Omniyat. 

"The design conveys the remarkably inventive quality of ZHA’s work; expressing a sculptural sensibility that reinvents the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior."

The two towers are linked by a four-storey atrium at ground level with a bridge connecting 71 metres above the ground. This three-storey, asymmetric bridge reaches 38 metres wide.

"The Opus will be aligned with Omniyat’s vision of treating each project as if it were a unique work of art," said Mahdi Amjad, Executive Chairman and CEO of Omniyat. 

"The design conveys the remarkably inventive quality of ZHA’s work; expressing a sculptural sensibility that reinvents the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior."

"You always expect to be surprised by ZHA’s designs, but the Opus for ‘ME by Melia’ Dubai goes beyond what we could ever have anticipated. We are proud to have this amazing project in our portfolio," explained Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO, Meliá Hotels International at the earlier announcement of ME Dubai to be located at the Opus.

The design process started in 2012 and the building is scheduled for opening in 2020. The design was led by late Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher and Christos Passas.

All images © Laurian Ghinitoiu

> via ZHA