On the edge of Marasi Marina, between Downtown Dubai and the Design District, rises The Lana and The Lana Residences, Dorchester Collection. More than a luxury destination, this Foster + Partners creation is a façade-driven masterpiece—an interplay of glass, gardens and geometry that redefines waterfront living for designers and guests alike. Photography: Nigel Young/ Foster + Partners
A New Icon on the Waterfront
Commissioned by OMNIYAT and managed by Dorchester Collection, The Lana and The Lana Residences are conceived not merely as a hotel and residential complex, but as a landmark in Dubai’s evolving cityscape. Rising to 31 and 30 storeys respectively, the twin towers are interlocking blocks that form what Foster + Partners describe as an “architectural jigsaw puzzle.” Their placement along the 12-kilometre waterfront promenade situates them within a new luxury lifestyle hub, animated by floating villas, yacht berths and landscaped public spaces.
Facade as Narrative
For façade engineers, The Lana is a study in rhythm and restraint. The glass curtain wall is articulated with horizontal slats in a delicate beige, their rounded edges introducing a sense of lightness and cadence. These slats are not merely decorative: they temper Dubai’s intense sunlight, shielding interiors and vertical gardens while maintaining transparency. Solid vertical pillars counterbalance the horizontality, creating a façade that is both protective and permeable.
The thin floorplates and deep overhangs extend this environmental logic. Every room is afforded a private balcony, shaded to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling. Low-e glass and passive cooling strategies reinforce the sustainable intent, while the façade’s layered composition ensures comfort without compromising elegance.
Gardens in the Sky
Seven vertical gardens punctuate the towers, each conceived as a social and environmental anchor. These green interludes expand the available open space far beyond conventional high-rise projects, offering breakout zones that dissolve the boundary between architecture and landscape. At ground level, the Waterfront Garden animates the promenade with shops, cafés and restaurants, while higher up, residents enjoy exclusive access to the Members’ Garden on level 23. Hotel guests ascend to the Sky Garden, where rooftop infinity pools frame panoramic views of the Dubai skyline.
The arrival sequence is choreographed as theatre: water features, sculptures and framed vistas establish a sense of exclusivity. For residents, valet service and direct yacht access heighten the private experience. For visitors, double- and quadruple-height dining spaces wrapped in greenery create immersive environments. Hidden among them, the Secret Garden offers respite from the promenade, while the Kitchen Garden celebrates culinary craft in a lush setting.
Interiors: Desert Elegance
Inside, Paris-based Gilles & Boissier translate the UAE’s desert landscape into a palette of subtle sophistication. Marbles in pink and beige interplay with darker stones, while bespoke furniture and curated artworks lend theatricality. Their interiors are sleek yet tactile, balancing minimalism with cultural resonance. The desert’s textures and tones are reimagined as layered surfaces, grounding the building’s cosmopolitan luxury in local identity.
Gerard Evenden, head of Foster + Partners studio, encapsulates the ethos: “The goal of the project was to create a building that adapts to its surroundings, offering a unique space with interactive gardens. A key consideration was to ensure seamless transitions between the various spaces and a harmonious relationship with the waterfront location. The design is intended to play the role of an urban resort that enlivens the waterfront, providing visitors from around the world with a place to relax and protect themselves from Dubai’s hot climate.”
A Façade for the Future
The Lana and The Lana Residences are more than luxury real estate, they are a manifesto for façade engineering in hot climates. By integrating shading devices, vertical gardens and passive cooling into a coherent architectural language, Foster + Partners have crafted a building that is both environmentally responsive and visually compelling.
The Lana demonstrates how façades can transcend their role as protective skins to become active mediators of climate, culture and community. In Dubai’s relentless pursuit of spectacle, this project stands out not for its height or extravagance, but for its eloquent balance of glass, gardens and geometry.