Raffles Al Areen Palace, Manama

Designed by International Design Associates The property was formerly known as Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort. Havelock One has been involved since 2006 with the manufacturing and installation of various joinery works at this luxury destination. The client and its subsidiary, Al Areen Holding Company, devised a new master plan for this township development which included an arabesque-themed five-star hotel operated by Raffles, at its heart. Designed according to Raffles’ exacting standards for enjoying a serene and luxurious stay, the resort has been fully refurbished as one of Bahrain’s most opulent hospitality offerings, capturing mesmerising Arabian charm and world-class elegance.

Havelock One Interiors embarked on this project journey after winning multiple packages. The first package involved renovating 620 doors, for which the process and finish required was complex. All of the old doors had a different wood finish done by various past contractors. Their manufacturing specialists had to combine wood and veneer to create a new pattern to embrace the design concept. They were then enlisted to renovate the 1 / 2 / 3-bedroom villas and to carry out a few landscape features in the public areas. Their Bahrain fit out and manufacturing teams worked closely to refurbish all joinery elements, such as doors, screens and cabinets. The factory in Askar carried out bulk manufacturing of the customised wardrobes and wall panels and supplied nearly 7,000 FF&E items.

The project involved strategic value engineering in joinery and FF&E, mitigating high-cost impact. They used customised white paints to get the crisp architectural envelope overall, and the selection of sanitary wares was made carefully to match the concept. The contemporary FF&E chosen for the outdoors, the planter pots, and landscaping blur the lines between the inside and outside of the villas. Specifically instructed architectural light fittings and carpets were sourced from the Far East. Notably, the challenge of renovating 38 existing villas without as-built drawings was overcome through meticulous planning. This included addressing the absence of design drawings and protecting underground MEP services during ongoing hotel demolition. Effective communication, coordination, client approvals, and critical stakeholder support ensured seamless project delivery, and the installation exceeded client expectations in terms of cost, quality, and timeline.