Dubai Business Bay Reiser + Umemoto office building O-14

Architectural Detail

I thought today would be like any other showroom visit…. until I stepped out of the car in front of Dubai office building O-14 by Reiser + Umemoto Architecture out of NYC. Out from the desert landscape formations of another world rose up in an amoebic lacing of concrete. The playful pet name “cheese grater” or “gruyere tower” became evident and left no need for explanation. The building was beautiful… pure, white and of a single architectural concept. It felt casual strong and non fussy while standing out amidst the ever stretching heights of glass over the Dubai Business Bay skyline. Located in the heart of a sad overly ambitious Dubai Creek it stands as a reminder to what big world ideas and encouraged innovative thinking came from the pre-recession boom of the worlds fastest growing city.

Some quick facts about this beautiful Project:  22 Stories high (347 feet), 1,326 holes in 5 different sizes and an Interior Designers dream of a column free interior

The building draws the user in with curiosity to an equally stunning lobby with balooning polka dots of sun bursts across every plane in the space. The atmosphere of the lobby felt like I was floating in the clouds of Design heaven where light, shadow and white marble embrace the most unique reception desk I have ever seen.

Cheese grater main entrance

Main Lobby of the beautiful O-14 "Cheese Grater" by Reiser + Umemoto

Verde furniture showroom in O-14 office tower

I had stopped in to view the new Verde Custom furniture showroom on the main and second floor. The raw and unfinished interiors let all the focus speak to the building facade which dominated the walls and the elegant white staircase that wrapped the corner of the room.

Verde Furniture LLC Dubai - to the trade only

I went in with little expectation regarding the quality of craftsmanship as Dubai has a history of sloppy product. I came out excited and overwhelmed with the quality of wood veneer, attention to detail and overall finish of the products.