XVA Gallery Hotel in Dubai, UAE
Although the majority of buildings in Dubai are brand new, there are a few areas, such as the area of Bastakiya, that pay homage to the city’s architectural heritage. Bastakiya, located near the creek, is the oldest neighborhood in Dubai. Its maze of narrow streets and alleys boasts beautifully restored traditional homes, some of which have been turned into restaurants, art galleries and hotels.
The XVA Art Hotel is housed in one of these traditional-style buildings and is the hotel we return to on each visit to Dubai. XVA offers only six rooms, all of which have been designed by local artists and architects, and houses an art gallery (open to outside visitors) that offers a rotating exhibit of local artists and international artists with ties to Dubai.
XVA Art Hotel boasts several unique features of traditional Arabian architecture:
- Courtyards. In traditional style houses, the courtyards were communal areas off of which other rooms branch. XVA Gallery-Hotel takes advantage of this space to serve up delicious vegetarian fare to guests and gallery visitors.
- Arabesque design. Found throughout the building in windows, borders and entrance ways, arabesque designs exhibit floral and other geometric motifs.
- Majlis. A majlis (meeting room in Arabic) is the traditional center of business in a home. The floor is often lined with cushions and is a place to relax, enjoy home-cooked food and transact business.
- Wind Towers. Before electricity and air-conditioning, the Arabs moved wind through the home using wind towers. These towers, which can be seen throughout Bastakiya, serve to catch passing breezes and funnel them down into the home, providing a wonderful and cooling breeze. The photo of the XVA Gallery clearly features these distinctive towers.
The XVA Art Hotel and historic area of Bastakiya is something you will not want to miss, especially if you are interested in learning about the underlying history of the amazing city of Dubai.
XVA Gallery
xva@xvagallery.com
Phone: +971 4 3535 383
Using Dubai as a base? Check out our cultural and historical travel guides to China, India, Southeast Asia and other parts of the Middle East.
