Distinguished interior architect Galal Mahmoud has dedicated the past 25 years of his career to carefully molding his company, GM architects, into one of the most successful high-end architecture and interior design firms in the world. Here, he shares his passion for the trade and tells us why creating memorable experiences is key.
Galal Mahmoud
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What was your greatest professional challenge of 2021?
Getting through 2021 was a huge challenge in itself. However, it was a great wake-up call that allowed me to refocus on the important things. I seized the opportunity to completely reformat my company. We now prioritize the projects that are enjoyable and work with clients who are receptive. I’m not running like I was before. For instance, I wouldn’t have taken on a project like Beit Noun several years ago because it would have been too small, but I now have the time for it. It is as, if not more, satisfying as a 300-room development. Having direct contact with a client is precious. There’s mutual respect, we listen to one another, work together and trust one another.
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How different is your approach to designing a large-scale property compared to a boutique hotel?
Actually, I adopt the same approach. We don’t design; we create environments. Everyone talks about the hotel experience, and it’s true; a combination of design, proportions, space, light and colors paves the way for memorable experiences. I consider it similar to choreography, and we are like conductors who make sure the orchestra is playing the right tune at the right time. Hotel projects are challenging because besides the design aspect, you have technical layers, so the larger the hotel, the greater the number of layers: from engineers, kitchen consultants and F&B consultants to bar curators and art consultants. There’s plenty of storytelling that goes on too, and we try to do this as elegantly and discreetly as possible. We conduct a significant amount of research on the location, the people, the culture and the history of the place so that the end result blends in and has a local, authentic flavor.
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What can you tell us about Beit Noun, your latest project in the Lebanese mountains?
Beit Noun is a family-run operation. The Noun family has owned it for hundreds of years, and the new generation decided to transform it into a guesthouse. It is located just above Mar Charbel, 900 meters above sea level. We started working on it just before the pandemic started, and it is due to open in summer 2022.
Beit Noun Boutique Hotel
There are nine rooms in total that are spread across two houses: the main house and an outhouse that was built in the 1950s. Although each room is unique and has a specific color palette, there are similarities between them. All the furniture has been custom made and manufactured in Lebanon by talented artisans. It’s a true Lebanese experience, but it is not nostalgic.
Beit Noun also features a lobby, winter library and a little café. There’s an industrial kitchen for large events, plenty of outdoor space to relax and admire the views of Batroun, the Cedars and beyond, and an outdoor swimming pool.
From a design point of view, the property is very different to your standard Lebanese guesthouse. First of all, Beit Noun doesn’t have the typical characteristics of a traditional Lebanese house, such as the triple arches; it is nuanced, an architectural amalgam of Ottoman and European elements. We therefore saw an opportunity to do something a little unexpected and create a modern, happy and unforgettable place to stay. We tried to give Beit Noun an identity by playing with color and adding regal touches, because it is grander than a house — almost a mansion. Ultimately, the guesthouse is chic and trendy while maintaining its authenticity.
Furthermore, because we have so much experience in designing hotels, which we have been doing for the past 25 years, we prioritized functionality to ensure that everything is where it should be: the light switches, sockets and so forth. We’re currently finishing phase one, and phase two includes 20 additional guest rooms that will blend into the landscape.
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Do you have any standout hotel projects in the pipeline?
I have a fantastic client in Greece, on the island of Mykonos. I’ve been going to Mykonos since 1969; it has a special place in my heart. At one point, my brother and I built a house there, and I subsequently worked on the homes of friends. I then met a family of hoteliers — four dynamic brothers — who run their hotels very successfully on the island. After renovating a hotel for them five years ago, we worked on three small boutique hotels.
Mykonos Residence
Shortly before the pandemic, one of the brothers took me to a plot of land overlooking the town — possibly the best plot on the island — and told me he wanted to build a hotel there. It was like a dream come true. We began the project, but due to the pandemic, the opening has been delayed to summer 2023. The problem in construction today is that you can’t find anything. All the production facilities all over the world slowed down because of Covid-19. It will take time to get back to full capacity.
Another project we have been working on for quite some time now is the Winter Palace in Luxor. For a month, we were researching ways in which we could preserve the identity of this iconic property while maintaining the Sofitel hallmark. The new layout of the Royal Bar is inspired by archaeological discoveries and the work of Egyptologists such as Howard Carter who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. It is decorated with old maps of Luxor and exploration of the site. This attention to historical detail makes it possible to highlight the hotel’s old objects, vestiges of a past marked by discoveries over generations. Preserving the prestige and sophisticated character of the hotel is essential. Large chandeliers will be suspended in the 1886 restaurant and in the Victoria lounge to create a subtle atmosphere, a signature of Sofitel. A chromatic palette is reserved for the private apartments, which are inspired by the landscape: blue tones for the rooms facing the Nile and variations of green for the rooms facing the hotel gardens.
Jumeirah Resort & Spa Bahrain Al Sahel
Finally, the five-star Jumeirah Al Sahel Resort & Spa, slated to open soon on Bahrain’s southwest coast, will be an impressive, exclusive resort secluded from the city. Featuring a variety of accommodation and entertainment options, including both room and villa accommodation, family restaurants, a cinema, a teen room, kids’ club, conference centers, a juice bar, several bars and lounges and luxurious spa facilities, this first-of-its-kind project in the region has been designed holistically, keeping very close contact with the local culture while assuring a certain level of casual luxury that epitomizes the Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts brand.
