The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is among the most spectacular venues on the Formula 1 calendar. Aligned with the track’s finishing line stands the Shams Tower, a privileged vantage point reserved for the most exclusive guests of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Here, a project by architect and urban designer Agata Kurzela orchestrates a dialogue between motorsport technology and handcrafted tradition, expressed through a rich and tactile material language. Steel, marble, terracotta, rope, wood, and pleated-effect textiles alternate in a narrative that intertwines modernity and memory.
The experience begins at the ground-floor reception, where a blackened steel counter recalls the sculpted shell of a racing car. Behind it, a suspended piece by Afra Al Dhaheri and a marble sculpture by Shaikha Al Mazrou – a tire bent and tied with a blue steel ribbon – immediately reveal the project’s essence: a continuous interplay of material, movement, and contemporary art.
On the upper floor, a papyrus-based biomaterial console by Aya Moug and an installation of recycled car tires lead to a spacious majlis – the traditional Middle Eastern gathering space – furnished with low stone tables and opening onto the dining area. The lounges, including one on the panoramic terrace shaded by a broad fabric canopy, feature furniture chosen for its versatility and fluidity. Alongside international names such as Moroso, Mattiazzi, and Mogg, the project celebrates local and regional talent: Omar Al Gurg, Latifa Saeed, Aljoud Lootha, and Hala Al Ani contribute bespoke pieces, while Nada Debs and Alia Hussain Lootha add delicate, tactile accents.
In the bathrooms, elements in sheet steel and chrome fittings with clean, linear forms evoke the precision of Formula 1 engineering. As visitors move through the tower, artworks by Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim and Ruqaya Al Hashmi transform the interior into a small gallery, where the black-and-white checker motif of art resonates with the racing flag itself.
On the terrace, the hum of engines blends with the scent of citrus trees used as green décor. The setting features woven armchairs and low glass tables with handcrafted majolica bases designed by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti. With its refined balance between technology and tradition, the Shams Tower stands as a manifesto of Abu Dhabi’s contemporary identity – a place where art meets speed, and the culture of making meets the aesthetics of motion.
