Brad Pitt to design landmark Dubai hotel – Travel & Hospitality – ArabianBusiness.com — Cripes.Who knew?
Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt is to design a landmark environmentally friendly hotel and leisure project in Dubai, developer Zabeel Properties announced on Monday.
Zabeel said Pitt, along with the rest of the team at LA-based architecture firm Graft, have been appointed design consultants for the project, which will include an 800-room five-star hotel.
Pitt said the project would underpin his values for environmentally-friendly architecture and embrace his career in entertainment. The hotel will eventually play host to the “most glamorous events and award ceremonies”, according to Zabeel.
“Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion. Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision,” Pitt said in a statement.
It’s just more evidence of the mentality we have, that because someone is famous, they must have a special insight on all things important.
That’s why it means nothing when a scientist who’s spent their whole life looking at the environment tells us that the world needs to be cared for, but when Madonna sings a song about it, we all need to pay attention.
Either someone saw “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” to many time and think that’s Pitt’s real job. But most likely it’s just a PR/marketing scheme. Hey do you want to stay in a Brad Pitt designed build young lady.
just because the guy is an actor, doent automatically mean hes not good at anything else. what if the guy were born average looking, or even unattractive? he would probably be a successful architect. do i think he should be in charge of the project because hes brad pitt? no. if hes truly passionate about the project, and good at it, then more power to him.
Anybody else recognize the picture?
It is pretty silly. Just a PR stunt.
Well, not to rain on your celebrity-bashing parade (not that it isn’t fun), but Pitt has studied architecture under several famous architects, notably Frank Gehry, years ago. This is one smear that doesn’t stick very well.
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I can’t believe that Pitt said “Whilst” !!! Sure it’s the American Brad Pitt they are talking about ?
Smartalix, as usual, has it right. But, the rest of you shouldn’t let facts get in the way.
Pitt has played a leading role in everything from fund-raising to developing smarter architecture in the rebuilding of New Orleans. But, then, that topic is another nutball no-no.
#7 – I guess you’re stuck in the trick bag of only speaking American.
Alix, there is a BIG difference between being a practicing architect who has proven that he knows what he is doing and “someone who studied under Frank Gehry” AKA a student.
Fanboy!
The picture is Howard Roark (?) from the Hollywood version of The Fountainhead.
Anyway it is not as though the hotel will be as goodlookin’ as Brad Pitt. If Pitt studied under Frank Gehry, I’ll bet they wind up with a hotel that looks like an earthquake already destroyed it.
And it’s in Dubai, so who cares!
#11
Pretty much… dosn’t Frank Gehry like to design big “Boxes”
Looking at a lot of the architecture in Dubai he could say ” make a mold of my wiener and make it look like that ” and it would fit in nicely with the other architecture.
Whether or not the man has studied architecture (which I take it that he has), let’s face the facts: He’s been all around the world, and has spent the better part of the last 20 years of his life probably living out of hotels and motels. With that alone he’s far more qualified to design luxury hotels than anyone I could think of. It’s not like they’re giving him free reign of the project – there’s a whole team of people behind him. I say good for him, I wish I could afford a visit!
#13 “Bilbao? Falling apart.”
I don’t know about that. It looks good on the outside but it doesn’t do well as a museum once you go inside, there’s a better one with better art about a mile away…
I can just imagine opening the front door of this building would be like spreading a grilled cheese sandwich.
10,
You are correct, John. However, considering the support staff he has, big-picture design is all he has to do anyway in this project.
#9 – Eideard
>>I guess you’re stuck in the trick bag of only
>>speaking American.
Hey, I AM an American. And so is Brad Pitt. And although I speak several languages besides English, it would never occur to me to use a British affectation like “whilst”.
Come on, Brad. Give it a rest.
And for a follow-up Mrs. Smith is going to plant an orange tree in the Sudan and cure starving Africa.
There is the other side of the coin… Just because he is famous and a good actor doesn’t mean that he’s a bumbling idiot. He might have an untapped talent that shouldn’t be criticized until we have the product to which we are talking about.
Whatever floats your boat.
Like #11 said, it’s in Dubai, who cares.
On a scale of 1 to 10, hot, Dubai is a 20. Temperature wise. It’s like having Las Vegas cubed in Death Valley.
I am not a Doctor but I play one on TV.
Why the “WTF?” This makes total sense.
Maybe Dubai first since it is so trendy, but not just there.
Brad Pitt is a band, not just a human. Putting that on a hotel makes as much sense as Paul Newman putting his name on salad dressing and popcorn.
About 24% of the world’s construction cranes are in Dubai. They are building buildings.
Interesting choice of photo: Gary Cooper in “The Fountainhead”. Pitt and his Angelina are currently planning to bring another Ayn Rand work to the screen: “Atlas Shrugged”. We’re not dealing with two bleeding-heart Hollywood Liberals here, y’know… 8)
As for Pitt actually designing a hotel: doesn’t bother me. “Starchitects” don’t concern themselves with the integrity of the structure, the foundations, or anything else that could threaten the safety of the final building. Such questions are dealt with by engineers, structural and otherwise i.e. people who know about maths and materials.
e.g. OMA (home of Rem Koolhaas) works with the engineering firm Ove Arup, who would never let him build an unsafe building. They are the ones who have legal responsibility for the technical aspects of constructing a safe building.
I’d LOVE to stay in a hotel designed by Britney Spears: hot pink fuzzy sofas; booby nude sculpture everywhere; blacklight posters; a mermaid in a gigantic tank over bar; hot chambermaids in neon blue french maid uniforms; etc.
C’mon. You have to admit, it’d be cool.
# 15 Alex said, on July 29th, 2008 at 9:41 am
“…there’s a whole team of people behind him.”
I suspect that should read: ” … a whole team of people in front of him.”
“# 9 Eideard said, on July 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
#7 – I guess you’re stuck in the trick bag of only speaking American.”
Eidard, That’s RED, WHITE, AND BLUE AMERICAN to you, cowboy !!! And it’s no trick !!!