dubai’s next tower ‘inaura’ to embed a pearlescent orb
Dutch practice MVRDV unveils a sculptural, mixed-use tower dubbed Inaura, its latest proposal for Dubai. The project is set to rise 210 meters (690 feet) between the dense urban fabric of the city core and the longer views toward the Burj Khalifa.
To stand apart within the crowded stretch of skyline, the stacked floorplates separate to accommodate a luminous ‘ovoid’, or egg-shaped volume nestled at roughly three quarters of the tower’s height. Suspended behind a glazed envelope, this pearl-like structure will be experienced with its own interior space rather than just as a massive artwork. From a distance, it registers as a soft orb of light, visible from multiple vantage points across the Emirati city.
The ovoid contains the Sky Lounge, with a VIP area enclosed within its curved form and a club space extending around it. Floor-to-ceiling glazing frames direct views toward the Burj Khalifa, while the elevation above surrounding rooftops offers a clear sense of height and exposure.
visualizations © The Boundary (unless otherwise stated)
the ground level plinth
At the street level of MVRDV’s Inaura tower, a four-story plinth houses restaurants and lobbies, with a gym stacked above. An infinity pool occupies the plinth’s roof, paired with a spa one level higher, creating a sequence of wellness spaces that mediate between ground and tower. Above this base, the lower portion of the building houses a 101-room hotel alongside 105 urban apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms.
Above the Sky Lounge, the architects plan seven floors of larger ‘sky villas’ within the upper section of the tower. These four- to six-bedroom homes open onto expanded outdoor terraces and long views across Downtown Dubai. The stacking of programs creates a clear vertical order which moves from public and shared amenities toward increasingly private living environments as the building rises.
Inaura is a 210 meter (690 foot) mixed-use tower designed by MVRDV for Dubai
the reflective facade by MVRDV
MVRDV defines the facade of its Inaura tower by a stack of horizontal bands formed by two-meter (6.6-foot)-deep wraparound balconies. These balconies temper sunlight and give each level a consistent external depth. As the tower rises, facade elements shift gradually — mirrored glass at the lower levels transitions toward greater transparency higher up, and crisp corners soften into rounded edges near the top.
Along the northern elevation, balconies widen as they climb, extending outdoor areas for the sky villas and opening views toward the Burj Khalifa. With this calibrated variation, the team reinforces the building’s vertical progression all while maintaining a coherent design language.
a luminous ovoid Sky Lounge is embedded high within the structure
a layered plinth combines restaurants, fitness, and wellness spaces
the facade shifts gradually from reflective to transparent glass
wraparound balconies provide shade depth and outdoor space
the Sky Lounge frames direct views toward the Burj Khalifa
an infinity pool occupies the plinth’s roof, with a spa one level higher
project info:
name: Inaura Tower
location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
client: Arada Developments LLC
visualisations: © The Boundary | @the_boundaryuk, © MVRDV (Antonio Luca Coco, Angelo La Delfa, Stefano Fiaschi, Jaroslaw Jeda, Luana La Martina, Pavlos Ventouris, Kirill Emelianov, Ciprian Buzdugan, Lorenzo D’Alessandro)
founding partner in charge: Jacob van Rijs
partner: Bertrand Schippan
design team: Stavros Gargaretas, Efthymia Papadima, Federico Fiorino, Dimitrije Milic, Kevin Petitjean, Esteban Alvarez Ruiz, Lola Elisa Cauneac
head of interior: Aser Gimenez Ortega
interior design team: Maria López Calleja, Efthymia Papadima, Egle Jacinaviciute, Sofia Mermigka Angeli, Daria Rosh, Andrea Bit, Loes Bekkers, Francisco Polo, Victor Martiniuc, Amanda Galiana Ortega, Türker Naci Saylan, Emilia Mayorca Benarroch
BIM coordination: Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Chiara Arena, Marija Jasine
MVRDV NEXT: Agnieszka Thiel
model making: Andreana Vasilatou, Bianca Mascellani
strategy, development: Sruti Thakrar, Hannah Yan
lead consultant: Dewan Architects & Engineers
MEP, BMS, smart home, F&B/retail provisions, gas, infrastructure: 9E Global
interior design, artwork: MVRDV, H2R
landscape: Square M
lighting: Nulty Lighting
vertical transportation: Dunbar and Boardman
signage, wayfinding: The Design Company
fire and life safety: Infinity
facade engineering + BMU + facade access: WSP
acoustics: Delhom
spa, GYM consultancy, swimming pools, water features: EME
traffic design, parking study, parking management system, TIS: RMC
logistics, waste management: MCTS
wind tunnel specialist: CPP
sustainability: Climatize
aeronautical surveyor: Nortech
experience strategy (competition phase): 20-20 Studio
structure (competition phase): Ramboll
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