Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
LOCATION
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Project Facts
Project Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa
Client Emirates
Built-Up-Area N/a
Services Masterplanning, Architectural Concept, Preliminary and Detail Design, Structural Engineering, Commercial Kitchen Design, Interior Design, Authority Approvals and Building Permits, Project Tendering, Administration and Award, Site Supervision.
Collaborating Architect Schuster Pechtold and Partners
Status Complete, Phase 1: 2000, Phase 2: 2004
Budget US$100 Million
Project Features
PHASE 1
Guest Accommodation comprising of 30 Deluxe Chalets with swimming pools, two-Family Chalets with proportionally larger swimming pools, one Presidential Suite with full-length swimming pool.
Central Guest Building housing the Guest Reception, Front Office, Souvenir Shop with Store, Male & Female Majlis’, Library/ Boardroom, Tea Salon, Prayer Room, Main Dining Restaurant, Pre-Dinner Bar, Gym, Communal Swimming Pool, Outdoor Pool Majlis, GM Office, Admin Offices, Commercial Kitchen, Staff Canteen, Cold and Dry Stores.
Staff Quarters for 100 staff
Stables/ Animal Enclosures for camels. falcons and horses.
PHASE 2
Guest Accommodation comprising 10 additional Deluxe Chalets with larger swimming pools, two additional Family Chalets with proportionally larger swimming pools, one additional Presidential Suite with full-length swimming pool
Day Spa with four singles treatment rooms, one couples treatment room, Rasul Therapy, Wet-Treatment Room, indoor Jacuzzi, Gym, Juice Bar, Mani-Pedi Salon, Spa-Shop, Sauna, Steam Room and Ice Pool.
Other Works include enlargement of the private pools of all existing chalets.
Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary
We have 30 years of experience in designing award-winning architecture
Let's TalkIn March 1999, the Al Maha Desert Resort and Wildlife Reserve was completed after an intense 18-month design and construction program. A progressive evolution of ideas initiated by HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Defence Minister and the then Crown Prince of Dubai; the resort is a unique development that embraces and celebrates the indigenous culture, wildlife habitat and the environment of the United Arab Emirates.
The design brief set forth by Emirates Airlines called for a boutique hotel development set among a wildlife reserve, not too dissimilar to those found in Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia, complete with minimalist lodge-style developments for the guest. The focus was education of the immediate environment combined with ultimate luxury. Within two years from its opening, the resort was internationally renowned and, judging by its number of awards, internationally acclaimed.
Architectural Identity
Sustainable Design
The architectural language of Al Maha is again a clear deviation from these and questions the notion of Islamic Architecture appropriate to the United Arab Emirates. After all the religion of Islam was prevalent in many major nations throughout the world, and in each, it evolved to suit the purpose and context. The history of Islamic Architecture is minimal in our context, however what is important is the architectural expression that developed in the region – desert architecture. A language that attempts at creating comfortable habitat for the people from the burning sun, a language often associated with Islamic Architecture, as Islam itself originated in this region. Al Maha is seen as a significant landmark in the evolution of the architectural language in a country that is just over 30 years old and because it really is the first concentrated effort by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to address the issue of context and energy awareness in the built environment.
-
SOLAR POWER
-
WATER PURIFICATION
The complete Staff Accommodation for over 150 staff relies on solar power for water heating requirement. The solar panels are positioned on the roofs of the staff accommodation, in full view of the guest, thus allowing the guests to experience this eco-friendly technology.
The resort relies completely on fresh groundwater for its total water requirement including domestic, irrigation and fire-fighting use. Water is pumped from some 30m below-ground into reverse osmosis plants that purify the drinking water standard and stored in below ground water holding tanks. Simultaneously, water is drawn from the ground for irrigation requirements and is fed directly into below-ground water holding tanks. The two storage areas supply all water needed throughout the resort.
The entire development is linked by a below ground network of sewage treatment plants that bio-degrade the waste ad separate the water from the solid matter. The clear run off water is then fed back into the irrigation water holding tanks.
By designing landscape that is indigenous with to the context, the irrigation demand is massively reduced, as the plant species selected would naturally grow in harsh desert climates with minimal water dependency. With such active measures combined with a full maintenance team ensuring services run to their peak with minimal loss, all water drawn from the ground is fed back into the ground, safely recycling up to 94%. The remaining 6% is mostly lost through evaporation.Â
Active Eco Measures
Location
Colonella, Italy
PROJECT FACTS
Project Bella Oceana Residential Community
Client OPM
Built-Up-Area N/a
Services Masterplanning, Architectural Concept, Preliminary Design, Design and Project Management Pre and Post Contract
Status Under Construction
Budget N/a
PROJECT FEATURES
PHASE 1: Lago Vista
Five (5), three-storey ‘Lago Vista’ residential buildings. Each will have:
• 13 Apartments/ Floor (39 Apartments/ Building)
• 13 Private Pools
• 2 lifts
• 39 Resident Car Park Spaces
• 5 Visitor Car Park Spaces
• Central MEP Services
• Central Garbage Services
PHASE 2: Casa Verde
35, two-storey ‘Casa Verde’ residential buildings. Each will have:
• 6 Apartments/ Floor (12 Apartments/ Building)
• 6 Private Pools
• 1 lift
• 12 Resident Car Park Spaces
• 2 Visitor Car Park Spaces
• Central MEP Services
• Central MEP Services
• Central Garbage Services
PHASE 3: Belvedere
Nine, two-storey ‘Belvedere’ residential buildings. Each will have:
• 2 Apartments/ Floor (4 Apartments/ Building)
• Private Pool Option
• 8 Resident Car Park Spaces
• 2 Visitor Car Park Spaces
• Central MEP Services
• Individual MEP Services
• Central Garbage Services
Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary
We have 30 years of experience in designing award-winning architecture
Let's TalkSolar Power
WATER PURIFICATION
The resort relies completely on fresh groundwater for its total water requirement including domestic, irrigation and fire-fighting use. Water is pumped from some 30m below-ground into reverse osmosis plants that purify the drinking water standard and stored in below ground water holding tanks. Simultaneously, water is drawn from the ground for irrigation requirements and is fed directly into below-ground water holding tanks. The two storage areas supply all water needed throughout the resort.
SEWAGE TREATMENT
The entire development is linked by a below ground network of sewage treatment plants that bio-degrade the waste ad separate the water from the solid matter. The clear run off water is then fed back into the irrigation water holding tanks.
INDIGENOUS LANDSCAPES
By designing landscape that is indigenous with to the context, the irrigation demand is massively reduced, as the plant species selected would naturally grow in harsh desert climates with minimal water dependency. With such active measures combined with a full maintenance team ensuring services run to their peak with minimal loss, all water drawn from the ground is fed back into the ground, safely recycling up to 94%. The remaining 6% is mostly lost through evaporation.Â
