DESERT RESORT
ABU DHABI
This palace, originally designed by Frei Otto in the 1980s, occupies an extraordinary location that combines an arid plateau with a lush, colourful oasis in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, overlooking Wadi Hanifah. Our proposal for this invited competition aims to create a new destination resort that enhances this unique setting.
The resort design features a hotel that strategically inhabits the edges of the plateau, ensuring that it maintains a respectful architectural distance from the existing palace. This careful placement not only preserves the palace’s prominence but also pays homage to it through thoughtful references to traditional elements, such as gardens, fortresses, and tents.
The garden element symbolizes tranquillity and natural beauty, creating serene outdoor spaces for guests. The fortress reference acknowledges the historical significance and strength of traditional architecture, incorporating robust and protective design features. The tent element evokes the nomadic heritage of the region, with structures that blend seamlessly into the landscape while providing comfort and luxury.
By weaving these traditional motifs into the resort’s design, we create a harmonious blend of modernity and heritage, offering guests an immersive experience that celebrates the cultural and architectural legacy of the site. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the resort but also ensures that it remains a respectful neighbour to the iconic palace designed by Frei Otto.
Given the inspirational setting, we paid particular attention to landscaping. A grid of tall palm trees creates a new linear oasis. Within this palm grove, plazas provide places to meet and gather amid water features and distant views.
The design of a unique guest experience combines social interaction with the comforts of private space. Guests are led into a series of beautifully designed spaces offering a variety of social and spatial experiences with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The lush palm grove not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides a cool, shaded environment, creating a stark contrast to the arid plateau. The plazas within the grove serve as social hubs, where guests can relax by water features that reflect the serene beauty of the oasis.
Our approach ensures that each guest enjoys a personalized journey through the resort, with intimate areas for reflection and relaxation, as well as communal spaces that encourage interaction and connection. The thoughtful layout and design of these spaces cater to diverse preferences, ensuring that every guest finds their perfect balance between solitude and socialization.
By integrating the natural beauty of the landscape with carefully curated spaces, we create a resort experience that is both immersive and luxurious, allowing guests to fully appreciate the extraordinary setting while enjoying the highest standards of comfort and design.
Guest rooms are designed as clusters along a circular promenade, with each room having access to individual outdoor gardens. This layout fosters a sense of community while preserving privacy.
Suites are accessed via private patios and feature generous proportions, offering fluid open spaces and private outdoor amenities. This design ensures guests enjoy luxurious comfort and personal space.
The circular promenade provides a scenic and leisurely pathway for guests to explore the resort, lined with lush greenery and offering picturesque views at every turn. The individual outdoor gardens attached to each guest room create private sanctuaries where guests can relax and connect with nature.
The suites, with their spacious and open layouts, are designed to maximize natural light and provide a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living. Private patios offer a tranquil retreat where guests can unwind in seclusion, while outdoor amenities such as plunge pools or lounge areas enhance the luxurious experience.
By thoughtfully integrating these design elements, the resort offers a harmonious blend of communal and private spaces, ensuring that every guest can enjoy a personalized and unforgettable stay. The emphasis on both social interaction and private retreat caters to diverse guest preferences, making the resort a versatile and appealing destination.
We have created a strong axis extending to the new built elements, establishing a visual link to both the historical watch tower and the horizon beyond. A new plaza, around which most amenities are organized, serves as the central hub of the resort.
The internal alleys and mews feature new buildings conceived as inhabited walls, where dappled light creates a balanced interplay between the privacy of rooms and public spaces. This thoughtful design ensures guests enjoy seclusion while still feeling connected to the resort community.
At the heart of the new resort lies a serene spa, a private haven with access to a women’s swimming pool. The spa offers breathtaking views of the majestic palace on one side and panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape on the other, providing a tranquil retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Cafes and restaurants are strategically located to maximize views of the pool and the changing light throughout the day. Guests can dine while enjoying the beautiful interplay of light and shadow, enhancing their overall experience.
This design approach harmonizes the new built elements with the historical and natural context, creating a resort that respects its heritage while offering modern luxury and comfort. The careful consideration of sightlines, light, and spatial relationships ensures a cohesive and immersive guest experience.
The existing pathway along the edge of the plateau is seamlessly incorporated into the project, creating a loop promenade around the estate. This integration connects the historic route to the new circulation network, enhancing accessibility and encouraging exploration.
This loop promenade offers guests a scenic route to experience the estate’s full beauty, with stunning views of the surrounding landscape at every turn. It connects various elements of the resort, including guest rooms, the central plaza, cafes, restaurants, and the spa, ensuring easy navigation and a cohesive experience.
By preserving and enhancing the existing pathway, we horon the site’s historical significance while providing a practical and aesthetically pleasing circulation network. This thoughtful design element ensures that the resort remains interconnected, inviting guests to leisurely stroll and discover the diverse features and amenities of the estate.
The proportions and materiality of the new structures are inspired by the existing building and the natural characteristics of the site. Natural stone is combined with tapered white ceramic extrusions to create a delicate, responsive façade. This design filters light uniquely according to its location, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and environmental performance of the buildings.
The use of natural stone ties the new construction to the historical and cultural context of the site, providing a sense of continuity and authenticity. The tapered white ceramic extrusions add a modern touch, allowing for intricate patterns of light and shadow that change throughout the day. This interplay of materials and light creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience for guests.
The façade’s design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to the comfort of the interior spaces by regulating natural light and temperature. This thoughtful approach to materiality and proportions ensures that the new buildings harmonize with the existing structures and the surrounding landscape, offering a seamless blend of tradition and innovation.
Overall, this design strategy respects the historical essence of the site while introducing contemporary elements that elevate the guest experience through beauty and functionality.
