If you’re thinking of the wildest large-scale project in tourism development of our time, this is it. Right off the Western coast of Saudi Arabia, lies an archipelago which contains 90 under-developed islands with the natural vigour of comatose volcanoes, deserts, untarnished beaches and archaeological sites. These are all of the National interest and recognized as treasures worthy of conservation and protection.
The Red Sea Project is a luxury collection of villas designed by architecture studios Kengo Kuma & Associates and Foster + Partners. The project aims to open Phase One in 2022, by building 100 villas and several restaurants in the Island of Ummahat Al-Shaykh, Shurayrah Island and the Southern Dunes, as well as the Red Sea International Airport. Overall, the infrastructural plan takes up 25% of land in the archipelago, although some restaurants and villas will be built on water.
Kengo Kuma will be the one to design the villas, of which there will be two types. The ‘dune villas’ are said to resemble sandy dunes, and the ‘coral villas’ fill up space on the seabed, providing 360-degree views in their spiral shape. The Japanese company says that the architecture of the resort takes inspiration in nature, and camouflages the buildings according to the natural environment of the area: “This is a resort which seeks to embrace the natural setting and rich cultural history of the region. The design for our assets was inspired by the beautifully natural occurring elements of the island. The relatively flat terrain of the island suggested a design that works with low, horizontal volumes and that we should look to gently curve the roof of the buildings to find a harmonious relationship with the ground, with roofs emerging from the ground. The landscape which surrounds the dune villas compliments this architectural language and frames the buildings with artificial dunes and locally sourced vegetation.”
Foster + Partners, is to build the destinations International Airport as well as several hotels. Both companies, however, are working together in several projects, assessing and supervising every detail as the opening date draws near. The large-scale Saudi Arabian island resort is based on the principles of sustainability and sustainable development, because they will be using environmentally friendly building materials and methods to disturb, endanger nor destroy the natural harmony of the regions’ biodiversity. Gerard Evenden, from Foster + Partners, reassures that “Our proposals are respectful of the extreme environmental sensitivity of the region, taking a ‘light-touch’ approach that will have the least detrimental impact on the wonderful biodiversity of the islands.”