Project concept
Representative villa
Project concept
For this type of client, it is common practice to continuously gather information and maintain an up-to-date portfolio of quality international architectural firms, with the aim of commissioning preliminary concepts for large-scale projects in particularly challenging contexts.
In contrast to the Anglo-Saxon approach, where teams of engineers typically compile a detailed list of specifications before appointing designers, within this context, it is fairly prevalent to engage trusted architects for the initial design phase, even when the client’s brief is still relatively undefined.
This is done specifically to delegate the preliminary examination of the hierarchy of functions, the dimensioning of the various areas and the general requirements of each element of the entire development to them.
MdAA has been selected to develop the concept for a large Villa (approximately 10,000 square metres on an 8-hectare site) following a site visit to Abu Dhabi for the client’s evaluation of the project.
Since the site is intended for visits by prominent local and international delegations, in order to establish an ordering principle for the various functions required by the client, the design revolves around a central idea: building a sequence of environmental and architectural elements capable of translating into a high-impact emotional itinerary.
From the moment visitors enter the property—from a main urban thoroughfare to the seashore at the end of the itinerary—they pass through several distinct areas on their way to the Villa. The first is a theme park dedicated to the history of pearls, a vital element in the cultural heritage of this population (developed in collaboration with design partner www.parcnouveau.com).
Next, they cross a bridge adorned with sculptures, symbolizing the transition from the natural landscape of the park to the architectural composition of the Villa/Island of hospitality itself. The latter is conceived in the same way as some historical built islands, where alternating walls and green spaces are combine to form a cohesive structure (taking inspiration from locations such as Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore).
The architectural elements, alongside sunken green gardens (below the plain level)—an integral part of Arabic tradition—are arranged on the island using geometrical references based on the two organising axes, the Cardo and Decumanus, but also on the history of Arab culture.
To address the predominantly desert climate, the design of the enclosed spaces incorporated a layering approach, with external walls functioning as brise-soleils, and internal walls and glass panels designed for shading.
The project was developed over a period of three months, in accordance with the contract, with the client requiring fortnightly progress updates: Madre International, a partner of MdAA, created a platform that allowed for the submission of various architecturally defined sections of the project every 15 days. This process gradually formed a sort of puzzle, with the project’s 15-day development coming together piece by piece until the final delivery.
