Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) enlists 3Deluxe to reinvigorate the emirate’s Al Heera beach promenade.
Five years after 3deluxe transformed the downtown Noor Island into a green, urban paradise, including a Butterfly Pavilion, the German architecture office has been commissioned by Shurooq to design a vibrant, attractive urban beach with a marina as part of more comprehensive tourist infrastructure measures in Sharjah, a metropolis that is home to millions.
Urban beaches make an important contribution to the quality of life in large metropolises. Meanwhile, there is a growing trend to not only define them as special places for bathing but to integrate them more into the everyday urban context and make them accessible to different groups of people around the clock.
3deluxe was given the opportunity to transform one of the urban beaches in the emirate of Sharjah, not far from Dubai’s famous landmarks Burj Khalifa and The Palm into an attractive urban location. Restaurants, cafés, local suppliers, playgrounds, ample greenery, jogging- and bike tracks provide city dwellers with an attractive area between beach and city that serves many different purposes.
Three-organically shaped platforms each featuring eight buildings and pavilions blend harmoniously into the setting, comprising a 3 km-long beach and promenade. Embedded between clusters 2 and 3 are a marina with a clubhouse, several service buildings, and a small park. The marina is open to the public and in combination with the park enhances the location’s excellent amenity value.
ORGANIC BEACH CLUSTER
The three organic beach clusters are inserted between roads, promenades, and beaches and offer space for numerous restaurants, cafés, mini-markets, and service buildings. The arrangement not only means several restaurant terraces face the sea but simultaneously forms an inner square-like area that is lined by cafés.
Access to the promenade on the one side and the beach on the other is both intuitive and flowing. An organically shaped shaded roof covers the “square” of each cluster and creates a pleasant atmosphere. Lush greenery, seating, and playgrounds turn every cluster into a place that promotes communication and entices visitors to linger.
MARINA WITH PARK
The small marina can accommodate 100 boots of various sizes. A clubhouse with a restaurant and roof garden forms the heart of the marina. The sophisticated architectural building consists of a flowing, undulating roof providing pleasant shading for the restaurant terraces. Club guests can also enjoy an exclusive, resort-like area with pools and cabanas. An impressive administrative building with reception and premises for sailing school with boat rental and several storage and service buildings complement the ensemble. From the small park, there is a panoramic view of the marina.
Sharjah is a melting pot of numerous nationalities and cultures; around 90% of its inhabitants are foreigners, above all South Asians and migrant workers from the Far East.
The Al Heera beach development is one of many measures intended to enhance the quality of life for the city’s residents and promote both diversity and the coexistence of the various cultures, namely expats, tourists, and locals.
The design and planning of the entire project are complete. Construction began in December 2020 and expected to open in November 2021.
Project details:
Project Name: Al Heera Beach & Marina
Location: Al Heera Beach, Sharjah City, UAE
Client: Shurooq, Sharjah Investment & Development Authority
Architects and designers: 3deluxe
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