AL RAHA WATERFRONT COURTYARD

Al Raha Waterfront Courtyard Apartments has been designed to create a living community that facilitates a sustainable, efficient and natural way of life. The advantages of its design will benefit the developer, owner and occupier of the community alike.

Within the development constraints of the plot the building has been thoughtfully positioned and oriented to maximize physical and visual connections to beneficial surroundings and views. The commonly default organisation of a double loaded corridor has been drawn apart to become a courtyard. The functions of corridor and courtyard are overlaid to create a naturally ventilated external space providing principle circulation via shaded walkways and bridged voids. This naturally cross ventilated ‘gorge‘ is the environmental, functional and social heart of the community.

The architectural form and facade treatment defines the individual apartments within the building while integrating external balconies and green spaces - articulating and elevating the building from its massing. As visual interest is created by the building’s form, its materiality can generally remain simple and economic, allowing luxurious materials to be utilized in key locations to greater effect.

The volume of air conditioned internal space is minimized by the use of the courtyard as circulation, and areas of glazing are shaded by the balconies woven into the facade. This passive design strategy significantly reduces energy consumption, assisting with the project’s target of an Estidama 1 Pearl rating.