Amaala is one of the major tourism projects that form part of the grand strategic framework known as Vision 2030, which aims to develop tourism in Saudi Arabia and make it economically independent from the oil sector. Located along the north-west coast of the Red Sea, Amaala is a 4,155 km2 “exquisite, luxury tourist destination” based on three main pillars: wellness and sports, art and culture, and sea and sun. Once completed, it will comprise hotels, high-end retail outlets, fine dining, wellness and leisure facilities, spread across “three unique communities”: Triple Bay, The Coastal Development and The Island. The design and architecture of the recently unveiled Amaala Tripple Bay Marina Yacht Club has caught our attention.
The architectural design studio HKS, founded in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, USA, has been commissioned to design the Triple Bay Yacht Club. In the words of its architects, the new building consists of “a captivating free-flowing structure that delivers a one-of-a-kind meeting point between land and sea”. In arriving at the design, the HKS designers were inspired by two “sets of geometries“: the rocky landscapes and cliffs of the Red Sea, and the relationship between humanity and the sea. If the first point of view gave rise to the club’s cantilevered terraces, the second inspiration led its designers to envision the building as the central axis of the harbour and the gateway to the sea (almost literally) of the urban environment. Or also, in their words, “a meeting place for visitors arriving from land and sea”.
On the other hand, and still according to the description of its designers, the traditional Arab houses served as a model for the smooth white exterior of the building and the luxurious interior that relies on locally sourced materials such as stone, wood or leather. As for the interior colours, the design opted for “a luxurious brass champagne colour scheme”.
As for the layout, all the building’s services will be managed in the basement. The ground floor, on the other hand, will be used for reception, in what will be the “start of a luxurious journey for guests”. This journey will continue via a Venetian-style staircase, through which they will be able to ascend to the lounges, bars and restaurants, which will be located on the upper floors. A large swimming pool on the top floor will culminate this luxurious journey through the interiors of the Amaala Triple Bay Marina.
