saadiyat island Master PLan

The urban oasis. Shaded courtyards form the heart of the fare inspired buildings creating relaxing gardens for local residents. Modern architecture, middle eastern vernacular design.

Our team at SFA have extensive experience in urban masterplanning. Recognising this experience we were asked by Far Glory, Taiwan’s largest real estate conglomerate, to develop a masterplan linking New York University campus to the Marina District of Saadiyat Island, a small natural island located just off the coast of Abu-Dhabi.

The project's key drivers were to minimise the use of cars and promote environmentally friendly transportation. This was done by creating a raised boulevard, or ‘highline’ creating a direct pedestrian link between the NYU campus and the marina, flanked by shops and local amenities to create a local high street for the development.

Our approach for the residential buildings started from the analysis of the local vernacular, the Fareej. We developed a modern version of this local housing style to create a masterplan that forms around a ‘necklace’ of cool shaded courtyards creating an urban oasis for all the residents and visitors. The orientation of the blocks minimises solar gain whilst maximising cool air flow from the sea to naturally keep the area cool.

Diagrams demonstrating the Fareej inspired buildings for the concept for the masterplan.
The fareej inspired buildings come together to form distinct communities within the masterplan.
Exploded axonometric of the building showing the key construction components that make op the retail spaces, apartments and penthouses.
CGI by Team Macarie showing the retail and apartments down the main pedestrian avenue..
CGI by team macarie of the main boulevard down the the Saadiyat Island New York University Campus to the Marina
CGI CGI by Team Macarie of the luxury Marina. The avenues all lead down to a public promenade on the waters edge.
The night view plan of the whole development. The courtyards form urban oases between the bruins and the avenues leads down to the marina promenade. Private penthouse courtyards form the top floors of the residential buildings. A transport hub at th…