< Previous102 Iva wears jacket in fantasy tweed embellished with jewelled buttons, leather vest and shorts embellished with jewelled buttons, belt in leather and strass, and earrings in metal, glass beads and strass. All by CHANEL. OPPOSITE PAGE: Coral leather blazer and shorts embellished with jewelled buttons, necklace in metal and strass, black sandals in leather, rope and metal. All by CHANEL. AD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10213/12/2020 11:19:24 AMAD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10313/12/2020 11:19:40 AM104 Iva wears cotton jacket with jewelled buttons, white cotton Bermuda shorts, mini belt bag in white and black grained leather, white square sunglasses, sandals in leather, rope and metal. All by CHANEL. OPPOSITE PAGE: Cardigan in cotton and silk embellished with camellias and jewelled buttons, cotton and silk top embellished with camellias, leather and strass belt, and earrings in metal, glass beads and strass. All by CHANEL. AD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10413/12/2020 11:19:49 AMAD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10513/12/2020 11:20:08 AM106 Framed by the soaring Jebel Buhais ridge, Sharjah’s Buhais Geology Park has an abundance of marine fossils dating back 65 million years. Five interconnected pods designed by Hopkins Architects were inspired by fossilised sea urchins and house exhibition areas, a theatre and a café with mountain views. PHOTOGR A PHY : DA N Y E ID AD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10613/12/2020 11:20:16 AMIva wears tweed halter top and tweed trousers embellished with braid and jewelled buttons, multicolour bag in woven threads and leather, black sandals in leather, rope and metal. All by CHANEL. Model: Iva at Michelle Hay Management Make Up: Toni Malt for CHANEL Hair: Michel Kirwakis at MMG. Photographed at Buhais Geology Park, Sharjah, UAE. AD_036_98-107_Arena_Chanel_11437707.indd 10713/12/2020 11:20:36 AM- A D Par tnership - ISLANDS OF DREAMS The Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most hotly anticipated tourism openings, combining luxury design with sustainability and breathtaking nature experiences AD_036_108-110_Partnership_Red Sea_11454469.indd 10813/12/2020 11:22:51 AMEco tourism is the biggest trend in travel right now, and thanks to climate change, it’s one that won’t fade in the future. But there’s another exciting new development on the horizon, too: regenerative tourism. The pioneer is Saudi Arabia’s trailblazing Red Sea Project, opening at the end of 2022, which is one of the first global destinations to take this proactive approach. Occupying 28,000 square kilometres of pristine land off the west coast of the kingdom, The Red Sea Project will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, will feature low-waste buildings constructed with sustainable materials, and will leave 75 per cent of its islands untouched. The location of overwater guest villas has been planned in accordance with extensive marine investigations, in order to safeguard coral reefs and sea currents. Light and noise pollution is minimised, and single-use plastics banned. In addition, the annual number of visitors will be carefully managed to avoid over-tourism, with the intention to deliver a net positive conservation benefit of up to 30 per cent by 2040. If you are one of the fortunate visitors to this new destination, you’ll be privileged indeed. This is one of the most ambitious tourism projects ever, with an archipelago of 90 unspoilt islands, 200km of idyllic coastline, precious coral reefs, and inland sites boasting mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes and ancient heritage treasures. The first phase of the resort will see two inland sites and five islands thoughtfully developed and the opening of an international airport, designed by architecture practice Foster + Partners. Here, the firm’s Head of Studio, Gerard Evenden, gives AD an insight into the ambitious project. What is the most exciting part about being involved with The Red Sea Project? It’s a unique opportunity to work with one of the best-preserved coral reefs in the world and put Saudi Arabia on the global luxury tourism map. The research being carried out on these coral reefs could help preserve and revive others around the world. Our design approach is aligned to the idea of creating a sustainable vision for the future with an aim to preserve the natural beauty of the region. The project is also symbolic of Saudi Arabia opening up to the world, off ering an incredible opportunity for both locals and international tourists to experience the exceptional natural beauty of the country. Which elements has Foster + Partners been involved with? We are working on a number of projects in the region including the Red Sea Airport as well as three major developments – Southern Dunes, located in the mountainous region inland, and Ummahat Al Sheikh and Shurayrah, exclusive island resorts along the Red Sea coast. The key things you were asked to consider? The vision has been based on three main tenets: creating an exquisite luxury destination around one of the world’s hidden natural treasures; setting new global standards in sustainable development; and positioning Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map. AD_036_108-110_Partnership_Red Sea_11454469.indd 10913/12/2020 11:23:16 AM- A D Par tnership - Have you embraced biophilic design? Yes of course. The natural world – both from the sea and the land – is a direct inspiration for the entire project. The design responds to the colours of the local landscape – the pale hues of the sand, the dense vegetation and the spectacular shades of the sea. Each resort is carefully curated to be a unique place, while neatly fitting in with the larger sustainable vision for the islands. The palette of materials is also inspired by nature and will be low-impact and light-touch. What do you think visitors will find most surprising? The stunning hues of the sea are unique to the place. Also, the close proximity of the mainland allows for a wide variety of experiences for guests, who could be paddling in the crystal blue waters in the morning and revelling in the dunescape at sundown. It’s a truly spectacular location that has been hitherto hidden away from the world. How has sustainability been embedded into the designs? The entire project is underpinned by a commitment to sustainability, focussing squarely on creating a circular economy that produces energy from fully renewable sources. The masterplan combines existing construction methods with the latest pre-fabrication building techniques and cutting-edge environmental technology to minimise the impact on the fragile ecosystems. Can you give me some examples of the ‘light touch’ approach you have taken? The proposals are respectful of the extreme environmental sensitivity of the region, taking an approach that will have the least detrimental impact on the wonderful biodiversity of the island. The project will investigate appropriate construction technologies that will carry out most of the disruptive construction work off -site using sustainable materials and processes. The projects will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and provide a unique opportunity to establish a design approach that produces less waste while also creating environmentally responsive buildings. theredsea.sa/en; fosterandpartners.com LFROM TOP: Dunes at Coral Bloom, Shurayrah island; located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, The Red Sea Project is home to diverse natural environments including extinct volcanoes and azure lagoons. 110 AD_036_108-110_Partnership_Red Sea_11454469.indd 11013/12/2020 11:24:46 AM111 “THE VISION WAS TO CREATE A THEATRE TO NATURE. COMPLETE INTEGRATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT WAS CRUTIAL” Escape 114114 AD_036_111_Escape_Opener_11440409.indd 11113/12/2020 11:25:51 AMNext >