German design office 3deluxe has developed the architectural concept for an eco-friendly beach district in the UAE. The Kalba Beach development sits on the coast east of the Dubai Metropolitan Area and is part of an urban oasis that extends for over a mile along the shoreline. The project’s most visible feature will be its rammed earth construction, a material that is gaining popularity with environmentally-conscious architects and constructors.
Described as a “biophilic neighborhood of rammed earth structures,” the development’s fifteen buildings will house a number of amenities, including a mix of established and local restaurants, cafes, and kiosks. The collection of buildings will be “embedded in a newly created biotope of subtropical vegetation,” says 3deluxe. The design office adds that the project “aims to be as carbon reduced in construction and operation as possible.”
It is often the case that tourism, with its obvious commercial goal, does not align with eco-friendly design. In the Kalba Beach development, 3deluxe is at pains to point out that “the walls of the commercial buildings are mainly constructed out of rammed earth components.” A visually expressive and ancient-like material, rammed earth is both environmentally-friendly and resilient. It is made up of compressed layers of local raw materials, including sand, gravel, clay, and a stabilizer. The layering of different earth tones creates an appealing contemporary aesthetic, one that 3deluxe will enhance with careful details, such as wooden inserts and perforated wall panels. In rammed earth structures, there is a low level of embodied carbon, minimal waste, and the potential for reuse after demolition. With its porous surface, 3deluxe explains that rammed earth “improves room acoustics and natural ventilation while maintaining a stable, balanced temperature level.” Moreover, “it acts as a thermal storage mass and regulates room humidity.”
Adding to the Kalba Beach development’s environmental credentials, 3deluxe highlights the use of wood in the project: “service and administrative buildings will be constructed with sustainable wooden facades, and walkways and plazas will be made of wooden planks to minimize soil sealing.” Photovoltaic systems on roof areas will provide a significant amount of the development’s energy requirements and grey water will supply irrigation for plants — the use of indigenous species will reduce the amount of water required.
At Kalba Beach, there is an emphasis on an unobstructed interaction between visitors and the natural surroundings. Buildings are designed with open facades and terraces, and roof shades composed of natural rope structures will offer an element of respite from the hot desert climate. “Architecture and landscape no longer coexist as two static and isolated concepts,” says 3deluxe. “Collectively, they enable social interaction and promote inclusive diversity and coexistence of the various cultures, expats, tourists, and locals.”
A project for the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the Alba Beach construction starts in the summer of 2023, with the opening planned for mid 2024.
