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Zaha Hadid Architects’ UAE seafront resort mimics wind patterns in sand

Image courtesy of ZHA/MIR
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has unveiled its design for the Oystra residential development, a 128,000 sq m project that will contain 950 units, ranging from one-bed apartments to villas.

The layout will give three-quarters of the homes unobstructed views of the Gulf from the shores of the man-made island of Al Marjan, in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

The 20-storey residential towers will have balconies and terraces designed to mimic the ripple patterns in the sand caused by the wind.

Image courtesy of ZHA/Redvertex

The buildings will sit within a 42,000 sq m area containing gardens, courtyards, swimming pools and a beach club. The project also offers shopping, dining and leisure amenities, as well as a rooftop restaurant and infinity pool.

Oystra will be connected to Al Marjan’s coastal promenade, which is cooled by the prevailing north-westerly winds.

The project will contain green features such as seawater-based cooling, an insulating cavity placed in the building envelope and external solar shading mapped using digital analysis.

Image courtesy of ZHA/Pyxid

Christos Passas, a director of ZHA, said: “Oystra’s sculptural design is inspired by the natural energies of the sea and the sky, responding to its environment with a sense of dynamism and openness.”

Mohammad Rafiee, chief executive of Richmind, the project’s developer, added: “Oystra reflects our passion for visionary design, lifestyle innovation, and a bold approach to shaping spaces that inspire and endure through time.”

The scheme is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2029. The price of an apartment begins at $790,000.

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