Marina West, Bahrain is a prestigious development incorporating recreational and leisure facilities and a golf-buggy transport system.
Throughout the project the emphasis was on maximising visual and amenity quality without significantly increasing construction costs. The commission concluded with a full detailed design intention drawings for the design-build contractor.
The residents have a private viewing terrace overlooking the marina, directly above the retail units and ‘al fresco’ restaurant areas. Creating an opportunity for sophisticated lounging and likely to become a particularly popular photo location. The space is subtly divided into areas with slightly different characters but all with dramatic views and impressive sculptural features to provide interest.
To create contrast with the generally hard-edged, straight lines of the majority of the marina environment, the beachfront zone deliberately exploits organic forms and furniture elements are arranged to create smaller spaces or niches for semi-private relaxation, with barbecue areas, lounges, and hammocks, beach facilities are informal and loosely defined.
The marina, unusually, is fully tidal. This feature exploits the tidal movement with a pool with ‘stepping stones’, which is open to the marina basin: as the tide reaches its final height, the pool gradually fills, reducing the number of stepping stones, and increasing the depth of water between them, creating a focus of interest and informal children's play form a natural feature.
