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Qatar Today Editorials - Homing in on Luxury
A sneak preview of Sharq Village and Spa, a project that combines cultural history with modern luxury.
BY SINDHU NAIR IN A city where Arab architecture is almost non-existent, with high-rises and office towers dominating the skyscape, the new development in Ras Abu Aboud is a sight for sore eyes. The Sharq Village and Spa, a sprawling piece of property tucked away on one end of the Corniche, is seen as a resurrection of Qatari-style architecture. It meticulously recreates the ambience of an ancient village, while combining cultural history with modern luxury. Ancient souq revisited Sharq Village draws its inspiration from a myth of an ancient souq founded by a noble Sheikh, that is supposed to have existed in the same location. As traders from the Arabian Peninsula and further east flocked to this souq, it grew into a village. Merchants, seafarers and pearl traders built their ornate courtyard homes from straw-brick and clay along winding alleyways. As centuries passed, the great village was abandoned and forgotten. The remains of the dilapidated ruins are now resurrected in all its splendour as Sharq Village and Spa.With an investment of approximately $450 million, 14 individual beits or Arabic courtyard villas house, 149 deluxe rooms, 16 king suites, eight twobedroom suites and one royal suite. The individual houses are scattered around an Arabic bazaar, and all of these buildings are spread over one thousand meters of private coastline to form this striking property.
One can stroll through the meandering streets, cool off at the poolside, recline on outdoor majlis or even buy traditional wares from the souq. Each courtyard is different from the other. The beautifully landscaped gardens alongside the courtyard have a trim stairway leading up to the first floor rooms. The flooring in the courtyard is mostly traditional stone that is rugged, which seems apt for this setting.
Water bodies graced with flowers, splattering fountains and the cushioned majlis overlooking this area provides the right environment to relax and unwind. The seating in the majlis is of wood and straw mats, an Indian touch that reminds one of the long history of trade between the nations. Sunduqs (the traditional wooden chests) are placed around the courtyard. Mosaic tiles with traditional motifs border the courtyard walls. Talking about the designers involved in the conceptualisation of this beautiful courtyard design, Sharq Village & Spa, General Manager, Abdul Aziz Al Emadi says, “As the main consultant, Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) was responsible for the conceptualisation and the general design approach of the project. Well known for their prestigious projects, many of which restore local Qatari architecture, AEB was also responsible for the architectural and structural design and detailing. “Dileonardo International conceptualised the interior design. The interior design development and the furniture, furnishing sourcing was a result of a joint effort of AEB and QNH, while P49 Design did the interiors of the spa, which was directly appointed by Six Senses, the Spa operator. Landscaping Design was done by Dubai based Al Khatib & Cracknell who are famous for some of their works in prestigious Hotels and Resorts.” The interiors have been treated in a unique manner. AEB Managing Director and renowned Qatari Architect, Ibrahim Jaidah says, “Every aspect of Sharq Village & Spa has been designed to truly recreate the past. The old lanes (sikkas) and the pathways are revived. So are the courtyards of the old houses. Its interior blends with the overall architectural concept. The interiors are also treated like those old villages, which include the ceiling, the walls, which replicate the mud and the plaster method used earlier in Qatari architecture. The guestroom buildings itself replicates a courtyard type house where the rooms are scattered around a central courtyard. Added to it is a special treatment of the landscaping on the courtyards. The doors are carefully crafted to imitate the antique doors with brass accents, which were then a special feature in traditional Qatari house.” God is in the Details Each detail, from the furniture to the wall trimming, is given attention to and all of them articulate local traditions. From the rugged timber ceiling in the foyer, the huge brass urn with flowers floating on water, the timber beams jutting beyond the walls near the ceilings, which is typically found in old Qatari houses all come together to make a powerful impact. The frescos in wood that run along the perimeter of the lobby and along the pillars inside the lobby, filters in sunlight, and weaves in the traditional element in a detail oriented design. The huge chandelier in the middle of the lobby has droplets of blown glass bubbles (around 900 pieces) and is an inimitable design in itself. Persian lanterns, made-to-order furniture, cast a spell of luxury that is more relaxing than overpowering. “The reception desk was designed to blend with the traditional Qatari architecture with timber used as the primary material. It was then decorated with some bronze accent to reflect a heritage theme. The timber features protruding from the walls are also based on the construction system of the traditional Qatari buildings. Also a lot of energy preservation measures have been adapted such as the use of cavity walls, thermal insulation...etc, to minimize the cooling load,” says Jaidah
The exteriors too reflect the Qatari heritage theme with plasterwork forming the chief exterior decoration along with some wooden protrusions.
Spa Sense Another unique feature of the Resort is the Six Senses Spa, where 70,000 sq ft has been devoted exclusively for a wellness and fitness area. There are four separate spa villages each offering a variety of treatment in surroundings that is truly basic and yet luxurious. “Sharq Village Spa has a unique concept compared to other spas in the region. The concept was based on the local traditional village where the Spa complex has been considered as an old village within a village. It is composed of four villas, which varies in shape and size, separated by small alleys and corridors with mud-like paving. Interiors treated with natural materials gives the Spa a unique touch in terms of setting and style that will enable you to experience both unique and memorable, focusing not only on pampering the body, but also the mind and soul,” says Al Emadi, about Sharq Spa, which is considered as one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East. The 23 treatment rooms offer traditional Arabian, Thai and Swedish therapies and are supplemented by more holistic offering such as naturopathy. The rooms give out a soothing aroma of natural herbs. “Sharq Village and Spa is also home to over 12,150 sq ft of conferencing space split between two ballrooms, a board room and one grand reception foyer. All facilities boast of the most sophisticated technology to suit all business and conference needs to receive up to a total of 950 guests,” says Al Emadi. Sharq Village and Spa can be seen as a revival of Qatari architecture, a happy marriage of culture and modern technology offering its guests the best of both worlds
This article is reproduced with special permission from Qatar Today - Qatar's only news, business and lifestyle magazine
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