London-based architect Markus Jatsch Partners has been awarded a contract to rejuvenate a 4km stretch of beach front in Abu Dhabi.
The firm will redesign the emirate’s Corniche Beach for the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Architects’ Journal reported.
Working with American landscape stars Martha Schwartz Partners, Markus Jatsch said it hopes the project will act as a springboard to other public realm projects in the region.
Jatsch said in comments published by the UK-based magazine: “We hope to win more work like this not only in Abu Dhabi but across the Middle East.
“There is real potential in the Middle East – they seem to be starting to realise that signature buildings by famous architects can not solve all their problems.”
The Corniche Beach scheme involves turning existing and reclaimed beaches, promenade and parkland into multi-use and flexible space.
Facilities will include changing rooms, snack bars, restaurants, beach clubs, bike trails, sports areas and children’s play areas, the magazine said.
The corniche contract is part of the UAE capital’s plan to improve facilities for the growing number of tourists visiting the emirate.
Abu Dhabi saw hotel revenues rise one percent in the first quarter of 2012.
Revenues topped AED1.2bn ($362m) while average room rates hit AED500, the emirate’s tourism authority said in a statement in April.
Figures released showed that 594,918 guests stayed in the emirate’s 130 hotels and hotel apartments from January to March end this year – a 17 percent increase on Q1 of 2011.
Guest nights over the same three-month period rose 10 percent year-on-year to stand at 1.725 million.
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