Fernando Guerra

The Al Faya Lodge is a Desert Retreat and Spa in Sharjah, UAE by Anarchitect

Client
SHUROOQ (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority)
Architecture, Interiors & Furniture design
ANARCHITECT
Landscape
DesertINK
Furniture Procurement
H&H
Spa Consultant
The Wellness
Contractor
Alba Tower & Obaid Al Abdi
Joinery
Thomas & McQuaid
Lighting
Delta Lighting
Materials
CorTen steel, Laminam porcelain, Polished concrete, Parklex exterior grade timber, TMT Ashwood, Travertine stone, Flamed granite stone

Architecture practice Anarchitect has applied its contextual modern approach to architecture, interiors and furniture design with the Al Faya Lodge, in the idyllic, Sharjah desert, UAE.

The 500sqm development reimagines two single-story, stone-built structures from the 1960s, previously occupied as a clinic and grocery store, into a contemporary boutique hotel and restaurant; with the addition of a newly built saltwater spa building.

The project comissioned by SHUROOQ (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority) pioneers the region’s architectural movement towards adaptive reuse of heritage buildings and structures, using local vernacular and contextual choice of materials as a starting point for the architectural discourse.

Project Description

Set at the foot of Mount Alvaah, the Al Faya Lodge is nestled into the UAE’s prehistoric crimson desert landscape with close proximity to the UAE’s first petroleum pump. The Al Faya Lodge is a new addition to the Sharjah Collection – a group of distinctive boutique hotels and eco-retreats purposefully located in key locations throughout the Sharjah Emirate.

The architecture and design of the Al Faya Lodge, by architect Jonathan Ashmore and his Dubai and London-based practice ANARCHITECT are paramount to the experience it provides. Two single-storey, stone-built buildings from the 1960s, previously occupied as a clinic and grocery store, have been re-imagined into a contemporary boutique lodge and restaurant. Together with the addition of a newly built saltwater spa building, Al Faya Lodge is set to become a new and unique destination in the UAE.

The Lodge

The Lodge comprises of a dining, reception room, library & roof terrace. Within each room of the five-bedroom lodge is a feature skylight for star-gazing, the luxe room has the added experience of a private roof terrace and dual aspect.

The Spa

The purpose-built spa building houses an open-air saltwater pool and three salt spa experiences; heat, water and salt inhalation. The spa offers complete privacy with a self-service approach during the guests’ stay.

The restaurant

The restaurant and visitors’ reception are located on the other side of the property and comprise a dining room, outdoor terrace, fire-pit and a public roof terrace.

Al Faya Lodge offered a one-of-a-kind and exciting challenge for ANARCHITECT with their passion for site-responsive projects and affinity to detail and materiality. The choice of material is contextual and relevant not only to the harsh, arid, desert climate but also to the historical presence of the iron in the region.

The Lodge, Spa and Restaurant buildings are divided by a through-road which creates an unusual and dynamic urbanity to the master plan of the retreat. The buildings together with the historical petroleum pump command a presence to the road in the scarce desert landscape and will become both a destination and stop-off for those who know and for those who then discover this new intervention. The project is designed to become a destination that offers relief from the intensity of the City for short breaks. Al Faya Lodge is purposely primordial allowing one to simply exist, absorb and contemplate the surroundings in your own individual way and time. It embodies the ambition of the client and design vision of ANARCHITECT to create a memorable experience for the curious, discerning clientele, where a unique, passionate and contextual approach to the project has resulted in one-of-a-kind property.

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