A MIXED-use development that will be the first of its kind and scale in Bahrain and a 50,000 sq m mall in Busaiteen are among the latest projects that Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) has added to its extensive portfolio last year.

The mixed-use development, which is currently in the final design stages is the Souk Al Arabia, which will be located in Budaiya. MSCEB is the architecture and engineering design and supervision consultant for the project, which comprises 307 apartments for sale, 200 serviced apartments and retail facilities including various food and beverage outlets. Offering approximately 140,000 sq m of gross built-up area, the development will be a first of its kind and scale in Bahrain, according to MSCEB.

A bedroom view at Le Reef’s west tower.

“The uniqueness of the project lies in the way traditional Bahraini architectural character has been combined with the best, modern amenities. The traditional courtyard – an integral part of Bahraini architecture – drives the design philosophy of the project,” says a spokesman for the practice.
Other traditional elements like wind-towers, mashrabiya, pergolas, traditional parapets and screens, are being used to define the architectural language of the building.
MSCEB was also recently commissioned by developer Enjaz Capital to develop concepts for the proposed 50,000-sq-m shopping mall in Busaiteen. The Kingdom Mall, as it will be known, will be conveniently located adjacent to the Muharraq Municipality building and King Hamad Hospital. The four-storey mall will offer about 24,000 sq m of leasable retail/commercial space with adequate parking at basement and ground levels.
Apart from these developments, MSCEB is currently supervising the construction of the 33-storey five-star Banader Rotana Hotel near Bab Al Bahrain, a prime node in downtown Manama.

A Jasmi’s outlet at Bahrain International Airport ... complete.

With piling work having been completed on Banader Rotana Hotel, the main contractor G P Zachariades has started mobilising to start structural works on the 33-storey tower, which has a basement level as well as six levels of car parking located behind the atrium at the entrance. The plush glass-clad tower will feature 22 guest room floors and one service floor on the top, as well as the hotel’s public lobby, restaurants, bars, conference rooms, spa, gym and swimming pool deck set in a landscaped sun terrace. In addition, the hotel will have a coffee shop, an all-day dining facility and a speciality restaurant.
Construction is also advancing in full swing in the Diplomatic Area on the Diplomat Office Tower and Al Matrook Tower, both of which are 35 storeys high. Two basement levels, the podium with car-parking facilities and five typical floors have been completed on the Diplomat Office Tower while structural work has been completed on Al Matrook Tower.
Meanwhile, currently in the final stages of tendering is the Kuwait Finance House (KFH)’s knowledge-based services office building at the Bahrain International Investment Park, a 12,800-sq-m office building, fully designed by MSCEB.
“The building is efficiently designed as two identical wings, oriented north and south and positioned 20 m apart, with two bridging floors at levels four and five accommodating the conference and cafeteria areas and shading the lower floors while creating a courtyard at the ground level. The cafeteria is also linked to an outdoor roof garden. Parking for more than 200 cars is provided at grade.

Completed projects
Over the last 40 years, MSCEB has been instrumental in shaping the skyline of Bahrain, having delivered a number of buildings, which are now a part of the urban fabric of the kingdom.
“This year heralds the 40th year of MSCEB’s pioneering status as the biggest and the most prestigious architecture and engineering consultancy service in Bahrain. After four decades of innovation and excellence in the field, MSCEB has been and continues to remain a clear leader,” says the spokesman.

The Arad Bay bridge ... environmental focus.

The many new buildings and developments that were completed last year include the RCSI Bahrain (previously called RCSI Medical University of Bahrain), the Marriott Executive Apartments, Riffa Views International School, and a Jaguar car showroom – all of which are now operational. In addition, the landmark Riffa Views villas are gradually being handed over to the clients in a phased manner, while more continue to be completed. This apart, three more of the BBK (Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait) Financial Malls, located across the kingdom were handed over during the year.
At the end of last year, MCSEB also handed over the Toyota Plaza, a 36,000-sq-m workshop and showroom facility for Toyota and Lexus. This facility, part of the Toyota Complex in Salmabad, is said to be the largest car workshop facility in Bahrain and boasts state-of-the-art engineering facilities to service all the present and future ranges of Toyota and Lexus cars. It houses a showroom-cum-workshop building, a commercial vehicle workshop, car-parking for customers and staff and ancillary facilities such as staff canteen and dining areas.
Also, newly completed and handed over to The Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife Affairs is the development of Arad Bay Protectorate Area. “Primarily geared towards protecting the environment and maintaining the natural eco-system, the project includes a 3.2-km-long walkway around the bay, recreational gardens and other public amenities. As part of the development, two pedestrian bridges were also built on the adjoining highways to link the nearby neighbourhoods with the bay,” he explains.
“Bridge One, spanning 45 m, is distinctively post modernistic, with its expanse of coated concrete, aluminium cladding, stainless steel wire fabric, together with ramped accessways. Bridge Two features a 60-m laminated timber arched support system, with a unique wave-like fabric roof canopy,” he says.

KFH’s knowledge-based office building at BIIP.

Interior design
Meanwhile, MSCEB’s full-fledged interior design department has also been engaged in various projects and has recently handed over the Jasmi’s fast-food outlet at the Bahrain International Airport and 11 floors of KFH’s headquarters as well as Credit Suisse’s regional headquarters office, both at the Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC).

The design department is presently working towards delivering three other Jasmi’s outlets around the kingdom. Other interior design projects in various stages of design include the BICE Ristorante at the BWTC, Starbucks outlet at Bahrain International Airport, Isa Town Mall extension, and an Arab Bank outlet in East Riffa.
MSCEB is the interior designer for two 10-storey towers on Reef Island, which earned the CNBC Arabia Property Award as the best Marina Development in the Middle East.
“The apartments are a combination of one and two bedrooms with stunning 1,000 sq m penthouses on top of each tower. Each of the towers are themed – one a Western modern theme and the other, an ethnic Eastern theme. Every apartment has been carefully planned by MSCEB so that each bedroom and living area has expansive sea or lagoon views,” the spokesman says.