WORK on two major developments by Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), which will bring a total of 715 high-end residences on the market, is progressing well with the first residents moving in this month (September). Most phases of these prestigious developments are expected to be ready for occupation by Q4.

The landmark developments include the Saadiyat Beach Residences on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted island destination offering a great variety of attractions across 27 sq km, and the Eastern Mangroves development, an integrated resort, marina, retail and residential precinct that features the emirate’s densest area of mangroves.

A key aspect of both developments is TDIC’s commitment to the environment and sustainability, which it has demonstrated even prior to the implementation of Estidama, Abu Dhabi’s sustainability initiative.

Saadiyat Beach Residences

Influenced by the Mediterranean and Arabian-inspired architectural style, the Saadiyat Beach Residences comprises 495 residences in six low-rise building apartments that are being developed in two phases, with each phase consisting of three five-storey apartment buildings with one- to four-bedroom apartments.

It is one of the island’s residential communities that comprise a mix of luxury villas, high-end townhouses and elite apartments in a family-friendly garden setting. Being developed over an 85,851-sq-m site area in the Saadiyat Beach District, a luxury residential destination, the residences feature spacious rooms, outdoor areas, and premium finishes and fittings.

TDIC has appointed Dhabi Construction Establishment, a local contracting firm, as the main contractor for the first phase of Saadiyat Beach Residences, to be completed by end of next month (October). The second phase will be completed at the end of March 2013. The project has been designed by world-leading architect JZMK Partners.

Work on the development has made considerable headway with a fully-furnished residential show apartment also set to be completed next month (October). It will offer visitors an opportunity to walk through their potential home and get a glimpse of what life at the Saadiyat Beach Residences has to offer.

“Best practice design standards have been applied to the Saadiyat Beach Residences, similar to other developments on the island,” says a spokesman for TDIC, a master developer of major tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi. “The residences reflect a premium feel; they are situated in a private gated community and offer residents an unparalleled lifestyle experience at their doorstep.”

The apartment buildings are available in two distinct interior architecture styles – Arabian and Mediterranean.

Inspired by the local climate, history and culture, the Arabian-themed residences feature elegant domed windows influenced by Islamic architecture. These are complemented by subtle interior geometric patterns and mosaics.

The Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa.

On the other hand, the Mediterranean-styled residences feature a rich colour palette of warm terracotta and earthy Autumnal colours. Architectural design elements also reflect their Mediterranean inspiration; rich natural terracotta accents and handcrafted tiles with mosaics add to the ambience.

Structural canopies are a feature of both types of apartment buildings, with a charming use of inner courtyard elements in both the architecture and the landscaping. The outdoor terraces and balconies contain a number of shaded areas, which together create a relaxing atmosphere.

The exclusive casual residences come in a variety of sizes and designs with two different quality types: deluxe and superior. Three of the apartment buildings are designated ‘deluxe’ while the remaining three as ‘superior’, available in Arabian as well as Mediterranean styles.

Saadiyat Beach Residences will offer a total of 285 ‘deluxe’ one to three-bedroom residences – ranging from 57 sq m to 158 sq m in area – fitted with creamy porcelain tiles with a straight tile finish. These homes will be provided with 445 parking slots for residents and visitors.

The development also offers a total of 210 ‘superior’ one to four-bedroom residences, fitted with patterned flagstone tiles. They range from 90 sq m to 235 sq m in area and have dedicated parking for 420 cars.

The interiors of Saadiyat Beach Residences, designed by GHD, are uncluttered and elegant with stainless Bosch appliances in kitchens across the apartments with full backsplash, and laundry. Accents of premium stone are also used in the kitchen and bathrooms, along with high-quality fittings throughout.

The kitchen and bathroom joinery is finished with a timber veneer and the wardrobes with matt lacquered finish in cream. All residences have been fitted with Duravit sanitary ware, Hansgrohe tap ware, as well as granite marble counter-tops and high-quality porcelain tiles throughout.

“It’s also a self-styled interior, which residents can move in and make their own,” says the TDIC spokesman.

The colour schemes for the residences were chosen to enhance the architecture of each design. Inspired by the colours of the desert and the Mediterranean, the beige and earthy colour schemes were designed to create an elegant atmosphere. Light and dark joinery colour schemes are featured in warm tones, which are alternated between floors.
Turning to the landscaping, the spokesman says: “The overriding landscape design philosophy for the Saadiyat Beach Residences is one of a garden oasis influenced by the Mediterranean or Arabian-inspired architectural style.”

The Arabian influence is expressed through grids of palm trees and palm groves, planting, structured spaces, reflective water features and small formal plazas with patterned paving, reminiscent of landscapes from Alhambra, Granada, Mezquita and Cordoba. Complementing the Mediterranean architecture are elements such as manicured lawns, floral displays, organic landscape layouts, shaded informal spaces and reflective water features.

The landscaping also includes a variety of features and facilities to serve the leisure needs of residents and visitors such as a network of connected open spaces to support passive and active recreational activities. Improved micro-climatic conditions have been created through planting and landscaping structures, providing shade while reducing glare.

The landscaping and outdoor environment is also enhanced with decorative lamp posts at appropriate intervals throughout, with the lighting design having given due attention to safety and aesthetics.

In addition to these features, residents will enjoy easy access to first-class facilities, which include the security provided by a gated community, kids’ pool, lap pool, outdoor covered barbecue area with kitchenette, tennis court, multi-purpose court, community changing rooms and shower areas, gym, and prayer rooms.

In line with TDIC’s commitment to applying sustainable regulations in all areas of design on Saadiyat, Saadiyat Beach Residences will incorporate a number of energy conservation measures. Not only is appropriate insulation applied to reduce heat gain, but the design also allows for deep balconies and terraces, awnings and other overhangs, all of which aid in mitigating the penetration of the sun through the glazing. Materials used in the construction have low maintenance requirements and contribute to the durability of the buildings. To converse water, the apartments have low flow fixtures and fittings, without compromising on the water pressure.

Saadiyat Beach Residences ... Mediterranean style.

The design of the landscape has also included several sustainability initiatives such as the use of water-saving fixtures and minimising the use of potable water with low consuming plants.

Residents of Saadiyat Beach Residences enjoy a prime location in close proximity to the Saadiyat Cultural District and next door to a collection of international five-star resorts, and top-class sports and leisure facilities, including the region’s first championship beachfront golf course, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, and the world’s first Monte-Carlo Beach Club outside of Monaco – Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat, in addition to The St Regis Saadiyat Island – Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi.

Additionally, The Collection at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort – a retail complex consists of a mix of 22 restaurants and retail outlets set to open shortly – is also nearby.

Eastern Mangroves

Meanwhile, The Eastern Mangroves Residences – one of two residential components of the massive Eastern Mangroves district – is set to mark a milestone with its first residents expected to move in starting this month (September).

The overall Eastern Mangroves complex comprises Eastern Mangroves Residences and Mangroves Promenade Apartments, two luxurious urban residences offering resort-style living in a prime city location. It occupies a prime position along a 1.2-km stretch of Abu Dhabi’s protected mangroves district, a 15 minutes’ drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Apart from the residential components, the district also features a 222-room five-star hotel and spa by award-winning hospitality group Anantara – offering a luxury spa, impressive ballroom and a variety of high-end restaurants – as well as a 30-berth marina, and a retail complex featuring a wide variety of outlets, all due for completion by the year-end.

The layouts and architectural designs of all the apartments have been thoughtfully-developed to suit three different lifestyles: Emirati, GCC and Western. In the Emirati layout, the majlis, living room and bedrooms are kept separate with closed corridors; while in the Western layout, the kitchen is open to the living space. In the GCC layout, there is no majlis, but the kitchen and bedrooms are placed separately from the living room. A neutral cream, beige and brown colour palette was chosen for the scheme of the apartment to enhance the architecture of the design.

The Eastern Mangroves Residences, being developed in the first phase, comprises a limited number of 50 high-end exclusive residences. These include 48 luxury three-bedroom apartments (298 sq m to 309 sq m in size area) and two four-bedroom penthouses (600 sq m in size), all set in six low-rise buildings with private balconies/terraces overlooking the mangroves and the Abu Dhabi waterfront.

Inspired by contemporary Arabic style, these residences are of a smaller scale to give residents an impression of living in houses and villas, rather than in a large block of apartments. This impression will be enhanced by the use of exclusive materials, such as rich stone and timber and stunning mosaics and carefully planned spaces.

Due to the limited number of apartments in each building and with each building only having two apartments per floor, these homes will offer a high level of privacy. The apartments are finished to exceptionally high standards, with features including Bosch kitchen appliances, Crema and Areha ‘Exotic Sand’ marble tops in the bathrooms, and teak timber wood and granite tops in the kitchens.

Residents can also enjoy a number of private and maintained facilities, including a communal pool area, gym and extensive parking for 199 cars.

The interiors at The Eastern Mangroves Residences.

The Eastern Mangroves Promenade Apartments incorporate 170 high-end apartments set in two buildings. These include four 57-sq-m studios; 159 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments (from 86 sq m to 227 sq m); and seven one-, two- and three-bedroom penthouses (from 170 sq m to 515 sq m). Residents will have access to two swimming pools, two gyms and a retail complex within walking distance, in addition to extensive parking for 414 cars.

These residences are part of the second phase of development and will be completed by Q4 of 2012. The first residents are expected to move in starting in the first quarter of 2013.

The apartments will offer the comforts of waterfront living as well as high levels of privacy while providing stunning views over the marina and its facilities. Each apartment features a high standard of finishes, including a fully-fitted large open kitchen with Bosch appliances, Dark Emperador Galala marble tops and red oak timber wood, finished in a warm and fresh palette, complemented by accents of light timber and stone. The interior design of these has been inspired by the surrounding green mangroves and waterways.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Mangroves Promenade retail complex will offer a wide variety of outlets for Abu Dhabi residents, resort guests and tourists, including six food and beverage venues, a supermarket and a ladies beauty salon. It will also provide an inviting open-air environment for customers and visitors who can benefit from extensive parking facilities including 370 parking spaces with dedicated valet parking.

“The Promenade features a loose interpretation of a suq-type avenue, with the units set back from the open air by an arch-fronted open colonnade providing a pedestrian zone specifically for the retail areas, where residents can enjoy jogging and biking activities,” says the TDIC spokesman.

The total floor area of The Promenade is 3,500 sq m, with units ranging in size from 201 sq m to 800 sq m.

The overall development features the densest area of mangroves in Abu Dhabi, covering 8.5 sq km. The area is home to more than 200 fish species and 50 bird species. The mangroves feature one mangrove species – Avicennia marina, commonly known as Grey Mangrove – the only indigenous mangrove species that can survive in the UAE’s harsh saline climate.

In line with TDIC’s focus on developing destinations that protect and enhance their surrounding natural environments, the Eastern Mangroves development is utilising the latest marine technology to help preserve the future of this habitat. One example of how the environment is being protected is the introduction of a pH-balanced reef into the channel, a technology developed in Venice, Italy, to encourage natural marine life, says the spokesman.

He says that a total of 60,000 mangrove seedlings have been planted along the channel section in front of the hotel development in order to enhance and expand the natural mangrove stands.

The Eastern Mangroves complex is being constructed in accordance with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi’s approved Construction Environmental Management Plan and Environmental Impact Assessment. Its development is monitored on a regular basis, including quarterly third-party environmental audits, which are carried out on behalf of Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

“Al Ain-based UAE University conducted water quality and mangrove monitoring during the marine works at the Eastern Mangroves in order to ascertain the works were not impacting the dense mangrove area adjacent to the development,” he says.

Environmental mitigation measures such as waste segregation and management, dust suppression, and mangrove planting are being implemented on site to ensure protection of the environment, he adds.