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<p>Scope: Large-scale mixed-use development integrating residential, retail, and leisure programming. Urban design segregates vehicular and pedestrian flows - emphasizing walkability through narrow alleys and Khan (traditional covered marketplace) inspired by historic Arab cities. Active retail, entertainment districts, quality public realm with engineered microclimates. Vernacular-inspired architecture.<br>Challenge: Deliver three simultaneous Alef Group objectives: create benchmark urban development for Sharjah, differentiate from typical local real estate offerings (ubiquitous high-rise typologies), and maintain flexibility to adapt product mix to changing market demand. Technical challenge of creating genuine walkability in Gulf climate - requiring microclimate engineering to enable pedestrian experience in extreme heat.<br>Approach: Modular master plan enables building typology adjustments based on target product mix - providing market responsiveness without redesigning entire development. Modular building design with flexible floor plates accommodates multiple layout configurations as market conditions shift. Walkability prioritized through narrow alleys and Khan typology rather than conventional wide streets - creating human-scale pedestrian environment. Engineered microclimates (shading, cooling strategies) optimize outdoor pedestrian comfort. Architecture draws from Sharjah vernacular rather than generic high-rise towers - differentiating product while respecting cultural context.<br>Status: Ongoing</p>
Urban planning and design
Landscape design
Architecture design
Interior design
Structural engineering
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
Infrastructure enigneering
Solid waste management
Construction supervision
Architect of record
Laceco responded to the above objectives by:
Designing a consistent urban framework that nevertheless provided a diversity in the individual architectural character of buildings.
Curating a seamless pedestrian experience in a site that had a challenging topography and was exposed to dominant winds.
Anchoring the site along three platforms linked to each other by a continuous game of terraces, stairs, suspended bridges and esplanades that gently slope down the length of the development.
Conducting value engineering and cost optimization studies to preserve economic viability of the development.
Laceco responded to these objectives in several ways. A modular master plan was developed so that buildings cross out could be modified based on target product mix. Modular buildings with floors that can accommodate a multitude of layouts were designed to respond to changing market conditions. Walkability was placed at the center of the development through the integration of narrow alleys and a Khan inspired from old Arab cities. External areas were emphasized through engineered microclimates to optimize pedestrian experience. Laceco differentiated Mamsha‚Äôs architecture from the typical high-rise typologies and instead inspired itself by Sharjah‚ vernacular.
