Cent­re Wa­sit Wet­land (UAE)

Prix Aga Khan 2019

Prix Aga Khan
Publikationsdatum
09-09-2019
The remarkably simple building has two wings. The first one contains administrative and educational spaces, while the other accommodates the observation galleries.

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The remarkably simple building has two wings. The first one contains administrative and educational spaces, while the other accommodates the observation galleries.
© X-Architects / Nelson Garrido (photographer)
Site plan.

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Site plan.
© X-Architects
Most of the building is buried beneath ground level, leaving the landscape unspoiled. A sloping ramp gives access to its entrance.

3 / 20

Most of the building is buried beneath ground level, leaving the landscape unspoiled. A sloping ramp gives access to its entrance.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The visitors can observe birds in conditions very similar to those of their natural habitat.

4 / 20

The visitors can observe birds in conditions very similar to those of their natural habitat.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The entrance offers an area for children and schoolchildren to take part in educational activities.

5 / 20

The entrance offers an area for children and schoolchildren to take part in educational activities.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The dividing wall between the galleries hides all the services and provides surface for awareness and educational material.

6 / 20

The dividing wall between the galleries hides all the services and provides surface for awareness and educational material.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery was arranged in order to allow the visitors to comfortably sit, draw and take notes while they observe the surrounding landscape.

7 / 20

The gallery was arranged in order to allow the visitors to comfortably sit, draw and take notes while they observe the surrounding landscape.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The viewing gallery is made of continuous reflective and insulated glass shaded by an overhang. It opens on the aviaries.

8 / 20

The viewing gallery is made of continuous reflective and insulated glass shaded by an overhang. It opens on the aviaries.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery spaces are quite bare. They have an industrial feel owing to a dark metal mesh ceiling that lightly screens the steel structure and all services.

9 / 20

The gallery spaces are quite bare. They have an industrial feel owing to a dark metal mesh ceiling that lightly screens the steel structure and all services.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery allows the visitors to have a close look at the birds, without disturbing their tranquility.

10 / 20

The gallery allows the visitors to have a close look at the birds, without disturbing their tranquility.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Birds tend to come near the galleries’ glass walls, allowing visitors to get a closer look at them.

11 / 20

Birds tend to come near the galleries’ glass walls, allowing visitors to get a closer look at them.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The dividing wall between the galleries hides services and provides surface for awareness and educational material for the visitors.

12 / 20

The dividing wall between the galleries hides services and provides surface for awareness and educational material for the visitors.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The centre blends with the environment, minimizing its visual impact on the surroundings.

13 / 20

The centre blends with the environment, minimizing its visual impact on the surroundings.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Visitors can see inside the kitchen in which the birds’ meals are prepared.

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Visitors can see inside the kitchen in which the birds’ meals are prepared.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The glass walls are at a slight angle. It minimizes the sunlight glare for the viewers inside and reflects the landscape to the birds outside.

15 / 20

The glass walls are at a slight angle. It minimizes the sunlight glare for the viewers inside and reflects the landscape to the birds outside.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Just like the kitchen, the visitors can see the inside of the incubation room, in which it is sometimes possible to witness the birth of hatchlings.

16 / 20

Just like the kitchen, the visitors can see the inside of the incubation room, in which it is sometimes possible to witness the birth of hatchlings.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Large areas of the centre are dedicated to educational activities.

17 / 20

Large areas of the centre are dedicated to educational activities.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The 200,000 sqm site underwent extensive landscaping. Only indigenous trees and plants were planted, in order to encourage various types of flora and fauna to thrive in the area.

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The 200,000 sqm site underwent extensive landscaping. Only indigenous trees and plants were planted, in order to encourage various types of flora and fauna to thrive in the area.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Part of the experience of the centre is being outdoors, where the visitors can walk or move around in golf carts to experience the wetlands.

19 / 20

Part of the experience of the centre is being outdoors, where the visitors can walk or move around in golf carts to experience the wetlands.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Unique in scale and shape, each bird hide offers the opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat.

20 / 20

Unique in scale and shape, each bird hide offers the opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The remarkably simple building has two wings. The first one contains administrative and educational spaces, while the other accommodates the observation galleries.

1 / 20

The remarkably simple building has two wings. The first one contains administrative and educational spaces, while the other accommodates the observation galleries.
© X-Architects / Nelson Garrido (photographer)
Site plan.

2 / 20

Site plan.
© X-Architects
Most of the building is buried beneath ground level, leaving the landscape unspoiled. A sloping ramp gives access to its entrance.

3 / 20

Most of the building is buried beneath ground level, leaving the landscape unspoiled. A sloping ramp gives access to its entrance.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The visitors can observe birds in conditions very similar to those of their natural habitat.

4 / 20

The visitors can observe birds in conditions very similar to those of their natural habitat.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The entrance offers an area for children and schoolchildren to take part in educational activities.

5 / 20

The entrance offers an area for children and schoolchildren to take part in educational activities.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The dividing wall between the galleries hides all the services and provides surface for awareness and educational material.

6 / 20

The dividing wall between the galleries hides all the services and provides surface for awareness and educational material.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery was arranged in order to allow the visitors to comfortably sit, draw and take notes while they observe the surrounding landscape.

7 / 20

The gallery was arranged in order to allow the visitors to comfortably sit, draw and take notes while they observe the surrounding landscape.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The viewing gallery is made of continuous reflective and insulated glass shaded by an overhang. It opens on the aviaries.

8 / 20

The viewing gallery is made of continuous reflective and insulated glass shaded by an overhang. It opens on the aviaries.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery spaces are quite bare. They have an industrial feel owing to a dark metal mesh ceiling that lightly screens the steel structure and all services.

9 / 20

The gallery spaces are quite bare. They have an industrial feel owing to a dark metal mesh ceiling that lightly screens the steel structure and all services.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The gallery allows the visitors to have a close look at the birds, without disturbing their tranquility.

10 / 20

The gallery allows the visitors to have a close look at the birds, without disturbing their tranquility.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Birds tend to come near the galleries’ glass walls, allowing visitors to get a closer look at them.

11 / 20

Birds tend to come near the galleries’ glass walls, allowing visitors to get a closer look at them.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The dividing wall between the galleries hides services and provides surface for awareness and educational material for the visitors.

12 / 20

The dividing wall between the galleries hides services and provides surface for awareness and educational material for the visitors.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The centre blends with the environment, minimizing its visual impact on the surroundings.

13 / 20

The centre blends with the environment, minimizing its visual impact on the surroundings.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Visitors can see inside the kitchen in which the birds’ meals are prepared.

14 / 20

Visitors can see inside the kitchen in which the birds’ meals are prepared.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The glass walls are at a slight angle. It minimizes the sunlight glare for the viewers inside and reflects the landscape to the birds outside.

15 / 20

The glass walls are at a slight angle. It minimizes the sunlight glare for the viewers inside and reflects the landscape to the birds outside.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Just like the kitchen, the visitors can see the inside of the incubation room, in which it is sometimes possible to witness the birth of hatchlings.

16 / 20

Just like the kitchen, the visitors can see the inside of the incubation room, in which it is sometimes possible to witness the birth of hatchlings.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Large areas of the centre are dedicated to educational activities.

17 / 20

Large areas of the centre are dedicated to educational activities.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The 200,000 sqm site underwent extensive landscaping. Only indigenous trees and plants were planted, in order to encourage various types of flora and fauna to thrive in the area.

18 / 20

The 200,000 sqm site underwent extensive landscaping. Only indigenous trees and plants were planted, in order to encourage various types of flora and fauna to thrive in the area.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Part of the experience of the centre is being outdoors, where the visitors can walk or move around in golf carts to experience the wetlands.

19 / 20

Part of the experience of the centre is being outdoors, where the visitors can walk or move around in golf carts to experience the wetlands.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
Unique in scale and shape, each bird hide offers the opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat.

20 / 20

Unique in scale and shape, each bird hide offers the opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat.
© Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)
The remarkably simple building has two wings. The first one contains administrative and educational spaces, while the other accommodates the observation galleries.
Site plan.
Most of the building is buried beneath ground level, leaving the landscape unspoiled. A sloping ramp gives access to its entrance.
The visitors can observe birds in conditions very similar to those of their natural habitat.
The entrance offers an area for children and schoolchildren to take part in educational activities.
The dividing wall between the galleries hides all the services and provides surface for awareness and educational material.
The gallery was arranged in order to allow the visitors to comfortably sit, draw and take notes while they observe the surrounding landscape.
The viewing gallery is made of continuous reflective and insulated glass shaded by an overhang. It opens on the aviaries.
The gallery spaces are quite bare. They have an industrial feel owing to a dark metal mesh ceiling that lightly screens the steel structure and all services.
The gallery allows the visitors to have a close look at the birds, without disturbing their tranquility.
Birds tend to come near the galleries’ glass walls, allowing visitors to get a closer look at them.
The dividing wall between the galleries hides services and provides surface for awareness and educational material for the visitors.
The centre blends with the environment, minimizing its visual impact on the surroundings.
Visitors can see inside the kitchen in which the birds’ meals are prepared.
The glass walls are at a slight angle. It minimizes the sunlight glare for the viewers inside and reflects the landscape to the birds outside.
Just like the kitchen, the visitors can see the inside of the incubation room, in which it is sometimes possible to witness the birth of hatchlings.
Large areas of the centre are dedicated to educational activities.
The 200,000 sqm site underwent extensive landscaping. Only indigenous trees and plants were planted, in order to encourage various types of flora and fauna to thrive in the area.
Part of the experience of the centre is being outdoors, where the visitors can walk or move around in golf carts to experience the wetlands.
Unique in scale and shape, each bird hide offers the opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat.

Élément d’un projet de plus vaste envergure dont l’objectif est de nettoyer et réhabiliter un ancien réseau de zones humides le long de la côte du Golfe Persique, le Centre Wasit Wetland à Sharjah aux Émirats Arabes Unis, vise à informer le public de cette démarche, à fournir des informations sur son environnement et à encourager sa préservation.

Le projet

Centre Wasit Wetland de Sharjah a transformé une friche en zone humide et fonctionne comme catalyseur pour la biodiversité et l’éducation à l’environnement. Bien que son écosystème indigène ait été réhabilité, le centre s’est avéré être un endroit populaire pour les visiteurs qui apprennent à connaître la faune régionale.

Découvrez les autres projets primés

Ce qu'en dit le jury

«Le Centre Wasit Wetland se démarque et se définit comme un projet de collaboration remarquable, voire unique, combinant l'excellence architecturale et un engagement profond envers les impératifs écologiques. « Le projet atteint des objectifs élevés en terme d’éducation et offre une approche ludique. Moins de quatre ans après son achèvement, un grand nombre d’habitants, en particulier des écoliers, témoignent du succès global du projet et de son impact positif dans un contexte social plus large.»

«Certains aspects moins conventionnels du projet se sont révélés les plus intéressants. La capacité de son architecture à minimiser l’impact visuel de sa structure en exploitant la topographie du lieu, permettant à celle-ci de s’intégrer avec respect dans son milieu naturel est une merveilleuse façon de nous rappeler que la valeur architecturale réside de plus en plus dans la capacité d'une structure à s'intégrer dans un environnement plutôt que de s’imposer.»

«De même, la principale contribution du projet à son environnement urbain réside dans la réhabilitation de près d’une vingtaine d’hectares d'anciennes friches. La construction du centre a permis, en valorisant le site comme héritage naturel, d’en détourner les promoteurs immobiliers.
«Le projet crée un exemple sans précédent de développement à faible impact, respectueux de l'environnement dans une région qui œuvre habituellement dans la direction opposée.»

Fiche descriptive

 

Client: EPAA (Environmental and Protected Areas Authority), Sharjah, Émirats Arabes Unis: Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, président

Architecte: X-Architects, Dubai, Émirats Arabes Unis

Maître d’oeuvre: Darwish Engineering Contracting, Sharjah, Émirats Arabes Unis

Paysagisme et zoologie: Centre de reproduction de la faune arabe menacée d'extinction

 

Superficie totale du site: 200,000 m2

Superficie totale au sol: 2,534 m2

Coût: 7,600,000 USD

Commande: 2012

Design: 2012 Construction: 2014–2015 Achèvement: 2015