PLAYA DEL SOL
Project Overview
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Project Name: Playa Del Sol
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Location: Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
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Client: Ellington Properties
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Site Area: 20,000 sqm
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Landscape Area: 14,000 sqm
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Project Type: Upmarket residential development
Role & Responsibilities
As the landscape architects for Playa Del Sol, my major responsibilities comprised:
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Project Management: Led the landscape design process and coordinated with consultants, aligning the vision, technical requirements, and client expectations at every stage.
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3D Landscape Element Design: Developed conceptual and technical 3D models for primary exterior spaces—especially pools and recreation areas—leveraging Revit to align form with function and user experience.
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Technical Coordination: Managed technical details and integration for all outdoor amenities, focusing on the swimming pool and family play areas. Liaised with engineering and specialty consultants to ensure robust, code-compliant designs and seamless construction workflows.
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Schematic & Detail Drawings: Produced comprehensive schematic diagrams and detail design drawings using Revit, supporting both visualization and contractor execution.
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Complex Feature Design: Crafted landscape transitions, multifunctional recreational zones, and outdoor living spaces — balancing privacy for residents with spaces for community interaction.
Spatial User Experience Strategy
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Zoning & Circulation: Public and private realms are clearly delineated to optimize user navigation and provide intuitive, enjoyable movement between shared amenities, private residences, and outdoor zones.
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Amenity Integration: Pools, landscaped gardens, and shaded recreation zones drive the wellness-oriented and convivial atmosphere of the community, seamlessly connected to residential areas for daily use and special gatherings.
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Materiality & Sensory Appeal: Used regionally appropriate materials, water elements, lush planting, and shade structures to mitigate local climate conditions and heighten sensory experience—visual relief, cool microclimates, and textural richness for all ages.
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Accessibility & Inclusivity: Design decisions prioritized universal access and accommodating varied ages and backgrounds, ensuring safety, comfort, and meaningful experiences for families and individuals alike.
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Sustainability: Incorporated efficient irrigation, drought-resistant planting, and eco-friendly surfacing; site grading and water management strategies further support sustainability objectives.
Key Technical Features (Pools & Play Areas)
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Pools: Integrated terraced pools and family-zone water features, designed for safety, accessibility, and leisure. Decks offer lounging, shaded cabanas, and seamless visual connections from interiors to the central pool. The pool was also designed to overlook the bay which would have multiple yachts docked which was a part of the USP of the project.
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Technical Drawings & Models: Used Revit for all technical detailing, 3D visualizations, and cross-discipline coordination, supporting accuracy and high-quality implementation.
Reflection & Impact
Playa Del Sol marks a milestone in designing user-centered outdoor environments for high-end residential communities in a rapidly developing region. My experience managing multidisciplinary teams, resolving technical challenges, and delivering sophisticated 3D models and documentation furthered my expertise and ensured the landscape experience supported the lifestyle and aspirations of Marjan Island’s new residents.
RENDERS
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