A Look Inside The World’s First Fully Immersive Experiential Marine Life Centre

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, The Red Sea and AMAALA, has revealed design plans for its state-of-the-art marine life institute. Created by world-class architectural design firm Foster + Partners, the institute will function as both a scientific research center and a tourist destination.

It will accelerate conservation-driven research, while offering visitors truly multidimensional experiences that bridge educational exhibitions with adventure-filled excursions.

“We wanted to design a first-ofits-kind facility that extends far beyond any existing marine life attraction. With 10 zones that provide everything from augmented reality experiences to night diving, and spaces for the scientific community to effectively progress their environmental projects, the facility is undeniably unique. Not only will it drive global green and blue innovations, it will also help put Saudi Arabia on the map for travelers seeking trips that enrich their lives,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of TRSDC.

“The institute will live in the Triple Bay marina at AMAALA, but is the beating heart of our broader ambitions to protect and enhance the thriving Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Through our expanding portfolio of projects, we will share our valuable scientific discoveries with the world and enable our guests to experience the true beauty of our thriving coral reefs.”

Expected to host up to 650 people at any one time, guests will be able to walk underwater, snorkel with rare species, participate in lab tours and dive the depths of the Red Sea in a submarine. A testament to TRSDC's coral farming operations, the facility will also be home to one of the world’s largest man-made reefs, measuring an astonishing 40 meters long and 10 meters deep and providing an epic “Grand Reveal” moment for visitors on arrival.

Integrating architecture with nature - Set within the AMAALA destination on the west coast of Saudi Arabia and located on the waterfront of Triple Bay, the 10,340 square meter institute will comprise three levels – one above ground and two below –and offer stunning panoramic views of the Red Sea and the marina. Inspired by the Red Sea's thriving coral formations, the glass-reinforced concrete that is being used to build the institute will be intricately molded to resemble reef patterns against the skyline.

Inside, exhibition displays have also been integrated into the infrastructure, with visitors flanked by suspended semi-spherical tanks containing colorful local marine wildlife from the point of entry. Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, said: “The marine life institute will take guests on a vibrant, educational, and awe-inspiring journey that unveils the natural wonders of the Red Sea and blurs the boundaries between the institute and the ocean. By recreating natural marine habitats, offering unforgettable marine interactions, and sharing glimpses into conservation projects, it will provide guests with an immersive marine experience unlike any other.”

Sustainably constructed - As part of TRSDC’s commitment to responsible development, more than 40 percent of the site will be covered by native plants, and a system to collect runoff water put in place to prevent erosion and pollution, while reducing mains water use.

The lighting throughout the institute has also been designed with the company’s green ambitions in mind, with an innovative framework to prevent light pollution to protect the nocturnal environment. “More than just a window into the marine world, we’re creating an integrated experience that offers unique activities for our guests, with a collection of opportunities to explore and learn suited to all,” said Warren Baverstock, Senior Marine Life Director at TRSDC. “The overlay of sustainable design, build and operations, guest experience and meaningful scientific work underpins our commitment to drive enhancement of the environment and tourism growth. It’s a perfect model of sustainability, balancing people, planet and commercial success,” added Pagano.

Phase one of AMAALA – Triple Bay – is well underway and will consist of eight resorts offering upwards of 1,200 hotel keys. Upon completion, the destination will be home to more than 3,000 hotel rooms across 25 hotels, and approximately 900 luxury residential villas, apartments and estate homes, alongside highend retail establishments, fine dining, wellness and recreational facilities. www.theredsea.sa www.fosterandpartners.com

Berkeley Place renovated a basement duplex apartment situated in a prime residential street in Clifton. During the basement renovation, an amazing piece of history was found. On the wall handwritten is a record of the 2nd World War air raids on Bristol. Between 24th Nov 1940 and 11th April 1941 there were six major bombing raids on the city.

Due to the presence of the Bristol Harbour and The Bristol Aeroplane Co, the city was a target for bombing, and was easily found as enemy bombers were able to trace a course up the River Avon from Avonmouth. Bristol was the fifth most heavily bombed British city of WWII.The basement has been converted into a basement snug bedroom and bathroom.

To create the snug there was a full basement renovation, repair and repoint of the flagstone. The bedroom was cleverly subdivided to maximise use of space and provide two separate sleeping spaces. (cont...)

(cont...) The historical basement was given a new lease of life to make it more liveable.The Grade II listed a full renovation of the front terrace, living room, hallway, kitchen, utility, dining, bedroom and a master ensuite with a crittal terrace.

The vibe of the project is bringing the old into the new and cleverly designing the small space to feel larger. Creating a larger amount of space in the home was a challenge which was overcome with clever storage. The whole home has a new warmth with new timber and underfloor heating. To mix old with new, a variety of suppliers were used such as Howdens, Farrow & Ball (colours India Yellow (modern emulsion), Wimborne White (estate eggshell), Hardwick white (estate eggshell).

The tiling came from Mandarin stone, wallpaper is Harlequin Salon Wallpaper and the crittal supplied by Fabco. A new kitchen was installed with quartz worktops, a Chelford navy customised kitchen, Quooker classic fusion square patinated brass hot taps and parquet flooring.

In the dining room and hallway new glazed metal framed door and window as installed. In the kitchen and living room a full height wall bookshelf was installed. The stairs were installed with curved timber handrail to the outer wall and cleaned sandstone basement flooring and staircase. www.berkeleyplace.co.uk

Ojmar, the world-leading European manufacturer of innovative high performance electronic and mechanical locks, is delighted to introduce OTS ® PULSE, the latest addition to the well-known family of locks. Specifically designed for the Corporate and Leisure markets, OTS ® PULSE is the ultimate wireless networked locking solution that operates in highly secure cloud software. It uses the latest battery technology providing a life of up to 10 years before needing a simple battery replacement. This makes it one of the most efficient, longest-lasting systems available on the market.

Fully plug-and-play, online, self-managed and wireless, the OTS ® Pulse will help your office be flexible at minimal cost. OTS®PULSE does not require any expensive servers, just a simple standard internet connection managed through a PC, tablet or smartphone. OTS ® PULSE is simple to operate with no keys or codes, while each user’s App makes it easy for them to reserve, open and lock their lockers directly from their own device via Bluetooth or using RFID cards. The cloud-based management system allows administrators to monitor and manage users and locker usage and occupancy while providing instant reports in real-time. Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from ojmar.com or look for Ojmar on NBS Source

Hauraton makes concrete material even more efficient for modern drainage technology by enhancing the formulation with natural basalt fibres. The addition of mineral or textile fibres increases maximum stability, strength, and impact resistance. Since the end product is a purely mineral mixture, there is no need for material separation during disposal.

This protects the environment as it is simply fully-recyclable at the end of the product's life cycle. Basalt fibres can withstand temperatures of up to 800°C and are highly resistant to alkalis, acids, salts, oxidation and radiation. www.hauraton.co.uk

The new LG R32 Monobloc range has already had a massive impact on the residential heat pump market in the UK. Its new Monobloc S version of the unit which combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module is connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation. Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in - inside the outdoor unit – preinstalled and ready to run.

And the R32 Monobloc ‘S’ provides excellent heating performance especially at low ambient temperatures whilst lowering its carbon emissions even more with the use of R32. Up to 9kW units can be installed at the minimum of 4 metres away, and up to 16kW units - up to 5 metres away from neighbouring houses complying with international noise regulations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model and features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. The unit comes with a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance of up to 4.67 (Average climate/Low temperature application) and a A+++ rating. The COP rises to 4.9 (Outdoor air 7°C/Leaving water temperature 35°C) and can deliver leaving water temperature of 65°C if required.

www.lg.com/uk/heating-awhp

Hamworthy Heating is set to celebrate the future of heating with the launch of its first ever monobloc air source heat pump range, the Tyneham, designed to meet UK efficiency requirements in commercial applications. The new Tyneham heat pump range from Hamworthy offers superb operational reliability, excellent quality, and outstanding performance. One of the smallest commercial heat pumps on the market, the new product offering from Hamworthy Heating features a coefficiency of performance (COP) rating of up to 4.85, to provide efficient, low carbon heating.

The seven models in the range boast six nominal outputs of between 14 to 70kW, which can also be cascaded to achieve higher outputs in larger installations. Incorporating inverter controller compressor to accurately match the heat demand, RG32 refrigerant also maximises low global warming potential. www.hamworthy-heating.com

National building services and engineering consultants FHP has been appointed to support the £2.5bn design and construction of the UK’s first zero carbon mixed use development. The move has seen FHP provide a package of RIBA Stage 5 electrical, mechanical, public health and design verification services for the Bankside Yards West project on the south bank of the River Thames. There, nine buildings that will provide housing for 650 homes along with 350,000 sq. ft. of office and commercial, cultural and retail space and leisure amenities, are under development as part of an ambitious regeneration project set to transform the local riverside area.

A key feature of the plans is sustainability, with the main Arbor office complex built to deliver a carbon neutral operation and achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ status. Through careful planning and design, 45% less carbon dioxide will be created during the building’s operation while a 30% reduction in energy consumption will also be achieved when compared to standard buildings. The work included responsibility for RIBA Stage 4 design and involved verifying critical elements to facilitate a fully coordinated BIM model to LOD 400, which enabled drawings covering the fabrication, assembly, and installation of components to be finalised. Revit and fabrication elements were also utilised as part of the MEP design completion process. www.fhpp.com

HAURATON’s new web-based application ‘DesignSoftware’ provides construction industry professionals with quick, simple hydraulic analysis, channel sizing, project design and product specification for the company’s range of surface drainage systems (for landscape, commercial and civils projects) whilst working on their own desk-top computers, laptops and tablets. Immediate access for registration and use of this new hydraulic design software is achieved through the link: https://hydraulicdesign.hauraton.com. User-friendly and free-of-charge, HAURATON ‘DesignSoftware’ provides engineers with the flexibility to create their own drainage designs and project specifications, with just three clicks to a hydraulic calculation. www.hauraton.co.uk

Already widely regarded as a lead player in the creation of stylish bathrooms, wetrooms and spa facilities, manufacturer Marmox was able to unveil extensions to its widely specified range at this year’s Surface Design Show in London earning particular interest in its new Slicedstone – Large Format Veneer Sheets. The Sales and Marketing team were on hand throughout the three days at The Business Design Centre, Islington, showcasing the new large format version of mosaic style product introduced in 2020. Still displaying the beautiful colour variations of natural Indian sandstone, the new Slicedstone – Large Format Veneer Sheets are available in two sizes - 1220 x 610mm or 2100 x 1050mm - rather than 50 x 50mm mosaics on a mesh roll.

However, the new product’s slimline form - at just 4 (±1.5) mm thick, means they can still be applied to curved surfaces both indoors and out. Utilising the latest technology, Slicedstone – Large Format Veneer Sheets are cut from the surface of Indian sedimentary rock and then re-engineered with a stabilised backing. The natural stone blend substrate is treated with a clear polycarbonate solution to offer a flexible surface that is both stable and fully resistant to water as well as being stain resistant. Being in large format means, compared to conventional tiling, savings will be made on the cost of grout and adhesive as well as the reduced labour through quicker installation. For further information please visit www.marmox.co.uk/slicedstoneveneer

Architectural systems manufacturer, Neaco, has added a new product to its range with the introduction of a Fire-Resistant Adjustable Pedestal supporting the company’s aluminium decking on balconies, terraces and high-rise apartments. The product will be available as a solution for many existing residential buildings which still have balcony elements that do not have the Euroclass A1 (non-combustible) or A2-s1, d0 (limited-combustible) rating necessary to meet compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022. Manufactured from recycled aluminium and zinc-coated steel, the pedestal is Euroclass A1 fire rated to comply with Building Regulations on buildings over 18m in height.

With a large spreader base that won’t compromise insulation or waterproofing membranes, the system is ideal for use with Neaco’s Neatdek aluminium decking, which can be laid directly on top of the pedestal and affixed securely in place. The Adjustable Pedestal aids the installation of raised flooring, avoiding the cost and delay of constructing a sub-frame on uneven or unstable groundworks. Its key feature is an in-built slope corrector which allows up to 5% of millimetre- precise correction and uses a Bubble Level to determine the exact amount of correction required. Compression Test Load testing has been performed on the pedestals to 6 tons and Neaco certifies to over 3 tons per pedestal. They have a breaking load of over 2000kg and have a height adjustment of 24mm up to 395mm. neaco.co.uk

Steel windows and doors manufacturer Crittall Windows is offering architects a unique chance to win a rare original lithograph poster that celebrates the work of the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modern architecture and design. Valued at £1000, “Tapisseries en L’eglise de Chateau Fellentin Creuse“ is a rich and beautiful traditional stone lithograph exhibition poster printed in 1963 by Atelier Mourlot. “We wanted an idea that engaged the architectural community after what has seen a pretty traumatic couple of years for the profession “, commented Russell Ager, Crittall Managing Director.

”The Crittall aesthetic was favoured by the originators of the Bauhaus Movement to which Le Corbusier’s name is indelibly linked, so offering as a prize an original lithographic poster celebrating the iconic designer seemed to fit the bill “ “We are all very proud of our unique Crittall heritage, its links to some of the 20 th Century’s notable architects and designers, and how that continues to be reflected in the products we offer to meet 21 st Century demands”. The free, simple-to-enter competition, which closes on 20th June 2023, is open to all UK registered architects. The entry form and full terms and conditions and can be found here : https://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/win-a-rare-le-corbusieroriginal-lithograph-poster-competition/

Flowcrete are pleased to announce the launch of a new RIBA approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar, The Importance of Protecting Car Park Structures. The newly launched CPD covers some of the common methods of waterproofing car park structures such as polyurethane, asphalt and polymethyl methacrylate along with their benefits and pitfalls. Participants are also provided with key guidance when specifying resin waterproofing for multi-storey car parks such as slip-resistance and fire safety which are important factors in the design of construction projects such as car parks. The presentation goes further to break down the different considerations depending on whether it’s a new build or refurbishment car park project, and how this makes a difference to how much remedial work is required and the overall costs.

Finally, the seminar discusses what manufacturers can do to assist in sustainable architecture to minimise environmental impact. The 60-minute session can be delivered virtually or face to face by one of Flowcrete flooring experts. Rejoice Chikosi, Flowcrete PR and communications manager says, “Though car parks might look like solid stable constructions, they are quite vulnerable due to several issues and our new CPD has been designed to help you make informed product and system choices on your upcoming car park projects. “Training and development are cornerstones of our business, and we are pleased to expand our CPD portfolio to building professionals.” To book a CPD seminar, please visit www.flowcrete.eu/en-gb/campaigns/flowcrete-and-riba/riba-cpdseminars-booking-request-form/