Aldar's Mandarin Oriental Residences, set within the Saadiyat Cultural District of Abu Dhabi, appears like a gleaming jewel, conceived as the epitome of elegance and high-end living. Designed by the renowned Dutch architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the structure rises gracefully from its surrounding landscape, its staccato rooflines and clean contours echoing the undulating sands of Mamsha Beach. It’s a setting that feels alive; with luxury and artistry intertwining in designs by the veritable who's who of the architectural world. The island aspires to become a utopia for the high-end; a popular cultural, residential, and recreational destination in the United Arab Emirates, situated just off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

The name 'Saadiyat', which means happiness in Arabic, reflects the island's goal of establishing an environment that ensures the community is complemented by luxury and exclusivity. On the island, rapid urban development has ensured a choreography of architectural elements that guide the gaze towards the sweeping vistas of the Zayed National Museum and the tranquil waters of the Gulf beyond. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel and the soon-to-be-completed Guggenheim, designed by Frank Gehry, form a triumvirate of cultural brilliance with the Zayed National Museum.

In the context of such frenetic architectural dreams, the housing project for Aldar is shaped as wave-like dunes connecting with Abu Dhabi’s two essential natural elements – sand and water. While monumental in its morphology, the design feels almost subdued, in deference to the abounding cultural edifices. Where previously, BIG’s residential architecture projects like the Sneglehusene Housing and 79&PARK have embraced largess, the one in the hedonistic desert landscape recedes, making way for the community through its planning. The Middle East's rapid urban transformation, in some sense, mirrors Bjarke Ingels' concept of ‘hedonistic sustainability’, where ambitious development is burdened with eco-conscious design. Sites such as Saadiyat Island embody this duality, where environmental stewardship and opulent living aim to coexist, albeit not without contradictions.

The design for Mandarin Oriental Residences, like many of the firm’s previous housing enterprises, includes identical units stacked to provide each resident with privacy and openness while also being connected with their respective communal contexts. Each private residence has an outside patio, expansive rooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The open courtyard combined with ascending terraces on either side let natural light into the main public area. Yet, in Saadiyat, the design finds a subtler rhythm reflected in its concern for the community.

The true heart of the development lies in its communal ethos. The Mandarin Oriental's signature lifestyle imbues every corner of the project. A spa and wellness retreat promises rejuvenation, and the community finds expression in the shared spaces—a chic residents’ lounge, a private theatre, and intimate games rooms. The interiors, crafted by New York-based designer Lillian Wu, are a study in tactile warmth—earthy woods and soft, diffused light frame spaces imbued with a meditative calm.

Each space invites you not just to inhabit but to belong, fostering an atmosphere of connection among residents. Aldar’s vision is inseparable from Saadiyat Island's broader narrative. BIG along with Wu presents a somewhat conventional vision of what it means to live at the confluence of art, popular culture and nature. Like most such developments, it purports to be as outward-looking as introspective, urging its inhabitants to find inspiration both in the world outside and within themselves.

Through its beautifully designed gardens, one may go up to terraces where the skyline appears to ripple over the horizon like water. Here, luxury aims to be fundamentally contextual—a conversation between the individual and the collective. A tapestry of luxury, culture, and sustainability in Mandarin Oriental Residences’ design aims to enhance Abu Dhabi's architectural landscape and raises the standard of life with a rich experience that combines active cultural participation with tranquil getaways. As we move towards more disasters and rethink the responsibility of architecture to intervene in issues such as resource parity or the climate crisis, Ingels’ vision, true to his design philosophy, could perhaps demonstrate how architecture can balance human aspiration with the natural beauty of its surroundings. It’s a fitting addition to the built environment of the island, skirting the line between constructed heritage and a future defined by technocratic solutions.

(Text by Arryan Siingh, Intern at STIR)