Marissa Duplex Apartment Building

M A R I S S A D U P L E X
A P A R T M E N T
B U I L D I N G
D H AHRAN,
SAUDI ARABIA

INTRODUCTION
Executive Summary
Project Statistics
Site Analysis
DESIGN APPROACH
Inspiration
Vision & Typology
Design Objective
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Site Plan
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Units - Enlarged Plans
ELEVATIONS
Elevation 1 & 2
Elevation 3 & 4
SECTIONS
Section 1
Section 2
Enlarged Section
VISUALS
CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
MB Consultancy applied for a competition by AlSalimi Company Ltd. to provide a proposal for
Architectural Concept Design for the project known as Marrisa Duplex Apartment Building,
Dhahran City, Saudi Arabia.
This report covers the Design Approach and outlines for MB proposed concept design
proposals for the unique duplex apartment compound, and its alignment with AlSalimi’s
overall vision for success.
SITE ANALYSIS
The Eastern Province is the largest region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the geographical aspect.
The region is extended from the Arabian Gulf Coast until Al-Dahna`. It shares boarders, culture and
history with the Country of Kuwait, Country of Qatar, Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and
the Sultanate of Oman.
PROJECT STATISTICS
Plot Details
Land Use
Residential
G+4
G+4
G+4
G+3
G+4
Plot Area
Max Foot Print
Built Up Area
4,569 sqm
1,100 sqm
4,952 sqm
G+3
Number of Floors
GF + 3 + Roof
04:00 pm
09:00 am
Total Required Units
• 1 Bedroom Unit
• 2 Bedroom Unit
• 3 Bedroom Unit
Car Parking Required
25 Units
• 4 Units
• 18 Units
• 3 Units
50 Parking Lots
12:00 pm
Design Theme
Modern
Main Road Access
Secondary Road Access
INTRODUCTION

INSPIRATION
Saudi Arabia Architectural Heritage
Saudi Arabia occupies a huge geographical area with different major vernacular architectural
types adjusted to the climatic and environmental conditions in different sites within the
Kingdom. These architectural types are: mud architecture in the center of Arabia (Najd),
stone architecture in the west southern of Arabia in the mountains area (Asir), African hut
architecture type in the south coast of Arabia (Jazan), wind towers architectural type in the
east of Arabia (Al-Ahsa) and Mamluk/Ottoman type in the Hejaz region.
Arabic house structure
The traditional Arabic house is not a simple structure, it is a place where relationships
between members of the society take place. House parts are remembered as a medium of
communication and activities. As an informant indicated, ÒAlhoushÒ (courtyard) is where
kids play. The neighborhood was perceived as ÒFareejÒ hosting an extended family in a linear
strip setting or street. Some houses opened to a ÒSahaÒ (yard) that functioned as collector of
several houses where kids play.
Arches and Arcades
Intermediate Space
Vernacular Architecture
Earth materials and colors
Court
Privacy +
Environmental Solution
The Design proposals approach is to respect all the layers of the Saudi house character,
starting from Al-Fareej and passing by the modernism movement in the 70s, reaching the
contemporary resident lifestyle and the upcoming future needs.
VISION AND TYPOLOGY
In line with the ultimate goal to provide a luxury villas compound lifestyle with a private
garden, we are proposing to relocate the roof garden to the same level of each unit which
shall add value and have a positive impact on the project as the following:
1. Extra BUA will be added to fit the staircase in the unit program twice (on the third floor
and the roof). EFFICIENCY
2. Increase the cost of the project. COST
3. Privacy of the roof garden can be easily breached as some of the surrounding neighbors
have windows at the same level of the roof. PRIVACY
4. Roof area is limited which clashing with the MEP services that shall be required for 25
unit and the amenities. PRACTICALITY
5. The typology of the building is based on the modularity of the units and to avoid having
fragmented plan on the roof level (placing several gardens on the top of each unit)
which shall conflict with the unity and accessibility of the public spaces on the roof.
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
1. Creating a LANDMARK requires to build an IDENTITY for the design that can be easily
identified by its UNIQUENESS.
2. Introducing shaded intermediate space between the building and the common area in the
ground level to induce the INTERACTION with the building and INFORMAL MEETINGS.
(environmental and social SUSTAINABLE).
3. To Obtain VERTICAL COMPOUND feeling, LUXURY is the keyword and it shall be
reflected on all building components.
4. Although the corridor area is within the limit aforementioned in the project program,
open-air corridor is used to REDUCE THE BUA for Space and COST EFFICIENCY.
5. One of the advantages of the building
MODULARITY is to achieve FLEXIBILITY
in the design.
6. Pursuing PRIVACY and SERENITY home.
7. Building world class COMMUNITY
FACILITIES to enrich PROPERTY
APPRAISAL..
DESIGN APPROACH

PROPOSAL

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Typologies VS Optimization
Examining the plot geometry against the unit frontage and orientation supported the functionality
of the design along with the efficiency of the building, The rationalism design of the building gives
elegance and monumentality effect to the building architecture with respect to the use of the
space, the human scale, and to maintain the following:
1. Arranging the program to utilize the setback ( unit gardens - parking - community facilities).
2. Centralizing the vertical circulation
3. Maintain 30 m maximum travel distance as per the Civil defense regulation
4. Using an open-air corridor at the second level to reduce the BUA, although the corridor area is
within the limit aforementioned in the project program.
5. Soft screening with vegetations to achieve privacy and maintain a good view.
6. Utilizing the internal staircase within the interior.
7. Using the brick in a contemporary parametric design
Orient the building to the open space
towards Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Rd
Extend the building to add more units and
to have variety with a view towards the
internal court
Adapt the building to fit the site program
(utilizing the setback area) and to
centralize the vertical circulation (30m
max)
Introducing the horizontal circulation as an
arcade to encourage social interaction
LINEAR
U/C SHAPE
LOOP
STAGGERED
CROSS SHAPE
DOUBLE LOOP
ALTERNATIVE
BRANCHES
L/V - SHAPE
Adding the unit gardens as front yard to
enhance view and privacy
Staggering the upper units to optimize the
corridors & enlarge the front garden
H-SHAPE /
PARLLEL
VOLUMES
I - SHAPE
CENTRAL LOOP WITH
BRANCHES
T/STAR- SHAPE
Arched building skin with pergolas creating
shades and macro climate at the gardens
and for more privacy
Annex the public amenities as a crown to
the building and centered to the vertical
circulation

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Site Plan - 1:400

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Ground Floor Plan - 1:150

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
First Floor Plan - 1:150

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Second Floor Plan - 1:150

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Third Floor Plan - 1:150

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Roof Plan - 1:150

PLANNING DIAGRAMS
Units - Enlarged Plans - 1:100
1 Bedroom Unit 2 Bedroom Unit
Lower Level
3 Bedroom Unit
Lower Level
2 Bedroom Unit
Upper Level
3 Bedroom Unit
Upper Level

ELEVATIONS
1:150
Elevation 1
Elevation 2

ELEVATIONS
1:150
Elevation 3
Elevation 4

CROSS SECTIONS
1:150
Section A-A
Section B-B

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
Wall Section - 1:100
The arched envelope and pergola at the second floor, as well as partially shaded
terraces maintain the privacy of the gardens and units.
The landscape design of the gardens added to the privacy of the space offer a very
cozy feeling by;
1. introducing a climber tree at the side louvers screen.
2. A strip flower pot at the garden edge of the second floor.
3. Placing a palm in front of the double height glazing to screen the view into the
space while achieve a high ceiling modern interior.

PROPOSAL - VISUALS

For further information please visit us at www.mb-consultancy.ae
Ras Al Khor Industrial Area-01
Ras Al Khor
P.O.Box 88
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
T: +971 4 329 6000
E: info@mb-consultancy.ae