STARFISH HUB

Starfish Hub is a massive public realm activation of Saadiyat Marina Village, in the coastline of Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi (UAE), a massive development of new urban areas planned for creating an international attracting landmark for Abu Dhabi.

The project consists of 5,000 m2 of pure outdoor leisure, fun and entertainment facilities, strategically concentrated in one single multi-functional plaza, seeking a design solution that would transform the plot into a major public destination within Saadiyat Island.

The targeted users are families, children and youngsters seeking a premium destination for spending the day, looking for many different types of entertainment and leisure opportunities...

such as water sports, pools, outdoor cinema, concerts & events, commercial spaces as well as dining experiences while enjoying a seaside lifestyle.

The Retail street
Our first design action was to blend both programs together in only one general proposal and create an eventful retail street that ends in the entertainment space that will act as the attractor and catalyzer of outdoor lifestyle dynamics for the entire activation plot.

The Entertainment and Attractor platform.
To approach the design of this urban landmark & entertainment space we first studied all the functions and program of activities considered essential and necessary for having an outstanding outdoor lifestyle experience.

In that regard, activities were chosen having into consideration all group ages and encompassing all possible interests for young users.

We drew inspiration from the starfish commonly found in the Arabian coast. We were inspired by fractals used in arabesque architectural patterns, that when revolving around a central axis, it creates a star-like shape where all the “arms” connect with the center.

The 12-pointed Starfish Plaza was conceptually conceived as a radial addition of 12 different programmatic platforms with 12 different functions, concentrically arranged towards a common center, which remains empty as the central plaza to host major events, performances and fairs.

The design carefully distinguishes each programmatic platform with its own identity, its own function and even its own monochromatic color palette, in order to make them all eye-catching by themselves and easily recognizable within the system.

However, it is the combination of all the platforms together, radially arranged, what makes of this space a major hotspot for social interactions and a model of outdoor leisure lifestyle in the Saadiyat Island.

The 12 functions embedded in each of the 12 platforms are such as Outdoor Cinema, Relaxing Pool, Pier Pool, Amphitheater, Chill-out Plaza, Sunken Lounge, Omni-Sport Pitch, Forest Plaza, Hammock Plaza, Tree-House Playground, Picnic Plaza...

...and finally the Crossing Pedestrian Walkway, which connects the retail street with the beach over the central square. Every functional platform is a component has its own identity and function for a specific user and time of the day.

This the project becomes a unique and giant mix use platform of public and entertainment spaces where all leisure activities can be found converging in one single center.

The new multi-functional plaza complements the open-air retail street at its end towards the beach, acting as the catalyzer of social entertainment and outdoor activities for the entire plot.