Location: Khorfakan, Sharjah, UAE
Client: Development of town planning and survey Sharjah
Built- Up Area: 190,000 square feet
Construction Cost: 20,000,000 USD
Starting Date: January 2020
Completion Date: October 2020
Services Provided: A/E Design and supervision(Design-Build Project)
Project Description:
Located in Khorfakkan, Sharjah, UAE, the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre stands as a world-class open venue. This theater design is a realization of the vision from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah. He aspired to create a heritage landmark centered around a ceremonial and cultural event, manifested in an amphitheater carved into the mountains overlooking the splendid Khorfakkan beach.
The concept is to link this architectural landmark to its surrounding context and environment and to create a homogenous project that integrated with mountain topography and introduce the waterfront from the main plaza. Drawing inspiration from Roman amphitheaters, particularly the one in Amman, Jordan, the design doesn't merely focus on restoration of the past, but rather innovatively celebrates multicultural humanity.
With a semi-circular form reminiscent of Roman theater designs, it stretches over a diameter of 110 meters, covering an area of 190,000 square feet and accommodating 3,600 spectators. Its design intricacies also boast a cooling system, ensuring its year-round functionality. The architecture interweaves classic inspirations with Islamic motifs, flaunting stone facades, arches, and columns.
Dar Al Omran worked to fuse heritage aesthetics with contemporary requirements, placing the amphitheater within the mountain while maintaining an aesthetic balance. Such a restoration technique —extruding amphitheater rows from mountain topography and highlighting entrances— pays homage to Roman designs. This innovative amalgamation of a historically rooted building type within a modern context, complete with cutting-edge technologies like outdoor air-conditioning, underscores its uniqueness. Incorporating advanced audiovisual systems further elevates its stature, ensuring it's more than just a venue; it's an experience.
Khorfakkan Amphitheatre has since transformed into a renowned landmark in Sharjah and the broader UAE, adding a new dimension to Khorfakkan's urban infrastructure. This restoration project wasn't merely about recreating history; it aimed to upgrade outdoor urban facilities, waterfronts, and landscapes in Khorfakkan, marrying the ancient allure of Roman theaters with contemporary amenities. Dar Al Omran, through its intricate theater design, successfully turned this dream into a tangible, awe-inspiring reality.
