Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary: the ecosystem seen from an exoskeleton

Zoomorphic architecture in one of the Arabian Gulf's richest biodiversity zones forges a strong bond with the land, promoting its protection, knowledge and enhancement.

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021. Photo Marc Goodwin Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021. Photo Marc Goodwin

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 site plan

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 floor plan

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 roof plan

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 café section

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 longitudinal section a-a

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 longitudinal section b-b

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 North-West elevation

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 South-West elevation

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 pre-cast segments model

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 modello

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 model and concept

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021 technical detail and concept

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Chiara Testoni
11 November 2021
Kalba, Sharjah, UAE
Hopkins Architects
culture and research
2021

Located in a nature reserve teeming with marine and intertidal life, the Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary is a landmark for the care, monitoring and promotion of local wildlife, from turtles to thousands of species of migratory birds including the Arabian Collared Kingfisher. Hopkins Architects' project consists of seven interconnected pavilions reminiscent of sea urchins' exoskeletons and reminding the "capsules" of the Buhaise Geological Park, designed by the same studio, with which the "sanctuary" is conceptually and figuratively related.

The buildings consist of prefabricated concrete structures suspended from the ground to reduce impact on the land and to protect it from the tides; from the buildings, a natural path leads visitors to explore the nature reserve, which includes the coastline, mud flats and mangrove forests.

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021. Photo Marc Goodwin

The external envelope, punctuated by the rhythm of the structural steel ribs, is clad in white precast concrete panels with subtle variations in pigmentation and texture, reminiscent of the delicate material of the shells on the neighbouring beaches. Inside, the structures house aquariums, exhibition spaces, training rooms, offices, veterinary facilities, a gift shop and a café. The route through the pavilions is enlivened by effective visual glimpses that frame the surrounding landscape through the targeted openings and by vibrant plays of light that spread from the rooflight.

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021. Photo Marc Goodwin

To ensure microclimatic comfort and reduce energy consumption in an area with extreme environmental characteristics, the studio adopted passive cooling technologies: the prefabricated cement shells, ribs and foundation levels form a compact, sealed mass that guarantees thermal inertia, while the waterproof membrane and layer of insulation arranged inside the cavity of the cladding help control dispersion.

It goes without saying that we are the guests here, tiptoeing to alter as little as possible a fragile and extraordinary ecosystem.

Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary
Hopkins Architects
Hopkins Architects: Simon Fraser, Principal and Lead-Designer; Andrew Ardill, Director; Tim Sheridan, Project Director; Angus McDougall, Project Architect
Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA)
H.E. Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah; Peter Jackson FRIBA, Architect Advisor to HH The Ruler’s Office, Sharjah.
Stefan Hache, Joanne Yu, Larry Buraga, Sara Madbouli
e.Construct, Dubai
Godwin Austen Johnson, Dubai
Lux Populi
Gillieron Scott Acoustics Design
Spencer, Dubai
Mojo Ink, Dubai, managed by: Sophy Cave Design, Dubai; Aquaria & Life Support Systems; Panaque, Italy
Hardco Building Contracting
Dubai Precast
Al Muhanad Electro-Mechanical Contracting

Hopkins Architects, Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalba, Sharjah, UAE 2021. Photo Marc Goodwin