KILLA DESIGN, SHEBARA RESORT
Conçu par Killa Design — agence
pluridisciplinai
Designed by Killa Design, a multidisciplinary firm
based in Dubai renowned for its architectural solutions that combine art,
sustainability, and engineering, the Shebara Resort is a 73-unit eco-luxury
property on Sheybarah Island in the Red Sea, 25 km off the Saudi coast.
Developed by Red Sea Global, the resort is set in an island area of special
environmental interest, featuring mangroves, desert vegetation, dunes, turtle
nesting areas and coral reefs. The main aim of the project was to find the
ideal solution to preserve and enhance the surrounding biodiversity, while also
offering a luxury experience that would attract visitors from around the world
and promote Saudi Arabia as a top destination for marine ecotourism.
LEED Platinum certified and reachable exclusively by sea or air, the resort features a series of villas arranged in a petal-like formation that interact with the island through metallic “shells” that reflect the sky and sea, reducing their visual impact on the protected lagoon. To limit on-site construction operations and impact on the coral reef, wildlife and surrounding vegetation, the villas were built, furnished, and tested offshore before being transported to the island and connected to the solar-powered resort infrastructure.
The different living units consist of cantilevered modules almost suspended above coral regeneration areas and set back over 50 meters from the natural reef. Taking up just a few square meters on the ground at the base of the supporting column, they offer guests a privileged platform directly above the marine environment from where they can watch the fish, birds and turtles that inhabit the area.
The environmental infrastructure is a key part of the project: the resort includes a 110,000-square-meter photovoltaic plant, facilities for desalination and reverse osmosis, as well as systems for wastewater treatment and water recovery. Land and water transportation is provided by electric vehicles, while the use of recyclable materials and the promotion of native plants contribute to the overall sustainability strategy.
Thanks to the accommodation units’ low impact on the ground and the off-grid energy systems, Shebara Resort is a standout example of architecture as part of a broader environmental strategy. Killa Design leverages the resort's distinctive shape to create a destination with a unique identity, while keeping the surrounding marine ecosystem at the focus of the project.
Client: Red Sea Global; Architect: Killa Design; Interior Designer: Studio Paolo Ferrari; Project Type: Luxury eco-resort; Status: Complete; Key Features : Polished stainless-steel villa, Private pools and panoramic sea views, Spa, Fitness centre, 5 signature restaurants; Sustainability Highlights: Powered by an on-site solar farm, 110,000 sqm solar farm, Desalination and reverse osmosis systems, Water reclamation system, Electric land and marine transport, Off-site villa construction to reduce environmental impact, sensitive positioning to protect coral reefs, dunes, and turtle nesting areas
