Clubhouse design reminiscent of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi

Plans for Frank Gehry’s first golf-related project have now been unveiled. Designed to be the centrepiece for the stunning Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Course – the Arabian Gulf’s first and only beachfront course – the 18,000-sq m clubhouse will boast unique design statements, which incorporate Saadiyat Island’s natural beauty, to create an instantaneously recognisable international landmark.

The clubhouse – designed to meet Estidama regulations, the Abu Dhabi-specific building sustainability methodology – is scheduled to be completed in 2013. Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the Abu Dhabi-based master developer of Saadiyat Island and its Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, will put the project out to tender later this year.

The Saadiyat Beach Golf Club builds on Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of iconic architectural designs, which includes Zayed National Museum, designed by Lord Norman Foster, Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry.

The utilisation of space was a key facet in the clubhouse’s design, and careful consideration has been given to blend indoor and outdoor settings. Harnessing Saadiyat Island’s striking landscapes, Gehry has opted to emphasise large terraces with sweeping glass canopies to maximise visitor viewing opportunities of the surrounding landscape.

The clubhouse, which overlooks the scenic Arabian coastline, will include a boutique hotel with 26 deluxe rooms, two restaurants, a spa and a pro-shop.

“We are just at the beginning of the detailed design of the clubhouse and are very pleased with the progress thus far. The design is intended to be an ephemeral mirage floating above the greens,” said Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning Gehry.