Construction began on the new Serrenia Resort in Egypt in January 2007 (ground breaking). The $3bn (£1.5bn) ultra-luxury development on the Red Sea coast in Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt, is being developed by Vantage Real Estate Development Ltd as their subsidiary Vantage Holdings SA (Vantage). The development has been designed by the leading architectural practice Foster & Partners.
The project will create approximately 4,000 jobs during its construction period and a further 3,000 jobs upon completion. The resort is set approximately 3 million m² along the Red Sea coastline and will benefit from a year-round dry, temperate climate.
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The development will comprise residential units, which will include ‘palaces’ as well as a range of villas and apartments, an international marina capable of taking some of the world’s largest yachts, a seven star luxury hotel, a world-class spa, a dive centre, an aqua park, an 18-hole championship golf course and several other sporting facilities.
Completion of the resort is expected by March 2010.
SPECIFIC FACILITIES
The resort will provide 1,205 exclusive residential units in a completely new destination in the Red Sea region. Inspired by the landscape, the exterior design of the palaces, villas and apartments will echo the shape and range of colours found in the desert’s barchan dunes. Villa and palace owners will be able to choose how many bedrooms or how much living space they would like in their residence.
The five 3,780m² ‘palaces’, which will be situated on plots of 15,000m², will be located on their own private island and provide the ultimate in prestige living. The palaces will be designed to host receptions for as many as 600 guests.
Each property will have its own swimming pool, as well as lush tropical gardens with water features. The design of the 200 room seven-star hotel, with its unique coral-like shape, was designed to mirror the submarine world found in the Red Sea.
The hotel will have several speciality restaurants and a casino for residents’ use. The spa is set in lush botanical gardens, which open onto the ocean as well as to the mountains at the rear. The spa will offer infinity and vitality pools, treatment palaces, a Zen studio (offering meditation, yoga, personal training, indoor and outdoor relaxation pools) and hair and beauty salons.
Serrenia’s Marina Hub will be one of the focal points of the development – with an extraordinary wave-shaped floating roof and a vast, airy and cool space below. It will accommodate carefully selected leading brand stores from around the world. It will also include restaurants, a sports centre, health centre, administration, emergency services and several other facilities and provide a social centre for the resort.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
The resort has been designed by Foster and Partners and they have made wide use of solar panels, recycled water and natural air cooling methods in the design so that the resort is environmentally sustainable. The designers were influenced by ancient Egypt, the sand dunes and the Red Sea in finalising the building designs.
Buro Happold are responsible for engineering services design. Parsons Brinckerhoff are responsible for the project management. Dar Al-Handasah are the local engineers for the project. European Golf Design (50/50 joint venture between IMG and the European Tour) will design and construct the golf course (5,800–7,100 yards Par 72), which will have a Golf Training Academy and a full range of practice facilities.
Camper & Nicholsons are responsible for the marina design and operation – this will include provision of water, electricity, black and grey water drainage, Wi-Fi, full staff service, a charter service and security. The marina will have 330 berths and be able to handle yachts between six and 80m. Delft Engineering are carrying out the water management studies for the project.
ESPA will be responsible for the health spa design and operation at the resort. HTL Hotel Consulting are the hotel consultants. Traxus are the master planning consultants. WT Partnership are the cost consultants and quantity surveyors for the project. Ernst&Young carried out a feasibility study for the project. Savills are the sales and marketing agents for the UK. Cluttons are the sales and marketing agents for the Gulf Region. VPMM (Vantage Property Management and Maintenance Company) are responsible for the maintenance and security at the resort.
SAHL HASHEESH BAY
The Sahl Hasheesh Bay will form part of the resort facilities and has been master planned by the ERC (Egyptian Resort Company) who own the exclusive development rights. The bay is located between Hurghada and Safaga on the Egypt side of the Red Sea and covers over 30 million m².
The bay will feature several golf courses, five hotels, boardwalk, restaurants and bars. The ERC will supply services to the development such as infra-structure, water and electricity, sewerage and security.
SERRENIA EXCLUSIVE SERVICES
The 2.5 million m² resort offers a range of speciality services for residents including a luxury car club that offers the exclusive use of vintage, exotic and luxury cars and motorbikes.
Air services provides use of private jets and helicopters to shuttle the residents in and out of the resort via the resort’s own airstrip and helipads.
In addition, there is the Yacht Club and Water Sports Services that allows the chartering of vessels; sailing boats, speed boats, power boats, motor cruisers, super yachts, submarines, kite surfing, wind surfing, jet skis and sub-aqua diving.
There are also private chef services that allow access to a team of world class culinary experts from five continents, available round-the-clock to provide gourmet cuisine/catering services to residents. There will also be a wide range of staff including butlers, waiters, party planners, entertainers, magicians and children’s entertainers.
Serrenia also offers tours, landscape design and maintenance services, specialist tailoring, design and shipping services, sports, courses and classes. Serrenia is a ‘gated community within a gated community’ and trained security staff are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
