Ayla Golf Club, Aqaba, Jordan

At the southern end of the Israel-Jordan border lies Aqaba, where lasting peace has paved the way for construction of the Ayla Oasis. This development project will eventually include hotels, artificial lagoons and a marina. The first piece of the puzzle at the Ayla Oasis isan 18-hole golf course designed by golf legend Greg Norman. The renowned architects from Oppenheim Architecture were tasked with designing the accompanying buildings.Chad Oppenheim and Beat Huesler opted for a visually attractive and functionally convincing approach that banishes memoriesof this “stressed setting” .

The characteristic wavy design gives the various building types a sense of charisma and calm. With this in mind, Oppenheim Architecture speaks of a“silent monumentality” – as seen in a range of other spectacular projects such as the waste water treatment plant in Muttenz, Switzerland. The wavy designof the roof also defines the building interior. As a result, there is a complete lack of exact angles and alignments. Instead, the architects consciously used organic shapes that openly highlight the traces of the construction process.

Of course, this construction process is anything but the norm. As the process of concrete spraying was widely unknown to those on site, the construction of the two toilet facilities was used as practice and accompanied by two experts from Switzerland. As a result, the larger academy building – which will take onthe role of the clubhouse until the building is finished –was built in its entirety by the local workforce.

“Most of the furniture, such as the benches, was mad especially for this project. The design is inspired by the earthy tones of the Jordanian mountains. The same also applies to smaller items, such as the actuator plates. Geberit was one of very few companies who were able to offer a suitable design”. Rasem Kamal Project architect at Oppenheim Architecture

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