Plans for Ain Al Emarat, one of the world’s largest residential and leisure developments, featuring a TPL designed golf course, have won a prestigious award.
HOK, global leaders in innovation for the built environment, won the award for best masterplan at the recent BEX 2007 awards, held at the Building Exchange Summit in Valencia, Spain in June.
Thomson, Perrett and Lobb, the international golf course architecture practice founded by five times Open Champion Peter Thomson with partners Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb, is a key partner in the design team assembled by HOK to create Ain Al Emarat, a residential and leisure development in the United Arab Emirates.
At the centre of HOK’s masterplan is a TPL designed championship golf course, which along with a 40,000 seat sports stadium, leisure complex and business district is a major attraction for the integrated community – which will house 120,000 people – on the outskirts of Al Ain, the second city of the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Tim Lobb, principal and golf course architect at Thomson, Perrett and Lobb, said, “TPL is honoured to partner HOK, a global name, in creating a pioneering, sustainable residential community at Ain Al Emarat. This award is thrilling recognition of HOK and TPL’s innovation in design and collaboration in sustainable development.”
David Cutmore, HOK project manager for Ain Al Emarat, said, “HOK’s collaboration with TPL is integral to the success of the project, and the championship golf course is a major reason why people will choose to live at Ain Al Emarat.
“Both practices share a vision for sustainable design and this is another reason why this masterplan has received such important critical acclaim.”
The Building Exchange awards drew together key figures from the global construction and property supply chain and recognised projects for their innovation, sustainability and collaborations.
“The golf course, like the community itself, will be extraordinary, with rolling sand dunes incorporated into a stunning desert site overlooked by mountains,” said Lobb.
Design work on the course is already underway with construction likely to start later this year.
Thomson Perrett & Lobb is currently designing and managing projects in Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Thomson, Perrett and Lobb www.tpl.eu.com