Built on one of the islands in the manmade archipelago of Al Marjan, along the north-western coast of the United Arab Emirates, Sunshine Bay is a residential development standing 13 storeys tall that features a yacht-themed design with balconies that seem to ripple like the sails of a catamaran. It is situated upon the Ras Al-Khaimah coastline, and faces the beauteous azure expanse of the Persian Gulf.
Sunshine Bay is sited in Treasure Island, Al Marjan’s central islet, a strategic location that is surrounded by a diverse mix of properties, such as Wynn Al Marjan Island — Dubai’s first casino. Additionally, Sunshine Bay's location is less than an hour away from two airports, including Dubai International Airport, cementing the property’s key characteristic as a globally connected destination.
Envisioned to become a bustling lifestyle enclave, Sunshine Bay combines the sublime natural beauty of the sea with MDL’s trademark dynamism, creating a contemporary architecture replete with abundant greenery and water features as well as all of the amenities needed to support a vibrant community.
Daubed in shades of silver and white, Sunshine Bay suggests the shape of a yacht, with a podium structure at its base resembling the skids of a catamaran and a tower that comes with a façade of curving balconies that zig and zag much like an unfurled sail. Wooden roofs and floors decorate these balconies, calling back to the decks of its seabound inspiration.
Sunshine Bay’s ground floor houses a lobby and a café lounge as well as numerous facilities, with the posterior area of this floor being almost exclusively occupied by a large swimming pool that opens up to a view of the adjacent waters. The lobby opens up to an atrium whose green-clad landscaping extends upwards across all of Sunshine Bay’s levels, assisting in the vertical distribution of oxygenated, moistened air, which contributes to a pleasant interior climate and reduces the building’s energy consumption whilst also protecting its inhabitants from Dubai’s scorching desert sun.
Above this lobby is a canopy-like structure with wooden flooring, once again mirroring the wooden decks of a yacht. The canopy is streamlined in its appearance—much like a boat’s hull—with gently curving edges and a more straight-line form that extends from the front driveway to the seawards rear section.
Conversely, the main tower atop the lobby contains all of the property’s 240 apartment units, with 20 units occupying each of the 12 floors above. Every unit has its own large balcony—easily the most prominent feature of the lifestyle-focused project—that gives Sunshine Bay its signature wave-like look and ensures that each resident has an unhindered view of their environs.
The balconies are designed in a way that maximises comfort, with their curvilinear forms shading those below them, shielding their occupants from the heat and further improving Sunshine Bay’s energy efficiency.
The rooftop level of Sunshine Bay, on the other hand, encompasses a small garden and walkway that offers a panoramic view of the Persian Gulf and the surrounding archipelago. This area is sheltered by a trellised roof structure that follows the sea-inspired form of the balconies. The trellises fulfil a twofold purpose, ensuring both sun and shade in equal measure as well as enhancing the structure’s sustainability by further reducing its cooling and heating demands.
The development’s exterior sections also comprise a diverse selection of amenities, such as a playground, a fitness zone, a skate park, and even a minigolf segment.
Additionally, almost the entirety of Sunshine Bay is wreathed in lush foliage, owing to MDL’s proclivity for biophilic designs, with multiple gardens beautifying its interior and exterior, offering both a visual contrast to its desert surroundings as well as enhancing the development’s internal microclimate, creating a healthier and more sustainable environment for its inhabitants. Moreover, innovative water features are placed strategically throughout Sunshine Bay, providing an eco-friendly solution to Dubai’s hot weather and adding to the property’s refreshing, tranquil ambience.
Furthermore, this verdant approach aids Sunshine Bay towards meeting various sustainability standards, such as Dubai’s key Estidama design initiative, with MDL aiming to obtain the maximum score in both Leed and Estidama building certifications.
Serving as a vibrant oasis in a wondrous manmade archipelago, Sunshine Bay offers luxurious amenities such as pools and gardens as well as world-class living spaces, encapsulating a property whose residents will be more than proud to call home.
LOCATION
United Arab Emirates
CLIENT
Source of Fate
TYPE
Residential
SIZE
25,715 sqm