ABB frozen music episode #23: kengo kuma & st. regis red sea resort

ABB FROZEN MUSIC VIDEO series: EPISODE #23

In this episode of ABB’s Frozen Music video series, viewers are taken on a journey to the St. Regis Red Sea Resort on Ummahat Island, Saudi Arabia. This resort, designed by the renowned Japanese architectural firm Kengo Kuma & Associates, is not only a luxurious space but also a pioneering example of regenerative tourism. Episode #23 explores the intricate design and sustainable practices that make the retreat a model for eco-conscious development, highlighting its architectural beauty and the careful consideration given to preserving the island’s environment.

Watch Episode #23 on the St. Regis Red Sea Resort here!

Episode #23 of ABB’s ‘Frozen Music Series’ explores the intricate design and sustainable practices that make St. Regis Red Sea Resort a model for eco-conscious development | all images courtesy of ABB, © The St. Regis Red Sea Resort

Kengo Kuma & Associates craft Sustainable Luxury on Ummahat Island

Kengo Kuma & Associates, the globally acclaimed architecture firm behind projects like the V&A Dundee in Scotland and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Denmark, took on a new challenge with their first project in Saudi Arabia. As seen on ABB’s ‘Frozen Music’ video series, episode #23, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort is part of the Red Sea Project, one of the Kingdom’s ambitious giga-projects aimed at transforming the coastal region into a world-class tourism hub. For Kuma and his team, the opportunity to design in a new landscape presented an exciting blend of challenges, including working in a remote, untouched setting and adapting to the local climate and materials.

The resort’s architectural concept draws inspiration from the natural surroundings—desert dunes, coral reefs, and the tranquil waters of the Red Sea. With shell-like villas perched on stilts above the turquoise waters and wooden beach houses nestled among the sandy landscape, the design aims to create harmony between the built environment and the island’s untouched beauty. The use of European spruce wood as the primary construction material plays a central role in this vision, with the timber prefabricated in Switzerland by Blumer Lehmann before being shipped to the site. This choice not only adds a warm, natural aesthetic but also significantly reduces the resort’s carbon footprint by minimizing concrete use.

designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, the resort is not only a luxurious space but also a pioneering example of regenerative tourism

An Architecture That Embraces Regenerative Tourism

The design of the St. Regis Red Sea Resort goes beyond aesthetics, embedding sustainability into every facet of the project. The island itself faced existential threats due to rising sea levels and tidal erosion, which risked the disappearance of vital habitats for local wildlife, including turtle nesting grounds and a vast mangrove forest. To address this, the development team implemented a sand infill to elevate the island’s terrain, protecting the biodiversity and ensuring the longevity of its ecosystems.

The resort features 90 villas, divided into two groups: 47 on the beach and 43 over the water. The strategic placement of the overwater villas on the west side of the island not only offers guests stunning sunset views but also minimizes the environmental impact on the coral reef located on the east. This careful consideration of the natural surroundings extends to the resort’s commitment to regenerative tourism – a philosophy that seeks not just to sustain but to actively improve the surrounding environment.

the resort features 90 villas, divided into two groups: 47 on the beach and 43 over the water

The resort’s energy system is entirely off the grid, utilizing 100% renewable energy. ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation solutions, provided critical components for the resort’s power infrastructure. The photovoltaic (PV) panels located on the northern part of the island are coupled with a substantial battery storage facility on the mainland, ensuring a reliable energy supply. ABB’s System Pro E power switchgear and Minicenter boards, along with an asset management solution, were designed to meet the unique challenges of the offshore site. These technologies provide efficient energy distribution and a seamless experience for guests, while aligning with the resort’s sustainability objectives.

The project’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact also extends to its construction methods, with a heavy reliance on prefabrication. This approach reduces the need for on-site concrete pouring, further lessening the ecological footprint. The use of wood, treated specifically for the marine environment, is not only a design choice but also a sustainability strategy that supports the resort’s regenerative mission.

the use of European spruce wood as the primary construction material plays a central role in this vision, with the timber prefabricated in Switzerland by Blumer Lehmann

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ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation solutions, provided critical components for the resort’s power infrastructure

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the special openness between interior and exterior typical in Japanese traditional architecture further enrich these concepts

the project’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact also extends to its construction methods, with a heavy reliance on prefabrication

for Kuma and his team, the opportunity to design in a new landscape presented an exciting blend of challenges, including working in a remote, untouched setting