Iranian architecture firm Studio Eiraji has unveiled its competition proposal for the Alshati Strip Mall in Dammam City, Saudi Arabia, which was organized by Al Salimi Real Estate Development. 

Alshati Strip Mall Project, designed by Studio Eiraji and led by Dr. Javad Eiraji and his design team Mona Rezaei, Elnaz Tofighi, Wala Majidi, Golsa Zerangi and Shaghayegh Behrooji, is based on combination of Islamic architecture of Middle East countries and modern architecture and technology of today. 

Native and tropical architecture and traditions of the Saudi Arabia, in one hand and modernity, which is the need of today generation, in the other hand, caused this project to use traditional and tropical signs of the region with today fractal forms and also use Islamic ornamentation on different parts of the building.

"Having a live and happy space outside and inside of the building is another important factor of the project," said Studio Eiraji.  "Geographical conditions of the country and climatic atmosphere with deserts and special mountains and hills, created the concept and the first forms of the project." 

As the architects highlight, the project tries to show the live natural signs of the country by the language of design and architecture.  Inviting aspects from outdoor views, as a strip mall, the seaside view and attraction factors, are some other points which have been used in design process of this project. Not only the outside, but also inside and interior design of the project keep the users stay inside and enjoy shopping and entertainment.

Because of total space of the building and total space of the site, there was not enough space to have special graphic or function on the site. Just, the main entrance and the parking on the North East part of the site, according to the site analysis, was considered as the parking space of the project. Also, on the South, because of the created courtyard, which comes from traditional architecture of Middle East, a little café has been considered in this space too.

The floor plans are designed according to the needs and physical program of the project and the spaces and their relationships and connections are considered according to the study level of the project.

One of the other important points of this project is the connection of outside and inside by two water springs inside and outside and the water-path which has starts its way from out and goes to inside. 

A glass roof on this water-path has been considered and the water-circulation technology has been used to control the water process and after water comes in, with the mentioned technology it joints to the water-fall in the middle of the lobby near elevator. 

Project facts

Project name: Alshati Strip Mall

Architecture firm: Studio Eiraji

Design team: Mona Rezaei, Elnaz Tofighi, Wala Majidi, Parisa Masudi, Golsa Zerangi, Shaghayegh Behruji

Clients: Alsalimi Co. Ltd. Trading, Investment, Real Estate and Development

Engineering: Derya Mert

Landscape: Mona Rezaei, Wala Majidi

All images © Javad Eiraji

> via Studio Eiraji