The Avenues – Bahrain to launch Phase Two work
MANAMA, May 9, 2017
King Faisal Corniche Development Company has announced plans to launch the second phase of The Avenues – Bahrain, the first commercial and entertainment mall of its kind in the kingdom with a unique 1.5-km waterfront location.
The announcement comes as the Bahraini developer is nearing completion on the first phase of the premier shopping and leisure destination.
The project, located opposite the Bahrain Bay Development along King Faisal Highway, is expected to reinvigorate the area while providing a comprehensive new lifestyle venue for Bahrain once it opens this October, said Kuwait-based Mabanee Company, which will be operating The Avenues.
The construction work on the mall began in September 2015.
International architectural practice Gensler has developed the architecture, interiors and landscaping design for the project, while MSCEB is the engineering and lead consultant. Nass Contracting is the main contractor for the project.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Shuaa Al Qati, the communications director of Mabanee Group, said official approval has been obtained for the construction of Phase Two of the project which will add another 30,000 sq m in leasing space, as well as new districts which will include a suq-style area.
“We are finalising the official approval and working on the design of Phase Two of the development,” remarked Al Qati.
While a final budget has not been set for the second phase, it is expected to cost around “75 per cent of the cost of the first phase”, which is worth BD55 million ($145 million), said Steve Bunce, the chief operation officer of Mabanee, who expects the reclamation work to start later this year.
The project, which is spread over a sprawling 272,000 sq m area, boasts a large family entertainment area, a 12-cinema theatre besides food and beverage (F&B) outlets facing the sea, as well as an outdoor jogging track, kids play areas, external gym equipment and parking spaces at grade level for around 1,500 vehicles.
With a leasing space of around 40,000 sq m, the developement includes 130 retail stores.
Designed on a similar theme as The Avenues in Kuwait, the mall brings a new concept to Bahrain, giving visitors an outdoor feeling while remaining indoors, protected from the heat by an ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) roof, which is a key design feature of the mall.
This clear material allows for sunlight to pass through but keeps the heat out, giving a sense of outdoor shopping, said the official.
The development is divided into different districts, each with its unique character, expressed through land use, plan form, architectural style and landscape.
The design of ‘The Grand Avenue’ – the main spine of the mall – is so conceived as to create a vibrant and fun-filled atmosphere, with a ‘mix and match’ variety of design elements, a real cosmopolitan space, which is light and airy, bringing in natural light with the use of an ETFE roof.
The developer said the concept is meant to exude a “street shopping” experience within a temperature-controlled environment and lined with palm trees. Other districts include the Forum, with a dome-shaped ETFE, which will be the events area, and the Entertainment district, the only area with a floor level above grade that houses the 12-cinema theatre.
The waterfront boardwalk, which runs along the façade of the building, will house F&B outlets and offer external seating decks, with a panoramic view out onto the bay. It will provide access by water taxis to the Royal Pier.
To the west of the development is a public corniche and landscaped recreational park, which will include children’s play areas, jogging track, skating rink and outdoor fitness nodes, said the official.
The Avenues – Bahrain will includes the first Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel & Residences with 210 rooms. Residences will have direct access to the mall, making The Avenues - Bahrain an attractive destination for citizens, as well as for tourists and business travellers from the GCC and other countries. The hotel is expected to welcome its first guests in early 2020.-TradeArabia News Service
