Maritime Museum and Al Khan Development

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi the ruler of Sharjah commissioned Cansult Maunsell AECOM to design a museum complex in Al Khan waterfront Area. The development is zoned to include a Maritime museum, Aquarium and Institute for Marine Science with total overall area of 48000 m2.

Our philosophy was to create a signature development that would simultaneously maximise exposure from land and sea and be an iconic landmark for Sharjah.
CMA carefully considered the sites attributes at the beginning of the design process, considering sight lines orientation and water frontage before embarking on the Masterplanning. The site is exposed to the sea towards the South and the Al Khan heritage area to the North where future museums public buildings are planned for the future.

A central piazza links the Maritime Museum and the Aquarium buildings and creates a focusand gathering point for visitors featuring lush landscaping extensive hard landscaped areas including an amphitheatre for festivals.
The concept is to expose a metaphorical ships skeletal frame enclosing the Maritime Museum with integrated wavelike shades. The shades create a link between the Maritime and Aquarium buildings provide a pleasant outdoor space and a dramatic backdrop to the two buildings.

Arrival Experience
A grand stair greets visitors as they approach the Maritime Museum from the main car park. The generous proportions of the stair establish a fitting “civic” scale to the arrival experience. Wheelchair access to the Museum and Aquarium is via the ramp which runs alongside the main stair welcoming people with mobility difficulties.
A traditional Sambuq Dhow is moored in the lagoon, another at the entrance strengthening the maritime references.

The water Plaza
The water plaza is a flexible space that can accommodate many different activities and is envisaged as a performance space, a place to sit and enjoy the water views or simply to watch people promenading along the waters edge.
The pop jet water feature will provide a both lively and cooling feature attracting to be enjoyed by all but especially drawing the attention of child visitors. In warmer climates children flock to play amongst the jumping jets of such fountains where at night special lighting creates a dramatic display.