Dezeen Magazine

Clinique La Prairie Resort for Amaala in Saudi Arabia

John Heah designs Clinique La Prairie resort for Amaala in Saudi Arabia

Architect John Heah drew on Islamic architecture for the design of a resort for spa clinic brand Clinique La Prairie, which will form part of the Amaala "wellness destination" on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia.

The 36,115-square-metre resort, which will have 13 villas and 52 rooms and suites, is envisioned as a cluster of white buildings with multiple distinctive trapezoidal roofs.

View of Clinique La Prairie Resort in Amaala
The resort was designed by John Heah

As well as places to stay, Clinique La Prairie resort, which is created with developer Red Sea Global, will have wellness centres, a diagnostics lab, a museum, a beach club, workshop and training rooms, a private dining space and a cooking school.

These facilities will be dotted throughout buildings set around the central Longevity Plaza and divided into four different categories – medical care, nutrition, movement and wellbeing.

White villa at Clinique resort by John Heah
It will be one of eight resorts in Amaala

The design for Clinique La Prairie's buildings was created by combining more traditional Islamic architecture with contemporary craftsmanship.

"Clinique La Prairie's world-renowned facilities and health and wellness experiences, set against Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary natural landscapes, will take our visitors on transformative personal journeys inspired by arts, wellness, and the purity of the Red Sea," said Red Sea Global group CEO John Pagano.

"The resort's subtle beauty – a product of Islamic architecture and modern craftmanship – will deliver a serene place in which to unwind, meditate and rejuvenate," Pagano added.

Heah has also designed the landscaping that will surround the resort, which features "idyllic gardens" and aims to "establish a sense of place and tranquility and add to the connected journey for visitors".

The Clinique La Prairie resort will offer visitors services including radiology, physio, neuroscience and dentistry, as well as a cryochamber, hyperbaric suites and IV infusions.

Courtyard view at Clinique La Prairie resort in Saudi Arabia
Its design was informed by Islamic architecture

Amaala, which describes itself as "the world's first integrated family wellness destination" will consist of eight different resorts and be home to more than 3,000 hotel rooms.

Clinique La Prairie's resort is part of its first phase, called Triple Bay.

According to developer Red Sea Global, it will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. It also takes the local flora and fauna into account by moving buildings back from the coastline, while the impact of artificial light will be limited to help minimise disruption to wildlife.

Building at Clinique's Amaala resort
It will be located on the Red Sea coastline

The Clinique La Prairie resort is the latest addition to the Amaala resort, which will also feature "the world's first fully immersive experiential marine life centre" set to be designed by British studio Foster + Partners.

Foster + Partners is also designing a private airport terminal and control tower for the masterplan, which led the climate activist group Architects Climate Action Network to call on the studio to resign as a signatory of the Architects Declare movement.