Tourism

Plan Design Enable

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In these modern times, our world is one world.

Exploring and experiencing everything it has to offer is now a global phenomenon,
making tourism one of the worlds largest economic activities and providing social
and physical development as well as profitable investment and trade. Eco and
cultural tourism now also help protect and celebrate some of the worlds most
precious ecosystems and magnificent monuments.
This brochure presents a small selection of our projects in:
Sustainable tourism
Strategic tourism
Luxury tourism
Leisure tourism.

Atkins is one of the largest multidisciplinary consultancies in the world, working

throughout the built and natural environment.
Our integrated multidisciplinary teams tackle planning, design, engineering and
environmental projects of all kinds and sizes, from initial study to completion, for
both public and private sector clients.
We have an established reputation for providing imaginative, practical and
independent advice. Our holistic approach to understanding the complexities of a
brief, solving problems and responding to opportunities, is at once pragmatic and
innovative, ensuring our solutions are balanced, people-friendly and sustainable.
We have world-wide experience in all aspects of tourism including:
Eco, cultural and heritage tourism, including World Heritage Sites and
conservation management
Strategic and regional tourism strategies and infrastructure planning
Resort masterplanning
Hotels and cruise ships, sports and health facilities, convention centres
Social development and assessment.

Sustainable Tourism

Environment
Heritage
Culture
Developing communities

Bahia Coast
Brazil

The Bahia Coast in Brazil contains sensitive and ecologicallyvaluable habitats such as mangroves, coastal dunes, wetlands,
and Atlantic forest zones and despite a 1400 km Environmental
Protection Area (APA Litoral Norte), the social cohesion and
character of the area was under pressure from tourism and
development.
We worked with the state authorities to develop and implement
an Environmental Management Plan which would preserve the
ecological value of the area at the same time as supporting
the development of a sustainable tourism industry that would
benefit the local community. Ensuring that the Brazilian
stakeholders maintain ownership of the EMP was key to its
successful implementation.

Neolithic Orkney, World Heritage Site

Scotland, United Kingdom

Orkney, in the north of Scotland is one of the worlds most important, prehistoric
sites. It is important to protect all the visual qualities both for heritage conservation
and to ensure a very special visitor experience. We prepared a detailed and
comprehensive analysis of the setting of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney WHS and
recommendations relating to the review of the buffer zone which protects the
views and historic context of the monument. The analysis was well received and will
be used to support the development of detailed supplementary planning guidance.

Bahla Fort & Oasis, World Heritage Site

Oman

Bahla Fort and Oasis is a well-known cultural tourism destination and a World
Heritage Site but it was in danger due to the vulnerable condition of its many
earthen structures and the rapid pace of modernisation. We developed a
Management Plan and Urban Design developing an understanding of the site, and
its cultural, physical, planning, social and institutional contexts; evaluating cultural
values and identifying its significance, current situation and vulnerability. Our
strategic framework addressed sustainable tourism, local skill capacity development
and, as well as conservation, sustainable tourism and management. We worked
with local community groups, to the UNESCO requirements, International
Conservation Charters and the principles of sustainable tourism. Our plans ensured
that the cultural and historic values could be maintained, while the town remained
vibrant both as a place to live and as a tourism destination.

Giants Causeway, World Heritage Site

Northern Ireland

The Giants Causeway attracts many tourists and visitors to see the remarkable
geological formations and spectacular scenery of the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland.
It is also the place of many legends and historic events that have helped to shape the
image of Ireland. We developed an Interpretation Strategy for the World Heritage Site
to provide a seamless and inspirational visitor experience that reflected the stunning
beauty and drama of the site and the many geological, ecological and mythological
stories associated with it. The study also involved extensive analysis of visitor numbers,
profiles and requirements to ensure that the final result would meet the needs of
visitors of all ages and abilities.

Historic Monuments of Wales

Wales, United Kingdom

Millions of tourists and visitors a year visit Wales to see its famous castles,
monuments and ancient towns. The Welsh government wished to
enhance the visitor and educational experience of all monuments in the
country. Atkins were appointed to prepare a nationwide strategy which
included setting national objectives for learning and enjoyment, as well
as interpretative themes and media proposals for interpretation, visitor
welcome and engagement working with the tourism and education sectors
in Wales. We prepared a full story-line telling the history of the nation
through the monuments and places and provided an individual visitor
and heritage interpretation plan for each site. We also carried out pilot
schemes experimenting with new media, technology and techniques for
interpretation and story-telling.

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Costa Rica Coastal Tourism

Costa Rica

We developed a strategy to promote sustainable tourism development

in coastal zones while conserving Costa Ricas rich biodiversity and the
interests of local communities.
We worked with government, non-government and civil society
representatives to produce a zoning plan that identified areas suitable
for tourism development while protecting areas of biological and
scenic value.
Our work included surveys of coastal habitats, wetlands (especially
mangroves), rainforest, tropical dry forests and agriculture, coral reefs
and cetacean breeding and feeding grounds.

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Houses of Parliament &

Westminster Abbey
London, United Kingdom
The World Heritage Site of the Houses of Parliament and
Westminster Abbey is one of the most visited in the UK
and also a place of work, politics and commerce. Atkins
prepared a Management Plan for the highly complex and
symbolic World Heritage Site which lies at the heart of the
UKs democratic and religious history, in accordance with
UNESCO standards. The team of conservation architects,
urban designers, transport, interpretation, tourism, and
heritage specialists addressed issues associated with the
setting, dignity, and accessibility of the site. The Management
Plan will guide the future of the site, ensuring that the
significance and universal values are safeguarded and
enhanced, while flourishing as a thriving tourist and
educational experience.

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Tourism Development
Namibia

Since independence in 1990, Namibia has been preparing

a series of new policies and plans to define the countrys
future development paths. As part of this process, in
recognition of the fact that Namibia has many wildlife
and scenic attractions with great tourism potential, the
EC agreed to fund the preparation of a ten year tourism
development plan. However, many of the countrys wildlife
and scenic resources are fragile in nature and some areas
are also home to societies that followed very traditional
ways of life. We were commissioned to develop a plan
balancing development against environmental protection.
We made recommendations aimed at ensuring the
physical and biological values were not degraded and that
developments would be acceptable to residents.

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Kardla Harbour
Hiiumaa, Estonia

Hiiumaa is a beautiful and peaceful island in the Baltic Sea. Already popular for
domestic holidays and a regular port of call for sailors from Finland, the Estonian
Government and Kardla Town Government and Municipality, felt they needed help to
develop the islands full potential without spoiling its tranquillity and beauty. We were
commissioned to devise a development strategy for a new harbour and related tourism
in the north east of the island. We devised a range of development options, which went
to public consultation before final plans were drawn up. We also gave training in CAD
techniques and planning. The scheme is EC PHARE funded.

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Socotra Archipelago
Yemen

The Socotra archipelago,famous world-wide for its fauna and

flora is one of the least developed parts of the Yemen Republic,
yet immensely valuable as a destination for eco-tourism. We
recommended a phased eco-tourism development plan based on
building eco-lodges and training programmes for local people.
We prepared a masterplan for the islands development over a
ten year period, looking at the existing situation in a variety of
sectors - environment, population, health, education, fisheries,
agriculture, livestock, tourism, economy, infrastructure, utilities,
local government administration, water and land use - and
devised projects for implementation in each sector, ensuring each
element did not threaten the important wildlife.

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Saltaire World Heritage Site

Bradford, United Kingdom

In 2007 we were awarded the national Royal Town Planning

Institute Award for Heritage for our work on the Saltaire
WHS Environmental Capacity Study. The first for a World
Heritage Site in the UK, it provides a robust long-term
framework for managing the Site, balancing tourism with
conservation and protection. It involved mapping the sites
setting, identifying the key issues and then developing
monitoring procedures to ensure that its capacity to
accommodate change would not be exceeded. The team
addressed a wide range of issues including built heritage
conservation, traffic management and the impact of visitors
on the local community. It also involved extensive public
consultation. The study set a precedent for similar studies
across the UK and the world.

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Nepal Ecotourism
Nepal

This project was designed to address poverty, gender and

environmental issues in Nepal within the context of tourism
development, by developing a programme of action for different
sectors and areas and empowering local governments and
communities to implement their own projects.
A number of hill towns and remote areas were identified for
tourism development, together with sub projects such as
infrastructure improvements community development and
tourism training.

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River Lea
Portugal

We were commissioned by a grouping of local authorities

in northern Portugal to develop a comprehensive strategy
for the Rio Lea and its tributaries the Arquinho and the
Rio Tinto. The Leca flows through a rapidly urbanising area
to the north of Porto. Our strategy includes conserving
its historic, landscape and nature conservation value and
maximising its potential as a sub-regional recreational
resource. Detailed designs for a series of enhancement
projects at key locations along the river corridor were
prepared. The project was partly financed by the
EC Cohesion Fund.

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Hdemeeste Tourism
Development
Estonia
We were commissioned to develop the tourism potential of
the Municipality of Hdemeeste in Parnu County, Estonia
and to increase the involvement of local people in tourism
services and activities.
Project also armed to promote co-operation between Estonia
and neighbouring countries and specifically a cross-border
tourist network. This initiative was set within the strategic
context of the Estonian Governments Development Plan for
Estonian Tourism.
The emphasis was on environmental tourism and sustainable
use of the local resources.

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Strategic Tourism

Countries
Regions
Cities
Towns and villages
Seaside towns
Regeneration

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National Planning Strategy

Kingdom of Bahrain

Cultural and eco-tourism is an essential element of our

work in developing and implementing Bahrains National
Development Planning Strategy. The project provides an
opportunity to take a similar strategic overview of the
kingdoms terrestrial and coastal cultural and natural
resources and the infrastructure for tourists and visitors. Its
heritage includes thousands of burial mounds dating from
the bronze age, Bahrain Fort, the historic towns of Muharraq
and Manama, and sites relating to aspects of the countrys
economic history, including pearl diving, local craftsmanship
and the oil industry. We are developing land use,
environmental management, industry, transport and social
solutions, as well as legislation and governance to ensure that
Bahrain is a high-quality place to visit.

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V&A Waterfront
Cape Town, South Africa

From tentative, small-scale beginnings, the V&A has become in

what has come before to ensure that the V&A grows true to

recent years, an iconic world tourism destination, investment

its locality in a way that is sustainable, enjoyable and attracts

opportunity and one of the best known waterfronts

investment- intellectual, cultural and financial. This has involved

internationally. Atkins led the planning and design of

considering issues including local climate, topography, transport,

improvements to the V&A waterfront, as part of the Citys

urbanform, heritage, buildings, materials and culture to nurture

delivery of the 2010 Football World Cup.

a local distinctiveness and develop proposals including new

hotels, homes, retail and leisure facilities which will complement

Our approach was to keep those attributes that have been the

the existing offer of the diverse city of Cape Town.

cornerstones of success and to build on an understanding of

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Hong Kong Island Tourism Strategy

China

Hong Kong Government commissioned us to develop a

tourism strategic development plan for Hong Kong South
Islands, which would maintain existing advantages of tourism
development, and also develop new tourism products to
improve the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a world destination.
The plan included regional tourism planning, sub-district
level development plan, detailed project proposals and
implementation measures.

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London West End

United Kingdom
Atkins has planned and delivered many key projects which ensure
that London retains its global image and role as one of the worlds
most important destinations. They include the transformation of
Trafalgar Square, the geographic and symbolic heart of London, into
a high quality grand urban experience and setting for important
cultural and historic assets and Oxford Circus, the centre of Londons
retail experience where we have turned extreme traffic and
pedestrian conflict and clutter, into a high quality innovative public
space with the UKs first diagonal crossing.

Photographer Nigel Young, Foster and Partners.

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Caernarfon Traffic & Tourism Study

Wales, United Kingdom

We assessed the tourism potential of Caernarfon; an historic

walled town dominated by its Edward 1st castle and a World
Heritage site. This involved the identification of development
opportunities and the preparation of traffic and parking strategy
which catered for different options. The study identified a number
of opportunities on Victoria Dock and the possibility of opening
a disused railway tunnel for car use. Particular consideration was
given to pedestrian movement patterns through the old walled
town and coach arrival and departure points.

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Qinghai Tourism &

Urban-Rural Development
for Guide County
Qinghai, China
The planning boundary covers the whole Guide County, focusing
on the 110 kilometer north-south axis of the tourism road axis
and the 78 kilometer east-west Yellow River Corridor. According
to the strategic plan of one circle, three axis from the province
government and committee, the vision National Tourism Resort
of Northwest China was developed, based on extensive research
of tourism conditions and conceptual development positioning.
To build a Highland Leisure and Healthy Resort Destination,
tourism products and project system were carefully analyzed
and proposed. For key projects, detailed planning, key node
design, tourism routes planning, infrastructure, ecological and
environmental suggestions were also provided in this project.

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Jigongshan
China

Jigongshan has been a mountain resort for over 100 years and
is still one of the nations most important destinations. It is
important for a large number of historic buildings, rare wildlife
species and stunning scenic views. The development of the
resort will help to revitalise the economic and social situation
of the area. We have developed a strategy to create a new
town, conference centre and modern resort at the foot of the
mountain and enhance the full natural and cultural heritage
visitor offer at the summit. We undertook market and economic
appraisal, benchmarking and positioning as well as identification
of the key cultural and natural heritage assets, the themes and
stories which arise from them as well as scheme of interpretation
media and visitor offers including museums, study, orientation,
outdoor and interpretation centres.

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Thames Strategy Kew to Chelsea

London, United Kingdom

The Strategy covers the area between Kew and Chelsea and

to planning, management and use of the river issues which

reflects the rich diversity of this stretch of the river, from the

require the involvement and commitment of the public, private

historic waterfront of Strand-on-the-Green to the industrial

and voluntary sectors, as well as the local communities, in active

riverside of Nine Elms. Its aim is to ensure that the River Thames

partnerships. We looked at existing landmarks, historic buildings

plays a full part in the economic, social and environmental life of

and landscapes, conservation areas, areas of archaeological and

London as a whole and the communities along its banks.

nature conservation interest, as well as public access, recreation

and use of the river for sustainable transport.

It provides a long term vision and the basis for a more holistic
approach to the many complex and interrelated issues relating

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Legible London
United Kingdom

Atkins refined and implemented a pioneering pedestrian

wayfinding system across the central London areas of South
Bank and Bankside.
Legible London aims to deliver a consistent approach to
walking wayfinding information throughout London.
The system was originally piloted in and around Bond Street
and was then refined and extended to thepopular tourist
areas of South Bank and Bankside, specifically chosen as they
offer complex wayfinding challenges, as well as being home
to the UKs busiest transport interchange in Waterloo Station.

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Jersey Island Plan

United Kingdom

We prepared a new 10 year Plan for the Island of Jersey to provide

a comprehensive policy and strategy document for development
on the island, which was environmentally acceptable and
encompassed the principles of sustainability. The new plan enabled
a holistic approach to planning including dealing with pressures
for housing and an expanding financial sector, plus changing
agricultural and tourism markets and coping with the demands of
the motor car. The island is only 45sq miles and therefore land is a
very precious resource and it is essential that it is used wisely.

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Sustainable Tourism
on Merseyside
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Atkins was appointed to undertake an assessment of coastal

visitor facilities in Merseyside, as part of the Quality of Coastal
Towns international project funded through the EUs Interreg IIc
Programme for the North West Metropolitan Area of Europe. The
objective of the project was to improve the resorts and introduce
tourism on a sustainable basis. The study tested the feasibility,
market demand, and locational opportunities for improving,
setting up, and running coastal visitor facilities.

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Hornsea Promenade
Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Hornsea Promenade has won a number of prestigious awards since it

opened in the summer of 2003. These include Civic Trust and Landscape
Institute awards. It has also been recognised by CABE in its library of
Britains best buildings and public spaces. Following our preparation of a
seafront masterplan, we were subsequently retained to provide detailed
design of the Central Promenade. Our scheme promotes Hornsea as
a 21st Century English seaside destination to boost tourism, benefit
business and provide a lasting economic and environmental asset.

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Luxury Tourism

Hotels
Resorts
Spas
Convention centres
Cruise ships

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Jumeirah Beach Resort Burj Al Arab

Dubai, UAE

The Burj Al Arab is for many people their first and defining image of
Dubai in much the same way the Eiffel Tower is for Paris. Both symbolize
their cities in a way we have come to call iconic even though both were
designed well before the word became ubiquitous.
Its often been said it put Dubai on the map and, when Burj Al Arab
with its sailing yacht expression appeared offshore from Dubai and the
Jumeirah Beach Resort, it indicated to everyone that those places were
worth visiting.

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Palmeira Real Resort

Development
Angola
We were commissioned to produce a concept Masterplan
and develop design proposals for luxury residential villas,
hotels and spa, restaurants, sports and leisure facilities.
Our vision for Palmeira Real developed from an innovative
approach to protecting the unique character and setting of
the site. The ambitious concept aims to provide unrivalled
exclusivity in service and luxury within this unique and
truly breathtaking location, providing he most rewarding
experiences available for todays sophisticated world
traveller and investor.

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Namaste Hotel
Mumbai, India

Designed to be instantly recognisable, the Namaste Hotel owes

its inspiration to the traditional Indian greeting of namaste, in
which the hands are placed together in a heartfelt gesture of
hospitality and welcome.
The two wings of the hotel reflect the hands, and are finished in
decorative designs inspired by the hennaed patterns applied to
the hands of honoured guests at Indian celebrations. They enclose
a vertical corridor space, divided by access decks at each level
which open into atriums broken by internal gardens at either end
and also at the summit, providing superb views over the city.
At ground level the towers are supported by a symmetrical
reception podium that continues the imagery of hands and arms,
while fountains and cascades suggest sleeves and clothing. Above
the podium is a 380 room hotel, plus retail, commercial and office
space.

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Durrat Al Bahrain
Kingdom of Bahrain

Durrat Al Bahrain is an exotic new resort. The 20km2 masterplan

consists of a broad arc of six man-made, serif-shaped atolls each
with an exclusive community of 172 villas that boast individual
yacht moorings or private beaches. The atolls are linked pendants
by slender bridges to an inner ring of five petal-shaped islands
that each have neighbourhood facilities and a shared white sand
beach serving communities of up to 90 villas.
At the heart of the necklace is a crescent shaped island with
shops, cafes, Leisure facilities and 2,000 apartments that is linked
to the individual petals.
A Grand Canal separates the crescent island from the mainland,
where there are additional facilities including a golf course and
marina. Atkins is responsible for the design and management of
the whole project including re-design of the masterplan to create
this signature, world-class development.

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Shengsi Sijiao Island Conceptual Masterplan

China

We won first prize in this international competition to

integrate spatial and temporal development in a way that,
responds to the three main issues of Sijiao city development,
tourism industry, and the port area. Aiming at ecological
conservation and development, our concept was for a spatially
balanced development on three functional zones, and dynamic
development vision of sea island by land island train oceanic
city was brought forward. All these concepts will lead Shengsi
Sijiao island to realize the dream of International Ecological
Oceanic Island City.

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Sanxingdui Cultural Industry Park

Strategic Orientation of Tourism Development
China
Building on the culture, brand and legibility of Sanxingdui and
to integrate the tourism functions and elements, we proposed
the Sanxingdui Theme Mall planning concept, to develop
an attractive and interactive destination, with a wide range of
natural sightseeing, art and leisure, business entertainment, travel
and resort experiences.

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Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental

Songjiang, China

This competition winning design for a 388-key five-star resort

as restaurants and cafs, a banqueting centre and conference

and business hotel is set within a water-filled quarry in Songjiang

facilities for up to 1,000 people. An extreme sports centre for

district, close to Shanghai. The quarry and hotel combine to

activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be

form an integrated whole where the hotels 17 storeys barely

cantilevered over the quarry, with access by special lifts. Due

intrude upon the natural beauty for which the area is famous.

for completion in 2011, this project will clearly demonstrate

The hotel includes a gym centre, swimming pool and spa, as well

sustainable hotel design for the emerging low- carbon hospitality

programme in China.

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Oasis of the Seas

Miami, USA

For Royal Caribbean, their guest experience is paramount and this commission was a means of
introducing innovation and excitement into a highly competitive environment. Not only was the
design team able to use its creative skills to the full, but it could call on Atkins broad range of
engineering expertise to make its innovations work.
Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, stretching from a remarkable 47m wide
at the waterline to over 65m in width on the upper desks. It has 2,700 staterooms providing the
capacity to accept 5,400 guests at full occupancy. At 360m long and 65m high, this ship would
constitute a significant building project if static, let alone floating. It set sail for the first time in
November 2009.

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Coral Island
Dubai, UAE

Atkins was commissioned for the comprehensive

This was a truly multidisciplined project combining all

masterplanning, design and delivery of this entire resort

engineering disciplines across different countries to deliver a

which included a luxury hotel, residential villas, townhouses,

prestigious development within demanding time scales. This was

apartments, marina and yacht club, beach club, spa, village

made possible by effective communication between all parties

(consisting of retail outlets and restaurants), and a complex

involved from client, consultant, sub-consultants, plant operators,

central utility compound (consisting of wastewater treatment

and contractors as well as strong project management.

plant, desalination plant, district cooling, power generation,

waste management, laundry, staff accommodation, stores,
incoming services, and a port).

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The Address
Dubai, UAE

Atkins was responsible for the architectural and engineering

design of this five star hotel and serviced apartment building
located in the prestigious Business Bay area. The development
comprises a business centre, health club and spa, a restaurant
and parking bays for 900 cars.
Our Carbon Critical DesignTM ethos ensured features such
an air condition condensation recovery process that captures
enough water to service the irrigation needs of the whole
building.

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Barr Al Jissah Hotel & Spa

Barr Al Jissah, Oman

The Barr Al Jissah Resort is situated in an isolated cove 12 kilometres

south of Muscat on the Quriyat coast, encircled by spectacular terrain
rising to a high plateau. Previously inaccessible by road, a four kilometre
access designed by Atkins now snakes through the wadi beds and cuts
over the jebel before descending to the resort, which consists of three
hotels, a spa and a heritage centre set in a natural coastal landscape.

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Xunliao
China

Located to the east of Shenzhen City in the Pearl River Delta

of southern China, this new tourism and resort destination
maximises the 16km coastline, pristine sandy beaches and
natural resources including mangroves, paddy fields and
fishing villages. The project includes plans for some ten
international hotels and resorts, an international standard
18-hole golf course, yacht clubs and luxury villas with private
marinas.

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Leisure Tourism
Events
Facilities
Attractions

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Asian Beach Games

Oman

We developed the masterplan for the highly successful 2010 Asian

Beach Games held in Muscat, Oman including the layout of the
sports facilities, competitors village, hotels, games support facilities
and associated infrastructure. The centrepiece of the masterplan
is a new harbour created to accommodate the water sports crafts
around which are located the new hotels, cafes, restaurants
and a public boulevard which will host the opening and closing
ceremonies and medal presentations.
The masterplan accommodates environmental protection
measures to safeguard the sensitive dune system and a seasonal
khwar feature which is prone to occasional flooding during
periods of heavy rainfall. The scheme also includes an area of date
palms which will be transplanted from adjacent areas subject to
rising salt water levels. The masterplan has been prepared with
sustainability and the legacy afteruse of the site in mind so that
the infrastructure installed as part of the games can be reused
after the beach games are complete.

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Zabeel Park
Dubai, UAE

Zabeel Park is a 48 ha technology theme park which has

brought to life a previously vacant area which linked the
original urban settlements of Al Karama and Al Jafiliya to the
DIFC which is a new financial district. The park occupies two
sites on either side of a major highway which is linked by a
soaring curved footbridge.
The park has a lively side that boasts an amphitheatre,
exhibition galleries and a bowling alley in addition to an Imax
theatre, a Techno Zone and an Alterntive Energy Zone.
Surrounding this are large landscaped gardens which provide
the perfect location for calm relaxation and quiet, secluded
family privacy.

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Eltham Palace
United Kingdom

Eltham Palace was built as a royal residence in 1311 and frequented for the
next four hundred years by successive monarchs. The Estate fell into disrepair
in the Eighteenth Century, remaining derelict until 1933 when the Palace
underwent a renaissance thanks to the Courtauld family. Our architects
were involved in the restoration of the palace interior, while our landscape
architects reviewed the gardens and developed proposals to upgrade
facilities as a visitor attraction, both for the general public and corporate
entertainment and business use.

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Kazan Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Kazan, Tartarstan

We developed a Landscape Masterplan for the relocation of an

Atkins worked closely with London Zoological Society to create a new

integrated zoo and botanical gardens at Kazan, capital of the Russian

collection comprising existing and additional animals. We also provided

Federation, Tartarstan (about 800 miles east of Moscow). A public/private

schematic designs for the lion and giraffe enclosures and the squirrel-

venture, the zoo and gardens are part of a major retail development

monkey island where emphasis was placed on enabling visitors to

on the banks of a lake. The design takes the form of a dragonfly and

wander inside the enclosure - a new concept.

has hot and cold zones to feature everything from monkeys, lions and
giraffes to polar bears and penguins. The botanical element is based on a
series of themed gardens linked by avenues of specimen trees and shrubs
forming paths among the enclosures.

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The Writer
Londons Hampstead Heath

The agent of sculptor Giancarlo Nervi wanted to move his

work The Writer - a huge chair and table - from the centre
of Rome to Hampstead Heath for the summer, because of its
long associations with famous journalists, thinkers and authors.
But the site had great environmental and heritage sensitivities.
Atkins services in applications, technical assessments and
designs and negotiations all helped ensure approvals with the
City Of London Corporation, who are responsible for the Heath
and smooth and safe erection.
Thousands of visitors, including many UK and international
tourists made changes to their London visit plans in order to
see the spectacle of such a surreal conjunction of rolling lawns,
shrubs and trees, with a new man made furniture focal point.

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Botanic Reserve
Muscat, Oman

We developed a masterplan and feasibility study for a regionally

feasibility study, involving our tourism economists, planners, architects,

important tourist and visitor destination based on the creation of Omans

botanists, engineers and cultural specialists, looked at the regional and

first Botanic Reserve. The vision was to showcase the ecologically rich

national tourism and economic context and our architectural and spatial

Middle Easts 1,200 species of native plants, 76 of which are found only

design included biomes, visitor centre, study centre and holiday village.

in Oman. The masterplan successfully combined conservation, research

and education relating to internationally important species ,with hotel

The project forms part of Omans national strategy to develop its tourism

and recreation which celebrating Omani culture and traditions. Our

industry using the countrys diverse cultural and natural assets.

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Wild Wadi Water Park

Jumeirah Beach Resort
Dubai, UAE
The Wild Wadi is a fully themed Arabic water park which when completed in 1999 had some
of the most technically advanced rides, water slides and gismos in the world. Its 24 exhilarating
rides and water are set in a 3-hectare landscaped area linked to the Jumeirah Beach Resort. It is
designed to give guests the experience of a lifetime in a world away from reality. It won the 1999
World Water Park Associations Industry Innovation Award for Outstanding Design and Theme.

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Park Hotel
Rovinj, Croatia

The Urban Development Plan of the town of Rovinj prescribes the

reconstruction of the existing marina to an enhanced standard,
providing some 200 commercial berths for visiting yachts. The
marinas existing hotel is to be redeveloped as part of that
process. Its location is an inlet of the northern Adriatic, directly
adjacent to the town of Rovinj, overlooking the marina and
surrounded by a magnificent rural landscape. The hotel is a series
of triangular pavilions providing every bedroom with a view of
both sea and land, with pools, decks and landscaped courtyards in
the spaces in between.

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Panama Pacifico Kobbe Hills

Panama

One of the new residential neighborhoods within Panama Pacifico will

On the highest point of the Kobbe Hills would be sited the 350 bed

be the exclusive community, Kobbe Hills. Featuring a new championship

Conference Hotel with easy access from the Kobbe Coastal Parkway.

golf course, resort and business hotels, and opportunities for luxury

The Country Club Hotel and golf club house is sited on a spur of land

living, the new community forms the first phase of the approved Master

overlooking the start and finish of the two golf 9s. A key environmental

Development Plan.

objective of the masterplan has been to minimise the removal of forest

on steeper slopes to provide a strong green framework to contain the
development and maintain corridors for wildlife.

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Daegu Stadium
Daegu, South Korea

Daegu Stadium co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Located on

the detailed design on behalf of the Samsung Corporation.

the outskirts of Daegu City it is the jewel in the crown of the

The roof consists of a 23,000m2 PTFE- coated class fibre membrane

Daegu Grand Park.

stretched across tubular arches supported by prismatic steel trusses

which span a dramatic 270m over the 70,000-seat stadium. A great

The design is a collaboration between Atkins and the Ideal Image

deal of attention was paid to the configuration of the supporting

Institute and represents two giant cupped hands. Atkins was

structure, to minimise clutter and thus ensure the result is as

initially responsible for the structural concept and later undertook

elegant as it is spectacular.

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GR8888 - Cities (Tourism), 20110324

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61

Richard Alvey
Director
Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road,
London NW1 3AT England
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7121 2264
Mobile +44 (0) 7711 78 7915
Fax +44 (0) 20 7121 2806
Email richard.alvey@atkinsglobal.com

www.atkinsglobal.com
The Atkins logo, Carbon Critical Design and the strapline
Plan Design Enable are trademarks of Atkins Ltd.
Atkins Ltd except where stated otherwise

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