Pearling Path
The Pearling Path is a UNESCO heritage site in Muharraq that encompasses a 3.5km-long corridor of historic landmarks and new infrastructure, as well as a number of contemporary and restored buildings, among them Dar Al Jinaa (OFFICE 126). Unravelling within the maze-like old town, the project, developed in collaboration with Bureau Bas Smets, identifies a number of vacant lots as potential public squares. To date, 17 of these have been built on – paved with a special concrete incorporating iridescent white nacre and planted with a dense grid of trees that rise through circular openings in the paving. These oasis-like environments are additionally cooled by a piping system, creating protected microclimates with benches and drinking wells.
The series of squares are connected as in a breadcrumb trail, with visitors being directed from one site to the next by lampposts of polished, pearlescent concrete that extend beyond the squares, lighting the way. Ending at the shore, the lampposts lead to a pedestrian overpass that connects the oyster beds on the coastline with the old town on the other side of the highway. The spanning steel structure is supported by simple concrete piers that also enclose elevators. Encased staircases extend diagonally from the linear structure. Together, the squares, the footbridge, the lampposts and the buildings along the route form an intertwined entity of large-scale and small-scale interventions that contribute to the unique ambiance of the city.
