Butterfly pavilion by German studio 3deluxe clad with 4,000 golden aluminium flowers

by Kim Megson | 13 Jan 2016

The structure is covered in a special golden paint that can withstand high temperatures, UV radiation, salty air and sandstorms / 3deluxe

A German architecture firm, an Austrian artist and a Sharjah-based development company in the UAE have joined forces to open a butterfly-themed landscape park.

Al Noor Island, located in Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon, has been developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to “redefine the very meaning of an Arab city”.

The culture and leisure park – which was officially opened by Sharjah's ruler, Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi – features a wide ensemble of themed pavilions, attractions, buildings and musical soundscapes masterplanned by artist, poet, singer and actor André Heller to create a multi-sensory experience.

At the heart of the 45,500sq m (489,700sq ft) island is a striking butterfly pavilion created by architects 3deluxe and Dubai-based engineers Waagner Biro Gulf. The structure – covered in a special golden paint that can withstand high temperatures, UV radiation, salty air and sandstorms – features a twisting, ornamental rooftop formed of 4,000 differently-shaped aluminium leaves.

Inside is a 230sq m (2,400sq ft) artificial ecosystem and rainforest habitat populated with more than 500 butterflies and thousands of tropical plants. A transparent façade and organically shaped skylights offer views out and into the roof structure, which acts as a leafy tropical canopy casting the rainforest in shade.

A modern food lounge, shaped like a giant water lily, sits within the pavilion with ornamentally-patterned floors matching the roof, and dividing walls designed to resemble fallen petals. Furnishings have been created by Spanish firm Candido Hermida.

The roof itself – spread over 800sq m (8,600sq ft) and reaching a height of 13m (42.6ft) – is formed of three prefabricated interlocking sections constructed by engineering firm Seele Middle East. The entire structure rests on only nine points and three pillars that branch upwards like tree trunks.

Individually-controllable LED dots built into the roof are illuminated at night, creating flowing pre-programmed light patterns designed to emulate the motion of butterflies.

“The shape and design of the pavilion’s biomorphic outer shell are the product of an intense formal exploration of parametric design strategies in dialogue with traditional Arabian ornamentation,” said 3deluxe in a statement. “Natural and artificial materials and moods blend into a visually and emotionally condensed overall picture.

“Technology and nature, light and shadow and modern and traditional architecture fuse into a complex spatial experience.”

The park also features a Literature Pavilion celebrating Arabic calligraphy, a children's playground, a running track and a pedestrian bridge and marina that provide transport links to the Sharjah mainland.

Further attractions are to be added throughout 2016, including several commissioned sculptures from Heller and other artists.

Shurooq is responsible for a number of tourism developments in Sharjah – including the ongoing US$136m (€125m, £94.4m) Sir Bu Nuair Island eco-tourism project – that it expects will enhance the status of the city.

In a statement, the organisation’s chair, Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, said: “We envision a modern city that embraces progress while staying true to its values and traditions. We desire to create authentic destinations that are committed to enhancing quality of life. We endeavour to foster an environment where ideas can flourish and businesses thrive.”