Ayla Golfclub / Oppenheim Architecture

Architects: Oppenheim Architecture
Area: 5,800 m²
Year: 2018
Photography: Rory Gardiner, Mohammed Musa, Rasem Kamal, Ayla Oasis Development Company
Landscape: Form Landscape Architects
Interior Designer: Oppenheim Architecture + Design
Structure Consultant: WMM Engineers AG
Principals in Charge: Chad Oppenheim, Beat Huesler
Project Contributors: Aleksandra Melion, Anthony Cerasoli, Tom Mckeogh, Ana Guedes Lebre, Rasem Kamal
Local Architect: Darb Architects and Engineers
Shotcrete Consultant: Greuter AG
Golf Consultant: Greg Norman
City: Aqaba
Country: Jordan

The Ayla Golfclub in Aqaba serves as a defining architectural component of the Ayla Oasis development, presenting a sculptural response to the surrounding desert landscape. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture, the clubhouse and academy are unified beneath a fluid concrete shell that draws inspiration from the region’s dunes and mountains. Its program includes dining, lounge, spa, retail, training, and analysis spaces, offering a comprehensive leisure environment within the larger mixed-use district anchored by a signature golf course. Perforated corten steel screens introduce a contemporary interpretation of traditional Arab light-filtering systems, while material tones mirror the hues of the nearby terrain. Construction emphasized collaboration, with local workers trained in specialized shotcrete techniques and artisans contributing pigmentation methods that enhance the building’s tactile character. The project ultimately merges global design vision with local craftsmanship, creating an architectural expression deeply tied to its cultural and geographic setting.

The Ayla Golfclub establishes a distinctive identity for the growing resort district by translating the region’s geologic formations into an architectural language. Instead of relying on conventional typologies, the project adopts a landform-inspired approach that blurs the boundary between structure and terrain. This conceptual foundation allows the building to operate as both a functional amenity and an emblematic marker for the expansive master plan unfolding around it, reinforcing the development’s aspiration to situate contemporary leisure spaces within a uniquely Jordanian context.

Central to the project’s expression is a sweeping shotcrete shell that unifies the program under a continuous surface shaped to appear as though it has risen directly from the sand. This enveloping form organizes the clubhouse and academy while creating sheltered transitions between indoor and outdoor areas. Its curvature generates deep shadows and shifting light conditions that modulate the character of the interior throughout the day, emphasizing the interplay between architecture and environment. Openings are placed to frame views toward the golf course and the Aqaba Mountains, ensuring that the surrounding landscape remains a constant presence within the interior experience.

Light enters the building through patterned corten steel screens inspired by regional design motifs, introducing a layer of filtered illumination that recalls the function of the Mashrabiya without replicating its historic form. These geometric perforations project evolving patterns across floors and walls, enriching the spatial atmosphere while maintaining privacy where needed. Material coloration further anchors the structure within its setting, as the shotcrete tones subtly echo the chromatic variations of the desert, allowing the building to blend into its environment when viewed from a distance.

The interior surfaces carry a raw and tactile quality derived from traditional pigmentation techniques applied by a local artist. This approach reinforces the project’s commitment to regional authenticity without relying on decorative pastiche. The artisanal finish provides depth and texture to the spaces while preserving the clarity of the architectural form. The combination of crafted interior treatments and the monolithic exterior shell creates a balanced dialogue between refinement and ruggedness, echoing the natural contrasts of the surrounding landscape.

The construction process became an opportunity for knowledge exchange, with Oppenheim Architecture’s European team introducing shotcrete forming methods to the local workforce. The skill transfer allowed workers to take on specialized tasks and to participate meaningfully in shaping the complex geometry of the building. This collaborative effort strengthened the project’s connection to its community while supporting the technical proficiency required for its execution. The resulting structure stands as an example of how international design practice and local craftsmanship can converge to produce architecture that is both innovative and regionally grounded.