Dead Sea Leisure Center, Jordan Architecture, Building, Image, Architect, Design

Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem

Building Development – design by Sitbon Architectes

15 Jul 2013

Cristal Leisure Center at The Dead Sea

Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem

Design: Sitbon Architectes

Cristal is located where we understand the essential of nature: its fragility. Today, the level of the Dead Sea, lowest emerged point in the earth, is reducing by one meter per year and is destined to disappear in 2050.

image from architects

The purpose of Cristal is to sensitize people to the interpretation of its specific nature. Like a sculpture, its volume is inspired by the salt cube structure, symbol of the Dead Sea. All the steps remind us consequences of time. It means that we need to take care of everything: our body, our mind, our environment… Cristal has the desire to be an answer for all these concerns by permitting us to be one with nature. Placed at north canal’s mouth, it crystalizes the void of a sleeping region to wake it up.

image from architects

Close to an old small airstrip and to an easy access zone, the project provides a leisure center offering various services. Spaces are organized around a crystal core. The ground floor is for platform of social relationships and sport activities. The first floor, accessible only by stairs, connected us to heaven in the esplanade of contemplation to look the sunrise and the mountains. Spaces surrounding the project are landscaped into several zonings such as bike rides, camel’s promenades, walks… Also to practice paddle or take a relaxing bath in the mud squares. Easy to install, the project can be mounted in six days. Telescopic frames in metal are unfolded then fixed and entirely covered with salt. This way, the structure gets salinized until reaching a total white pristine.

images from architects

The Cristal center zooms in one of the ten wonders of the world and invites us, by its activities, to discover the beauty of a nature really authentic. An essential vitality.

Cristal Dead Sea – Building Information

Name of the project: Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem
Location: Dead Sea
Gross floor area: 19,720 sqm
Height: 22m50 / 2 levels
Structure: metal + salt
Designer: Sitbon Architectes

Cristal Prizes:
Winner Best unbuilt competition entry of the AZ Awards 2013
People’s choice Winner of the AZ Awards 2013
More than 677 entries arriving from over 38 countries participated to this competition.

Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem images / information from Sitbon Architectes

Location: Dead Sea, Jordan, Middle East, Weastern Asia