World leader in structural design appointed by ALDAR

They join the impressive team of international and local architects and designers already appointed.

The RFR practice, which has offices around the world, will put together a series of 'public realm' designs for Al Raha Beach's bus, water and Light Rail Train (LRT) stations, pedestrian bridges and flyovers along nine kilometres of beachfront.

The public realm at Al Raha Beach will be a critical component of development in terms of providing an attractive and functional environment for some of the 120,000 people that are expected to live and work in this unique urban water environment.

ALDAR's Project Leader for Al Raha Beach, Michael Cox emphasised: "The key to a first grade development is to invite credible and reputable designers to bring the masterplan to life.

"With RFR on board, we have every element in place for a striking public realm design strategy."

RFR was founded by the late Peter Rice, the structural engineer who turned the initial freehand drawings for the Sydney Opera House into a workable and fascinating solution. Rice also worked on other modern architectural wonders, including Paris's controversial Beaubourg and the new Lloyds Building in London.

The partners and staff have carried on his fine work: recent successes have included the classic inverted glass pyramid at The Louvre (a central feature of the recent Da Vinci Code film), the Nuage tensile fabric structure at La Defense in Paris. More recent achievements include the complex roofs and facades of the Avignon TGV train station in southern France, the atria of the Danube and Nile Houses in Prague, the crystal like glass structure of the Bur Juman center in Dubai and the award winning Neumunster ultra-light glass roof in Luxemburg.

"The integrated transport system and the pedestrian focus of the Al Raha beach development, allows us an opportunity to create practical yet architecturally interesting structures to enhance the public realm landscape",

said Jean Le Lay, RFR Partner and Architect.

Construction of the entire Al Raha Beach public realm is scheduled for completion in July 2009.

Overall Master planners for the Al Raha Beach Development are Esquisse Australia, with infrastructure designed by a partnership between AECOM and Maunsells.