Project: Siyadi Pearl Museum
Architecture: Studio Anne Holtrop
MEP: EMAAR
Geo: Muharraq, BH
I am often amazed by the diversity of ideas that large developers set for themselves. The larger the business, the more extraordinary projects accumulate in the company’s portfolio. We indirectly worked with EMMAR in 2022 through BRICK—our neighbors in 3D craftsmanship from Budapest. Unfortunately, I cannot show the project yet—it's a large city in the desert; however, it well illustrates the scale of tasks that this Arab construction giant tackles.
In contrast, smaller tasks stand out, such as today’s project of reconstructing the pearl museum in downtown Bahrain, where EMMAR acts as the developer. Such projects do not bring profit, and if we dig deeper, I wouldn’t be surprised if a company nearby receives permission to build something larger. However, let’s set aside the mechanisms of business lobbying and take a closer look at the project.
For a long time, pearl diving shaped the culture and economy of island Bahrain. Representatives from all professions across the Persian Gulf flocked here to try their luck in gem extraction. Daily life shaped the city’s appearance, and fortunately, some cultural objects from that era have survived to this day. The Siyadi Majlis was a center for pearl trading, attracting buyers from India and Europe.
The restoration involved dismantling changes that had accumulated over time and restoring historical elements by studying the foundations. The old wall cladding technology consists of a two-layer plaster made of coral stone (fursah) covered with lime, where reliefs and decorative paintings were carved into the final layer. During reconstruction, it was successfully reproduced. Among the innovations, some surfaces were covered with silver foil, which, under the influence of air and humidity, forms a patina in a soft golden hue.
@gorkjournal
Architecture: Studio Anne Holtrop
MEP: EMAAR
Geo: Muharraq, BH
I am often amazed by the diversity of ideas that large developers set for themselves. The larger the business, the more extraordinary projects accumulate in the company’s portfolio. We indirectly worked with EMMAR in 2022 through BRICK—our neighbors in 3D craftsmanship from Budapest. Unfortunately, I cannot show the project yet—it's a large city in the desert; however, it well illustrates the scale of tasks that this Arab construction giant tackles.
In contrast, smaller tasks stand out, such as today’s project of reconstructing the pearl museum in downtown Bahrain, where EMMAR acts as the developer. Such projects do not bring profit, and if we dig deeper, I wouldn’t be surprised if a company nearby receives permission to build something larger. However, let’s set aside the mechanisms of business lobbying and take a closer look at the project.
For a long time, pearl diving shaped the culture and economy of island Bahrain. Representatives from all professions across the Persian Gulf flocked here to try their luck in gem extraction. Daily life shaped the city’s appearance, and fortunately, some cultural objects from that era have survived to this day. The Siyadi Majlis was a center for pearl trading, attracting buyers from India and Europe.
The restoration involved dismantling changes that had accumulated over time and restoring historical elements by studying the foundations. The old wall cladding technology consists of a two-layer plaster made of coral stone (fursah) covered with lime, where reliefs and decorative paintings were carved into the final layer. During reconstruction, it was successfully reproduced. Among the innovations, some surfaces were covered with silver foil, which, under the influence of air and humidity, forms a patina in a soft golden hue.
@gorkjournal