HAYYAN MASTER PLAN
A Climate-attuned Neighborhood for Sharjah
Status: Under Construction
Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Team: Mariam Issoufou, Aaron Nkhoma, Harouna Diallo, Barira Boureima, Victoire Tata, Abdoulaye Makadassou, Assoumana Attahirou.
Referencing the Arabic word Hayyan, meaning “to be alive,” the Hayyan Masterplan is a community-oriented housing scheme in Sharjah that integrates architecture, vegetation, and water into a cohesive network. This approach creates natural settings for comfort and leisure, where climate and culture act as key drivers shaping both the urban landscape and the rhythms of daily life.
Comprising a series of townhomes and villas, the Hayyan Masterplan is designed to accommodate families and residents who value a strong sense of community. Accordingly, the homes are organized around highly walkable streets, complemented by safe, intimate lanes that open onto small courtyards—spaces well suited for informal gatherings, children playing cricket and other games, and everyday neighborly exchange.
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Public spaces of varying scales within the Hayyan Masterplan accommodate everything from large community gatherings to intimate storytelling sessions for neighborhood children. The scheme is designed with sensitivity to spatial qualities at night, fostering a comfortable, family-oriented environment during the hottest months of the year, when residents are most active in the evenings. These spaces are conceived as social condensers that encourage interaction, leisure, and a strong sense of community, reinforcing everyday patterns of exchange and shared experience.
The development seeks to maximize renewable energy by harnessing solar power and state-of-the-art technologies, while drawing on the traditional environmental wisdom of the Middle East. Natural ventilation, adaptive environments, and flexible, multifaceted spaces are designed to function differently throughout the day and across seasons. Shaded pedestrian routes, planted courtyards, and carefully positioned openings support passive cooling and climatic comfort. Cultural sustainability is reinforced through contemporary interpretations of traditional building systems and climate-responsive design strategies that root the project in its regional context.
The masterplan responds to the specific character of the region and takes seriously its demographics, income levels, and the desire for more accessible green spaces. Its vision is for an urban landscape with culture as its driving force, capable of cultivating a distinctive identity and long-term civic value. Underpinned by detailed research into public realm, heritage, and residential life, Hayyan is structured to perform equally well day and night, adapting fluidly to seasonal extremes while sustaining a vibrant community life.
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Architect
Mariam Issoufou ArchitectsDeveloper
Alef Group
