urko sánchez architects reinterpret African architecture in the UAE

urko sánchez architects landscape for research and learning

Sharjah Bridi Park from Urko Sánchez Architects located within the Al Bridi Sanctuary at UAEwhere a series of low, thatch The Pavilions introduce visitors to an environment dedicated to research, education and the study of African ecosystems. The project organizes arrival, orientation and learning through a network of modest structures constructed from Earth and dispersed through vegetation and open ground.

The development brings together entrance buildings, ticketing areas, retail spaces and a training camp designed for on-site programs and workshops. Each element contributes to a sequence that guides visitors from the perimeter of the reserve to gathering and observation areas. Circulation follows gentle pathways through planting and shaded courts, allowing movement between buildings to remain connected to the surrounding terrain.

images © Arch-Exist

Reinterpretation of vernacular forms

The design by Urko Sánchez Architects is based on traditional African building typologies, reinterpreting familiar forms through modern methods of construction and spatial planning. Rounded volumes and deep thatched roofs shape the overall composition and form silhouettes that seem almost sculpted from the ground itself.

THE group forms many structures with tapered or gently curved profiles, while others extend into elongated gazebos with sweeping rooflines that hover over open terraces. These variations introduce a rhythm throughout the site while maintaining a common architectural language. The buildings are read as a family of forms, each responding to a specific function while maintaining a consistent dialogue with the shelter’s vegetation.

a series of thatched pavilions form a new entrance to Sharjah Bridi Park

A structural language of wood and straw

At Sharjah Bridi Park, timber frames define the underlying structural order as Urko Sánchez Architects arranges columns and beams to create open interior spaces that allow air and light to move freely through the spaces. Of course, this expressive structure is celebrated and remains visible from within.

Above this framework, thick layers of thatch extend outward to form protective canopies. Rather than acting as an applied surface, the thatched plant grows directly from the wooden structure beneath it, creating an integrated complex where the structure and enclosure work together. The texture of the roof introduces depth and warmth while providing substantial shading from the desert sun.

curved roofs create sculptural silhouettes that rise gently from the earth

climate responsive earth architecture

Extensive studies informed the adaptation of traditional thatched roof systems to the UAE climate. The roof profiles stretch outward to create deep overhangs, shading the outdoor living areas and corridors. Light filters through the multi-layered construction, creating soft interior conditions that shift throughout the day.

Inside the pavilions designed by architects Urko Sánchez, thick clay walls and sculpted columns guide movement through the spaces. Benches and low partitions form stopping points along traffic routes. Visitors move between shaded interiors and open landscape, experiencing the architecture and environment as part of a continuous spatial sequence.

the buildings of Urko Sánchez architects reinterpret traditional African architecture

Thatched roofs extend outward to provide shade and protection from the climate