FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WATG Designs Phase Three for Sahl Hasheesh

Irvine, April 2010

Destination design firm WATG has been engaged by Egyptian Resorts Company (ERC) to design the detailed master plan for the Sahl Hasheesh International Resort Community  – Phase III, a large mixed-use development on the Red Sea in Egypt. Consisting of 4,090 hectares, or 10,106 acres, the development will be comprised of civic centers, a university, schools, business park, apartments, branded villas and other resort components. It is expected to be the largest resort development in the world.

"It was important for the client to have a development that was viable," said Perry Brown, senior vice president of WATG. "This master plan was originally only a resort community, but the client envisions a development that includes appropriate civic infrastructure to support the resort development."

The vision for the master plan is to tell the story of Egypt's heritage through the landscape design.

The master plan includes a landscape structure of open-space corridors that tells a narrative depicting the rich history of the country. The story behind the project incorporates the metaphor of a "Fertile Valley" with the primary source of life being the Grand Canal, or river flowing through the Central Valley. The water, as "life," supports and embraces a richly textured landscape and provides opportunities for a variety of experiences. These range from oasis desert landscapes to informal agricultural use, from lush semi-tropical to formal, geometric landscape experiences. These all further reinforce the distinct story of each civilization that made its mark on Egypt over the centuries.

WATG has been involved with the project since 2008 and designed Phase II, as well, which involved a competition among several other international design firms.

WATG has a legacy of environmentally sensitive planning, architecture and design. A hallmark of WATG is its awareness to the influences of the local culture, the natural resources, the people and the spirit of the place. From its offices in Irvine, Seattle, Honolulu, Orlando, Singapore and London, WATG has designed hotels and resorts in 160 countries and territories across six continents. For more information, visit www.watg.com.

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