The Hawar Resort by Mantis

The Hawar Resort by Mantis is a spectacular 5-star resort situated on Bahrain’s pristine Hawar Island. WATG provided both architecture and master planning services for this resort, with a design led by the unique natural beauty of this location, the character of the island, and a vision to deliver a one-of-a-kind project for this region.

In addition to creating a world-class guest experience, this is an environmentally focused destination, encircled by a flourishing wildlife sanctuary. The resort itself is comprised of 104 rooms, including the over-water villas, as well as five dining venues, a spa, sports facilities, a kids club, swimming pool – spanning 1.8km of beachfront.

WATG’s work with the Mantis Collection focused on delivering a 5-star luxury resort, where the client was also keen to share and display the relationship with the island’s natural surroundings and wildlife, as the heart of the guest experience.

To achieve this, we led with ideas that were like that of a luxury safari. This approach focused on seamlessly blending the island’s ecosystem with resort operations. This way, Mantis Collection can use the resort itself as an environmental education platform for families, allowing guests to participate in nature preservation programs.

One of the most enticing elements of the resort is their selection of remote luxury villas, which have been positioned on vibrant turquoise waters, offering stunning panoramic views of the Persian Gulf. The pristine white-sand beaches add another visual layer. The result is a set of villas that appear to be floating on an island, surrounded by sand dunes and distinctive plant and wildlife.

Hawar Island is UNESCO protected and has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. It is home to significant number of Western Reef Egrets, Socotra Cormorants, Ospreys, and Greater Flamingos, to name a few.

As Hawar Island is heavily relied on by so many different species, it is an incredibly special and sensitive location. The design therefore needed to be entirely respectful of this, with certain areas remaining protected as a result – such as the in-land bay which is fully restricted from human sight and activity.

From the seascape, we worked to create a Maldives-like experience, and from the in-land, we promoted the safari-like elements. All of this was then framed within an architectural and landscape setting that pays homage to the Bahraini culture and its spectacular desert-to-sea skyline.

Sustainability was a key factor throughout every element of the Hawar Resort design – with a particular emphasis on engaging with the local wildlife and plant life preservation and enhancement. Considerate and careful plant species selection and planting layouts are designed to create more flora for the local fauna, as well as thickets of shrubs for wildlife.

Additionally, this is a partial renovation project, and we incorporated pre-existing structures into the development. By using these, we were able to keep the carbon-footprint balance down. The use of renewable energy, water treatment for irrigation and the onsite nursery also all support an overarching sustainability strategy.

The architectural design concept for the The Hawar Resort is derived from traditional Bahraini architecture, with a modern influence.

We used indigenous materials and color palettes, such as limestone and lime-render, which are typically used in local architecture and construction methodologies. Cross-ventilation was also incorporated, which is common to Bahrain to help with the heat.

The local climate and the cooling down of the spaces in a typically very hot location was pivotal. Tent-like structures have been formed across the resort and help to prevent the accumulation of heat within the building, while also casting shadows – cooling down the surrounding terraces of the buildings, surrounded by lush landscape. Additionally, the ‘tents’ offer an aesthetic appeal, emulating a sense of nomadic travel that speaks to the history of the island. The shape of these ‘tents’ also reflects the desert landscape, giving off the shape of a sand dune.

The Hawar Resort is the only resort on this island, and this is a unique position that demonstrates how important it was for the property to offer true escapism. Through the design, we’ve led with rich and sophisticated concepts of leaving the every day behind. Guests are not only venturing to a 5-star resort lifestyle, but are immersed in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure experience. WATG’s role in creating, protecting and enhancing this destination is ongoing – with plans for a wildlife conservation area, organic orchards and vegetable gardens being implemented this year.