Buhais Geology Park has won the Architecture Masterprize 2020 Award for Cultural Architecture, (AMP), where the award’s mission is to enhance appreciation of high-quality architectural design worldwide. The Architecture Award celebrates creativity and innovation in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture and interior design.
Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, said: “We are proud of this great achievement for the Buhais Geology Park to obtain this global award, and the park well deserved this award for its geological value with artistic, environmental, touristic and integrated knowledge."
The ancient and rich geological history of Sharjah.
She pointed out that such supremacy and victory came based on the great and continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and the authority’s keenness to translate the directives and visions of His Highness in the world of the environment and its protection and conservation of biological diversity.
Al Suwaidi explained that a park was established in Buhais Geology park, (in the Al Buhais area located in the plains of Al-Madam area in the Central Region), to revive the ancient and rich geological history of Sharjah and to introduce visitors to the geological history of Sharjah. The Arab region provides a unique overview of plate tectonics, the nature of the small oceanic plate, how the ocean crust is formed, the effects of climate change, landscape development and human migration, there is a major mass extinction event dating back 65 million years, which wiped out 75% or more of marine and terrestrial animals, including non-flying dinosaurs.
BuhaisGeology Park is one of the pioneering projects in this field, and this unique site embraces historical evidence about how the local nature was formed no less than 93 million years ago. It is a site rich in fossilized remains of many ancient marine creatures that settled in shallow seas that covered most of the land in the Emirates until recently, from a geological perspective. The park includes two archaeological sites that contribute to enhancing our knowledge of the history of human settlement in this area, which dates back to at least 125,000 years ago.
London-based architecture firm Hopkins Architects has innovatively designed BuhaisGeology Park.
For his part, Simon Fraser, chief architect at Hopkins Architecture, said, "Our deep-rooted architectural, environmental and social convictions have guided our design for the Interpretive Center for the Buhais Geology Park, and we have worked with confidence and effective cooperation with the teams of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, to arrive at this distinctive model of the park. Accordingly, the award has been deservedly won."
In addition, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, in January 2018, Amiri Decree No. (5) of 2018 AD regarding the reorganization of JabalBuhais Nature Reserve in the Emirate of Sharjah, and the decree stipulated that it be established in the emirate. A nature reserve called JabalBuhais Nature Reserve, and in compliance with the provisions of Articles (64) (65) (66) (67) of Federal Law No. (24) for the year 1999 regarding the protection and development of the environment and its amendments, actions, activities and actions that lead to damage or deterioration are generally prohibited. Ecosystem or damage to wild, marine or wildlife, or prejudice to archaeological and heritage activities.
The Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority seeks to protect the environment, natural reserves, wildlife and their biological diversity by conducting scientific studies and research and implementing measures for pollution control. In addition the Authority seeks to increase awareness by educating individuals on the principles of sustainable development that could help preserve natural environmental resources, beneficial for the use and purpose of study among future generations.
