Overview
Tala Bay is a large-scale tourism development on the Red Sea coast of Aqaba, Jordan. AF Studio designed and delivered two key components of the resort: the Marina Town at its heart and a beach hotel on its northern edge — together forming the focal point of the entire destination.
Services
Masterplanning · Architectural Design
Client
Orascom
Location
Aqaba, Jordan
AF Studio’s scope within Tala Bay included landscape design, the marina with residential units, and 2 hotels.
Marina Town · 2001
A waterfront destination carved from the landscape
Located at the heart of Tala Bay Resort, the Marina Town was designed around an inland basin excavated in respect of the natural marine and coral line of the Red Sea. The site presented a dramatic 15-metre difference in contour level from the beach to the back road — a challenge that became a design opportunity.
The project delivers 30,000 sqm of mixed-use residential and commercial space. Restaurants and shops occupy the ground floor with terraces extending toward the marina, while residential units above enjoy panoramic views of the water. The top-floor apartments are entered directly from the back-road level, offering a two-storey panoramic edge over the marina below.
Inspired by the architecture of historic Jordanian cities, the design introduces a contemporary reinterpretation of regional identity — with dynamic massing that accommodates individual customisation without compromising the coherence of the whole.
Tala Bay Marina Town — Masterplan
Radisson Moon Beach Hotel · 2003
A home away from home on the Red Sea
Located on the northern edge of Tala Bay Marina Town, the Radisson Moon Beach Hotel sits on an impressive beachfront with an 8-metre contour change between the back street and the shore. The design is organised around a central pedestrian axis that provides immediate clarity of circulation and a sense of familiarity for guests.
Archways along the path serve as landmarks and gateways, leading visitors through the hotel toward the Beach Club and the marina beyond. Room clusters are arranged in U-shaped formations, each tilted toward the sea to guarantee direct sea views from every room.
The main building — architecturally distinct from the room clusters — integrates the contour levels to offer sea views from both the reception hall and main restaurant.
Hotel photography · Site masterplan
Second Hotel
