THE FUTURE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The visionary design & architecture of
JAMES LIMA
Cities, Urban Planning, Resorts, Mansions or a whole Island
Desert Resort
The Red Desert. A mysterious and dramatic place. Red sand dunes meet massive rock outcroppings that resembles a strange geological version of Manhattan. The sand dunes are the “boulevards”, the huge vertical rocks are the city blocks, the “skyscrapers.” The rocks are carved out and added to, augmenting nature in an organic way to seamless extend the rock formations into functional buildings. scts and lowers to the Loggia Level. A retractable Marina adjusts to the rising or lowering tide. The upper terraces contain pools, waterfalls, eating and lounge areas. The whole structure cantilevers over the water, the lower floor is glass bottomed, offering an impossible view of the constant crashing waves and the artificial reef that provides a perfect wave for surfing under the mansion. Off shore mooring for super yachts and as part of the security package a personal AMP SUIT Body Guard is provided (suitable for land or sea).
CATEGORY / Architecture CLIENT / NEOM AREA / Saudi Arabia YEAR / 2021 STATUS / Project
Crystal Island Resort
Where the Gulf of Aqua meets the Red Sea there is an archipelago of islands that no one has ever set foot on. Pristine, untouched, undiscovered. The water is crystal clear, warm and pure. This area has the second largest coral reefs in the world, only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is bigger. But here in Saudi Arabia the coral is healthy, untouched, unvisited by humans. Against this natural wonder a sustainable and eco resort is planned. Several hotels, a golf club and marina surrounded by beautiful white sand beaches. The architectual concept for the island is a series of huge crystal like structures that form small villages for: hotels, villas, shopping areas, the marina, the golf resort, beach club and restaurants. Connecting the huge crystal like buildings is a Linear structure clothed in a beautiful 2-sided Waterfall. This dramatic geometric statement evokes the mirrored surface of THE LINE but here on this island, the reflective surface is elemental and dynamic - its water.
CATEGORY / Architecture CLIENT / NEOM AREA / Saudi Arabia YEAR / 2021 STATUS / Project
JAMES LIMA • DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
“Bold and heroic design unleashed with relentless creativity”
- James Lima
JAMES LIMA
James is an Award winning visionary Designer and Director-Visual Effects Supervisor. He has created commercials and music videos for Madonna, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace, Zegna, Alexander Wang, Coach, Tory Burch and Vodafone. Lima’s ground breaking film, Prada presents: Trembled Blossoms ushered in the era of the fashion film.
James is a graduate of Art Center College of Design where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Design. Lima has worked on many films, TV series and projects for both James Cameron and Steven Spielberg. Most notably on the blockbuster film AVATAR.
Since 2018 James has worked on 11 projects for the PIF / Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 4 of these projects were in collaboration with architectural firm UNStudio, one in collaboration with architectural firm SOM. The most notable is the mega project NEOM, which included designs for locations outside The LINE: cities, towns, luxury mansions, resorts, digital events / lifestyle events & attractions, and a sports stadium.
CREDITS:
AVATAR • Spider Man • Jurassic World VR • Terminator • Green Lantern • Star Wars - Star Tours • Space Jam • Twilight • Strange Days • Starship Troopers
AWARDS:
• Winner - Academy Award Best VFX: Total Recall
• Winner - Emmy Award Best Mini-Series: Steven Spielberg presents TAKEN
• Winner - Saturn Award Best Mini-Series: Steven Spielberg presents TAKEN
• Winner - Elan Awards Best Visual Effects: Terminator-The Sarah Connor Chronicles
• Emmy Nomination Best Visual Effects: Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles
• Emmy Nomination Best Visual Effects: Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN
• Golden Globe Nomination Best mini-series: Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN
• BID Nomination (British Insurance Design): Prada Presents Trembled Blossoms
Beach Mansion
The Gulf of Aqaba is a dramatic place. Crystal blue seas splash against stark majestic mountains that reach nearly 9,000 feet in elevation. Nestled on its endless beaches, a spectacular mansion shaped like a massive “Land-Yacht”, its enormous bow shooting straight out of the cliffs. The Pool Deck retracts and lowers to the Loggia Level. A retractable Marina adjusts to the rising or lowering tide. The upper terraces contain pools, waterfalls, eating and lounge areas. The whole structure cantilevers over the water, the lower floor is glass bottomed, offering an impossible view of the constant crashing waves and the artificial reef that provides a perfect wave for surfing under the mansion. Off shore mooring for super yachts and as part of the security package a personal AMP SUIT Body Guard is provided (suitable for land or sea).
CATEGORY / Architecture CLIENT / NEOM AREA / Saudi Arabia YEAR / 2022 STATUS / Project
Wellness Resort Island
The natural world with its dramatic contrasts between land and sea, its vivid colors and textures and vast open spaces. These things should be preserved. The Wellness Resort seems to flow like a fountain from the islands core. Just off shore is a a ring-shaped underwater boutique hotel with a semi submerged roof that acts like a shallow pool / deck for sun bathing, yoga or even a disco at night! Pleasure boats can dock at the Hotel’s marina in the center. Spa, meditation, restaurants and juice bars are on land. The boutique hotel is underwater. Access to the hotel is either by boat or a glass tunnel from the spa on the Island. On a near by island a large gold sundial / wind chime creates soothing meditative alpha sounds. In the distance NEOM’s LINE can be seen.
CATEGORY / Architecture CLIENT / NEOM AREA / Saudi Arabia YEAR / 2022 STATUS / Project