Dubai-based architect Shaun Killa is redefining the architecture of the golf course with a new take on the traditional halfway house that’s not designed as a stop, but a place to truly hang out.

Shaun Killa’s latest project at Dubai’s newest golf residential community, Discovery Dunes, transforms the humble halfway house into an architectural invitation to slow down.

What better way to coax children through a game of golf than with a treasure hunt? In the 1990s, Discovery Land Company founder Mike Meldman did exactly that, stashing coolers filled with sodas and candy along the tee boxes to keep his two young sons engaged through a full round. That playful gesture, a series of small discoveries threaded through the course, became the seed for the company’s now-iconic ‘comfort stations’. The children might have grown up, but they hadn’t grown out of the need for some light relief, a pause in the game, or something social to break up the round.

It’s not that the idea of a comfort station (otherwise known as the halfway house, the traditional mid-round stop between the front and back nine) is new. But the way Discovery has rethought that pause shifts the concept from simply functional into something social, generous and culturally specific. After all, Meldman’s aim was never to create a luxury amenity for its own sake. He wanted to make golf inviting for children and families who might otherwise have been intimidated or bored.

“The experience Discovery built around them makes members seek them out beyond the game,” he explains. “What makes Discovery’s comfort stations unique is how we embrace the cultures, histories, and the people within these spaces to create authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences at each location.” That means date soft-serve, Chips Oman, za’atar croissants and RJ’s Dubai Chocolate. small, nostalgic gestures that evoke place and transform each stop into a mini-destination. “Members should feel a special comfort in all its forms, whether that’s relaxed, playful, or simply happy to be with friends creating new memories.” The food itself is part of that emotional register: familiar childhood treats sit alongside unexpected indulgences, encouraging people to linger, compare, share and be slightly surprised, rather than simply refuel and move on.

To give that idea physical form, Meldman turned to architect Shaun Killa. Based in Dubai, he was tasked with translating what had once been a casual tradition into something spatial and enduring. “On a Discovery Land Company golf course, the comfort stations are conceived as quiet pauses within the rhythm of play,” Killa says, adding that they are embedded into the landscape rather than expressed as standalone objects. Rather than designing monuments, he focused on designing moments of retreat: the rear of each building is nestled into landscaped mounds, allowing the structures to feel grounded and sheltered; from the fairway, they read as low, horizontal forms that dissolve into the terrain.

Killa’s material palette underscores that restraint. Natural stone, timber‑lined soffits and deep, flat roof planes provide shade and thermal mass, while interiors feature warm timber ceilings, stone or travertine floors and open shelving more reminiscent of a domestic kitchen than a commercial facility. At the first station on the fifth hole, dubbed Tee Top, the landscape even extends over the roof, allowing golfers to tee off from a grass‑covered canopy. Inside, players find breakfast burritos, fruit‑packed açaí bowls and cold brew on tap, an “unexpected twist” that captures the informal character of the course. The second station, Tap Room, on the thirteenth hole, frames panoramic lake views and offers smash‑burgers, global snacks and handcrafted beverages in a cooler palette of blue and teal tiles.

These design choices aren’t about ostentation; they’re about making people feel comfortable lingering. Shaun Killa admits that the biggest risk was allowing design intent to overpower ease. If the stations felt too slick or precious, they would become destinations to admire rather than pauses to inhabit. To avoid that, he kept lines simple, colours muted and proportions generous. “Luxury emerges through proportion, shade, material honesty and the care given to everyday details, rather than through formal architectural statements,” he notes. Shaun Killa adds that climate, ageing and maintenance are integral to the architecture’s longevity: deep overhangs, robust materials and low profiles ensure the buildings weather gracefully in the desert, while finishes are intentionally forgiving and easily maintained.

While the comfort stations provide sculptural pauses, Discovery Dunes has also introduced a series of informal gathering spots known as the “Hangs”, relaxed, social spaces inspired by the American tradition of simply hanging out. The Lake House overlooks the 11th hole, while SHK Shack sits between the ninth and tenth, serving shawarma and Tuk Tuk coffee beneath string lights and palms. With majlis-style seating, open-air counters and a deliberately casual feel, they extend the same logic of ease and connection beyond the architecture.

All of this sits within a city increasingly defined by its relationship to golf. Dubai now boasts 13 world-class courses and a fast-growing golf tourism sector, yet Discovery Dunes resists the bigger-is-better logic of the boom. Instead, it frames golf as a social, spatial experience as much as a sporting one, a place to pause, to share something small between shots, to watch the light change across the landscape. In that sense, the comfort stations and Hangs feel less like amenities than like markers of a quieter regional shift, where sport, hospitality and social life coexist on the fairway.

With that experience in mind, it’s hard not to see these spaces as gestures toward a different future for the game. One that values not just how golf is played, but how it is inhabited and shared. The comfort stations are an evolving typology and, whilst golf might be steeped in tradition, these stations enhance through evolution rather than simply disrupt heritage. “We will innovate on comfort station offerings, structures and designs so they continue to invite more people into the game,” he says.

If it wasn’t already clear, Discovery Dunes’ contemporary spin on the halfway house is not about chasing trends, but about responding to the landscape of the game itself, listening to how people actually move through the course, where they want to stop, what they want to share, and how they want to feel while they’re there. Born from a father’s desire to make golf fun for his kids, refined through local flavours and sculptural design, and grounded in a commitment to pause and connection, it’s a way of making the halfway point feel more complete.

An Exclusive Address – Discovery Land Company’s first Middle East venture, Discovery Dunes, isn’t just about homes; it’s a curated world of wellness, nature, and next-level privacy.

By Shehzin Shaikh | June 2025

With a keen eye on the city’s booming growth and evolving lifestyle preferences, Mohammed Alawadhl, CEO, Discovery Land Company, shares the vision behind creating a private sanctuary that seamlessly blends resort elegance with family-focused amenities.

Discovery Land Company is known for its private, amenity-rich communities around the world. What made Dubai, and specifically the Golf District of Dubai South the perfect location for your first Middle East development?

Dubai is a city that’s not only forward­ thinking and vibrant but also deeply committed to creating spaces where people can truly live well. It’s a blend of world-class Infrastructure, influx of UHNWls, and growing appreciation for families that makes It a natural fit for us.

After more than 15 years of searching, we found the Golf District of Dubai South. Home to our 600-acre site, it will provide an intimate safe-haven with the privacy our members have grown to expect, while still close to several private jet terminals for easy international access. It is the first private, members-only community of its kind in the Middle East

Since the project is a ‘members-only’ residential community, could you walk us through what that exclusivity truly entails?

As a private, members-only community, everything has been thoughtfully considered, from the design of each home to the small, everyday moments that make life here special. Each home will be one-of-a-kind with the members designing their individual visions, inspired by the local surroundings, and built to meet the highest standards of style and comfort.

To bring this vision to life, we will have a team of approximately 400 people who will act as an extension of every family, ensuring every need is anticipated and every detail is taken care of, from member services to personalised experiences, and of course everything in between.

One of the highlights of the community is our Lake House, providing access to a variety of lake-focused recreational activities, Including swimming and paddleboarding, among other outdoor experiences and social Interactions. Members also have access to seasonal, farm-to-table dining, with wholesome meals made with fresh Ingredients from our very own organic farm. More than just a place to eat, it’s a space where families, friends, and children come together to connect, learn, and create lasting memories.

Our on-site farming specialists are there to inspire the next generation, introducing children to the principles of organic farming and nurturing a deeper appreciation for nature. Complementing this community is a discreet, around the-clock concierge & security team, ensuring peace of mind and a seamless living experience at every turn. Our Outdoor Pursuits program is our signature amenity, designed to foster adventure and authentic connection for individuals and families alike to enjoy both on property and across the Emirates. Whether it’s horseback riding, kite surfing, cycling through the landscape, or a game of padel, there’s something for everyone and every level.

Discovery Dunes is also home to the Middle East’s first private golf course by world-renowned legendary designer Tom Fazio, a course that does not adopt a tee time policy and welcomes all levels of golfers.

Families will also enjoy a dedicated kids’ club, a waterpark, and a comprehensive   sports   complex featuring both indoor and outdoor tennis courts. And for those who enjoy city life, members have access to Discovery Downtown in the Dubai EDITION rooftop, the only off-site city club of its kind connected to a residential community in the UAE.

This exclusive club offers our members a variety of activities catered to adults and children, such as a cigar lounge, a restaurant and bar, private rooms and a kids’ zone. The city club has 180-degree views of the Burj Khalifa, Downtown and the Dubai Fountains.

Who is your ideal resident, and how do you see them using this space?

Discovery Dunes was thoughtfully created for globally minded Individuals and families seeking the perfect balance between resort-style living and the comfort of a private home. Our members come from the Emirates, the Middle East, the US, Europe, Asia and all around the world.

In both its design and experience, our project reflects where luxury living is headed-curated, community-driven environments that support the everyday routine and meaningful retreat.

There’s increasing demand among ultra-high-net-worth individuals for experiential, wellness-focused living. How has Discovery Dunes been designed to cater to this demand, and how does it differentiate itself from other ultra-luxury communities in the UAE?

We provide what today’s UHNWls seek: wellness-focused living, meaningful connections, exclusive members-only environments, and access to a global network of like-minded Individuals. Discovery Dunes is built around the ethos of creating memorable family moments to last a lifetime. From our farm-to-table dining and an organic on-site farm to the Clubhouse’s state­ of-the-art wellness centre with spa and fitness facilities, along with a dedicated health clinic, wellness Is integrated into daily life. It’s a holistic, purpose-driven way of living that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the region.

What can future residents expect in terms of architectural style and interior experiences? 

We’re proud to be working with three world renowned design firms, Olson Kundlg, Champallmaud Design, and Shaun Killa, who each bring something special to the project.

Olson Kundig is leading the architectural vision for the villas, clubhouse suites, and clubhouse, including dining, fitness, and wellness spaces. Inspired by the natural beauty of the desert, their designs are open and modern, focusing on privacy and a deep connection to the landscape.

Champalimaud Design adds its signature warmth and sophistication to the interiors. They’ve completed the interiors for the Lake House at Discovery Dunes, and In the city, Champalimaud designed Discovery Downtown, our off-site social club in the heart of Downtown Dubai, with a palette inspired by Dubai’s sunsets. From pinks, oranges, and blues, with lush greenery woven throughout the space. It’s refined yet casual, and Inviting for every generation.

Killa Design is shaping several key components of the community reflecting the flowing lines of the golf course, with contemporary forms that blend into the natural surroundings. Their approach prioritises privacy, sustainability, and a family-oriented lifestyle-reflecting the values of Discovery’s global community.

“Discovery Dunes was thoughtfully created for globally minded individuals and families seeking the balance between resort-style living and the comfort of a private home”

Dubai South is on the cusp of a major transformation, on the back of Al Maktoum International Airport expansion. How do you see this shaping Discovery Dunes, both in terms of lifestyle appeal and long-term investment potential?

As Dubai South evolves into a thriving residential and commercial hub, with over AED270 billion in planned Infrastructure and a projected capacity of 260 million passengers, we’re seeing long-term value in the area grow significantly. With demand expected to surpass 100,000 new homes, we offer a rare chance to be part of something truly special, an exceptional lifestyle to enjoy now, and a smart investment for the future.

The value extends far beyond connectivity. The rapid development of new infrastructure, including widened road networks, upcoming metro and rail lines, and the future introduction of flying taxis with commercial vertiports in Dubai South, ensures that daily life Is not only efficient, but elevated.

Starting next year, the relocation of major international trade shows and exhibitions to the Expo 2020 site will further transform the area into a vibrant lifestyle destination. With this shift comes a surge in high-end F&B outlets, hospitality concepts, entertainment venues, and retail offerings, all just moments away. For residents of Discovery Dunes, this means enjoying an Increasingly dynamic environment while still being anchored in a peaceful, private sanctuary.