flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Design culture in Dubai draws increased international attention

Architects

Design culture in Dubai draws increased international attention


By Harold Thompson, AIA, LEED AP, CallisonRTKL | CallisonRTKL | September 29, 2016

For many years, the UAE has set the global bar for iconic architecture—pushing the boundaries of aesthetics, technology, and delivery. With the articulation of the UAE Vision 2021 by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, that bar of excellence has been set even higher, ensuring that future design and development within the UAE be advanced through a framework of sustainability. And not only environmental sustainability, but also economic and cultural sustainability.

As much as any market in the world, design and development go hand-in-hand in the UAE. With a diverse population that is cosmopolitan, well travelled, and well-informed, the market here is increasingly sophisticated. That sophisticated perspective informs market demand and becomes the primary incentive for responsive design and responsible development. 

Tenants, homeowners, and investors are increasingly demanding attention to such design concepts as technologically smart systems, green networks, power efficiency, access to natural light, access to transportation options, and, importantly, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity. They are demanding environments that are designed to ‘perform’ as environmental, economic, and social engines. 

This increasingly rich appreciation for properly-conceived and responsible design is fertile ground for the best and the brightest in the design profession. Our own CallisonRTKL office in Dubai is a prime example—with 70 employees representing 38 different countries and speaking 13 different languages.  It’s a truly international team helping to design a truly international city for the 21st century and beyond.

With increased rigor in the local design profession and an increasingly global perspective on innovation, discourse on design has become a natural part of popular culture. A case in point is Dubai Design Week, which takes place this year from Oct. 24-29. This event began in 2015 as a way to “support UAE-based multidisciplinary design talent and celebrate the city’s forward-thinking approach to urban enterprise.”

In a 2015 press release, Cyril Zammit, Director of Design at Art Dubai Group noted, “It was clear that Dubai Design Week 2015 tapped into something that both Dubai and the design industry had been waiting for—a global platform for design in the UAE and the Middle East, and an opportunity to share and explore perspectives and ideas with people from a multitude of countries and cultures.”

Dubai Design Week is a culmination of an ever-evolving design culture in a city driven by continued construction intensity. With a population expected to double over the next 14 years and reach five million by 2030, this type of design dialogue is more important than ever and serves to underscore the amazing power that can build in a city that continues to challenge and supersede the limits of design innovation and technology. 

One current project that exemplifies the potential for design to elevate Dubai within the ranks of the world’s greatest cities is Dubai Creek Harbour. CallisonRTKL is acting as the overall master planner for the project, which is arguably the largest new urban community development in the world.  From the earliest planning concepts, this development has focused on sustainable living. A 600-HA, 11 million-SM development, Dubai Creek Harbor incorporates the latest in smart technology, transportation design, green networks, and diverse, social connectivity. There is no other market in the world that is capable of delivering such a game-changing ‘city within a city’ with the same speed, quality, and innovation as Dubai.

As the UAE continues to grow, it is attracting more and more attention, not only from investors and developers, but also from designers, artists, architects, and innovators. Partially as a result of this increasingly dominant role on the world stage, Dubai will play host to the World Expo 2020, the foremost global festival of human ingenuity, and an honor bestowed on only the most forward-thinking, progressive of cities.

About the Author: Harold Thompson, AIA, CDP, LEED AP, is Executive Director with CallisonRTKL.

More from Author

CallisonRTKL | Dec 20, 2021

Digital nomads are influencing design

As our spaces continue to adapt to our future needs, we’ll likely see more collaborative, communal zones where people can relax, shop, and work.

CallisonRTKL | Jun 30, 2020

The great reset and our new work life

As many countries begin to return to the office, it’s a chance to ask ourselves: what do we truly value?

CallisonRTKL | May 4, 2020

How working from home is influencing design

The lessons learned in the next few months can help shape how we work and design in the future. For now, remote work is different – and our new normal.

CallisonRTKL | Feb 26, 2020

Sustainability in a material world

The concepts of embodied carbon, zero waste, and deconstruction and reuse often run on parallel tracks.

CallisonRTKL | Jan 30, 2020

The complex dance of healthcare transitioning

Hospital employees, though excited about technological advancements, are expected to navigate a new workplace and care for their patients at the same time, all while training on new equipment and navigating a new building.

CallisonRTKL | Jan 6, 2020

Retail re-invention: Five questions to ask

Why have some malls survived their long-predicted demise, thriving and bumping with new generations of shoppers, while others have been relegated to the ash heap of deadmalls.com?

CallisonRTKL | Aug 6, 2019

Saving the American mall in 5 steps

CallisonRTKL Vice President Marc Fairbrother explains how struggling American malls can turn it all around.

CallisonRTKL | May 29, 2019

Smart buildings can optimize wellness

Employees want wellness initiatives built into their work experience, especially when they’re in spaces that can leave them feeling stiff, stressed, and sick. 

CallisonRTKL | Apr 5, 2019

2019 trends in the workplace

From retention and career advancement to the ethics of inclusion and diversity, these five trends will play a major role this year in design, strategic planning and workplace development.

CallisonRTKL | Jan 28, 2019

9 tech trends to track in 2019

Innovations in voice recognition, cognitive neuroscience, and biometrics are among the trending tech topics for 2019, according to CallisonRTKL's Kristin Tilley.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Office Buildings

2019 trends in the workplace

From retention and career advancement to the ethics of inclusion and diversity, these five trends will play a major role this year in design, strategic planning and workplace development.


Architects

9 tech trends to track in 2019

Innovations in voice recognition, cognitive neuroscience, and biometrics are among the trending tech topics for 2019, according to CallisonRTKL's Kristin Tilley.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021