The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East
middle east
JULY 2018
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I URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Build it, and they will come By: 10 design
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The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East
Dubai-based holding company, Meraas has opened, Al Seef, a new destination offering retail, dining, and hospitality experiences in the city. The company is committed to enriching Dubai’s tourism industry by rejuvenating Dubai Creek into a new tourism destination. Stretching 1.8 km along the creek, the development is located in the historic heart of Dubai adjacent to the Al Fahidi Cultural Historical Neighbourhood. Al Seef is conceptualised to embrace the Emirati culture and yet at the same time shape the modern lifestyle of Dubai. This new development, which has attracted substantial new thinking and investment in Dubai, is one of the UAE’s most popular destinations. 10 DESIGN is the Design Architect for the Contemporary District of Al Seef, leading the project from concept design all the way through to construction supervision. The
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contemporary area spans around 670m of the Dubai Creek waterfront with retail, F&B, hospitality, marina amenities and parking covering over a total of 85,000m2. 10 DESIGN’s scheme has broken down the retail and F&B amenities into a series of standalone pavilions fronting along the shores of Dubai Creek. The pavilions fully open out onto the promenade, blurring the distinction between internal and external spaces, providing the canvas for exciting, active, and bustling retail and hospitality concepts. Gordon Affleck, Design Partner explains, “The individual design personalities of each retail and F&B pavilion incorporate crafted and layered façade solutions, resulting in a rich variety framing the visitor experience. Beneficially each pavilion has a distinctive identity; however, a common palette of materials and consistent approach to the precision of detailing ties together the separate elements to form a coherent solution across the whole district.” To complete a holistic lifestyle offer, Al Seef accommodates two hotels by Jumeirah: a 150-key Zabeel House Mini and a 200-key Zabeel House. Ross Milne, Chief Operating Officer says, “The complexities of realizing the project included the consideration of important and historic neighbourhoods, necessary service diversions and the reinforcement of existing sea walls. The result, however, is uncompromisingly contemporary but appropriately scaled with a rich palette of materials.” Al Seef seeks to maximize its waterfront location, celebrating cultural links and creating a rich, diverse, and vibrant place filled with exciting retail, leisure and hospitality outlets.
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