“We have to innovate”

designers and architects, but rather, how amazing the result can be when we put all this programme potential in the hands of the people who know how to use it best.”

Client Needs Reflect The Changing Times

“In my office”, Nisreen explains, “we are of course more specialised in the residential side of things, and our main objective is to create something that really meets the clients’ needs. This is where we can clearly see the impact of changing times, though, and indeed, the effects of the Pandemic and its legacy. There is a huge difference between the requirements now and what were the typical style of requirements before.

he first thing I should say”, comments Nisreen, “is that today’s market is moving faster than at any time I can remember. Things are now shifting very quickly - and the challenge is not to try to be ‘trendy’ and follow these temporary likes, but to make project designs as classic and as simple as possible. Work in this way, and what you create will truly stand the test of time, outlasting changing tastes. Whereas if you do something that’s only fashionable and trendy, it will - equally - go out of fashion very quickly. But the challenge, of course, is to always see the larger picture and not be drawn into doing things that will soon look tired and old-fashioned.

“Part of this fast pace of change is that today’s industry is providing a good many tools and technologies that simply weren’t available before. So when people talk about the new era of AI-led generative software, for example, I see this as no more or less than a tool - and a very helpful one too. By this I mean that it’s helpful to everyone, not just designers and architects. It’s really helpful for clients, because so often they have an idea but have trouble communicating it. The new software is a great tool for interpreting what they need.

“But - will it take over from professional creativity? At the end of the day I believe that human creativity is very important. Sure, programmes are able to come up with shapes that it would be very difficult for the human mind even to imagine, but it’s really when we combine these with the creative skills of the professionals that we get something truly unique, creative and worthwhile. That’s the real potential here. So let’s combine all the tools and skillsets that are available. It’s not a question of engineers now being able to take over from

“Let me explain: before, people weren’t interested in having ‘lifestyle’ facilities, they simply wanted somewhere where they went back to sleep, a majlis, dining areas, and so on. Whereas now, some clients don’t even want the majlis, they want a place where they can go for sports, for work, for relaxing, and they care much more about the surrounding context and landscaping. In fact, we can say that they are creating an area that they might not leave for many days. They might want us to accurately re-create their office, duplicating their workplace, and all the raft of facilities that necessitates. The whole equation has turned inside-out: many people are now working from home and that home is now very much a complete base of operations.

“In terms of how we create that base for them, we can cover every aspect of the project, from A-Z. We also do interior design, and as an architect, this is something I very much have an eye for. As I design a house, I can already see in my head what the inside should look like.

“The landscaping is also part of our work. But if the client chooses to hire someone else to do these things, then we can of course work with them. At the end of the day, we aren’t just designers: we are consulting engineers and this means that we can take care of all the building regulatory requirements, and so on. This avoids the mass of issues that can happen when a client appoints a designer from abroad, but then find that the design doesn’t meet local building requirements. So you see, it’s very important to choose the right designers and project manager from the start.”

What about the role of Urban Design and current ideas around the ‘15-minute city’ concept, for example? “Actually, I love this idea: this will solve many, many problems, including pollution and other pressing needs. Urban planning isn’t really my specialisation, of course, but I do believe that it’s something that Governments globally should really focus on.

“Remember, when we talk about ‘the 15-minute city’, this is the way that cities started: if you look at ancient cities, this is how they were planned. There would be a city centre, and then people would build all the amenities and residences around that. The scale couldn’t be big, because they didn’t have mechanised transportation. That’s how cities began, and I feel this is how we need to work again.

“I’m also aware of other urban debates, too, like the whole trend towards repurposing existing structures, rather than building them from scratch. But there are factors to keep in mind here. Dubai is a very recent and new city, so if we’re talking about re-purposing and preserving, there aren’t many cases where you will want to preserve something that is truly historic. Sometimes, in fact, it will cost much more to update and revise what’s there rather than simply demolish it and start again. Also, you may not know what is there just below ground level, and this can really complicate any attempts to build over and re-purpose. You always have to ask ‘is it worth it?’ If I have a house that’s 100 years old, I will never knock it down, but if it’s only 15 years old, what’s the point of trying to preserve it and spending more money unnecessarily?”

THE SUSTAINABILITY DEBATE

“Sustainability is a beautiful concept, but unless it’s researched and executed properly, it might not be done correctly; and remember, too, that while you’re doing this kind of study, the danger is that you can start working in isolation from what the client wants and what the civic authority requires. Always, our priority is that we have to be aligned with what the authority or municipality will approve. They know what will work in the long term - and what won’t. In some cases they are making it obligatory to use these new technologies, and in others not. As designers and engineers, we have to know about these things and follow what’s required. We don’t want to take the responsibility for suggesting something that might have issues later on. Again, let’s work for the long-term good, and not be short-termist.

“Also, there is another aspect here that I have to keep in mind: one of our main priorities is to build a bridge between these very practical requirements and our role as an innovator. Remember, as a business we have to innovate - and in fact, we have a reputation for doing it. You see, I now have 25 years’ experience and one thing

I’ve learnt is that people don’t want you to do what they already know. They want you to do something that requires your input, that they couldn’t do themselves. It’s like ‘why would you go to a doctor and then have to diagnose and treat yourself, right?’ So many people say to me that they have appointed an architect, but now they have to tell them what to do - this is not good and not what they should be paying for. People want our input as innovative designers and architects - but to balance this with things being done in a way that also meets their requirements and follows the rules laid out by the municipality.”

In terms of that prized innovation, is there a key project that you feel really showcases your best work?

“No doubt about that. In Jumeirah, a house that was completely designed and built by myself and my husband. Because it was based entirely on our input as a family, everything was according to how we wanted it, and it was also an awardwinning project. In fact, this was one of the very few projects where I had 100% input. Now of course, I’m working on many other client villa concepts, but I treasure this one because it was a unique example of what we can really do, from A-Z. It was also where we pioneered a good many of the ideas and approaches that since characterise our work on major client projects.” hen you design, are you now using the new-era generative software such as Midjourney and DALL-E?

“Our studio was one of the first studios in the region that tapped into the realm of AI. Quite early on, we recognized the potential and power of the technology. Our design research labs, both here in the Middle East and over in Shenzhen, China, continuously experiment to harness the generative power as a test bed of ideas and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Our MENA team includes some of the best ‘technodexterous’ talents in the region, who believe in the transformative value of technology and our ability to influence and disrupt traditional boundaries. State-of-the-art tools have been used in various projects across our studios and disciplines; ultimately it depends on the specific task and requirements of the project as to whether these tools would be the best fit for a particular design task or project application.”

What do you see as the most powerful current trends in commercial project design?

“Trends continue to adopt an ‘eco-centric, sustainable use’ and ‘user oriented’ direction. At LWK we believe that the bottom line of sustainability is changing as new definitions are emerging on the design frontier. Building efficiencies, smart use of space and energy are becoming pivotal. Stakeholders and endusers are becoming increasingly conscious of interacting with forward-oriented spaces and developments which are in increasingly agile, AI and health-oriented environments. Developers are engaging with the market needs and we notice a shift in the requests for proposals that the demands are increasingly specific in addressing the needs of a modern society that looks for intuitive and smart living.”