Archive for December, 2015

Al Bahr Towers

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Al Bahr Towers is a prime example of Diar Consult’s collaboration and partnering with international designers that has led to not just successful but award-winning architecture.

In 2009, Aedas Architects Ltd. UK, appointed Diar Consult as associate architects to provide services as architect of record and engineer of record responsible for all contract administration, post-contract supervision, design review, code compliance and licensing on Abu Dhabi Investment Council and Al Hilal Bank’s new headquarters. Aedas had secured the project through an international design competition in 2007, by presenting an “inventive, sophisticated, thoughtful and bold” proposal.

The building is aesthetically defined by the world’s largest computerised dynamic facade; a reinterpretation of the traditional Arabian mashrabiya in the form of 2098 adaptive “flowers” that open and close in response to sunlight. This protective skin wraps the east, south and west facing elevations, reducing solar gain by as much as 50% and subsequently reducing air-conditioning load. The adaptive shading also allows for clearer glazing to be used, with the effect of improved visual permeability and greater daylight penetration, resulting in less reliance on artificial light. These factors helped the project to achieve a LEED Silver certification for sustainability, in accordance with the US Green Building Council LEED rating system.

Reference to regional traditions is further reinforced by the geometry of the plan form of the towers; derived from three intersecting circles, connected by three tangential arcs. The circle is traditionally used to reflect the notion of unification and the unity observed in nature.

Innovation was not limited to the design and construction of the building. The design process benefited from the development of bespoke software used to generate simulations and analyse the performance of building elements. This in turn opened up new ways of communicating information through the project team in a more effective manner than previously available.

The successful completion of Al Bahr Towers is testament to a remarkable and coordinated global effort by an international team, sharing expertise and resources, embracing new technologies and hitherto unexplored innovative forms and techniques of construction. The result is one of the most unique and remarkable developments in the Middle East, if not in the world – a project built by a local contractor, with a supply chain and manufacturing sources from Europe, China and the Middle East.

Project team

The global architectural community has chosen to recognise the team’s achievement with numerous awards, including the following:

BMW, Rolls Royce, Mini Cooper

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This landmark development has set new standards in the Middle East for corporate interiors and flagship car dealership facilities, combining three of the world’s most iconic car companies in an idyllic sales environment while maintaining the corporate branding and identity of each of the three entities.

Situated at the entry to the city of Abu Dhabi near Al Maqta Bridge, it comprises state-of-the art showrooms for Rolls Royce, Mini Cooper and BMW, with a total capacity of 80 cars, in addition to supporting workshops, a service centre and repair facilities, a BMW museum and lifestyle centre, and an experience theatre. It is also the headquarters of United Al Saqer Group, the official agent and distributor of the three brands, and of their dealer, Abu Dhabi Motors. It represents the largest BMW group facility outside Munich, and the largest Rolls Royce showroom in the world.

As lead design consultants on the project, Diar Consult’s multidisciplinary role encompassed architectural, structural and interior design, as well as providing complete contract administration in all disciplines. By providing both the architectural and interior elements, the designers were able to produce a harmonious and uncompromised product.

Visitors to the showrooms are led on a dynamic and stimulating journey during which they experience the cars via a parade of displays, a museum and lifestyle centre and a theatre, as if these were pavilions in a park. The cars are displayed in various contexts that reinforce the identity of each brand and the focus of every car, while the spacious environment allows a seamless transition from one brand to another.

The contemporary design of the showrooms’ façades relies on the extensive use of glass. Transparency and visual connectivity are of obvious importance for the display of the cars; and this has been carefully and cleverly combined with shading and tinted glazing in order to reduce heat gain, glare and uncomfortable reflections. The perfect balance of daylight for the showrooms is achieved by the addition of strategically placed roof lights.

Designing world class showrooms for iconic brands requires a great deal of sensitivity to reflect the corporate branding and identity of each brand while attempting to break conventional moulds and norms a contemporary and abstract form, in recognition of the site’s significant location. Functionally, the towers are used to display the featured car of each brand’s current marketing campaign.

Executing the construction of the development presented a particularly challenging scenario. Replacing and expanding the substandard pre-existing BMW and Mini showrooms, as well as adding the Rolls Royce centre, needed meticulous planning and management so as to allow the existing operations to continue unhindered throughout the construction period.

Project team

Jumeirah Islands

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Jumeirah Islands is a unique development of 3.5km², which, according to master developer Nakheel, represents the largest residential community of inland and manmade islands in the world. It is now one of the most established and prestigious villa living environments in Dubai.

In January 2002, Diar Consult was commissioned by Nakheel to provide detailed master planning and design and delivery of luxury detached and semidetached villas for the 736 plots in the unconventional concept master plan by Callison USA. Their appointment encompassed architectural, structural and MEP design plus post-contract administration of the construction packages. Construction was programmed for phased completion, and involved three main contractors and 52 subcontractors, all managed by Diar Consult.

The master plan arranges villa plots in 46 octagonal clusters of 16 villas each. The clusters are nestled in a lush, undulating landscape surrounded by a complex network of lagoons, lakes and canals. Each cluster consists of 10 Canal Cove Villas, four Garden Homes and two Courtyard Villas, ranging in size from four-bedroom (475m²) to five-bedroom (580m²) properties. With the design of the buildings, Diar Consult imparted one of four stylistic themes on each cluster: Arabian, Mediterranean, Oasis or European.

The verdant landscaped topography and serene water bodies of Jumeirah Islands create a unique, almost countryside environment; immersed in the urban centre of Dubai, they provide relief from the high-density, high-rise cityscape.

Individual villas can be seen in Themed Villas.

Design team

Main contractors

Victory Heights

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The Victory Heights community is located in Dubai Sports City, in a relaxed, landscape-rich environment aimed at mid- to upper-mid income groups. The client’s objective was to develop a residential haven in one of the inland areas of Dubai, creating an oasis in the desert with an international golf course destination as the marketing driver for the project.

To reinforce the oasis aspiration, almost 50 per cent of the 2,278,000 m² development area has been designated as open space and landscape, incorporating the golf course. The 863,000 m² signature 18-hole golf course, designed by champion South African golfer, Ernie Els, provides the heart of the development, allowing it to be introspective, with the focus of the residential component being views of the greens, fairways and surrounding sand dunes.

Diar Consult was appointed in 2004 to design and deliver all 961 homes by providing architectural, structural and MEP design services for the individual units, as well as full post-contract administration services during construction. Diar also played a role in urban design and master planning, creating a sense of place within seven territorially defined villages.

The concept of sub-dividing the master plan into villages comes from a desire to define neighbourhoods with a clear sense of territory, thereby instilling a sense of belonging and ownership for residents. Each village has its own children’s playgrounds, and shared linear parks between back-to-back villas create pedestrian permeability and encourage communal interaction.

To cater for the needs of Dubai’s cosmopolitan population and present a wide range of choice for investors, the design brief called for a variety of villa sizes to be provided in terraced, semi-detached and detached combinations, and in three thematic styles, namely, Andalusian, European and Mediterranean. Townhouses range from 194 m² to 241 m², and villas from 307 m² to 638 m². The spacious homes were designed to maximize views to the golf course and gardens, while ensuring privacy for each residence within its neighbourhood.

Individual villas can be seen in Themed Villas.

Design team

Main Contractors

Bay Views Hotel

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Grand Millennium (Bay Views) Hotel is a 20-storey, five-star hotel situated on the canal embankment of Business Bay, Marasi Drive. Designed in contemporary style, its plan form affords every room a view of the waterways and Burj Khalifa.

The hotel consists of 233 standard guestrooms and 18 suites, in addition to four food and beverage outlets occupying the podium above two levels of basement car parking.

Diar Consult was responsible for all architectural and interior design as well as post-contract supervision in all disciplines.

The design and planning of the hotel was a complex process due to a contradictory set of design guidelines that had been issued to developers of plots in Business Bay.

The guidelines stipulated that an arcade should be provided on the street and waterfront, connecting each plot in a continuous pedestrian route, with the intention of creating a promenade along the waterfront.

However, it also placed restrictions on what functions could be located at ground level and within the podium.

This would have resulted in a lifeless, uninviting and disconnected ‘promenade’ when coupled with the statutory elements required to be at ground level – including, among others, transformer rooms and waste collection rooms – and the space required for vehicular access.

By challenging the guidelines and acquiring special dispensations and approvals from the master developers, Diar Consult was able to locate parking in the basement and dedicate the ground level and podium to food and beverage outlets, a banquet hall, business centre and health club etc., thereby ensuring transparency and connectivity to the hotel and enlivening the promenade both visually and physically.

Project team

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

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In 1990 Diar Consult won the commission to design the clubhouse and ancillary buildings (rest huts, driving range pavilion, health club and gym) of Abu Dhabi Golf Club through an international competition set by the Abu Dhabi Municipality.

The competition brief set out Abu Dhabi’s aim to place itself securely on the golfing map of the world. Given this goal, Diar Consult chose to propose a cultural and emotive rather than institutional and rational approach. The proposal envisaged the clubhouse conceptually as a sculptural pavilion in a park.

The stylised sculptural form of the falcon, which is the national bird and emblem of the UAE and principal element of the logo of the Government of Abu Dhabi, relates the club to the UAE’s history and cultural heritage, resulting in an iconic statement building with the potential to become a sporting symbol of the emirate. Few golf clubs in the world can claim a more instantly recognizable clubhouse.

Barely within two years of its opening, the Finest Golf Resorts Collection ranked it in the top 50 golf destinations in the world, describing the clubhouse as ‘a wonder of modern architecture’.

A further international design competition in 1995 invited bids for interior design; and Diar Consult was once again successful and able to augment the architectural design with an interior as spectacular as the exterior. Beneath the 100m wingspan is sophisticated and luxurious accommodation, comprising three floors of restaurants, an executive meeting room and an extensive sports and fitness club – all fully equipped to accommodate any type of corporate or private event in a relaxed club atmosphere. One of the key characteristics of the design was to ensure that all the restaurants as well as the members’ bar would enjoy prominent and unhindered views across the 9th and 18th holes. Functioning almost as a grandstand to the golf course, the clubhouse, in addition to members’ facilities, provides an important social and community centre for residents of the surrounding area.

The inaugural professional event to be held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club was the European Seniors Tour Final in 2000. Feedback was unanimously positive:

“A fantastic golf course and incredible clubhouse…it will soon become known around the world and be recognised as one of the top golfing destinations” – Dennis O’Sullivan, event winner.

“Peter Harradine’s course is superb and Samir Daoud’s falcon-design clubhouse is nothing short of astonishing” – Tommy Horton, European Seniors Tour’s first Euro millionaire.

Since 2006, the National Course has played host to the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which is one of the biggest events on the European PGA Tour.

Design team

Contractors

Royal Palace

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In 1996, Diar Consult won a competition to design the official residence of the ruler of Dubai. The three-storey palace, designed in a simplified neoclassical European style, is constructed over a full basement and uses an arcade to protect the interiors from the elements and provide shade and shadow.

Entry at the formal side is through a grand semicircular and domed atrium, which leads guests to the imposing entrance hall. The palace is crowned with a dome over the central formal reception area.

Externally, the uniform precision that characterizes the facades was achieved by cladding the entire building in custom designed, figured and multilayered GRC with a marble chip acid washed aggregate finish.

Project team

Waterfront Royal Palace

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Diar Consult was appointed in 2003 to design this waterfront palace for a member of the Dubai Royal Family who is passionately devoted to traditional and classical Arab Islamic architecture. The design sought to respond to this by providing an architectural statement that reflects status, presence and the artistic beliefs and conviction of the client.

Its domed silhouette stands proudly on the prestigious Al Sufouh Road, where most of the Dubai royal palaces are located, and it has a commanding location on the beach.

The façades are articulated with traditional architectural vocabulary set against a lush landscape and turquoise sea. The design of the palace is a reflection of Dubai’s unique cultural context: old and new; traditional and contemporary; East and West; simple and complex and optimistic.

In this case the client is an artist and her art gallery, located in a separate quarter, has become a cultural centre where she proudly exhibits her work and interacts with other artists.

Project team

Vision Hotel

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In 2003, Diar Consult designed a 20-storey, four-star business hotel in the downtown area of Abu Dhabi on behalf of United Al Saqer Group. The hotel takes the form of a tower in contemporary architectural style.

The ground and mezzanine floors are dedicated to the reception, public outlets, hotel administration and back-of-house facilities. The 150 standard guestrooms are accommodated within the efficiently planned typical floors, and there are two executive suites on each floor, articulated on the facade through the cylindrical drum-shaped towers. An all-day dining restaurant, business centre, and a health and fitness centre on the top floor enjoy panoramic views of the city.

In the initial master plan of the city of Abu Dhabi, the sub-division policy had limitations and shortcomings that resulted in a disjointed city fabric. The plots of downtown area were all subdivided into three sizes, 50 × 50 feet, 80 × 80 feet and 100 × 100 feet. Vision Hotel’s plot was the smallest of the three, presenting a challenge to the designer to achieve and balance the important factors of economic viability, operational business plan and architectural sense of identity within the confines and limitations of such a small plot.

Project team

Townhouses

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The townhouse remains one of the most popular residential typologies in Dubai, particularly given its cosmopolitan socio-economic and demographic structure.

Within a terrace setting, the townhouse is a compact residential unit of two or three storeys high, usually ranging from 150 to 250m². It provides an economical and very efficient living unit for small expatriate families, and makes a great starter home alternative to an apartment.

Over the years, Diar Consult has designed many fine examples of such dwelling units to the satisfaction of several clients. The Townhouses typically benefit from an open-plan living space on the ground floor that maximizes the perception of space by creating long vistas from the front entrance hall to the rear garden. Balconies at upper levels extend the accommodation and connect to the outside while articulating the envelope and creating a rhythmic facade, emphasised by inspired material choices.

Sidra Golf & Residential

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Following the success of Victory Heights in Dubai in 2011, Arcapita Bank appointed Diar Consult to restructure their entire concept master plan for the Sidra Golf and Residential Development in Lusail, Qatar.

Lusail is Qatar’s largest domestic real estate project occupying 35 km² of coastline just north of Doha. Led by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the development is intended to cater for a population of 200,000 people. Sidra occupies a 3.36 km2 site in the northern area of Lusail, and will provide new homes for 23,000 people.

The project had been master planned previously by another consultant. Arcapita’s brief to Diar Consult was to realign the master plan with their updated expectations for greater commercial viability and investment returns and, in so doing, create an enhanced business plan to support Arcapita’s submission to Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

Diar Consult replanned the entire master plan around the golf course designed by Greg Norman in the western district, and the pitch and putt course in the eastern district. It incorporated a state-of-the-art clubhouse and country club, a boutique hotel and a traditional Arabian souk into the high-end residential districts. Subsequent to the reimagining of the master plan, Diar Consult was appointed to prepare architectural concept designs for the villas, townhouses, apartments, clubhouse, hotel and souk in a mix of Arabian, contemporary and Mediterranean styles.

Presidential Palace

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In 2004 Diar Consult was appointed to design a presidential palace along the Mussafah canal of Abu Dhabi with a water frontage of some 700m. The design aimed to reflect status and authority, presidential in its scale and setting and includes all one would expect of a palace, including a men’s majlis and residence, and guests’ suites.

The architecture has Western classical origins, reflecting the taste and preferences of the client. The entire facade is clad in sandstone while the domes are clad in GRC in matching colour and texture; a contemporary technique that maintains a sense of visual uniformity. Vertical towers and pavilions are used to punctuate the facades, disguise the horizontal length of the buildings and to celebrate ceremonially the most significant areas and spaces.

Construction began in April 2006 and took two and a half years to complete.

Project teams

Royal Palace

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This palace is designed in the local architecture of the Gulf region, with North African/ Moroccan influences in the facade treatment as well as in the spatial planning and volumetric expression.

Its rustic sand-coloured painted facades are enriched with the subtle use of glass mosaic friezes and frames, giving an Andalusian spirit.

Although wind towers and domes rarely coexisted traditionally, they have been combined effectively in this palace. The semi-open courtyard planning brings tranquility and is reminiscent of the older forms of courtyard architecture, regulating the family rooms and activities and organizing their adjacencies and connectivity to the outdoors. This allows the formal quarters of the palace to front a more formal and lush landscape garden, with a sequence of covered arcades adding a sense of scale and rhythm to the palace.

Project team

Al Qubaisi Tower

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In 1994, Diar Consult was retained by a private developer to design a 20-storey residential tower of two- and three-bedroom apartments on Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi. The scope of services included architectural, structural and building services design as well as post-contract supervision services in all disciplines.

The gridiron planning of the city of Abu Dhabi has resulted in a lot of individual plots being developed sporadically, with no design guidelines looking beyond the boundary of the plot, and no development controls for parking, the creation of public squares (or meydans), arcades for control of daylight and setbacks, building heights, etc. considering the streetscape and urban fabric. In this context a building can seldom act beyond its boundaries to enhance the sense of place, urban scale or intimacy of the public realm in the absence of any master plan vision.

In this unpredictable context, architects can only concentrate on making the best of their small frontage and creating a building of singular presence, showcasing its own identity and merits.

Al Wadi Hotel

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Al Wadi Hotel is a product of the strategic alliance forged between Diar Consult and Tange Associates, Japan.

Diar Consult was approached by private developer Reef Real Estate in April 2008. The brief was to design a 30-storey twin tower development in the Mizin area of Dubai, comprising a five-star hotel operation of 303 guestrooms and executive suites, food and beverage outlets, and conference facilities, in addition to 163 furnished and serviced apartments of one and two bedrooms in the style of a ‘1930s New York skyscraper’.

The design was prepared with Tange Associates who brought innovative concepts, efficiency and technologically advanced solutions to the project. The proposal is responsive to the brief while satisfying the stringent development control guidelines of the master developer of the Mizin area, namely, Dubai Properties. The challenge for the architects was to resolve their design ethos of responsive regionalism within the imposed New York style. The skyscraper was borne out of a specific time and place in which land was limited and urban economics demanded high density. Neither of these conditions exist in the context of this project. Nevertheless, the application of the aesthetic has produced an imposing and evocative proposal.

It was anticipated that the operator, Rydges, would manage the hotel, so the design was tailored specifically to their design criteria. The general arrangement locates residents’ and guests’ parking in the basement and podium; reception and lounge on the ground level; and spa facilities, including outdoor swimming pool, on the podium roof deck. All accommodation is provided within the two Art Deco influenced towers.

Design team

Clubhouse at Doha Golf Club

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In 1993, Diar Consult was invited to participate in an international competition for the design of the clubhouse of Doha Golf Club. The submitted proposal won first prize, and Diar Consult was subsequently appointed as lead consultants responsible for the architectural, structural and MEP services and interior design.

The client’s brief stipulated that the design should respect the traditional architectural heritage and culture of Qatar; so, in line with these aspirations, Diar Consult created a design which conjures up the spirit and silhouette of a small old Arabian desert village with its wind towers, domes and open-air courtyards and terraces. Simplicity of planning is maintained throughout to reflect the simplicity of village architecture.

Internally, there is an exciting volumetric interplay providing the transition from one activity area to another. The entrance lobby/atrium of the clubhouse is an imposing double volume space, transparent to an external courtyard and the golf course beyond. As the heart of the clubhouse it connects and provides circulation into two wings: food and beverage outlets and viewing terraces to the right, and golfers’ facilities to the left. A sculptural staircase leads from the atrium to an upper-level restaurant and viewing terraces.

The clubhouse is located on the most elevated and prominent area of the site which gives it a commanding presence overlooking the golf course. The white façades provide a striking contrast to the surrounding fairways and greens of the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Peter Harradine.

The building was completed in 1996 and, since 1998, has hosted the annual Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a European PGA Tour Event.

Country Club at Dream City

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The country club will offer residents of Dream City a unique and exclusive hub to enjoy sporting and social activities.

The country club is located along the canal embankment, easily accessible to residents of Dream City by car from the boulevard, by water taxi from the canal, or on foot while enjoying a pleasurable walk from their neigbourhood. The setting offers panoramic views from the various gardens and terraces, and from the interiors of the public function rooms, making this club a central hub for social and cultural interaction for all age groups.

Designed in an eclectic Indian classical/colonial style, the country club offers a fine dining restaurant, library and games room located on the first floor, while the ground floor accommodates a cafe/lounge with reception area, meeting rooms, state-of-the art spa and fitness centre and party room, all set within landscaped recreational grounds, including a swimming pool with a deck area. The club also offers water sports such as canoeing and kayaking.

The classical colonial design of this clubhouse contrasts in architectural style and scale to the otherwise modern and contemporary residential towers forming the various neighbourhoods of Dream City. This emphasizes its role as a destination and focal point of the community.

Clubhouse at Mudon

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Mudon, meaning ‘cities’ in Arabic, is a new residential community for 50,000 residents that was master planned on a 678-hectare site in Dubailand.

It is the flagship development of Dubai Properties and comprises replicas of five Middle Eastern cities, namely, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Marrakech and Cairo, all within one large city. The residential component is supported by retail and commercial offices, hotels, restaurants and a golf course.

Having already designed the internationally recognized clubhouses of the Abu Dhabi and Doha Golf Clubs, Dubai Properties selected Diar Consult in September 2006 to design the clubhouse for Mudon Golf Club. The clubhouse was also designed to appeal to non-golfers.

The country club is designed as an Arabian castle elevated on a hill. In addition to the usual amenities, the clubhouse also has a private function room and terraces, a rooftop swimming pool and sunbathing terraces, and a fine dining restaurant.

Design team

Al Salam City Clubhouse

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The clubhouse at Al Salam City Golf Club caters to both members playing on the 18-hole golf course, and residents of Al Salam City wishing to socialize at one of the restaurants.

The clubhouse was designed by Diar Consult in an Arabian style enriched with subtle accents of Andalusian idioms. Internally, the relaxed planning presents effortless flow from the main lobby through the inner lounges to the activity focused facilities, while offering transparency to the breathtaking views across the course to the silhouette of the city. The restaurants and bars on both the ground and first floors extend out onto terraces or private courtyards so that the surrounding environment can be fully enjoyed by all.

Themed Villas

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Large-scale community housing developments are typically designed without an end user client so the design is speculative and must appeal to the mass market. Given the many nationalities of expatriates living in the UAE, flexibility and adaptability are important factors in creating appeal.

In a master planned community with many hundreds of villas, it is necessary to provide some variety in the villa designs in order to aid recognition and navigation, and avoid monotony. It can be sufficient to vary colour and size, but this is often not enough.

Theming the villas stylistically via the adjustment of external detailing is an effective method of creating visual relief while broadening appeal from a marketing perspective. In this manner, it is possible to drastically alter the look of a villa without generating an alternative plan layout. The style can be produced using a selection of interchangeable details and materials while still benefitting from economies of scale.

Diar Consult are specialists in economically producing stylised themed villa designs for developer clients. Diar has applied this approach to a number of large-scale communities in the UAE.

Arabian Villas

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The oldest houses yet discovered in the UAE are believed to date back over 6000 years (Dalma, Abu Dhabi). However, it is barely 100 years since the people of the UAE were predominantly nomadic Bedouin herders, fishermen and date farmers residing in tents or barasti huts.

Other than fortifications, only the richest traders or ruling families built more permanent homes from coral and stone. The discovery of oil in the middle of the twentieth century brought about the very rapid economic growth of the UAE and a transformation in the form and construction of dwellings.

Borne of concrete and air-conditioning, this period brought an end to the use of traditional methods of passive climate control that generated much of the form and aesthetic in the early houses.

Unfortunately, the era produced few villas of architectural note in the UAE, and it wasn’t until the very late twentieth century that the influence of expatriate architects moving to the region became evident in new forms and models of villa.

Nakheel Sales Centre

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Located at the entrance to the Palm Jumeirah, the Nakheel Sales and Marketing Centre was the first dedicated sales and marketing office in Dubai, built to showcase future living environments and to host new launch events by Nakheel.

This project was one of the earliest successes in the development renaissance of Dubai and, although diminutive in itself, it signalled the birth of Palm Jumeirah, one of the most ambitious and now iconic development projects ever undertaken.

Continuing the theme of firsts, this was Diar Consult’s earliest collaboration with international consultants venturing into the Gulf market. Diar Consult offered its capabilities and knowledge of the local environment and practice while sharing the expertise and knowhow of HHCP Design International Inc. from Florida. HHCP provided the architectural concept design, which was then developed by Diar Consult through a series of design reviews to ensure code compliance of the final design. Diar provided complementary MEP and structural engineering services through the design process as well as, during construction, post-contract administration and construction supervision in all disciplines, and procurement of contractors and suppliers.

The building creates an ideal environment for the exhibition of architectural models of the Palm, presentation panels of projects undertaken, marketing videos and animations in a state-of-the-art theatre. It also includes hospitality pavilions for customers, dignitaries and VIPs, sales and marketing offices, and administrative quarters. As the first of its type, it provided a benchmark for what such facilities could be, and how such unprecedented projects could be marketed, all the while forming the physical gateway to Palm Jumeirah.

In 2014, the project won the Gold ARDY Award for Sales centres from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Dalma Mall

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Dalma Mall is one of Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping malls. It houses 400 retail units, an anchor store, 22 department stores, 14-screen Cineplex, food-court, leisure and entertainment centre and multi-level car park.

It was constructed under a design and build contract. Diar Consult was appointed by The Developers to provide interior design for the common areas, post contract administration and supervision and tenants’ coordination services.

Project team

Petrol & Motorway Rest Stations

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The growing reliance on transport over the course of the past century, with its direct impact on national economies, has created the need for a growing number of reliable petrol and service stations.

In 2000, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the largest petroleum companies in the Gulf, set about establishing a nationwide network of petrol and service stations, thereby representing a first for the region. Recognising the importance and influence that a fully serviced road infrastructure would have on the country’s future, ADNOC Distribution enlisted the services of Diar Consult as designers, project managers and contract administrators.

Throughout the period of 2000 to 2008, Diar Consult delivered 55 new image petrol and service stations for ADNOC, incorporating an improved corporate identity and developing a range of variants suitable for every location from small local petrol stations to motorway mega service and rest stations.

The integration of convenience stores, food and beverage outlets, oil and tyre change facilities and car washes represented a breakthrough in the region in terms of catering to the evolving needs of residents. These new service stations not only responded to the demands of modern motoring, but embodied the necessities to become the new heart of small communities, and were a catalyst for further growth and development in the country.

BMW Repair Centre

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The Abu Dhabi Motors BMW Repair Centre is part of the BMW, Rolls Royce and Mini Cooper showrooms facility in Umm Al Nar, Abu Dhabi. BMW have a strict set of operational requirements and design guidelines for all their repair workshops which comprise body repair bay, painting booth, logistics and car storage areas, spare parts stores, training rooms and service reception.

Diar Consult’s design team paid particular attention to compliance with BMW’s design guidelines and commercial branding. As stipulated by BMW, customer-facing operations and especially the service reception are designed to give the impression of a five-star hotel reception, while respecting the industrial operational characteristics and utilitarian needs of this facility.

Crisp and clinical finishes are used in the workshop interiors, aiding the staff to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Project team

Heavy Vehicle Showroom

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In 2002 Diar Consult was appointed to design and deliver a heavy vehicle showroom in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, to accommodate the client’s various heavy vehicle agencies (trucks and cranes) and display their brands.

In support of the showroom, the project also comprised the ancillary facilities of repair workshops, stores and related industrial units as well as the management offices of the entire operation. The showroom is accommodated within a large, double height volume with the support services planned at the rear of the showroom on two levels.

Project team

Elite Hotel

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The Elite Hotel is a four-star urban business hotel originally operated by Swiss-bel, comprising 152 guestrooms and 16 suites, an executive lounge, four food and beverage outlets on the ground floor street frontage and a health club on the roof.

It is a low-rise building of five storeys over one basement, and is designed around a central courtyard, which allows daylight into the public outlets and recreational areas of the hotel.

Located on Al Mina dual carriageway which is flanked by low-rise buildings on both sides, the design’s main objective was to emphasise hospitality. It is designed in a grand European style, with Arabian accents in its modulation and facade vocabulary.

Project team:

Canal Residence West

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Of the entire 4,645,152 m² of land area that makes up Dubai Sports City, the master developer, Dubai Sports City LLC, chose to retain and develop only two communities, the remaining plots being sold off to the private sector for medium-rise developments. The two projects it elected to develop itself are Victory Heights and Canal Residence, both of which were awarded to Diar Consult as lead consultant.

Canal Residence West is a collection of five residential apartment buildings which, as the name suggests, are arranged along a landscaped promenade overlooking a manmade canal. The five buildings contain a total of 987 apartments in a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Shared retail and recreational facilities are located on the ground and first floors.

Each of the 12 to 20 storey towers is designed in a theme reflecting the style of great canal and waterfront cities: Venice, Naples, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Dubai. The design challenge was to take the style of five geographically, climatically and culturally diverse cities and bring them together in a cohesive and coherent whole in a completely new context. Unified by the canal while retaining their own identity, each apartment building is compatible in spirit to the Victory Heights villas.

Al Mada

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Al Mada Community is a low-rise, city centre redevelopment project in the heart of Al Ain, adjacent to the central souk and the Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque.

The project integrates 200 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with a retail component at street level, including a supermarket, bank and car dealership, as well as other community amenities and a hospital, all within five storeys above two basements.

Al Mada apartments are grouped into individual houses of residence which enjoy shared communal spaces, driveways, parking and community facilities while retaining a high degree of privacy, security and shelter.

Diar Consult undertook the architecture, structure, building services design and interior design as well as complete post-contract administration in all disciplines. The development was built in two phases,with both being completed in 2005. The simplicity of construction techniques and materials used, which do not go beyond the use of bricks, mortar and paint, individual windows and glazing, have contributed to its success, being robust and timeless.

Merchant Offices

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The Merchant Buildings is a design for two eight-storey office buildings in the Furjan master planned zone of Dubai that was produced for a private real estate developer.

Designed in contemporary style, the articulated facades use composite aluminium cladding panels in two colours: silver grey and cream white. Ample glazing has been incorporated into the facade to ensure maximum penetration of light into the leased office space. The buildings are grounded on a granite clad plinth. The main entrance and all openings are protected by silver blades and fins, providing shade from direct sunlight.

The main entrance at ground level provides access to shared amenities, a full height atrium and the core, which includes two panoramic lifts. The ground floor accommodates a cafe, a bookshop, some office space and supporting service areas. Parking for visitors and tenants is provided in the

basement.

Typical office floors are designed to be highly practical and provide a degree of flexibility and freedom to subdivide the space into various sizes of commercial space. Circulation around the lift core and toilets is kept to a minimum to ensure maximum efficiency of the floor plate.

Crystal Towers

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In the aftermath of the destruction experienced in its recent history, Baghdad is yearning for a renaissance of redevelopment to rekindle its former glory and the hope for a better future. Crystal Towers is one simple step in that direction, which Diar Consult had hoped would trigger a revival and inspire other developers to emulate and compete.

Al Muften Group, a leading private property developer in Baghdad, appointed Diar Consult in April 2013 to design a mixed-use development in the upmarket Al Jadriya District, one of the prime locations in Baghdad within close proximity to the Tigris River. The design comprises 18-storey residential and commercial towers in addition to a retail component organized around a spacious central atrium in a three-level podium. Each component is separately accessible at the ground-floor level.

The residential tower offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on typical floors, plus duplex apartments on the upper floors enjoying panoramic views of the city. The top floor accommodates leisure and entertainment amenities for the residents, including an indoor swimming pool and spa, gymnasium, games room and children’s playroom. The office tower comprises state-of-the art office space, designed to offer flexibility to tenants.

The objective of the design was to create a distinct and articulate contemporary architectural statement of optimism.

Construction started in August 2013; however, after completion of the shoring contract, the project was put on hold due to the current security issues in Iraq.

Erbil International Fair

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Prior to the recent instability in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Erbil had developed at a faster pace than the capital, Baghdad, and enjoyed a fair degree of political stability and sense of security. It had begun to unlock the potential for development for Iraqi and international architects who responded optimistically to what was a comparatively stable economic region. The Erbil International Trade Centre evolved to put Erbil on the world map of trade, commerce and tourism.

Erbil Trade Fair appointed Diar Consult to prepare a concept master plan for this development, with the objective of creating a world-class integrated business and trade environment that would become a hub for international and regional trading.

The master plan is designed on axial relationships that define the positioning of all components of the project along with the entry and exit gateways. Two distinct yet symbiotic zones have been created: Zone A, which is the institutional trading and business environment, including: exhibition halls; a conference and business centre, and a five-star hotel; Zone B, which incorporates the support services of social, cultural, commercial and residential areas, including: a shopping mall; three- and four-star hotels; an office tower and buildings; residential buildings, and a public central promenade.

The two zones are linked through a pedestrianized public central promenade as well as via peripheral roads. Drop-off and collection points and on-grade parking at each component ensures easy access for visitors and gives them a clear sense of orientation. The overall result is a truly mixed-use sustainable community.

The completed Concept Master Plan design has been submitted to the Kurdistan Ministerial Council for preliminary approval. A positive outcome will enable the investment plan and necessary funding to be progressed in collaboration with the Board of Directors of Erbil International Fair in liaison with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Marina City

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Marina City is a luxurious residential and mixed-use development by the National Investment Corporation (NIC), which is adjacent to the Marina Mall off Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi. The proposed community is part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan and is intended to house 5000 residents in the prime waterfront location.

NIC invited a number of prominent local architectural practices to submit conceptual creative solutions for the four precincts within their already established master plan. Diar Consult’s winning proposal comprises six residential towers designed in ascending building heights, from 22 to 35 storeys, all resting on a singular semi-circular podium. The successful proposal envisioned the unifying of the four precincts into an interconnected community, including retail, food and beverage outlets and offices.

The towers are designed in a predominantly Mediterranean style, but with nostalgic hints of local Arabic heritage, such as the crowning domes and layered façades, which present residents with views and vistas of the sea and the city. The articulation of the massing successfully translated the NIC’s requirements for maximum connectivity between the community of the precinct and the city context, while defining a strong sense of place, community and territory at the local level.

Ajman Souk

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This was Diar Consult’s first project in the UAE. It was the very first shopping mall in the emirate of Ajman, built at a time when there were only a handful of retail malls in the UAE. Conceived by an ambitious client who is also a pioneering contractor, it was the first time that glass reinforced concrete (GRC) was used in the country.

Ajman Souk is a single-storey building designed in Arabian style on a linear site, emulating the older forms of Arabian souks of ancient Arab towns, with tight streets and squares and barrel-vaulted roofs. The internal bazaar streets ultimately lead to the bazaar squares (or meydans) which are transitional public spaces. It is the free-standing version of what would otherwise have been an integrated structure within the old town fabric.

Construction was in fact under way and on hold prior to Diar Consult’s involvement. It was a designand- build project that was being executed on a fast track basis, but that had run into problems due to hasty and inadequate preparation. The client requested Diar’s assistance to resolve the issues. The solution was to construct using modular prefabricated elements for façades and roofing, which included barrel vaulting and domes. The domes were precast in one piece and hoisted to the roof by crane, in one lift. In the late 1980s, these were very progressive construction techniques.

Sunset Gardens

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Jumeirah Village Circle is a prominent residential community in Dubai, master planned by Nakheel and project managed by EllisDon.

In April 2007, Diar Consult was appointed by a private developer, Al Zahra Properties, as lead consultants to master plan their residential sector comprising five lots in Jumeirah Village Circle, with a site area of 15,479m²; and to design all elements of the master plan over two parcels (A and B), including three-storey townhouses, five-storey apartment buildings and such shared amenities as a fitness centre, swimming pools and recreation grounds.

The grain of the master plan suggests organic growth, in preference to structured urban architectural scale and discipline. The result is a Mediterranean-style living environment that conjures up a Spanish-vibe with intimate landscaped semi-private community gathering and recreational spaces between the townhouses and houses of residence. These open and closed courtyards include swimming pools, piazzas and alleyways.

The façades are uniformly finished in a sand-coloured, textured rustic stucco and brought to life by the use of randomly placed idioms and elements, such as balconies, buttressing structures, projected wooden bay windows (mashrabiyas), terraces and roof gardens.

Royal Bay Residences

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Diar Consult was appointed by TDIC in February 2010 to prepare concept designs for Royal Bay Residences, a project comprising 57 luxury residential units on Sir Baniyas Island. This island, 170km southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi, is historically significant and home to the Arabian Wildlife Park which has more than 10,000 free-roaming animals. H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (the Father of the Nation) had a personal attachment to the island and used it as a retreat; hence the idea was to continue this tradition amongst the members of the ruling family. The brief was to develop a high-quality, luxurious and unique residential product specifically for the royal families of the UAE, comprising 40 island residences and 17 canal and beach residences in three different styles:

Diar Consult’s scope of services included architecture, interior design and landscape design.

The design of the individual palaces generally aimed to create a sense of individuality of lifestyles and the feel of a secluded private resort or holiday home and sanctuary amid the impressive natural assets of Sir Baniyas Island, without compromising issues of privacy, culture and traditional values.

Diar Consult’s designs focused on the connectivity between the internal and external spaces, maximizing the use of gardens, terraces, patios and pool decks through exotic transition spaces, such as pavilions, covered walkways and shading structures.

Classical Arabian Palace

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In 2004, the client, a scholar, distinguished linguist and collector of precious items, appointed Diar Consult to design a palace whose main majlis should accommodate what is arguably one of the largest handmade carpets in the world. The carpet was initially presented by the client to the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed accepted the gift but offered it back to the client and ordered the design of a new palace to accommodate it.

Situated in Al Taweelah area, near the highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, this palace was intended to become a museum for Islamic art. The entrance portico has a sculptural wall, with Islamic Quranic texts and calligraphy, as well as some of the client’s favourite proverbs carved in stone.

Al Bahia Villas

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Diar Consult designed and delivered 13 terraced and semidetached villas in Umm Sequim aimed at the expatriate community of Dubai. The two-storey villas were designed around a central communal garden and swimming pool. The introspective development provides a safe, secure and sheltered environment, ideal for children to play.

Each villa comprises spacious open-plan living and dining areas, an enclosed kitchen, four bedrooms, a two-car garage, maid’s room and bathroom. They also have a private terrace at the rear, giving direct access to the secure communal garden and swimming pool.

Al Andalus Housing

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Al Andalus Housing is a self-sufficient private community developed by United Al Saqer Group for expatriates living and working in Al Ain. It has created 200 new homes plus all the necessary amenities for a comfortable and healthy lifestyle, including a gym, swimming pool, supermarket, management and maintenance offices, health centre, cafe and children’s playground, all set within landscaped gardens.

Diar Consult was appointed in 2000 to provide extensive design services, including master planning, full architecture and engineering services, as well as interior design. In addition, Diar Consult provided complete post-contract administration in all disciplines. The construction was programmed in two phases, the first of which was completed in 2003 and the second in 2004.

The master-planning strategy creates a dense urban environment that provides shelter and shading to the streetscape in a similar way to that of a traditional Arabian village. The residential accommodation takes the form of spacious three-, four- and five-bedroom villas presented in a modern Mediterranean style in detached and semi-detached layouts. Different construction methodologies were applied to the two phases: phase 1 was built traditionally, while phase 2 employed precast technology. The project demonstrates the effective integration of precast modules through a design and management approach, embracing the technology while controlling production, assembly and impact on the aesthetic.

Project team

Erbil Stock Exchange

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Erbil is one of the most ancient cities in the world and the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In mid 2014, the region was in the midst of an economic boom. Being the only calm and secure area in violence-torn Iraq, the city was thriving and aspiring to take a leading economic role in the development of Kurdistan and of Iraq more broadly.

To facilitate this goal, the client invited Diar Consult to submit design proposals for the Erbil Stock Exchange, set to be the first exchange in the northern Kurdish enclave housing stock exchange offices, a trading floor, rental offices, an area for technical operations and ancillary services.

The project is immersed in both the ancient history of the city and the progressive, optimistic modernity of the stock exchange function, making the development a very diverse environment with a strong duality between the old and the new.

The design concept features three main elements:

— The wall: representing the traditional and historical layers of the city of Erbil

— The floating box: representing the modernity of the function

— The tower: accommodating the offices and representing growth and status.

The three elements are arranged on a raised platform, mimicking the artificial mound of Erbil’s historic Citadel, and are unified by a single water body reflecting the fluidity and speculative nature of the stock market.

The wall is given character by irregular openings derived from the architecture of the traditional houses in the Citadel. As a reflection of the city’s history, it has irregular stone courses and is engraved with ancient calligraphy.

The floating box is a transparent building that uses high-tech building materials, such as translucent, fibre-optic embedded concrete which makes the exterior look solid during daytime yet translucent and glowing at night. The language of the box is inspired by the stock price indices, ever changing and fluctuating, and is intended to project current activity. The façade crevices can be lit indirectly from the inside with a colour that matches the status of the market: red for a decrease, green for an increase and white for a stable market.

Unfortunately the optimism that generated the brief for the project has been undermined by instability in the region, which has put all development on hold.

Project team

Al Salam City

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Al Salam City is a new township in Umm Al Quwain planned by Tameer with a view to providing affordable housing to a large catchment area of UAE residents in the northern Emirates.

The apartment buildings designed for the neighbourhoods of Al Salam City provide medium- to high-density residential accommodation in a compact arrangement of building footprints that increases efficiency of land use. These clusters have been planned to accommodate four to six mediumrise buildings, ranging from 6 to 16 storeys, in a consolidated and yet physically well-defined building form. They are stylistically themed in Mediterranean architectural style, with interest provided by the use of Mediterranean colour palettes and architectural vocabulary. Shared community facilities and parking are located in the podium above one single basement. The roof of the podium is used to encourage social interaction between members of the cluster’s community and to provide a safe, well-controlled and stimulating environment, offering the residents of each cluster a rich landscape of pools and pool decks, carved out terraces and gardens which accommodate children’s playgrounds as well as tranquil landscaped spaces.

Warin City

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Warin City is the largest residential and commercial development complex in Kurdistan, situated in the most influential area of Erbil. With Phase 1 already under construction, Phase 2 is intended to establish the public hub of the community and a range of higher quality, better planned and more exclusive accommodation to complement Phase 1 and enhance the overall market position of the development.

Ranj Company approached Diar Consult in June 2012, which, subsequently, was appointed to provide consultancy services, including master planning, architectural design, project management and sales and marketing strategy. The scope of work included the entire process of building and infrastructure design in addition to the supervision of construction for Phase 2.

Insightfully designed in a contemporary style using high quality materials, Phase 2 features a shopping mall, a four-star business hotel (with 250 rooms), a commercial office tower, a multiplex and seven residential towers of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with podium parking.

Capital Towers

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In 2007 Diar Consult took part in an invited competition for a client who was seeking solutions to maximize the commercial return on their investment in a mixed-use development. The project included a five-star hotel, retail on ground level, an office tower and residential component, all within the confines of a busy city centre location.

The proposed design aimed at respecting the segregation of the various components of the project while defining the territorial integrity of each, together with their required privacy levels.

Diar Consult’s submission reached the final two selected entries.

Royal Residence

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This is a weekend palace for a member of the royal family, not his formal residence; it therefore offers a range of leisure activities both indoors and outdoors where he can actively pursue his interests and hobbies. He has a particular passion for landscape and is interested in cascading waterfalls, fountains, water gardens, water treatment and wildlife. The garden has an aviary which showcases his passion for birds, while a series of fish ponds accommodate exotic Japanese Koi Carp. Internally, there is a highly personalised spa, and the dining area includes a show kitchen.

Project team

Qetaifan Islands

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Qetaifan Islands form an exclusive district in the Lusail City development in Qatar. They comprise four offshore islands, with a combined land area of 2.5 million m2, all connected by pedestrian and vehicular bridges. Within the islands there is a designated development area of 1.7 million m2.

In April 2014, Diar Consult was invited to participate in a competition for the design of four prototypical villas (two waterfront villas and two garden villas) suitable for the development. The scope of services included master planning the two islands and undertaking the architectural design of the buildings as well as the full interior design and furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for all four villas, to be constructed as precursors to the main development.

Given Qatar’s successful bid for the FIFA 2022 World Cup and Doha’s aim to embrace this tournament, and having considered the project’s location within the wider context of the city, country and region, Diar Consult elected to submit contemporary and technologically advanced design solutions (as opposed to traditional models). Offering new modern lifestyles and vibrant living environments within the community was felt to be compatible with the spirit of the future development of Doha.

Al Jadriya Theme Park

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For decades the people of Iraq have been starved of public amenities for leisure and entertainment. This project aims to reinvigorate the once magical embankment of the River Tigris in Baghdad, and establish a visionary and revolutionary opportunity for social integration.

Diar Consult was appointed by Al Yamama Company in 2012 to prepare the concept master plan for the proposed development for submission to the Ministry of Tourism. The aim was to create an attractive recreation, family entertainment and leisure destination for the people of Baghdad and Iraq in the form of a self-sustainable and commercially viable adventure park.

The 450,000 m² site in Baghdad stretches for 2 km along an embankment of the River Tigris, bordered to the north by the Tigris and to the south by Baghdad University of Al Jadriya. Historically, the showpiece and entertainment centre of the city, “Abu Nuwas”, is in desperate need of the regeneration that a project of this type would bring to the district.

Five-star Boutique Resort Hotel

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Hidd Al Saadiyat is a natural peninsula at the furthest extent of Saadiyat Island, now home to one of the newest and most prestigious lifestyle development areas in the UAE. The Hidd Al Saadiyat five-star boutique hotel represents Diar Consult’s design in response to a select international design competition for a private developer. The design embodies Diar Consult’s interpretation of the master developer’s brief and development control guidelines for a five-storey boutique hotel that maximizes the potential use of the allowable built-up area for both commercial and residential uses within a hotel context.

The proposal takes advantage of the deep rectangular plot to create a duality of character in the landscape, providing both lush structured water gardens and a pristine natural beach. Building elements are arranged in linear strips along three boundaries of the site, designed to maximize views of the gardens, beach and the sea beyond. Vehicular circulation is limited to the road frontage and side boundaries, thereby providing convenient and efficient access to the hotel chalets and beach bar and grill on one side, and to the executive hotel villas and beachside VIP retreat on the other. Infinity pools and exotic islands occupy the heart of the site and provide an enclave of tranquility and serenity that can be enjoyed by all guests.