Architecture—22 / 24

Jiwar Al Qasr

Abu Dhabi, UAE/Community masterplan/2020 — 2021/Alchemy Design Studio

Native planting, shaded routes and a screen language drawn from regional pattern — a proposal for public space that works in Abu Dhabi's climate.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Deep arches give the public ground floor a scale and shade distinct from the homes above. — 01Deep arches give the public ground floor a scale and shade distinct from the homes above.

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Year: 2020 — 2021
Sector: Mixed Use
Scope: Concept Design — Architecture + Masterplan
Status: Competition entry

My contribution

My role: Senior Design Architect
Responsibility: Concept Design — Architecture + Masterplan

Key contributions

Led the concept design process under the Design Director
Developed the architectural narrative and façade identity
Guided massing, façade and storyboard studies
Prepared the competition submission

The project

The starting point was the site's maritime history and its climate. Vegetation, shading and microclimate were treated as the primary material of the public realm, with routes and courtyards positioned to stay usable through the day.

The architectural identity comes from the same source: patterns extracted from regional heritage become screens, canopies and shading structures that respond to sun, orientation and the pedestrian. Submitted as a competition entry.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Light held within the openings makes the arcade a readable route after sunset. — 02Light held within the openings makes the arcade a readable route after sunset.

Jiwar Al Qasr — The arcade turns the base of the buildings into a continuous pedestrian address. — 03The arcade turns the base of the buildings into a continuous pedestrian address.

03The arcade turns the base of the buildings into a continuous pedestrian address.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Evening lighting follows the same public route that the arches define by day. — 04Evening lighting follows the same public route that the arches define by day.

Jiwar Al Qasr — At the corner, the arcade opens in two directions, connecting the courtyard to the street. — 05At the corner, the arcade opens in two directions, connecting the courtyard to the street.

05At the corner, the arcade opens in two directions, connecting the courtyard to the street.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Low lighting keeps the courtyard's seating and thresholds in focus after dark. — 06Low lighting keeps the courtyard's seating and thresholds in focus after dark.

Jiwar Al Qasr — A quieter residential rhythm sits above a more open ground floor shared with the neighbourhood. — 07A quieter residential rhythm sits above a more open ground floor shared with the neighbourhood.

07A quieter residential rhythm sits above a more open ground floor shared with the neighbourhood.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Recessed balconies retain their depth at night, avoiding a uniformly lit façade. — 08Recessed balconies retain their depth at night, avoiding a uniformly lit façade.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Water and raised planting break the length of the court into places to stop. — 09Water and raised planting break the length of the court into places to stop.

09Water and raised planting break the length of the court into places to stop.

Jiwar Al Qasr — A small shaded seating area gives the route a reason to become a destination. — 10A small shaded seating area gives the route a reason to become a destination.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Planting and seating occupy the centre of the court, leaving movement clear around them. — 11Planting and seating occupy the centre of the court, leaving movement clear around them.

11Planting and seating occupy the centre of the court, leaving movement clear around them.

Jiwar Al Qasr — The large arch marks a public opening within the tighter rhythm of the residential façade. — 12The large arch marks a public opening within the tighter rhythm of the residential façade.

“Shade as the primary material of public space.”

Jiwar Al Qasr — Light across the curved soffit reinforces the entrance without adding another sign. — 13Light across the curved soffit reinforces the entrance without adding another sign.

13Light across the curved soffit reinforces the entrance without adding another sign.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Perforated screens turn regional pattern into shade at the pedestrian edge. — 14Perforated screens turn regional pattern into shade at the pedestrian edge.

Jiwar Al Qasr — The screened passage maintains a clear line through the block after sunset. — 15The screened passage maintains a clear line through the block after sunset.

15The screened passage maintains a clear line through the block after sunset.

Jiwar Al Qasr — A tree, water and seating give the enclosed court its own small centre. — 16A tree, water and seating give the enclosed court its own small centre.

Jiwar Al Qasr — Overlooking balconies and softly lit paths keep the courtyard connected to the buildings around it. — 17Overlooking balconies and softly lit paths keep the courtyard connected to the buildings around it.

17Overlooking balconies and softly lit paths keep the courtyard connected to the buildings around it.

Process

The concept drew on the site's maritime history. Regional patterns were extracted and abstracted into screens, canopies and shading structures, developed alongside a material palette and massing studies for the competition submission.

DWG 01Material study — warm masonry tones and darker textured surfaces establish the façade's contrasts.
DWG 02Pattern study — a repeated motif changes in density to form a graduated screen.
DWG 03Pattern study — folded bands translate a small geometric unit into a larger façade rhythm.
DWG 04Massing study — taller corner volumes anchor the blocks above an arched base.
DWG 05Street study — changes in height and façade treatment divide the frontage into smaller addresses.

Colophon

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Year: 2020 — 2021
Sector: Mixed Use
Typology: Community masterplan
Scope: Concept Design — Architecture + Masterplan
Status: Competition entry
Role: Senior Design Architect
Client: Imkan Properties
Storeys: B + G + 3 / Masterplan
Software: AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe CC