CITYSCAPE GLOBAL

Dubai, UAE

According to Dubai Chamber, Billions of dirhams worth projects unveiled @CityscapeMENA 35,000 participants; 280+ exhibitors from 28 countries. As a passionate award winning architect, it only comes natural to make time to attend cityscape global and therefore, I must admit this year I have witnessed a significant outcome compared to past years. Some of the projects launched will offer significant change to this region specially to Dubai Expo 202, and are differently more than just masterplans designed to look good on Google Earth.

On a different note, one question comes to my mind being an expat living in Dubai for more than 12+ years & having survived the recession in 2008, which is:

“In Dubai, there has been successful communities developed for local housings + new launched communities proposed for 20 million visitors expected in Expo 2020…What about expats living in Dubai, is their demand for housing higher than the market supply?…”

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Now proudly presenting selected projects launched in Cityscape Global, 2014:

1. MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CITY – DISTRICT ONE: Situated 2.9 kilometers from Burj Khalifa, it is a short 4 minute drive from the tallest tower in the world. District One residents will enjoy exceptional ease of access to Meydan’s renowned premium attractions including five months of thoroughbred horse racing, the Dubai World Cup, tennis academy.

• 4.2 million sq.m. of villa development.
• 600 acres of open space.
• 7 km of crystal lagoons.
• 1100 acres of freehold development.
• 70 acres of water features.
• 14 km of shoreline.

 

2. DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Ahmad Bin Byat and Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, viewing the new d3 masterplan. TECOM is investing AED 4 billion in the first phase of Dubai Design District, which marks the start of what will become a world class creative community for the Middle East that promotes and nurtures local and regional designers. Spanning a total area of 21 million square feet, consists of the following:

• A 1.8km Waterfront destination featuring design-led hotels, boutique retail outlets and stylish dining and entertainment venues.
• A vibrant business zone featuring office space for the design, fashion and luxury sectors with capacity for over 10,000 workers.
• A dedicated creative community to house 4,000 designers, craftspeople and creative innovators.
• A range of luxury, 4-star and boutique hotels, and furnished apartments, offering over 4000 rooms.
• Over 2.5 million square feet of retail space spread across the community, in line with the ethos of d3’s vision.
• A new home for Dubai’s art scene woven throughout the district; an exciting fusion of high-end galleries, pop-up showcase and open-air installation spaces, workshops and studios.
• Contemporary low-rise apartments offering easy access to the heart of the District and its numerous attractions.
• A full calendar of around-the-clock activities; a variety of organised and impromptu events from large-scale art and design festivals to street theater and creative showcases.

  

3. Midtown Masterplan: Deyaar Development PJSC has unveiled the masterplan value of AED 3,5bn,  5.5mn ft² (build up) upscale development. This strategy came about given Dubai’s projection of attracting more than 20 million visitors during Expo 2020. The mixed use development has been designed by renowned Dutch architect, Rem Koolhaas through OMA architecture company. The masterplan consists of:

• Two hotels on the northern and southern tips.
• 13 separate residential buildings on the east side of the development.
• 12 buildings clustered into four groups.
• While three buildings are joined into one group on the west side of the master plan, all the 27 buildings will share a one level podium covering retail, parking, and essential services.

    

3. “Le Mer” by Meraas Holding: Meraas Holding Launches New Destination Island ‘La Mer’ at Cityscape Global 2014, a mixed-use development that will take shape in Dubai’s exclusive beachfront district Jumeirah in the vicinity of Pearl Jumeirah Island. Construction of “La Mer” is set to commence in fourth quarter of 2014. The development will spread across 9.5 million square feet of existing and reclaimed land. Comprising four distinct zones – the beach, a leisure and entertainment hub, North Island, and South Island – ‘La Mer’ will feature commercial, leisure, residential and hospitality components.