The economy of space
planning is essential.
Expansive masterplan
developments have taken
root in Dubai, juxtaposed
by their efficient unit
sizes. Fortuitously, U+A
has had the opportunity
to grapple with some
of these masterplans,
such as the Dubai South
development, which is ever
growing and enveloping
the Al Maktoum Airport’s
growing horizon.
An investment based
economy provokes the
enquiry of the end-user
supply and demand. Bill
Gates states this in his
2019 open letter – “The
world will build an entire
New York City every
month for 40 years” – and
it’s echoed by Jim Krane’s
words, “No one thought
the village [Dubai] would
become a city.” There is a
huge capacity for growth,
but it does require vision
and trust.
Recently, Dubizzle, a
classifieds app in the UAE, indicated that “Instagrammable”
was among the top searched key words for property. The
global social media phenomenon plays an enormous
role in shaping the expectation of the market’s vision.
Accommodating this fabled media utopia is at times
frustratingly more Disney than we might be comfortable
with. It does although empower the realisation of dreams,
which may have remained within the elusive Neverland.
One such project imagined the Dubai Creek Harbor’s
waterscape populated
with houses – a spark of
imagination produced the
iconic Floating Homes
project.
The utopian dialogue
between media and
design may be our modern
collective expression in
search of meaning. We have
observed market trends of
communal co-living units,
hybrid office living units,
such as the Parkridge project
at DHE and family enriched
public space narratives
reinforced in the legacy of
Arabian Ranches III. These
projects, which U+A has
been privileged to be part of,
have been shaped by a vision
of emerging trends, but they
also require trust in order
to flourish.
There is no better way to
foster trust than to deliver
quality; this fuels the
competition for excellence,
ultimately enriching the
built environment. Trust is
essential for the end-user
to imagine how houses can
become homes, as well as between designer and builder to
realise their vision. We can see how the market actively and
positively implements new regulations and procedures to
bolster trust. When the market is under pressure, as it goes
through its cycles, those who have not earned trust may be
the first to be forced from it.
Dubai is a vibrant market with the capacity and vision
to grow into one of the best quality built environments
globally, if we can continue to nurture trust.Dubai’s market is a unique blend
of economy, vision and trust
By Victor Salzmann, design manager at U+A
Victor Salzmann, design manager at U+A42 / LAST WORD