working to reposition a prime heritage precinct
on the Dubai creek with aecom Dubai team

Design and cultural planning project for Dubai Government, looking at strengthening Dubai’s most historically important precinct, the wind tower housing settlement of Bastakiya, on the Dubai Creek as sub-consultant to AECOM
Abu Dhabi.

CHALLENGE

The Al Bastakiya Cultural Quarter is Dubai’s historic heart. It is a living link to the city’s past. The culture quarter provides a container for the emergence of contemporary artistic and design cultures, nurturing a dynamic fusion of Emerati and international talent.

Bastakiya have traditionally been as a function of the relationship with the waterfront. These spaces may have been used for trade purposes. modernisation and relocation of Dubai’s port facilities coincided with the decline of Dubai creeks traditional marine time trading. al bast... became a neglected island within the city 1980s the destruction of the western half of the quarter to accommodate expansion of the rulers court complex emergence of a new modern urban form

SOLUTION

The redefinition of the edge of the creek has serverely changed the way Bastakia relates to the creek and has resulted in the loss of its significant element of history of this area. cultural quarter Dubai historic heart living link to the city’s past Dubai’s most precious and intact collection of historical buildings the masterplan will define intergrated  strategy’s for its emergency as premier artistic design and cultural quarter 

INSIGHTS

The internal planning arrangnment of individual buildings reflects the orientation of the waterfront. This is visible in the location of some of the architecture planning elements such as entries and majlis.