Salman ... eyes on Iraq.
Going by the book
DEWAN AL EMARA takes lessons in history while designing a landmark shopping mall in Dubai.
01 October 2004
Designing the world’s largest themed mall was no small order, but Dewan Al Emara learned its lessons well, so to speak.
The architectural and engineering consultancy was tasked to draw inspiration from the life of Arab traveller and adventurer Ibn Battuta, while designing the Gardens Shopping Mall in Dubai, which is due to open next February.
‘‘The 150,000 sq m, single-level mall, which is over a kilometre long, has five courts themed on the journeys of Ibn Battuta through Spain and Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China,’’ says regional director Falah Al Salman.
The concepts are vivid and imaginative: for instance, the China Court prominently features an impressive sinking ship at the busy port of Guangzhou, while the Persian Court highlights Ibn Battuta’s discovery of a hidden cave of gold and other treasures.
The themed environments are being handled by MTE Studios.
The mall, being developed by Nakheel, will also boast the UAE’s first IMAX theatre. It is due to open in the first quarter of 2005.
Dewan Al Emara is a three-decade-old practice that handles projects worth Dh2 billion ($545 million) a year. Established in Iraq in 1974, it moved to Abu Dhabi in 1976 and quickly found its place in the capital among its top three consultancies.
Five years ago, it opened its regional office in Dubai, which is staffed by 60 designers and engineers. The practice has a total of 150 professionals on its roll – half of whom are busy at its design boards. The other half is engaged in supervising ongoing construction across the UAE.
Another mega project that Dewan Al Emara is currently busy with in Dubai is the Green Community Shopping Centre.
‘‘We are handling all the apartment buildings, the shopping centre, hotel apartments and the units in front of the central lake in the Green Community, which is being developed by Union Properties,’’ says Salman.
‘‘In addition, it is involved several other projects that are at various stages of design and construction, including three buildings in Dubai Media City – one of which is a 10-storey hotel – and three modest-sized commercial projects in Dubai.
Dewan Al Elmara has also recently ventured into war-devastated Iraq.
“We are among the first few to venture into Baghdad. Obviously, business is a priority as we want to tap the countless opportunities in the reconstruction process, but we also want to contribute to rebuilding the country which was once known for its architectural beauty and diversity,” Salman comments.
He firmly believes there is no city like Dubai anywhere in the world, pointing out to the diversity this city has to offer. “It has the diversity of culture which is more than evident in the architecture and building designs. Dubai is being built by people who come from various backgrounds and cultures and their imprint can be found in their creative work. Take the Burj Al Arab and the Mina Salaam, for example: both are iconic in their own right but are poles apart in architecture and design. This is commonplace in a cosmopolitan society but in Dubai it is more pronounced,” he stresses.
“However, the construction boom which Dubai is now experiencing could last till the end of a decade, depending on how well Dubai projects itself as an attractive tourist destination,” Salam says.
“As long as there are people coming in to occupy the places built for them, the boom will last. Once this changes, building new projects would take a back seat – as obviously we cannot keep on developing new projects forever –and the next boom will be in the maintenance and renovation all the projects which have been built.’’
