Dubai Internet City
Client: Tecom and Akar Properties LLC
Matt Brindley – Concept Architect for Kann Finch Dubai
A consortium of Dubai based property developers approached Kann Finch Dubai to design a whole block speculative development for a site within the Internet City, close to Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The site was a flat piece of land with no real context nearby other than being near one of the palaces of Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum. The developer required as part of the brief that the buildings facing toward the palace be designed with an Arabic theme.
The project brief consisted of ground level retail uses to all four street fronts with 3-6 storey commercial space on the side facing the palace and 3 x 11 storey towers at the other side. An internal raised courtyard was proposed with a large landscaped water feature. This open area formed the transition element between the Arabic styled buildings and the taller commercial towers. It also hosted the complex’s upper outdoor food area with multiple restaurants opening out to the landscape.
All parking was contained within the site in a multistory carpark, surrounded by retail at ground and commercial at first floor. The central landscaped roof garden was accessed from all buildings directly but also by escalators from the street level protected by large glazed roof elements.
