< PreviousCover feature commercialinteriordesign.com November 2021 20 I LOVE SHCover feature 21 November 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com SHARJAH Exploring the architectural history of the emirate & reflecting on the promise of a future that says...commercialinteriordesign.com November 2021 22 Sharjah proudly sits as the arts and cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates, due in part to iconic buildings and projects such as The Blue Mosque, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Archaeology Museum and of The Sharjah Art Museum, to name but a few, all add to that narrative. As Nicola (Fahy) and I were both born in Sharjah our memories stretch to so much more. We often laugh together at some of the funnier things that remind us of growing up. Back then there were no traffi c lights; the Dolphin roundabouts were a nightmare and dad used to fl y over the bridges to give us butterfl ies in our stomach, as they were the only bridges we had ever seen, but sadly they are now gone. For us as children, Sharjah was our playground; it's where we would spend many a weekend on the beach or shopping in the souk, and going to lots of parties with our parents at the Wanderers, Sharjah's rugby club. School trips were often to the cultural centres, or many of the destinations aforementioned. I am sure many people over the years viewed Sharjah as the same. Like so much of the UAE, Sharjah has transformed before our eyes, especially in recent years. During the last decade, it's been amazing to witness Sharjah going from a site of heritage and culture to being also at the forefront of architecture and design STUDIO EM'S EMMA STINSON & NICOLA FAHY in the region. Whilst the narratives of culture and heritage run strong in these new developments, there's a new narrative, one of modernity, cutting edge design, contemporary and trendsetting architecture and design. What was once a dusty, quiet, and rather one-tone, fl at skyline, is now a hive of buildings and projects that are truly iconic as examples of amazing modern design, not just locally, but internationally. For that, there's a lot of credit due to the vision of the Ruling Family and leading bodies such as Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Sharjah Asset Management and Sharjah Arts Foundation (SAF). When I now think of Sharjah, I think of the gorgeous Al Faya Lodge and Spa by ANARCHITECT; House of Wisdom from Foster + Partners; Buhais Geology Park Interpretive Centre by Hopkins Architects and the Rain Room by SAF. These buildings are now fusing the cultural, the heritage and the arts with modernity, with sophistication and a sense of innovation and a beauty that's not something that Sharjah was ever known for – this combination is what I see the future of architecture and design as being. When I look at our current workload, we have six projects live in Sharjah, on new developments such as Maryam Island, as well as renovating and restoring old buildings, such as a nine-storey derelict building 1960s that's in the heart of the city. This project is amazing, because essentially if this building was in Europe, it would be listed or deemed heritage. Working on these types of building is not something we get to do in the UAE. With this project we have the chance to preserve a bit of history and to recapture some of the original Islamic architecture. I absolutely love that; it's awesome to have a client who sees the ; m It's amazing to witness Sharjah go to the forefront... The Studio EM sistersCover feature 23 November 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com beauty in preservation and wants to return a beautiful building back to its former glory. As designers and having seen what has been done in recent years, we feel real pressure in taking some of these projects on, specifi cally the larger projects. Now we're no longer putting out footprints or handprints onto the beaches of Sharjah as residents, we're putting them onto the architectural landscape. As designers is a dream for us, so it's a welcome pressure. Never one to shirk a challenge, we're now thinking of ways we can add to the new narrative and to create our own piece of iconic design in the emirate. When I look at some of the smaller developments, such as the smaller malls or community centres, they're so cleverly done and with the universities and the huge amount of students going through Sharjah, we're noticing a huge shift and growth of local entrepreneurs from the emirate. This is thanks in large parts due to development and entrepreneur hubs such as Sheera and, of course, the universities. With this new boom of entrepreneurship and love of design, Sharjah is becoming the capital of home grown concepts, specifi cally aimed more towards the local market. It's awesome to see that and to see the rise of these amazing new ideas and innovations. Nicola Fahy Growing up I loved everything about Sharjah; it was our playground and our weekend retreat, but then as a designer we would do maybe one project a year. That was until the last few years. Now we're doing so much in the emirate and I Meet the experts Studio EM founder Emma Stinson (pictured below) grew up in Sharjah, along with her younger sister, Nicola Fahy (above). The pair have continued to live and thrive in the UAE, with a design studio that's based in Dubai. Emma was recently highly commended as interior designer of the year at the CID Awards 2021, while Nicola clinched Young Designer of the Year at our 2020 ceremony. Mysk Al Faya Lodge and Spa by ANARCHITECT genuinely get super excited when a project comes on board as there seems to be a real drive in making Sharjah, not only the cultural and heritage capital of the UAE, but now the design capital. The projects are so unique, the briefs so progressive and the ideas so forward thinking that it's projects that we've never really had the chance to do before and for us, being born in Sharjah, it's really very exciting as we're going to have the chance to put our stamp on the landscape of the emirate we called home.Cover feature commercialinteriordesign.com November 2021 24 Over the last 10 years, a new architectural landscape has emerged, gradually, in Sharjah to the eyes of the world, says Juan Roldan, an academic based in the emirate. A slow but steady repertoire of architectural apparatus has progressively been energising a particular part of the emirate, whether in heritage areas or as integrated elements in its landscape. The fi rst common characteristic that we fi nd among them is their high quality and scale, which responds to the site with a deeper understanding of the emirate's cultural, heritage, and social context. Since its inception, the emirate has been NEW ARCHITECTURE IN SHARJAH URBAN & LANDSCAPE ACUPUNCTURE House of WisdomCover feature 25 November 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com the cradle of knowledge and education, paying equal attention to its history, heritage, and even archeology and its vision for the future: a modern place for living and working, respecting tradition and heritage. It is essential to understand the reasons behind this diverse and complex constellation of new architectural elements. We have to acknowledge the different stakeholders and conditions that have supported its emergence. Firstly, we can now fi nd a mature generation of local and international designers with a deeper understanding of the nuances of the historical and cultural context of the emirate, along with a strong sensitivity in relationship with heritage matters. Secondly, we see an increasing number of governmental, private institutions, and clients with a growing awareness of a distinctive and contemporary approach to architecture as a way of delivering social, cultural, and economic added value. Public promotion of architectural pieces has established a strategy of urban and landscape acupuncture with a sensitive approach in footprint and sustainability issues. In most cases, these humble interventions activate different parts of the emirate, using art, hospitality, and cultural contents as a driving element of change into more sustainable models of the built environment. The traditional way of importing ideas and references is luckily something of the past. UAE-based designers like SpaceContinuum Design Studio, DXB Lab, or ANARCHITECT are proof of concept when it comes to sustainable design following a basic rule: basic common sense. They all look at the site with renewed eyes, exploring pre-existing conditions as opportunities, whether in the city or the desert. Thinking on art contents, Mona El-Mousfy (SpaceContinuum Design Studio and Sharjah Art Foundation architecture consultant) designed the new spaces of the Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) having in mind the footprint of an existing urban tissue of sikkas and courtyard houses. With a clear language, where coral masonry is preserved, and new spaces are pristine white volumes, these two conditions never touch, always allowing small vertical gaps between them as a sign of respect and honoring the past. This gradual way of restoring a formerly overlooked part of the city has extended this formula into other areas of the emirate; a form of building new elements with a reasonable footprint and a strong cultural component. SAF has been operating with these acupuncture interventions in Hamriyah studios at Hamriyah beach, artists-in-residence workshops, and exhibition spaces designed by DXB Lab. The revamping of a historic Brutalist restaurant and shop the Flying Saucer brings back to life iconic elements of Sharjah's collective memory, along with exquisitely curated exhibitions. Looking at another important stakeholder of this urban transformation, we have to include Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority), led by a new generation of leaders and young designers who are guided by tradition and innovation. In this sense, new hospitality models promoted by Shurooq include the restoration of several courtyard houses in the heritage area to house the Chedi Al Bait hotel. A balanced example of contemporary Introducing the author Juan Roldan is a Spanish architect and educator. He is associate professor of architecture and interior design at the American University of Sharjah's College of Architecture, Art and Design. Juan served as curator of the fi rst edition of the d3 Architectural Festival 2020, held at Dubai Design District (d3) in partnership with RIBA Gulf, and will return to d3 for Dubai Design Week 2021 to curate a session on contemporary Spanish design luxury and heritage restoration. On the other side of the spectrum and entering Sharjah's desert on your way to Mleiha archeological site. At the foot of mount Alvaah we can also fi nd another example of sustainable lodging: Mysk Al Faya. Designed by ANARCHITECT, the fi ve-room hotel and spa is another example of humble scale by restoring a former grocery store and a clinic, which becomes a whispering structure to give the protagonism to the views towards the desert dunes of the area. The list would be long, and it keeps growing. Still, it surely would be worth mentioning other projects like Mleiha archeological site visitors' center by Dabbagh Architects; Buhais Geological Park visitors' center by Hopkins Architects, the Beeah Head Quarters and Aljada Park by Zaha Hadid Architects and House of Wisdom library and cultural centre, designed by Foster + Partners.commercialinteriordesign.com November 2021 26 Caption Here Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority) was set up in 2009 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah, to be the driving force behind the transformation of Sharjah. Its comprehensive development includes Sharjah's House of Wisdom, the 'future library' designed by British architectural design and engineering fi rm, Foster + Partners and four luxury eco-retreats under the Mysk by Shaza's Sharjah Collection brand. One of these, Al Faya Lodge, received international acclaim for transforming two single-storey, stone-built structures from the 1960s, previously occupied as a clinic and grocery store, into a contemporary boutique hotel and restaurant; with the addition of a newly -built saltwater spa building. ANARCHITECT, the UAE-based studio behind the project, believes the project pioneers the region's architectural movement towards adaptive reuse of heritage buildings and structures, using local vernacular and contextual choice of materials as a starting point for the architectural discourse. As well as its hospitality projects, other examples of the emirate's architecture has showcased internationally, with a roadshow travelling to Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia during October 2021. Al Suhub rest area, Shees Park, the Khorfakkan Beach development, Souq Sharq and the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, all great examples of Sharjah architecture, were displayed to Russian audiences as part of a tour by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. They represent ongoing development projects launched under the directives HERITAGE & HOSPITALITY: REVIVING THE HEART OF SHARJAH of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Of these, one of the newest landmarks welcomed by the emirate is Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, at the foot of Al Sayed Mountain facing the Khorfakkan beach The magnifi cent 190,000 sq ft Roman-style amphitheatre was inaugurated by the Ruler of Sharjah in December 2020, after being planned, designed and engineered by Jordan-based fi rm Dar Al Omran. In addition to building new attractions, Sharjah's future also speaks to preserving and restoring its architectural heritage. Seeking to refl ect what Sharjah was like over half a century ago, the Heart of Sharjah project promises to restore and revamp the city's traditional areas to create a tourist and trade destination with contemporary Granada Buildings in Sharjah's Bank Street The Flying Saucer building is now an art gallery P h ot o c re d it : D r N am an A l Ja li li A rc h iv es C ol le ct io nCover feature 27 November 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Sharjah Sustainable City A joint venture between Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers, Sharjah Sustainable City (SSC) seeks to create "a working model of future cities" for the emirate and beyond. It is designed according to the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic that's on track to the fi rst fully sustainable community in Sharjah. Like Diamond Developers' established sister project Dubai Sustainable City, SSC is powered by renewable energy produced from rooftop solar panels. It recycles its water and waste and produces vegetables and greens to enhance food security. Phase 1, comprising of 25 percent of the total residential development of 280 villas, will attract residents with the promise of savings of up to 50 percent on energy bills, as well as the chance to make the most of the outdoors with 11.8 kms of jogging tracks, 1.6 kms cycling tracks and 8.4 kms of pedestrian sikkas – a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional Arabic design feature. artistic touches. Scheduled for completion in 2025, the fi rst of fi ve phases is already underway, and Shurooq has set up a joint committee of governmental and private bodies to oversee the implementation of this fi rst phase. A controversial part of the project involves the demolition of the striking 1970s buildings lining Sharjah's 'Bank Street', designed by Spanish architects Tecnica y Proyectos. New book 'Building Sharjah' (Birkhäuser, 2021) notes two of the Córdoba Buildings were demolished in 2016. Plans to raze the remaining 22 buildings have been put on hold, though more demolitions are expected, says the title, which is the result of an intensive fi ve-year research project to collect and reconstruct Sharjah’s modern landscape, co-edited by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi and architectural historian Todd Reisz. International design press has reported that Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) has campaigned to preserve this area and has already purchased numerous historical buildings across the emirate, including an ice factory, a cinema and Sharjah's famous concrete fl ying-saucer restaurant, which it re-opened in September 2020 as an arts venue. Designed and constructed in the 1970s by an unknown architect, the extra-terrestrial building is described by Mona El Mousfy, architecture consultant for the SAF, as a "unique and relatively simple silhouette defi ned by a circular footprint topped by a central circular dome." It's the perfect symbol for what Sharjah has become: quirky, eye-catching, a paean to the past but always looking forward with the promise of exciting plans to come. P h ot o c re d it : S A FFirst look commercialinteriordesign.com November 2021 28 It refl ects on the rich language of Sharjah's history... Roar's latest architecture and interior design project is located in the historical Al Bait district, part of the Heart of Sharjah conservation programme and carefully combines heritage conservation with a contemporary architectural intervention. Initially commissioned to refurbish the original building into multi-functional event and meeting spaces, Roar's scope grew with the project demands to incorporate much larger function spaces. This challenge required Roar to develop a unique architectural intervention within the existing courtyard space. Drawing inspiration from the irregular geometries of the Al Bait district, Roar American University of Sharjah alumnus Pallavi Dean and her studio Roar show us the new face of Sharjah COMING HOME has designed two large perpendicular multifunction spaces, closing the courtyard form, whilst maintaining an open plaza central space. The arrangement allows for fully fl exible use and the possibility to host two separate functions or one much larger event for over 250 people. The original heritage building will house fl exible meeting rooms, classroom facilities as well as an internal auditorium – bringing fl exibility and opportunity to this events destination. Roar's modern proposal includes a fl oating roof structure of folding planes, that mimic Al Bait's irregular plan forms, and connect the new spaces to the original building to create the project that's been First look 29 November 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Traditional coral walls were retained named Bait Al Meyani. Leigh Hubner, director of architecture at Roar, explains: "The plot is prominently situated adjacent to the east gateway tower on the corner of the Al Bait district – we wanted to address the fact that the building existed from outside the plan area so developed the idea of a fl oating roof sitting above the boundary wall, making the architectural form visible to the public. We further proposed the opportunity for an entrance foyer and arrival space adjacent to the east gate and outside the plot boundaries of the courtyard, marking the building's presence and encouraging interest, whilst providing separate access for the large event spaces." Roar founder, Pallavi Dean, elaborates: "The material palette includes glass, corten steel and mesh layering, refl ecting on the rich language of Sharjah's historical architecture and incorporating it into the design of the modern space. The use of corten works beautifully with the courtyard area and sits side by side as a modern material within the heritage palette." Roar's sensitive interior scheme retained the original features including traditional arch niches and plasterwork in all rooms, only intervening when elements need to be restored or replaced. The handcrafted coral walls as well as the timber and palm leaf construction on the ceiling have also been preserved and celebrated. Bait Al Meyani's central open plazaNext >