< PreviousSPOTLIGHT 20MARCH 2024 research. Each project is like a story waiting to be told, requiring careful attention to detail and analysis. Zaha was a master of understanding, analysing, and interpreting all aspects of a project to ensure that the design aligned perfectly with the core ideas, requirements, city, and environment. Another thing I learned from her was that architecture isn’t just a job, it’s a passion. To create truly exceptional designs, we need to be deeply passionate about what we do. And last but not the least, the importance of teamwork–architecture is a collaborative eff ort, not a one-man show. It’s only by surrounding ourselves with the right partners and team members that we can bring out the best in each other and achieve outstanding results. How did Tariq Khayyat Design Partners (TKDP) come into being? The company was founded in 2018 by SPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHT 21MARCH 2024 myself and my business partner (Xiaosheng Li). Despite the enormous supply of architectural practices in the UAE, we felt that there’s a gap for niche architectural offi ces that are trying to strike a balance between a profound design identity and, at the same time, practical design solutions that will cater to the client’s commercial needs. Moreover, we wanted to enrich and empower the community with our designs because architecture plays a huge role in shaping our cities, lifestyles, and daily routines. Could you walk us through your recently completed projects in the region? Last year, we completed Fold on Al Wasl Road and recently wrapped up The H Residence, a mixed-use housing complex in the Jumeirah district. With Fold, we wanted to break away from the typical architectural style that has dominated Left: H Residence is defi ned by its vertical louvres Right: A rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline; Outdoor area of H ResidencesSPOTLIGHT 22MARCH 2024 the neighbourhood for the past 50 years. Drawing inspiration from the tulip fi eld, we carefully designed the layout to be both practical and unique. The façade components were meticulously crafted to mimic the beauty of the tulip, resulting in a striking silhouette for the project. There are no projects or buildings that provoke your feelings and emotions, so when you drive along, suddenly you have this tulip fi eld and you have to slow down to soak it in and that is what we were trying to achieve. How do you balance client expectations while pushing the boundaries of design? At our company, we believe in being completely transparent with our clients. We aim to understand their vision, character, and willingness to explore new ideas. By sitting down with our clients, we learn about their budget, constraints, fears, and overall vision for the project. Building a project is like a marriage, it’s unique and requires everyone to be on the same page. As consultants, clients, and individuals, it’s important not to be dismissive or ignore each other. Hence, our goal is to always be honest, creative, and true to our clients’ needs. What is your view on the role of AI in design and architecture? AI is great for doing illustrator work, professional presentations, creating diagrams or analysing a brief, but using AI to design and provide AI- generated images to clients is not ethical. Architecture is an emotional profession, and emotions play a big part in it. And I don’t believe that AI, which is a completely artifi cial intelligence tool, could replace people’s emotions and feelings. Sure, we can input all the information into AI, but it We felt that there’s a gap for niche architectural offi ces that are trying to strike a balance between a profound design identity and, at the same time, practical design solutions that will cater to the client’s commercial needs” SPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHT 23MARCH 2024 Left: The Fold is located along Al Wasl Road Right: The twisting facades gave the building a sculptural look SPOTLIGHT 23MARCH 2024SPOTLIGHT 24MARCH 2024 doesn’t really capture the vision. So, I’m not necessarily against using AI in the design and production process, but I do think complete reliance on it is a no-go. Moreover, to be honest, industrialised architecture is very backwards in comparison to other industries such as agriculture, aviation, etc. I mean, we have been still building the same kind of buildings we made 50 years ago. You drive around Dubai, or even around the world, and you see the same old architecture, the old style. I mean, nothing has been used or Left: The Fold was designed as a ‘tulip fi eld’ Right: The view from the rooftopSPOTLIGHT 25MARCH 2024 developed in terms of materials, structural systems, or MEP systems. So, we have a lot to sort out about how the world actually looks like now before we move to AI. What is your advice for young and upcoming architects? The fi eld of architecture is not just a job, it’s a hobby that requires dedication, patience, and hard work. The competition in the UAE and globally is fi erce, with technology and software constantly evolving. Young students aspiring to be architects must understand the need for immense dedication to succeed. It’s not a 9-to-6 job; it requires passion, skill development, and a clear vision of one’s goals. So, whenever I go to give talks at universities, I always ask the fi rst and second-year students, to rethink again about why they want to be architects. Also, I always advise them to build a roadmap so that they can see where they want to be in life. What does the pipeline of work look like at TKDP? As mentioned, we recently fi nished up the Fold and H Residences in Dubai, and now we’re working on our master plan for Riyadh city. On top of that, we’re also working on another master plan in Abu Dhabi, as well as a high- rise building there. Plus, we have a few exciting projects happening in Saudi. So, we’ve got a whole bunch of things in the pipeline including mixed-use developments, high-rises, master plans, and private residences all across the GCC. The fi eld of architecture is not just a job, it’s a hobby that requires dedication, patience, and hard work”26MARCH 202426MARCH 202427MARCH 2024 CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS Exploring the fusion between luxury real estate and renowned luxury brands 27MARCH 2024CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS MARCH 202428 CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS 28MARCH 2024CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS MARCH 202429 THE GOLDEN STANDARD Dubai, as the epicentre of branded residences, leads the way with over 50 operational schemes and a projected supply set to double by 2030 CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS 29 Words by Rico Picenon MARCH 2024Next >