< PreviousPROPERTY PREMIERE 10OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 Aldar has unveiled Rise by Athlon, a new residential community in Dubai that puts health, fi tness, and well-being at the heart of everyday living. The launch marks the next phase of Athlon, Aldar’s masterplanned development, created in partnership with Dubai Holding. Building on the overwhelming success of the villas and townhouses introduced in 2024, Rise by Athlon adds an apartment component that responds directly to rising demand for homes that combine modern design, functionality, and active lifestyles. The development comprises eight uniquely themed mid-rise buildings overlooking Athlon’s expansive central park. Together, they will deliver more than 1,200 one-, two-, and three- bedroom apartments. Each residence has been carefully designed to maximise space and effi ciency while refl ecting a contemporary architectural style that supports Athlon’s vision: blending creativity, balance, and holistic well-being into daily life. By introducing apartments alongside villas and townhouses, Aldar is broadening the appeal of Athlon to a wider range of buyers. Apartments have become increasingly popular in Dubai’s real estate market, particularly among younger professionals, small families, and international buyers seeking high- quality properties in well-connected locations. Rise by Athlon aims to meet this growing segment, while off ering a diff erentiated lifestyle proposition centred on wellness and community. Residents will enjoy exclusive access to a collection of lifestyle-focused amenities within the buildings, including a Rhythm Room, Mind & Body Library, Recovery Room, Games Room, Golf Simulator, and a dedicated Bike Workshop. These curated spaces are designed to foster not only physical activity but also mental well-being, Images supplied by: Aldar MOVE. LIVE. RISE. Rise by Athlon brings eight themed apartment buildings to Aldar’s LEED Platinum masterplan, reshaping the future of active living in Dubai Residents will enjoy access to a collection of lifestyle-focused amenities within the buildings, including a Rhythm Room, Mind & Body Library, Recovery Room, Games Room, Golf Simulator, and a dedicated Bike Workshop” CWPME_Oct2025_10-11_Property Premiere_13712570.indd 1003/10/2025 07:17PROPERTY PREMIERE 11OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 leisure, and creativity. Beyond the buildings, residents will benefi t from the broader Athlon community, which off ers state-of-the-art fi tness and wellness facilities such as functional training studios, multi-sport courts, rock climbing walls, a wellness spa, meditation areas, and a recovery centre. The overall masterplan has been developed to create a movement- oriented environment. At its core lies a large central park, which is complemented by four additional theme parks and seven community clubhouses that integrate fi tness and social experiences. More than 10 kilometres of interconnected tracks and trails weave throughout Athlon, including jogging paths, a nature loop, and a dedicated cycling track directly linked to Al Qudra’s iconic cycle path. Together, these features ensure that residents have endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and exercise. Strategically located near Global Village, Athlon enjoys excellent connectivity to Dubai’s major highways, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. This prime location allows residents to move easily between key business districts, leisure destinations, and cultural landmarks, reinforcing the community’s appeal as both a lifestyle hub and an investment destination. It has been certifi ed as the UAE’s fi rst LEED Platinum community for planning and design, underlining its human- centric approach and commitment to responsible development. Rise by Athlon will continue this ethos by incorporating eco-conscious design and construction practices, such as the use of locally sourced, low-carbon materials. The buildings’ architectural design will enhance natural ventilation, reduce heat absorption, and maximise park views, further aligning with the project’s sustainability goals. With Rise by Athlon, Aldar is extending the boundaries of community living in Dubai, off ering residents not just homes but a complete lifestyle experience. Left: Rise by Athlon, a community built around fi tness and wellness Right: A bright and airy living space designed for well-being; Wellness meets leisure with stunning swimming pool views CWPME_Oct2025_10-11_Property Premiere_13712570.indd 1103/10/2025 07:17PARTNER CONTENT 12OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 Not long ago, an architect producing 50 viable design options in a day seemed impossible. Today, AI makes it routine, transforming how the AEC industry works, leads, and delivers value. While much discussion focuses on technical applications—generative design, information management, digital twins, predictive analytics, and robotics—the real disruption is cultural. Success comes not from owning tools, but from developing the right people, skills, and human-AI teams to use them eff ectively. LEADERSHIP IN THE AGE OF ALGORITHMS AI shifts leadership from command- and-control to orchestration. Leaders are no longer expected to have all the answers. Instead, they must create the conditions for humans and machines to thrive together. At AtkinsRéalis, we use AI-powered tools to crowdsource innovation, linking similar ideas submitted by staff to promote collaboration and accelerate development. Tomorrow’s AEC leaders must also develop what we call “data-driven empathy.” AI might fl ag a delay or recommend a change, but only human judgment can weigh its impact on clients and communities. HYBRID TALENT IS THE NEW GOLD STANDARD As AI reshapes workfl ows, it also redefi nes talent. Today’s most valuable professionals can interpret data, work with AI, and adapt pre- trained models to AEC-specifi c tasks. Many fi rms are hiring data scientists and computational designers for the fi rst time. Roles are evolving, architects guide generative design engines, supervisors use AI-equipped drones, and teams now include digital twin analysts. With 72% of organisations already using AI and the market set to triple Images supplied by: Shutterstock THE HUMAN AI ALLIANCE AI is changing the AEC game. Success now depends less on tools and more on leaders who unite human insight with machine intelligence We are standing at the threshold of an extraordinary transformation. The question is not whether AI will change our industry; it already has. The real question is, will we change with it?” Words by Anastasios Dimas and Jack Li CWPME_Oct2025_12-13_AtkinsRealis_13715392.indd 1203/10/2025 07:18PARTNER CONTENT 13OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 by 2029, hybrid digital talent is the new baseline. UPSKILLING: URGENT, STRATEGIC, AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED Many of our most experienced professionals lack the digital fl uency needed in AI-enhanced environments. This skills gap is one of the AEC industry’s most urgent challenges. Upskilling is not a nice-to-have. It is a strategic imperative. And it is far more cost-eff ective than replacing teams. This requires hands-on, scenario- based learning, not just webinars. A scheduler must know how to interpret AI risk predictions. A fi eld engineer must understand drone- based thermal imagery. The appetite to learn is there. Given the right support, veteran professionals bring irreplaceable insight and intuition. Our job is to ensure they have the confi dence and capability to stay relevant. HUMAN-AI TEAMING IS THE ULTIMATE SOFT SKILL AI can generate endless possibilities, but only humans can choose the best path. This is where discernment and collaboration become critical. Knowing when to trust AI, when to question it, and how to integrate it into workfl ows is a defi ning skill. Take generative design. AI might produce 50 valid options, but only a human can say which one fi ts the client’s vision or refl ects a community’s character. Success in AEC now depends on treating AI as a creative partner, not an all-knowing oracle. Soft skills like communication, creativity, and critical thinking are no longer optional. They are essential to turning AI from a tool into a force multiplier. ATTRACTING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH INNOVATION AI isn’t just making AEC more effi cient. It is making it more exciting. For years, the industry has struggled to attract young talent. But digital natives now see AEC as a space to code, simulate, and make a tangible impact. This year, we hosted the industry’s fi rst “HackaFuture” event, bringing 100 brilliant digital minds to Manchester to tackle nuclear sector challenges. Over two dynamic days, we watched teams develop cutting- edge solutions, and we hired the 10 best to join AtkinsRéalis. Events like this show that innovation attracts changemakers. Our role as leaders is to give them purpose and the tools to succeed. AI also supports more inclusive workplaces. Chatbots can reduce language barriers. Smart tools can translate technical drawings. AI-enhanced training can level the playing fi eld. These are not just technical gains. They are cultural ones. THE TRUE DIFFERENTIATOR AI tools are becoming faster, cheaper, and easier to use. The real diff erentiator is not the tech. It is culture. The fi rms that thrive will have inclusive, adaptive, learning- oriented cultures where people are empowered to use technology and trusted to challenge it. The value is not in the algorithm. It is in how we apply it. FINAL THOUGHTS AI will not replace the AEC workforce. But professionals who embrace AI will replace those who do not. We’re standing at the threshold of a major transformation. The question is not whether AI will change our industry. It already has. The real question is: will we change with it? If we do, we will not just build smarter infrastructure. We will build smarter teams and a stronger, more innovative industry. Left: As AI reshapes workfl ows, it also redefi nes talent Right: Anastasios Dimas, Regional Technology Director ME, AtkinsRéalis; Jack Li, Global Head of Future Focus & AI, AtkinsRéalis CWPME_Oct2025_12-13_AtkinsRealis_13715392.indd 1303/10/2025 07:18SPOTLIGHT 14OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 C’est Ici Design’s founder, Monica Arango, marries global inspirations with soulful design, proving that luxury is not loud, but deeply felt Words by Angitha Pradeep Photography by Ajith Narendra Project images supplied by: C’est Ici Design THE ART OF UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1407/10/2025 22:23SPOTLIGHT 15OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1507/10/2025 22:23SPOTLIGHT 16OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 Every material choice— from carpets to turquoise tones—was tailored to refl ect the family’s lifestyle, Persian roots, and love for entertaining” Shifts in the Middle East’s real-estate and hospitality markets have also shaped C’est ici’s direction. “The market has become more polarised. For instance, ultra-luxury residential projects continue to grow, while hospitality is being redefi ned around experiences rather than scale,” Arango says. Clients across Dubai, Riyadh, and the Seychelles now seek “destinations rather than just homes or hotels,” which has pushed the studio to design spaces that “sell lifestyles, increase property value, and create narratives for brands.” As a result, “our client mix has broadened: private developers, real-estate investors, and high-net-worth individuals all seeking projects that are investment-driven but still emotionally resonant.” For Arango, every project starts with the human scale, “how a space feels, fl ows, and anchors someone emotionally.” Recent work blends Japandi minimalism, Mediterranean layering, and South American warmth, “all reinterpreted through a modern Middle Eastern lens.” She insists on avoiding pastiche: “We don’t replicate; we reinterpret,” whether it’s pairing the calmness of Japanese joinery Founded in 2017 by Colombian entrepreneur and former lawyer Monica Arango, Dubai-based C’est ici Design has built a reputation for what Arango calls “quiet luxury”—a measured balance of refi ned minimalism and rich, personal detail. Over the past year, that calm aesthetic has carried the studio through what she describes as “a year of transitions,” from relocating its offi ce to expanding the team and moving confi dently into larger commercial work. “We’ve grown from being perceived as a boutique studio to a practice that can handle complex, large-scale projects without losing intimacy and attention to detail,” she says. The Beverly Hills villa in Emirates Hills embodies that evolution. “It’s a home designed for large-scale entertaining yet still intimate for family life,” Arango explains, describing how her team reinterpreted “grand LA living through a Middle Eastern lens,” layering sculptural architecture with travertine, oak, turquoise tones and Persian-inspired carpets. “It captures our ability to marry global cultural references with our own studio’s DNA of balance, elegance, and soul.” CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1605/10/2025 20:47SPOTLIGHT 17OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 with textured local stones or infusing subtle Colombian colour sensibilities into a Dubai penthouse. Travel remains essential to her process. “I am curious and will invest in exploring the world to create something new in our projects. For instance, how an architectural detail of a bridge can be implemented in a fi t-out.” Material experimentation keeps that vision fresh. “Glass has been a great infl uence for cladding or creating bespoke pieces,” she notes. The team has embraced microcement “for its tactile qualities,” iconic reupholstery using bold South American patterns, and untreated metals “that age gracefully, allowing patina to become part of the design story.” Rather than seeking fl awlessness, Arango says, “we’re now embracing evolution and imperfection as beauty.” Sustainability is treated as opportunity, not sacrifi ce. “We’ve integrated reclaimed woods, upcycled fabrics, and locally quarried stones in ways that feel elevated,” including the modular iNVERTI capsule collection, “designed to Left: The Beverly Hills villa in Emirates Hills blends grand LA living with Middle Eastern elegance Right: An inviting living room designed for both grand entertaining and intimate family life CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1705/10/2025 20:47SPOTLIGHT 18OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 be disassembled and fi nished with natural oils instead of chemical-heavy coatings.” Technology has accelerated the studio’s pace. “A year ago, AI tools were experiments; today, they’re integral to our workfl ow,” she says. AI supports research and concept storytelling, parametric design enables forms “we wouldn’t have sketched by hand,” and immersive VR and AR walkthroughs are now expected. “Technology hasn’t replaced creativity—it’s amplifi ed it. It frees us from repetitive tasks so we can focus more on narrative and materiality.” C’est ici’s own Dubai offi ce demonstrates the studio’s philosophy. “It wasn’t just about creating a workplace, it was about embodying our brand: quiet luxury, authenticity, and timelessness,” Arango says. Materials such as Cosentino stone and oak detailing create an environment where clients feel “inspired, calm, CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1807/10/2025 21:56SPOTLIGHT 19OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 and grounded in excellence.” The Beverly Hills villa again shows how the team translates a client’s personality into space: “Every material choice, from carpets to turquoise tones, was tailored to refl ect the family’s lifestyle, Persian roots, and love for entertaining.” Maintaining long-term relationships depends on trust and education. “We often create parallel design options: a ‘safe’ one and a ‘bold’ one—clients almost always gravitate toward the daring option once they see it visualised,” Arango explains. Transparency about budgets and timelines builds confi dence. “That reliability makes clients comfortable enough to let us push boundaries, knowing we’ll deliver without compromise. We become quite close to our clients… they feel at home.” Leadership, she adds, is “about balance: between vision and pragmatism, inspiration and accountability.” Running the studio has taught her “the importance of resilience” and the need to protect the team’s energy so creativity can thrive. “I am a true believer of energy,” she says. “My leadership is always guided by my energy which refl ects in my team. They rock the C’est ici Design energy.” Designing constantly for others has even reshaped her own idea of home. “It’s no longer about perfection—it’s about authenticity,” Arango refl ects. “My personal comfort has shifted toward simplicity and durability, spaces that are not staged but real, layered with memories, art, and objects that hold meaning.” The market has become more polarised, with ultra-luxury residential projects continuing to grow, while hospitality is being redefi ned around experiences rather than scale” Left: Monica Arango, Founder & Creative Director, C’est ici Design; Casa Mia: An eclectic blend of cycladic, neoclassical, and contemporary styles Right: The Dubai studio embodies C’est Ici’s DNA — elegance, warmth and energy CWPME_Oct2025_14-19_Spotlight_13727383.indd 1907/10/2025 12:56Next >