< PreviousSoutheast view of Bank Street buildings, Shar- jah. Image by Ieva Saudargait understand our agency and relationship with the world differently.” Most recently, the triennial announced the two venues that it will be held at – the old Jubail veg- etable market and the Al-Qasimiyah School, which is currently being renovated to form the triennial’s permanent headquarters. The choice in venues was no coincidence, as- serts Lahoud. They speak directly to the theme of the triennial. Both buildings are leading examples of the emirate’s 1970s and 80s architecture. And in the adaptive reuse of these structures, the trien- nial offers a sustainable approach and example of working with existing infrastructure. “The mission of the triennial is to serve as a space for dialogue that supports an emerging gen- eration of architects drawn from across the Global South and their diaspora,” said Lahoud. “Ulti- mately, we hope to prompt our audiences to re- think the potential of architecture – to interrogate existing models, disrupt dominant perspectives and consider the alternative ways of living that can be formed. “Inherent to the theme of Rights of Future Gen- erations is a commitment to legacy building, and I hope to create a lasting community beyond the ex- hibition,” Lahoud said. “Physically, the school will serve as a central hub for architectural learning within Sharjah. For those based in other regions, texts and publications produced during the trien- nial will be available across a variety of online plat- forms long after the exhibition has ended, offering a globally accessible resource for those who wish to interrogate existing architectural discourse.” MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM 30 / COVER STORYDIAMOND SPONSORTESTING & CERTIFICATION PARTNERORGANISED BY 15 SUMMIT SESSIONS | 20 CERTIFIED WORKSHOPS | 120+ INTERNATIONAL BRANDS 2,000+ NEW PRODUCTS | 11,000+ INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS REGISTER FOR FREE ENTRY AT www.wdfevent.ae CO-LOCATED WITH 24-26 SEPTEMBER 2019 Dubai World Trade Centre C M Y CM MY CY CMY KDesigning for all With plans to become more accessible by 2020, Dubai (and the greater UAE) has implemented a number of plans that encourage architects and developers to design for people of all abilities. MEA explores what this means and how it’s being done. Despite having a relatively short history implementing ac- cessibility acts, the UAE has transformed into a regional leader in the past 10 years, ensuring its cities are designed with consideration of individuals of all abilities. However, before exploring the UAE’s history of imple- menting accessibility legislature, it’s important to under- stand what different levels of ability or disability mean. Firstly, while often used to refer only to those whose mobili- ty is restricted (i.e. wheelchairs and crutches), disability can also refer to sensory impairments (i.e. vision or hearing), as well as old age, or temporary conditions, such as pregnancy. Becoming a more accessible city means that people of all abilities can easily use public transportation to go to school or work, use ticket or money machines, go around streets and enter public buildings, and receive information that they can understand. If a city is not accessible, those who identify as a person with disability will be forced to not participate in community growth and development. In 2006, the UAE instated its first law that protects the rights of people with different levels of ability. Federal law number 29, passed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, provides high quality medical care and social services to all people with disabilities, boosts public awareness and con- tributes to integrating people with disabilities into society. A little over 10 years later, in April 2017, the country Accessibility protocols have recently been applied to the UAE’s public spaces MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM 32 / SPECIAL REPORTQ&A with Samer Touqan Projects director Dewan Architects + Engineers How does the UAE hope to implement further accessi- bility measures? To start with, the UAE dedicates a part of its online portal to act as a “one stop shop”, linking all services currently available through the various government depart- ments for People of Determination. This portal links to all its essential services such as healthcare, social assistance, em- ployment, rehabilitation, transport and many others. Public transport is also gradually adapting to the mobility needs of individuals of disability. However, the built environment re- mains tangibly lagging behind as far as accessibility require- ments. The transformation of cities, urban spaces and build- ings is usually a time consuming and costly process that calls for national mechanisms to be put in place to motivate such evolution. Has there been any implementation of accessibility measures in upcoming architectural projects? As far as we can notice, a shy and incomplete implementation of the newly published accessibility codes is currently practised; however, this should mean that the upcoming generation of buildings is expected to be more recognisant of accessibility requirements. Public spaces in particular are lagging behind as their de- sign is usually commissioned by developers whose attention towards the requirements of accessibility are often overshad- owed by other commercial and visual considerations. The construction permitting system also does not have a specific division dealing with rehabilitation/refurbishment projects for existing structures and open spaces; neither is there a review panel to periodically test code compliance of existing facilities during their operations. As such, existing structures could remain in service for a long time without having to pass new reviews of their design compliance with prevailing new codes. It is hence expected that existing struc- tures may take much longer to catch up with the code re- quirements for accessibility. ramped up its mission to become an inclusive, barrier- free society with the National Strategy to Empower People with Disabilities. The strategy included the ‘My Community Dubai’ pro- gramme, the Dubai Universal Design Code and the inau- guration of the term ‘People of Determination’, which was employed to stimulate a new set of legislations, codes and mechanisms on ground, as well as online to improve the experience of the urban realm and encourage engagement with society for all. Introduced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Universal Design Code sets out how new buildings should be designed so that they can be ac- cessed, understood and used to the greatest extent pos- sible by all people, regardless of their age, size or level of ability. The environment and any building, product or service in that environment, should be designed to meet the needs of all people who wish to use it. The code also applies to existing buildings and infrastructure, which MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM SPECIAL REPORT / 33NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC 91%of readers use Middle East Architect to make purchasing decisions WHILE ACCESSIBILIT Y IS DIFFERENT FROM USABILIT Y, IT HAS A CLE AR IMPACT ON THE USER E XPERIENCE AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED.”LAMA HARB, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, JT+PARTNERS Decree 43 of 2018, which required employers to ensure workplaces were accessible for People of Determination. We have had employers who are keen to keep staff approach us for advice. As time progresses and People of Determina- tion become more visible, organisations will start to think about engagement. This is where a good architect can fit in – designing accessible buildings from the outset benefits everyone.” It’s estimated that more than one billion people in the world (15 percent of the world’s population) have some form of disability. With Dubai set to welcome a predicted 25 mil- lion visitors during the six month period of the World Expo, one can predict a large number of People with Determina- tion will visit the emirate, which offers a great opportunity to showcase what can be achieved in terms of accessibility. According to Dering, in the UK, where 20 percent of the pop- ulation has a disability, it’s been calculated that the annual spending power of People of Determination is £249bn. “The accessible-tourism market is growing,” said Lama Harb, associate director at JT+Partners. “While accessibil- ity is different from usability, it has a clear impact on the user experience and should always be considered. In practice, accessibility is about designing for users with disabilities. Philosophically, it isn’t so much about designing for disability as it is about designing for everyone. “Barriers include visual, auditory and mobility. We should design to maximise ease of use for when users of any ability are required to submit detailed plans by 2020 on how they intend to retrofit in order to comply. “The government of the UAE has made some great steps forward in terms of accessibility of government buildings,” said Steve Dering, head of engagement in Dubai at Direct Ac- cess, a UK practice that offers expertise on incorporating ac- cessibility into building designs. “And this is slowly extend- ing to the private sector as people are starting to understand the need to meet the requirements of design codes. “In addition to Dubai, Abu Dhabi has its own require- ments. One of the biggest steps forward was Ministerial MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM 34 / SPECIAL REPORT98%of readers consider Middle East Architect editorial to be good or better than other publications that focus on the architecture sector in the region CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY TO REACH THE GCC’S ARCHITECTURAL MARKET DAVID BENTLEY Sales Manager T: +971 4 444 3396 M: +971 50 4541321 E: david.bentley@itp.com encounter our design, even in stressful situations, such as fires or other emergencies. By designing to cater to all ability levels, we create an environment anyone can use and enjoy, whatever the context. Designing for accessibility thus helps all users.” According to Samer Touqan, projects director at Dewan Architects + Engineers, designers, builders and regulatory authorities are tasked with collaborating in the mission to accommodate the particular design needs for each type of disability through creative solutions. “These solutions should include all corners of a project that are reachable to users without discrimination and in- clusive of open spaces and public facilities,” Touqan said. “Luckily, the UAE’s codes provide a number of ‘plug and play’ design solutions and criteria, and while these codes have come a long way in a short period of time, additional guide- lines are present in a host of international codes, such as the British Standard Code BS9300, England’s Approved Document M, and the publications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all of which are available online.” Written by Rima Alsammarae Images courtesy of ITP Media Group And while Touqan notes that there is much room for im- provement in the UAE, with current challenges being ret- rofitting existing infrastructure, developers paying little attention to needs of accessibility and the lack of a review panel that periodically tests code compliance, he believes the UAE is on the right track and has developed many of the right tools. “The objective set towards a physically more accessible UAE is logically attainable,” he said. “And a code gap is no longer present, provided that the codes are followed and quality is supervised through construction, commission- ing, handing over and operations. The date set through this aspiration should only represent the first milestone towards a more comprehensive implementation of the requirements for accessibility both in newly built facilities and in the exist- ing ones.” MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM SPECIAL REPORT / 35An expo for everyone Steve Dering, Direct Access’ head of engagement in Dubai, offers insight into the fair’s plans for increased accessibility According to Steve Dering, head of engagement in Dubai at Direct Access, a UK practice (with a Dubai office) that offers expertise on incorporating accessibility into building de- signs, Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to showcase what can be achieved in terms of accessibility and it has employed the help of Dering’s consultancy to provide understanding and know-how on how best to address barriers that people face on a daily basis. “Expo 2020 has considered where accessibility can be in- cluded in line with the Dubai Universal Design Code,” Der- ing said. “For established premises, organisations are meant to submit plans to Dubai Municipality by 2020, setting out how they plan to retrofit to comply.” With architecture generally following five stages (or seven if using the UK’s RIBA), Direct Access reviews plans and drawings issued at each stage, advising on how access is- sues in line with the relevant codes and standards can be ad- dressed. These are then commented on by the design team and closed out prior to moving on to the next stage. Using Aconex and different BIM systems to share infor- mation with architectural firms, one of Direct Access’ ad- vantages to being a niche provider with a diverse client base is that it’s used to working with multiple platforms across dif- ferent countries. “We also advise on tender specification and assist with reviewing submitted tenders for accessibility compliance,” Dering said. “During the fit-out stages, we can specify prod- ucts and ensure that they are installed correctly – for exam- ple, I am deaf and have a hearing aid, so I can check that a hearing enhancement system is correctly installed, which a machine cannot do. We often sit in on architectural meet- ings where drawings are discussed and make contributions that way, including directly with clients.” With Expo 2020, Direct Access is ensuring that accessibil- ity is embedded throughout the programme. Similar to how it works with architecture firms, Direct Access is reviewing and advising on designs, drawing feedback from Dubai Uni- versal Code as well as international standards, such as those used for the London Olympics in 2012. And in addition to overseeing the design and construction of the Expo site, Di- rect Access is also involved in the curation and accessibility of the operational phase. “It’s about ensuring that people understand the language of access and the requirements of Expo 2020 to be an expo for everyone. Expo 2020 is all about innovation and connect- ing minds – we look for new innovative ways for accessibility and introduce those,” he said. “Consistency is a key feature in making public spaces more accessible – if different spaces apply codes differently, this can actually create a health and safety hazard. Take for example tactile paving at the start and end of stairs. This needs to be 300mm before the start of the hazard. Uncertainty about consistency can be difficult.” MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM 36 / SPECIAL REPORTPart of 17 - 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME. Register to attend for FREE www.workspace-index.com/visit Where the Middle East’s design community meets to shape the future of commercial interior design. The region's largest showcase of local and international furniture for healthcare, Recently nominated for an Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Archi- tecture, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Grand Mosque was designed to evoke a geometrical expression of a desert rose emerg- ing from its urban context. Designed by Saudi architecture and engineering practice Omrania, the KAFD Grand Mosque involved a series of complex parametric arrays that create a simpli- fied and dynamic massing. Further landmarked by two sculpted minarets that reach a height of 60m, the building’s stone form and seemingly aggressive movement extends to the fifth el- evation, helping create an interesting profile from various angles. With a low height and wide shape, the mosque appears to emerge from the ground as a crystal mass, while a plaza that surrounds the building provides a public realm and amenity to the district. The plaza also serves as an extension to the mosque for outdoor prayer during religious celebrations. The mosque, which was completed in 2017, has a built up area of 6,103m2 and can accommodate 1,466 worshippers across two levels. “A major challenge was to develop the geometry in such a way as to support a col- umn free internal environment,” said the architects. “All of the loads are transferred through the structural skin, and the skin supports a flying mezzanine by means of hanging supports.” The skin of the building consists of tessellated stone, which was selected to en- hance the notion of a rising crystal mass. The project’s materialiaty is in keeping with the design principles of the project in general and the greater Henning Larsen- designed masterplan within which the mosque sits. “Internally the dynamic movement is reflected in an exciting faceted lining which stays true to the external form. This delicate yet powerful form represents our visualised interpretation of a crystal cavern in reference to the desert rose,” the architects added. The interior volume of the mosque measures 16m high and features crystalline window slots that filter direct sunlight, creating a soft haze for end-users. Triangu- lar slotted windows on the vertical sides of the mosque’s roof structure further help illuminate the ceiling. A futuristic mosque in Riyadh by Saudi architecture firm Omrania features a geometric form meant to represent an abstracted desert rose. The architects also designed the building to evoke a crystal emerging from the ground KAFD Mosque Written by Rima Alsammarae Images courtesy of Omrania MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM 38 / PROJECTS MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT / 08-11.19 / WWW.MIDDLEEASTARCHITECT.COM PROJECTS / 39Next >