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Congratulations to the architects and designers who see the power and beauty of nature.
Creating an outdoor oasis that both honours its locale, captures the imagination of visitors and guests – and offers a sustainable vision for the future – is no easy task. These projects look to the past, present and future to create public spaces, wildlife habitats and food destinations that create the region’s best outdoor spaces .
‘The Nest’ – a bird observation tower at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve – was inspired from an actual bird’s nest pattern. This natural mold was crafted to give visitors the opportunity of a close up view of the sanctuary’s birds.
The design also has an added benefit of appearing more familiar to the birds by giving off zero reflections that would otherwise harm the bird’s habitat.
The wood class and steel structure allows up to 20 people at once to view the wide variety of birds that reside in Al Marmoom Sanctuary, and a series of viewing platforms in the Marmoon Sanctuary, allowing up to 18 people at once, to view a wide variety of bird species in the sanctuary.
Looking to channel your inner Mad Max? Look no further than this fun, fascinating restaurant project designed by Meraas.
Complete with war rigs, monster trucks and cars, this first-of-its-kind post-apocalyptic themed food truck concept offers a selection of fresh and tasty gourmet street food in a chilled, fun, and convenient atmosphere.
And because was designed with an eye to the future, Last Exit is also a believer in the concepts of upcycling, repurposing and sustainability – so its science fiction theme stays in the realm of fiction.
This award-winning urban park project was created by desert INK over a seven-month period, providing the primary outdoor recreational space for the Dubai Design District (d3), whilst simultaneously drawing in visitors from outside the community.
This urban park re-purposes countless recycled materials, features many incidental play areas for children to explore, an outdoor gym, sports facilities and food and beverage outlets.
More than 700 surplus concrete quaystones are a key unifying element of the design. The create a wide range of interactive elements for visitors of all ages and physical abilities from climbing walls to parkour zones and opportunities for play and exercise.
Photo: Alex Jeffries Photography
dpa were privileged to be invited to illuminate The Constellation, a monumental public artwork that forms the centrepiece of The Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, a permanent national tribute to the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It was conceptualised and designed by artist Ralph Helmick, whose practice explores human perception through large-scale public sculptures and installations that invite optical discovery.
Housed within a pristine, prismatic Pavilion at the heart of the space, the suspended solids of The Constellation shine like stars within the night sky.
Stretching 1.8 km along the creek, Al Seef is located in the historic heart of Dubai adjacent to the Al Fahidi Cultural Historical Neighborhood.
Whilst the Heritage District of Al Seef (developed by Meraas) embraces the past by creating experiences deeply rooted in Emirati culture, the Contemporary District, designed by 10 DESIGN, was is conceptualised to shape new memories for Dubai.
Spaning approximately 670m of the creek, covering GFA 85,000m2, the site was developed in two phases: Phase 1 accommodated the retail, food and beverage , and marina spaces while Phase 4 accommodated hospitality and food and beverage spaces along with car parking structures for both phases. Each has created an area that is revitalising the tourism experience around Dubai Creek, one of the UAE’s most popular destinations.
View the complete list of this year’s shortlisted projects here.
OBMI and Katara Hospitality breathe new life into a 1920s royal residence, balancing heritage and modern luxury on the eucalyptus-clad slopes of Tangiers, Morocco.
Japanese craft meets contemporary design at Kiyoshi designed by Mahsa Gholizadeh
The Design Residency programme 2025 also coincides with the Year of Handicrafts as designated by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture.
The interiors of the Backstage Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden echo the feeling of being behind the scenes at a great performance – rich in texture, layered in story and always with music in the background
Intimate, artistic and unforgettable, The Mellah Hotel is nestled in the heart of Marrakech's ancient medina, just steps from the magnificent Bahia Palace.
In a landmark Bud Oglesby-designed building, designer Joshua Rice crafts a warm, quietly powerful residence that honors modernist roots, personal history, and a young collector’s nuanced eye
This apartment designed by Carl Gerges features green hues throughout
BLINK Design Group has drawn deeply from the well of ancient Lingnan culture to craft a design narrative that’s rooted in tradition yet thoroughly modern at Banyan Tree Dongguan Songshan Lake in China
Tomorrowland, the world-renowned music festival, has collaborated with designer Dieter Vander Velpen and Ethnicraft through its architecture and design studio, Great Library Studio, to create a contemporary Art Nouveau furniture collection
Giorgio Armani and RAK Properties launch the first Armani-branded villas in the world
Here are the current and upcoming design-led museums in the UAE that you should know about
Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard unveil a fresh perspective on bathroom design for 2025