Neri&Hu to Shape New Residential Vision in Dubai with Al Ghurair Development

Al Ghurair Development, the freehold real estate arm of Al Ghurair, has appointed Neri&Hu Design and Research Office as lead architect for its upcoming residential project in Wadi Al Safa 3, near Al Barari and The Wilds. The move reinforces the developer’s commitment to collaborating with globally recognised architects to shape a new generation of thoughtfully designed homes in Dubai. It also marks Neri&Hu’s first residential project in the UAE, reflecting Al Ghurair Development’s long-term belief in architecture that responds to its environment while standing the test of time.

“Our search for the right architect was guided by a simple principle: we wanted a practice driven by meaning,” said Sultan Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Development. “Neri&Hu have built their work around connecting people to place, memory, and one another – an approach that aligns closely with our vision of creating purposeful homes that deliver lasting value for residents and the wider city. Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu bring a truly global perspective, and we are proud to introduce their work to the UAE for the first time.”

Founded in 2006 by Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu is an interdisciplinary design practice based in Shanghai. The firm has earned international recognition for its concept of “restorative nostalgia,” by creating contemporary spaces that evoke memory and familiarity through materiality and spatial experience, rather than direct historical imitation. Their work seeks to produce architecture and objects that serve as lasting, meaningful reference points for the communities they inhabit.

The forthcoming development represents the studio’s latest exploration of urban living. Neri&Hu will design a residential tower complemented by dedicated amenities, parking, and ground-level retail, with the full concept currently in development. In line with the practice’s ethos, the architecture will explore the interplay of contrasting materials, layered textures, and spatial complexity. Residences will be designed to strengthen the connection between indoor and outdoor living, while the overall scheme aims to establish a distinctive identity for the neighbourhood. At its core, the project will be informed by how residents live, gather, and retreat, by ensuring the architecture performs as beautifully from within as it does externally.

Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Founding Partners of Neri&Hu, added, “We believe design must be rooted in its time, place, and culture. Dubai, as a city in constant reinvention, presents both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. Our process begins with a close reading of context – the quality of light, material textures, and the rhythms of daily life. These elements guide us in shaping architecture that feels inherently connected to its surroundings. Equally important is a commitment to permanence: creating work that endures not only physically but in meaning. With Al Ghurair Development, we share this vision and aim to realise something lasting.”