UK architecture giant Foster + Partners has recently opened its new office in Dubai, located in the Dubai Design District (d3).
The office will provide a regional base for the practice, for projects based in the Emirates and other countries in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
“Dubai is emerging as a global hub for the design and construction industry, exemplified by the varied scope and breadth of our projects in the region.
Dubai Design District Convention CTR & Creative Cluster, COMP. Image courtesy of Foster + Partners.
“We have been heavily involved in a number of projects over the past two decades, from the Index Tower that opened in 2011, to presently working on the Dubai Design District Creative Community and Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI); office developments such as ICD Brookfield Place and the new Mobility Pavilion for the Expo 2020,” said Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio.
Brookfield Place. Image courtesy of ICD Brookfield.
“The opening of our new office in the city reflects our commitment and belief in Dubai as a centre for design and innovation,” he added. Read designMENA’s full interview with Eveden here.
The practice’s first project in Dubai was The Index tower, commissioned in 2004. The architects then went on to design two Apple stores in the city, including the recently opened Apple Dubai Mall featuring solar kinetic windows. The firm’s Singapore Apple store has also recently opened.
Apple Store Dubai Mall. Image courtesy of Nigel Young / Foster + Partners.
Foster + Partners is the second major international architecture practice to officially open its regional headquarters in Dubai’s d3, following Zaha Hadid Architects which held an opening event for its Dubai office last year.
Other firms include Calatrava International and Benoy, although official opening statements haven’t yet been made by the architects.
Last month, it was announced that Foster + Partners has confirmed it is planning redundancies as part of a restructure with around 100 staff at risk.