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How architects are helping Abu Dhabi turn its skyline into a manifesto for bright ideas

With each new landmark, Abu Dhabi’s architecture is redefining what it means to build for tomorrow.

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Look up to the sky

One of the easiest ways to see progress in Abu Dhabi is to look up. Face west from the Central Capital District and you’ll spot the vast geometric wooden lattice that covers Al Bahr Towers. To the east is the gravity-defying Capital Gate, nicknamed the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, which is one of only a handful of diagrid buildings in the world. These structures go far beyond being mere feats of engineering. Underneath is a blueprint for a movement that’s accelerating one of the world’s most architecturally impressive cities. 

"Abu Dhabi wants to encourage people to create and keep growing," says Rasha Gebran, Design Director at A.D.D. Consultants.

That mandate, she says, has led to “timeless designs that stand the test of time and have a purpose and functionality,” and ultimately, architecture that furthers Abu Dhabi’s steadfast commitment to growth.

Designing with no limits

Two of A.D.D.’s recent projects show how successfully architects are translating the city’s philosophy into buildings that will last for generations.

Take the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the first private art foundation on Saadiyat Island. It’s a meticulous blend of stone and glass, adding visual gravitas to a district already known for world-class museums. But for Gebran, getting the design right went far beyond what meets the eye.

“It has a big role in the culture of Abu Dhabi,” she says. “You have to find the right balance in materials, space, and design.” Her solution was to embrace minimalism, with a distinctive glass facade and open-plan layout, leaning into the building’s role as a home for global art treasures.

A similar reverence for purpose is guiding the historic Royal Stables restoration.

"It’s a 30-hectare heritage project that covers the stables, clubhouse, arenas, and staff accommodation," she explains. "We were asked to renovate it into a place for all to enjoy."

Functionality, one of the cornerstones of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan, was how A.D.D ensured success. “We created air-conditioned spaces for the horses, as well as acoustic treatment so the space feels comfortable when you have spectators.”

But there was, of course, still room for striking design innovation. The livery, with its two exposed columns and pitched roof, is now awash with light thanks to a central skylight. “It’s a rare pleasure to design with no restrictions,” she adds.

"I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for this city."
Mazen Dagher,
Architect and entrepreneur

This is the place to be

Across town, architect and entrepreneur Mazen Dagher is channelling the city’s momentum into his own work. “This city gives you the space, and the means, to evolve on a creative, career, and financial level,” he explains. “I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for this city.”

Like Gebran, his architectural ethos mirrors Abu Dhabi’s: "Design that is based on balance, between past and future, between functionality and emotion." That starts with listening. "It’s important to understand how Emirati people live, they’re still very connected to their traditions."

Paradoxically, the task of creating tradition-minded spaces is accelerating with very modern tools. When clients struggle to feel a space before it’s built, Gebran’s team turns to artificial and virtual technologies. “Some people can’t imagine a space from a drawing, but VR really helps with that decision-making.” And while AI supports concepting and generating the look and feel of a building, the vision remains entirely human. “Use the technology,” says Gebran. “But don’t lose the human touch.”

Take a stroll through Abu Dhabi and you can see how effective architecture is accelerating transformation in line with the city’s vision for the future.

"With The Sustainable City embracing low intervention living, and the soon to be open Guggenheim Abu Dhabi set to crown Saadiyat’s cultural district, Abu Dhabi’s call to architects is clear."

“They want leaders in innovation, those who push limits and constantly strive for better,” says Gebran. And to anyone considering a move to Abu Dhabi? Her advice, and Dagher’s, is the same: “you should, with full confidence. This is the place to be, and it is the future.”

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