As the world is becoming increasingly urban and cities are becoming larger and more densely populated; the energy consumption is increased as well as the CO2 emission, specific actions to reduce the negative effects are required. Overall, the building sector is responsible for 40% of the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the world demanding a new way of designing each new project and each new renovation. Sustainability development of the cities is today a key question all over the world. With a population that increased over 100 times in the last 70 years while its urban fabric expanded 400 times in the same time, Dubai is today one of the pioneer cities when it comes to sustainability.

The task for 14th International Edition of Multi-Comfort House Students Contest developed by ISOVER in close collaboration with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Properties Group is the development of a vision for a trans-cultural vibrant community development located in the perimeter of Cultural Village of Dubai. The participants had to create a sustainable architecture integrated into the urban space while responding to Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Criteria and considering the climatic conditions and regional context of the site and Dubai.

The design should have been sustainable, innovative (original and creative) and should drive the city further. Beside construction, the social and economic aspects must be considered, and the proposed solution should give a new impulse to the site area. The architecture must fit in the surrounding of the site. Urban space solutions for the immediate surroundings of the site will be proposed. The overall scope of the task was to propose a solution for future constructive approach to a sustainable community in Dubai. The project would be developed in a plot of 26,936 m2, part of a larger complex of  400,000 m2. The project would have a maximum built surface of 60% of the plot, based on housing, commerce and spaces for multiple artistic performance, in harmony with the other areas of the master plan and taking most advantage of the territorial and climatic characteristic of the Dubai region.

A network of pedestrian circulation accommodated the needs for both residents and visitors. A semi-private park spanning the residential parcels allowed for a seamless park experience for the residents with the convenience of service retail shops and cafés. Direct circulation links and bridges stitched the project together delivering residents and visitors to the waterfront within Parcels C and E. Connections to Culture Village 1 occurred along the waterfront promenade and a pedestrian bridge from Parcel A; the water front promenade connects to Culture Village 3 as well.

This project resolution has involved different scales and approaches: urban, environmental, cultural, constructive & technical, making it a great opportunity for implementing a multidisciplinary design studio, operating in a consultancy environment. The design addressed six benchmarks to be achieved: reduced cooling load, zero energy, user centred design, integration of world culture, multicultural approach for the residents from all over the world and lastly, vernacular strategies to obtain comfort.

The fundamental concept while designing was to achieve comfort using the minimal energy. Thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, indoor air quality, fire safety and using natural daylight were the prime concerns. Maximum levels were achieved by using vernacular strategies.

A vision for a trans-cultural vibrant community was developed in the perimeter of Cultural Village 2 of Dubai. The design proposed a viable combination of residential and public spaces (cultural, commercial, others) while respecting the plot characteristic and its history. Special focus was being given on developing the sustainability dimensions as well as the comfort features.

Shayeeka Binte Alam is a post graduate student at University of Nottingham, UK