Cultural Cues Ripple Through This Learning Center In Abu Dhabi
2024 Best of Year Winner for Small Higher Education
Dubai-based firm Roar transformed 54,000 square feet on two floors of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Tower into a space supporting the National Academy for Childhood Development’s mission in Abu Dhabi: providing practitioners and caregivers the expertise to educate children and support their social-emotional growth—all while preserving the Arabic language and the local heritage. The design was inspired by the moment a droplet (or a pearl, in a nod to an Emirati tradition) hits the surface of water; circular structures and curvilinear shapes akin to radiating ripples represent the impact and reach of early childhood development. The reception area is welcoming and open, rather than institutional, with modular seating and flexible spaces ideal for adapting to changing needs. Carefully selected materials, finishes, and textures recall the earthy hues of United Arab Emirates’s landscape, from warm sands to rich desert browns.
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PROJECT TEAM: PALLAVI DEAN.
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