Noora Al Awar and Fatima Al Zaabi, founders of architectural firm Studio D04, couple their thirst for contemporary design with a sensitivity to local living.
Female Emirati architects are a rarity in the largely male-driven industry and Noora Al Awar and Fatima Al Zaabi approach design differently to the men who have built the majority of the UAE’s urban landscape. The founders of multidisciplinary firm Studio D04 pride themselves on marrying sensitive, regional lifestyle needs with modern architectural practices.
“We noticed early on that the region was made up of either commercial, contemporary design or old, traditional spaces, but there wasn’t very much in between,” says the softly spoken Al Awar. “We started to explore what contextual ‘contemporary regional’ architecture could look like. When you look back 50 years from now, what’s going to be our tradition?”
Al Zaabi adds: “As Emiratis, we have a certain lifestyle. For example, the majlis is still an important space for our community and family gatherings, but it’s often missing in the residential architecture that’s offered today. There’s little consideration of our day-to-day lives, like our concerns with privacy. When we design, it’s not simply about how space looks, but how we live in that space.”
Villa extension by Studio d04 adding a new living space, that opens up to the backyard, perfect for outdoor entertainment. Transforming the short boundary wall by contrasting walls with the black gate and wooden cladding. It’s all about the reflections, custom-made mirror with different shades.
Al Barsha Residence | Renovation + Interior Design | Dubai, UAE
Article by: N Lifestyle
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