The Quay, Dubai Islands
Sector
Residential
Location
Dubai Islands, Dubai
Climate
Hot Desert (BWh)
Design Team
Timothy Cope, Lead Architect
3D Illustrations
Vadym Bystriker
'The Quay' is a small high-end multi-residential waterfront development located on the manmade archipelago known as Dubai Islands, just off the shores of Deira, Dubai.
The islands are a work in progress that will eventually cover 17sqkm across five isles. The mixed-use development is already known for its emerging upmarket residences, hotels, lifestyle projects and marinas, and adds over 20km of beachfront to the city’s already covetable coastline.
'The Quay' consists of six marina facing villas perched on the waterfront, each with its own jetty within the private marina.
The modern villa design captures many cultural and functional elements of Arabic residential design featuring an internal courtyard, high walls and inward facing windows, thick whitewashed walls with mashrabiya (wooden lattice screens) and roof terraces providing spaces that are cooler in the evening. The water features in the courtyards help lower temperatures and create a tranquil atmosphere.
Each of the four-bedroom villas are based on a standardised centralised floor layout with rooms arranged around the off-set central courtyard ensuring shared access to common spaces. The interiors feature high ceilings and materials reflective of the local vernacular.
The design also features a modern interpretation of the traditional 'Barjeel' or wind tower. These are traditional cooling systems that channel wind into the house which is cooled through a series of evaporative media. The system uses no electricity and relies entirely on natural wind and evaporation, making it a highly sustainable form of cooling.
These features provide a modern and highly functional, cultural expressive and adapted design responding to the region's environment.
