The Evolution Of Museums In Dubai- From Tradition To Innovation.
ARCADE presentation
1. ARCADEArab Research Centre for Architecture and the Design of the Environment
Atelier de Recherche & Communication sur l’Archi et le Design de l’Environnement
2. The Arab World
More than ever the Arab
World is loosing day after
day the best of its natural
and cultural heritage due to
globalization, war, ignorance
and and lack of ethics.
There is an urgent need
for a new and dynamic
vision in order to face
the challenges of the
third Millennium while
preserving identity and
dignity.
3. CONTINUITY
If past architecture found integrated solutions to the problems of the time, the complexity of our
contemporary problems are still not fully grasped today and are generating chaos and monotony.
A put once by G. Stein :”Once you got there, there is no there, there.” In fact our cities are facing the
imminent danger of loosing what used to or can make them specific and unique. This loss means a rupture
with the past, an alienation.
We need urgently to elaborate new ways of designing our built environment.
4. Building for future generations
The real challenge in architectural design today is in making the connection between what is already there and
what is yet to come. Re-evaluating achievements of the past and addressing the problems of our present
can help us finding solutions for the future generations. But we need to assess what is relevant and
meaningful, to tackle critical issues and to innovate in the way we design the built environment. Designing for
true sustainability can only be achieved by searching for new ways to bridge the gap between what has been
done and the shape of things to come.
5. Arab
Research
Center for
Architecture &
Design of the
Environment
ARCADE aims to establish Research as the basic tool
investigate and develop innovative and sustainable
approaches for the built environment. To that
purpose it will investigate in depth the traditional
architecture in the Arab World and its wealth of solutions
focusing on the need for meaningful and integrated
solutions.
6. KSA, UAE and other GCC Countries are competing to build new cities and mega projects
such as universities, campuses, museums, libraries etc. And Dubai, the World fastest City, is
preparing EXPO 2020, a major universal event. A Research Center on architecture and the
design of the environment based in Dubai, mainly in the historic zone of Bastakia, will be an
extremely important step towards R&D for the Gulf, the Middle East and North/West Africa.
Building in
Dubai a
dedicated
Architectural
Research
center for the
Arab World
7. ARCADE
MISSION & OBJECTIVES
The Gulf, Middle East and North Africa
I. Research the built environment with focus on the vernacular architecture
II. Build Data on human settlements, urban fabric and traditional architecture
III. Elaborate innovative approaches to the built environment based on
researching climate and context
IV. Build Communication tools (website, digital and paper magazine
dedicated for AR, books, seminars, conferences)
V. Build Knowledge among students and professional communities
VI. Build bridges with Research Centers worldwide and promoting the richness
of our heritage
8. Climate responsive design
Research strategies
• Climate and micro-climate
investigation
• Daylight & sunlight
• Passive and active solar
• Ecological insulation
• Natural ventilation
• Passive Heating & Cooling
• Recyclable Materials
• Smart Openings
• Inner spaces: Courtyards, Atrium
etc
• Peripheral and buffer spaces:
verandas, loggias, etc.
• Wind Towers
• Architectural screens, brise-soleil
• Etc.
9. Context responsive design
Research strategies
• Environmental and ecological
framework
• Energy, water and waste
• Site investigation
• Building form & morphology
• Building fabric
• Responsive design strategies
• Cost of material production,
recycling etc.
• Building process
• Building structure
• Building skin
• Roof
• External walls
• Openings
• Floors and internal walls
• Etc.
10. Architectural photography has the
power of interpreting reality and
suggesting new visions. ARCADE will
continue the huge task of recording
artistically and methodologically
what is left of the Heritage in the Arab
World with focus on the Gulf, in order
to preserve the memory of these
settings for future generations and
communicate images worldwide for
researchers. The photo studio will be
one of the major tool for R&D.
RECORD THE BUILT,
NATURAL AND SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT
11. Designing for sustainability
Less aesthetics, more ethics
• Preservation of nature: new regulations concerning quality of air, water and soil in order to
protect what is left of the basic resources worlwide
• Preservation of the architectural heritage: reinforce design authorities at the municipal level in
order to elaborate new strategies and updated construction laws for our villages and cities.
• New strategies necessary for our survival: using materials that are eco-friendly, recyclable,
non-damaging to the natural site where the building is to be erected and to sites where the
materials came from, etc.
12. ARCADE
Samir Nicolas SADDI
Founder & Director
I. 40 years of international experience in design and management of large-scale projects in
Lebanon, France, Canada, KSA, Qatar and UAE.
II. 40 year of experience in architectural photography. Has documented architecture and human
settlements in Africa, North America, Europe and the Arab World.
III. Experience in teaching architectural design and research, has lectured at many schools of
architecture in Lebanon and Canada.
IV. Collaborated with renown organizations such as Centre Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Aga Khan
Foundation in Geneva, ADA in Riyadh, Solidere in Lebanon etc.
V. Published in many books and magazines worldwide.
VI. ARCADE is registered in Canada in 1990 and in Lebanon in 2000
14. ARCHITECTURE IN WEST AND NORTH
AFRICA:CROSSING of AFRICA Through
the SAHARA in 1978
IVORY COAST, Mali, BURKINA FASO, NIGER, Algeria & MOROCCO
ARCADE VISUAL LIBRARY
Samir N. SADDI photographer
17. CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE in the GCC:
KSA, UAE,Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain
RECONSTRUCTION OF BEIRUT CENTRAL DISTRICT
LEBANON
ARCADE VISUAL LIBRARY
Samir N. SADDI photographer
18. OLD CITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
JEDDAH, SANA’A, CAIRO, ISFAHAN
ARCADE VISUAL LIBRARY
Samir N. SADDI photographer
19. DOCUMENTING ARCHITECTURE
IN ISLAMIC SOCIETIES
PAKISTAN, IRAN, JORDAN & TURKEY
WORKING WITH THE AGA KHAN FOUNDATION
ARCADE VISUAL LIBRARY
Samir N. SADDI photographer
22. ARCADE has built over thirty years a
consistent image library of more than
20,000 images of historical, vernacular
& contemporary architecture worldwide
including:
• North America (USA, Canada)
• Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Greece
etc.)
• Western Africa (Ivory Coast, Mali,
Burkina Faso, Niger)
• North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Egypt)
• The Middle East (Lebanon, Syria,
Jordan)
• The Gulf (Saudi Arabia, the Emirates,
Yemen, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar)
ARCADE
Image Library
24. Samir Nicolas SADDI
Architect registered in Lebanon (1975) and Canada (1990)
Designed projects in Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Canada and Saudi Arabia
Lectured in 2 schools of Architecture during 7 years
Founded ARCADE or Arab Research Centre for Arachitecture and Design of
the Environment in Canada in 1990
40 years of Architectural Photography
Managing the design and construction of Museum projects in the
Arab World since 2004
27. MAJOR CULTURAL & MUSEUM PROJECTS
STATE OF QATAR 2004-2008
CLIENT: QATAR MUSEUMS AUTHORITY
Sheikha Mayassa Al Thani, Chairperson
Museum of Islamic Art, IM Pei architect
National photography Museum, Santiago Calatrava architect
QATAR National Library, Arata Isozaki architect
National Museum, Atelier Jean Nouvel architect
Position: Qatar Petroleum Lead Engineer, in charge of QMA projects
28. MAJOR EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CLIENT: QATAR FOUNDATION
CHAIRPERSON: Sheikha Moza
Qatar Leadership Academy, Roger Tallibert architect
Convention centre, Arata Isozaki architect
Texas A&M & Carnegie Melon, Legoretta architect
32. MAJOR MUSEUMS & CULTURAL PROJECT IN QATAR
NCCAH & QATAR MUSEUMS AUTHORITY
Museum of Islamic Art, IM Pei architect
MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART IN NUMBERS
• Man made peninsula:6ha
• Building GA:45,000 sqm
• Height: 63 m
• Length: 186m
• Width: 66m
• Bridge: 50m
• Palm Trees: 392
• Permanent Galleries on 3 levels: 5000 sqm
• Temporaray Gallery:700 sqm
• Educational space: 600 sqm
• Mediathèque:2700 sqm
• Auditorium: 300 sqm
• Book/Giftshop: 300 sqm
• Restaurant: 700 sqm
• Conservation labs: 1060 sqm
• Art Storage: 1700 sqm
• Nbre of Galleries: 18
• Nbre of showcases: 392
• Lighting fixtures: 1600
• Fibre optics: 32 km
• Collection: 2500 artifacts and growing
33. THE NEW QATAR NATIONAL MUSEUM
Atelier Jean Nouvel, architect
DOHA 2002-2014, project IN CONSTRUCTION
34. Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum
Zayed National Museum
Guggenheim Museum
Promote Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Cultural District as an International Cultural
destination for cultural awareness and education for future generations
MAJOR CULTURAL & MUSEUM PROJECTS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 2009-2010
Client: TOURISM & DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY (TDIC)
Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry architect
Zayed National Museum, Norman Foster architect
Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, Atelier Jean Nouvel architect
Position: (AECOM) Director
Base Building and Museography Design and construction
35. THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI MUSEUM
Atelier Jean Nouvel, architect
UAE 2007-2015, project IN CONSTRUCTION
