Convivial: Child-Friendly Community Architecture
Location: Al Hamriya, Bur Dubai, Dubai
Function: Multipurpose Childrens’ Center
Plot: 9,970 sqm
Project Theme
When a child is born into a family, their existence brightens up the lives of everyone. There is a shift in many aspects of the way the parents live their lives. They will look for places that suit the wellbeing and cherish the innocence of the child, which branches out into energy, creativity, and wholesome characteristics. Parents live to sustain their children, and gradually coming out of the comfort of their homes as they grow, it is not an easy transition to just let their children go out and play in the streets or alleyways. Being outdoors is healthy, but the pollution, noise, and factor of safety are what hinders them. There are several options in other countries, but those ideas are not suitable for the weather conditions of Dubai, U.A.E.
Site Selection
Dubai is one of the most diverse cities in the world that has evolved overtime with the help of the expatriate population. The site selection is done on the basis of residential density. The area of study is Old Dubai as it is packed with residential neighborhoods, which is perfect for the purpose of this project. The neighborhood character (community, safety, appropriate scale of surroundings, functions etc.), controlled traffic movement, walkability route, and strong potential was identified in Al Hamriya. It highly meets the requirements that are appropriate to create child-friendly architecture.
A key reason to select this site is the historical connection of this location It is one of the oldest settlements of Old Dubai. This tight knit community is heavily dominated by the expatriate population of U.A.E., mostly South Asians, who have been a constant and essential part of Dubai’s development since the beginning. This is the reason to choose this neighborhood that consists of mainly non-national residents, to give back to their forthcoming generations. It is engulfed by The Dubai Creek on the north. A small mixed use community Umm Hurair 1 is located on the east. In the west is Al Souk Al Kabeer, popularly known as Meena Bazaar which includes the Dubai Museum, Hindu Temple and the historical neighborhood Al Bastakiya. Al Mankhool is situated in the south, with the famous landmark BurJuman.
Project Proposal
The aim is to create an indoor facility within the neighborhood that plays a role in the children’s experience growing up. This will help to bring younger children out of their sheltered spaces and be more independent in a place specifically designed for their use. They can learn and play while bridging the gap created by the intense use of technology, busy academic lives, and lack of such facilities. This project is located in a residential neighborhood for the benefit of the children living in this and neighboring communities where they are able to grow, develop, and experience factors outside their household by interacting within the safe
environment.
Project Program
Divided mainly on the basis of age groups, the programs are further divided into a learning and playing sector. This will help to control movement and acoustics. It will be safer for the younger children to stay in the spaces specially designed for their scale, and the same goes for the other age groups as well. Spaces where a larger group can be accomodated are listed under communal. The library, cafeteria, lounge and courtyard to name a few. Administrative staff have their own zone for privacy, silence, and to maintain professionalism, away from the fun filled buildings.
Design process
To integrate the idea of catering to three age groups, the building consists of mainly three masses. The linear site is divided in half and access points from the existing roads towards the site determine the bends for the building. To give it a playful look, the edges are smoothened to create the main axis for the project. On offsetting this curve, the three masses are created. Two smaller similar masses are stacked upon these to embrace the mini glass towers to maintain the scale to be child friendly. These hold the main circulation points for connecting the masses. An open deck tops these towers, that give an overall view of the building and surroundings. Sliding down from this platform is an element added to attract the children. The resulting spaces in front of the buildings are play areas for different age groups. The site is push down by 2 m which creates a natural barrier between the road and the play areas.
The accessible roof of the low-lying masses gives an idea to anyone walking or driving by about the essence of the project, which will draw attention. The roof of the smaller masses is an elevated garden not just for the children, but a space for families to gather and enjoy quality time with their little ones.
One may notice that this design resembles a caterpillar. As children, we learn about the different stages of life by observing the growth of a butterfly. This project will provide a space that will enable them to bloom and live up to their full potential. It will help to incorporate activities and interests that will allow them to identify themselves independently.
For more information about the project research theme and development, please click on the link below to have a look at my thesis book "Innocence: Child-Friendly Architecture."
