Arabian falaj irrigation system referenced in new RTI Park of AUS
SHARJAH: ROAR, the award-winning interior design studio based in Dubai, in one of its latest accomplishments, has created the interior of American University of Sharjah’s new Research Technology and Innovation Park. Designed to encourage a dialogue between academia and industry and generate innovative ideas to produce thriving new enterprises, the campus – spanning over 25,000 square metres — includes two large atriums, several leasable offices for startups and incubators, anchor offices for blue-chip tenants and the AUS RTI HQ offices.
The majority of the space is dedicated to co-working areas for AUS students and faculty working on entrepreneurial ideas, including maker-spaces, exhibition spaces and an auditorium, alongside ancillary zones such as meeting rooms, seminar and multipurpose halls, a gymnasium as well as a creche. The building has two distinct atriums, each interpreting the Falaj concept, through dramatic design statements. The 18 metre-wide domes in each of them are adorned with organicshaped metal grids at different levels, creating an illusion of movement for the visitor when passing through the space. Two large stretch fabric clouds — parametrically-designed and suspended from a height of 30 metres — are the standout design feature of the first atrium; they echo the flowing lines of the Falaj system. Weighing close to a tonne, ROAR worked in close collaboration with contractors to realise the ideal suspension system with minimal structural and design impact to the clouds. The second atrium is the green atrium. Again inspired by the Falaj method, the slab edges were treated with a 3D metal mesh feature with meandering rod forms. It is, as ROAR recalls, a feat which took over five months, from design development to installation.
The architectural feature is composed of over 11,000 metal rods, totalling an overall length of 54,000 metres. Interspersed with plants and indoor lawns, biophilia (the desire or tendency for human beings to commune with nature), was introduced to positively impact the experience of people using the space. The leasable offices overlooking the atriums have also been treated distinctively — from the use of concrete texture paint and terrazzo flooring to the 3D mesh, warm wood surfaces and titanium cladding with polished concrete to complement the clouds — all elements factored in to form a calming, minimalist colour palete. While many of the spaces in AUS RTI building are playful, in contrast, the RTI offices are intended to be recognised as a bridge to the corporate world.
The HQ reflects an elegant, mature and sophisticated design language, followed through with dark timber surfaces, complemented with mesh laminated glass partitions and bronze accents. “The design narrative is inspired by the ancient falaj irrigation system, which was first used in Sharjah 5,000 years ago by Bronze Age setlers. The falaj system gave life to communities, allowing them to grow crops in the desert. “This ancestral technique resonated with America University of Sharjah Enterprises’ central mission, which is to be a catalyst for the development of problem-solving innovations. “We wanted the interior design to bring this story to life in multiple ways. It is incorporated into the core of the building in that it inspires both the circulation and space planning”, says Pallavi Dean, Founder and Creative Director at ROAR.
Al Falaj, the Arabic term used to describe the water channels commonly found across the Arabian Peninsula, once stretched across the UAE. Mainly intended for life and setlements to arise in the otherwise harsh desert climate, the native water irrigation system spans kilometres, subtracting underground water sources to the surface by excavating and building a complex network of tunnels, vertical shats and channels. Applied over centuries of development, the Falaj channels have become places where public and private realms meet, facilitating exchange and interaction. Their unique technique of dividing water and sharing resources in this climate results in strong communal societies.
ROAR was appointed by AUS Enterprises, an organisation which connects businesses with academic research from the American University of Sharjah. Launched in 2013 as Pallavi Dean Interiors, ROAR was rebranded in 2018. Its flagship projects include the Delano Dubai hotel, UAE offices for media firm Edelman and The Nursery of the Future for the UAE Prime Minister’s Office. “We want to give people an amazing experience in the spaces we design”, says Dean. “The staff in an office; the family at home; the children in school; the guests in a restaurant — we wake up and go to work for them. “We teach university courses, run an active intern programme, promote local talent (even our rivals!), contribute to design fairs, and share our knowledge through the media”.
Dean believes her designs reflect the influences of being born in India, raised in Dubai and working for several years in London. Having trained as an architect and a sustainability specialist, as an active member of the UAE design community, she writes for industry publications, assists with trade events and mentors students in the region. Formerly interior design professor at American University of Sharjah, she aims to incorporate practical and theoretical research into her designs. Her porfolio includes a nursery school with integrated technologies and Interweave, an interactive lighting system designed in collaboration with Artemide for Euroluce 2019.