OMA design major arts hub for Dubai as city expands cultural offerings
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2016
International architecture studio OMA have unveiled their plans to transform four former industrial warehouses into a new and dynamic cultural hub for Alserkal Avenue – Dubai’s most important art district.
Located in the Al Qouz industrial area, the avenue, founded in 2007, is home to 25 contemporary art galleries and arts spaces which promote cultural initiatives in the region.
OMA will address the need for a centrally located space to host the district’s growing number of diverse public events with a 1,000sq m (10,700sq ft) renovation of the warehouses into a multi-purpose space that will host exhibitions, lectures, fashion shows and social gatherings.
The design reflects the required diversity of the programme by introducing huge pivoting and sliding walls that allow for many possible configurations of the floorspace.
The entrance will feature full-height transparent sliding doors, designed to strengthen the continuity between the interior and exterior and extending the event space to the public square outside.
The exterior shell of the buildings will be wrapped in a customised concrete spray to distinguish the volume from those around it.
The project will be OMA’s first built project in Dubai and is set to open in Q3 2016.
The architects are currently developing a number of other anticipated arts projects, including The Factory in the British city of Manchester and the US$45m (£31.5m, €41.3m)Washington Bridge Park in the US capital. They are also in the running to design the expansion of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in New York.
OMA Dubai culture architecture design UAE Alserkal Avenue
OMA will address the need for a centrally located space with a 1,000sq m renovation of four warehouses Credit: OMA
The design reflects the required diversity of the programme by introducing huge pivoting and sliding walls that allow for many possible configurations of the floorspace Credit: OMA
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