Imkan to build creative hub

Imkan is to build a new hub in Abu Dhabi where creative people can live and work. The waterfront Makers District will feature residential, hospitality, commercial and retail space over an area of 180,000 sq m on Reem Island.

The Artery, which sits at the heart of the district, will be the first building to be constructed. Covering an area of 26,000 sq m, it will act as a flexible art space for artists to create and showcase their work.

Architectural firm BIG, based out of Copenhagen and New York, will design The Artery, while architectural firms MVRDV from Rotterdam and 10 Design from Hong Kong will also be involved in Phase One of the development.   

Construction on The Artery is to begin later this year and Makers District is scheduled to be operational by 2020.

Zayed City on track

Work is progressing well on Abu Dhabi’s 45-sq-km mixed-use mega-project Zayed City (previously Capital District) with essential infrastructure works, including the road, sewage, lighting, electricity and water networks nearly 20 per cent complete, said a senior official of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).

The district is expected to include 2,790 residential plots, 35 mosques, 45 gardens and 15 schools within a residential community that extends 1,401 hectares. On completion in 2020, it will be home to an estimated 370,000 residents.

Alpin gets commissioning role

Alpin has been appointed as the design phase commissioning authority for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai. 

Expo 2020 Dubai will bring together more than 180 nations and 25 million visitors, across a six-month period. It will be held under the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, as well as the three sub-themes: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. Alpin will work to integrate these three sub-themes into the urban design, construction, operation and legacy while also ensuring commissionability of the assets and the efficient use of resources.

Damac Towers nears completion

Dubai’s Damac Towers by Paramount Hotels & Resorts is over 85 per cent complete. Developed by Damac Properties in collaboration with Paramount Hotels & Resorts, the project continues to make good progress with superstructure works 100 per cent complete, and internal finishes, façade works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, carpentry and joinery works nearing completion.

The complex, located in Dubai’s Burj area,  comprises four towers stretching 250 m high and will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury serviced branded apartments, offering an ambience and reflection of the Hollywood glamour and the California ‘cool’ lifestyle.

Arcadia named architect

Arcadia has been appointed as the principal architect for Nasma Residences, the newest large-scale residential development in Sharjah.

Nasma Residences will offer two-bedroom townhouses, three- and four-bedroom semi-detached villas, and five-bedroom signature villas, ranging in size from 1,500 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft. The development will spread over a 5-million-sq-ft area.

Arcadia will be responsible for end-to-end architecture and design services and will manage all the sub-consultants on the project.

Masterplan for Burj2020 district

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)said a master development plan for its ambitious Burj2020 District has been completed.

The Burj2020 District will offer world-class commercial, residential and retail spaces, including premium hotels, restaurants, recreational areas, and two iconic super-tall towers designed by Adrian Gill & Gordon Smith, reported Emirates News 24/7.

Once completed, Burj2020 District will see DMCC bring a new premium mixed-use district to Dubai for the global business community.

Bloom starts work on two projects

Bloom Properties has started the main construction work at Stella Maris in Dubai Marina and Bloom Heights in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC).

Taking shape at the southern end of Dubai Marina, Stella Maris is a luxury project that will deliver 313 high-end residences in total, ranging from one- to three-bedroom units, as well as four-bedroom duplex apartments and penthouses.

Bloom Heights, meanwhile, offers a total of 686 residential units ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2019.