Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani

American University of Dubai architecture student wins international design award


  • English
  • Arabic

A student from the American University of Dubai’s architecture programme won gold at the 10th Annual International Design Awards in Los Angeles for her project honouring the Emirates' maritime heritage.

Somayeh Ghorbani, 33, was awarded first prize in the student architecture category for 'Crossing of the Coast,' a conceptual rendering of a modern, mixed-use cultural centre that pays tribute to the country's fishing and pearl diving history.

Ms Ghorbani researched and designed the project as part of her final year of undergraduate architectural studies at AUD.

She graduated last year. A jury of experts chose Ms Ghorbani’s design from more than 1,000 entries in one of five categories that were submitted by professional and student architects and designers from 52 countries.

“This annual competition recognises, honours and promotes legendary design visionaries and uncovers emerging talents in architecture, interior, product, graphic and fashion design on global level,” according to the IDA.

Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Crossing of the Coast, by Somayeh Ghorbani. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani

“The jury rewarded the best professional and emerging designers   for their achievements in terms of design, creativity, usability and innovation.”

Ms Ghorbani fears that the country's rich maritime history is a fading memory for residents and nationals alike.

“I was really interested in studying and highlighting the UAE culture and traditional professions, like fishermen, pearl divers and boat builders,” said Ms Ghorbani, who is Iranian-American.

“These traditional professions, which built the UAE foundation, are becoming forgotten. No one really is interested about these traditional professions anymore, especially the younger generation. They are more into technology, new things – not anymore interested about their own identity. To me, culture is very important because it represents your identity. If you lose your identity, basically you will lose yourself.”

Ms Ghorbani’s design envisions three triangular structures set on three separate levels above Dubai’s existing fish market along the creek. The structures are interconnected by a series of crisscrossing bridges that allow visitors to experience the outdoor fish market below from different perspectives.

Somayeh Ghorbani, architecture student. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Somayeh Ghorbani, architecture student. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani

“Basically I want to bring people back to the sea,” said Ms Ghorbani. “I studied the history of these people and where they used to work, and the location represents these people because back then, mainly they worked in the creek area. And then I want to show how these people used to travel in the sea. They used to travel in the sea in order to catch the pearls or fish, and bring the fish to the port. These bridges represent how they travelled from one location to another.”

The building would be home to a fishing and diving centre, seafood restaurants, maritime museum and crafting studio to attract visitors and promote public appreciation and understanding of the country’s traditions.

“The fish market that is now located in the Creek area, it’s very much disconnected, no one is interested to go there,” said Ms Ghorbani.

Crossing of the Coast is by Somayeh Ghorbani, a graduate of the American University of Dubai. She recently won gold in the Other Architectural Designs category at the at the 10th annual IDA Design Awards held in Los Angeles. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani
Crossing of the Coast is by Somayeh Ghorbani, a graduate of the American University of Dubai. She recently won gold in the Other Architectural Designs category at the at the 10th annual IDA Design Awards held in Los Angeles. Courtesy Somayeh Ghorbani

By forcing pedestrians to stroll across the bridges from one structure to another, Ms Ghorbani said visitors would experience a bit of history, both literally and figuratively.

“It represents how these traditional professions, back then, they travelled from one point to another point in order to catch fish or pearls,” she said. “I wanted people to see the fish market from different points of view – from the vertical and the horizontal. It makes it more interesting to see the whole atmosphere.”

This autumn, she will begin her master’s degree at Northeastern University in Boston.

“But I hope to come back to the UAE again and start working,” she said. “To me, the UAE is the best place for architecture. They take risks, and of course they have money, they care about architecture, they keep building and you see so many great architectural designs here. It’s the best place to grow.”

_______

In the professional category, a number of UAE-based companies or projects were also awarded prizes.

They include:

Project: "DMMRC - Dubai Maritime Museum & Research Center "

Bronze  - Architecture Categories / Institutional

Bronze - Architecture Categories / Sustainable Living/Gree

Company: Studio Niko Kapa

--

Project: "Al Khor Private Hospital"

Gold - Architecture Categories / Other Architectural Designs

Designer(s): tangramGulf, United Arab Emirates

--

Project: "Residential Complex – City of Towers" (A residential complex in the UAE)

Bronze - Architecture Categories / Landscape

Silver - Architecture Categories / Urban Design

Company: B+H Architects

Designer(s): B+H Architects, Canada

--

Project: "Mosque of the Water in Abu Dhabi"

Gold - Architecture Categories / Conceptual

Gold - Architecture Categories / Landmarks, symbolic structures, memorials, public

Company: Studio Niko Kapa

Designer(s): Niko Kapa, United Arab Emirates

Source: IDA Awards

Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
%3Cp%3EThe%20fielding%20side%20shall%20be%20ready%20to%20start%20each%20over%20within%2060%20seconds%20of%20the%20previous%20over%20being%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20electronic%20clock%20will%20be%20displayed%20at%20the%20ground%20that%20counts%20down%20seconds%20from%2060%20to%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20clock%20is%20not%20required%20or%2C%20if%20already%20started%2C%20can%20be%20cancelled%20if%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09A%20new%20batter%20comes%20to%20the%20wicket%20between%20overs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09An%20official%20drinks%20interval%20has%20been%20called.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20umpires%20have%20approved%20the%20on%20field%20treatment%20of%20an%20injury%20to%20a%20batter%20or%20fielder.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20time%20lost%20is%20for%20any%20circumstances%20beyond%20the%20control%20of%20the%20fielding%20side.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20third%20umpire%20starts%20the%20clock%20either%20when%20the%20ball%20has%20become%20dead%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20previous%20over%2C%20or%20a%20review%20has%20been%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20team%20gets%20two%20warnings%20if%20they%20are%20not%20ready%20to%20start%20overs%20after%20the%20clock%20reaches%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09On%20the%20third%20and%20any%20subsequent%20occasion%20in%20an%20innings%2C%20the%20bowler%E2%80%99s%20end%20umpire%20awards%20five%20runs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Two-step truce

The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National. 

The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.

The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.

The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5

Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

MATCH INFO

Leeds United 0

Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')

Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)

What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL