In the UAE, a shopping center project embracing traditional architecture faced initial municipal rejection due to commercial land-use restrictions. Following the owner’s switch to a new consultancy firm, special approval was obtained, and the project became the area’s first sanctioned commercial development. The design features inward-looking plans, air towers for natural ventilation, and materials like mud that echo the desert environment. Despite starting construction in 2010 with a contemporary design, the project retains low-density traditional forms, such as courtyards and defensive layouts reminiscent of local souqs.
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