DUBAI MALL

DP Architects history in designing Malls started in 1970 up to the present time with Malls such as the People’s Park Complex, Golden Mile Complex, Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Marina Square, Bugis Junction, Millennia Walk and Suntec City. DP has also expanded to Malaysia, China and India and now the U.A.E, working on various projects with one of the main focus being the design of shopping Malls. Drawing from this extensive experience, DP has combined the experience and knowledge gained in the past to put together the design for the Dubai Mall.

Design Approach

The main design strategy for The Dubai Mall is that the retail layout is designed as a simple continuous loop with one central spine. Shoppers will not miss out on any part of the great retail shops available and backtracking of the shopping path is never required to cover all the main shopping zones.

A total of ten atriums with distinct characters are found throughout the mall, serving as orientation points and nodes punctuating the linear atriums throughout the entire mall. While the large atriums at the nodes allow for a vast variety of promotional events to be held, the linear atriums, with skylights that offer indirect natural lighting, confer a more modest setting for informal exhibitions and promotions.

Ground Floor Atrium spaces with promotional activities, shows and events are also planned at the nodes and junctions along the shopping path. These ground floor promotional spaces are fully visible from levels 1 & 2 above, which ensures maximum visibility for all the activities and shoppers.

Planning and Constraints

The Dubai Mall is set within the Burj Dubai Master Plan with the World’s tallest tower located next to the mall. In addition to designing the mall in response to the site, the local weather conditions and practice also play a significant role in the design, taking account into the harsher weather, with high temperatures and scarce rain during the summer months. Therefore, sandstorms, for instance, is something the entrances have to be designed for.

The local practice and the relevant authorities regard building maintenance as a key feature in building design, and this has to be kept in view when designing both the interiors and exteriors of the mall.

In terms of the local culture, care has to be taken when designing and placing the public amenities of the Mall. For example, the size, orientation, location and access to the prayer rooms and toilets all have to be carefully studied and designed for.

For a mall of this scale, the 15,000 car park spaces are also strategically placed around the entire mall in 3 car park zones surrounding the main building. As such, all car parks offer direct entry into each and every retail level, allowing visitors to park directly at the floor they intend to visit. Escalators and lifts also connect the different car park levels to provide greater convenience.

Design Process

The design process for the Mall comprises Concept, Schematic and Design Development Stage. Due to the speed of the project and its sheer size/scale, the detailed design of each area will not be covered completely in the initial stages, but instead, be brought onward to the Design Development stage to allow comprehensive development to be conducted by the design team.

Given the geographical difference between DP’s locality and the project in Dubai, the design process has to be carefully presented to the Client in various forms of media on a regular basis. For example, with each presentation or drawings forwarded to the Client, follow-up discussions will have to be conducted via telephone, videoconference and email with the Client and various Consultants. Each package of design information, or design change will also be forwarded for cost estimation, to enable the Client to make an informed decision