THE HOUSE OF THE FUTURE
Casal+Nalda Version
Context
Most housing forms in the UAE are challenged by the efficiency of layout. Not one plan works for varying locations. It needs tedious and intensive individual planning to create a climatically tailored design fit for all. As this is difficult to achieve quantitatively, the results are often leading to higher resource consumption and environmental damage.
This is similar to the progressive growth of Dubai’s architectural landscape. As it is at the forefront of futuristic and premiere projects, styles become internationally influenced. While beautiful, the developments compete with one another to be in-style and updated which may lead to a potential loss of character and without a sense of neighborhood connectivity. In an era marked by constant technological advancement, designs risk obsolescence as emerging technologies may render them outdated. However, their physical footprint is expected to endure for generations.
It is under these inevitable considerations that a basic form may be derived to address the basics in housing design, remaining contextually relevant, and preserving the cultural and environmental fabric of the region. It may not be a perfect fit, but it holds the potential to function effectively in any part of the UAE.
Concept
The House of the Future must live up to its name. It must foresee the inevitable in order for it be sustainable. From the beginning, physically and externally, the daily climatic conditions has been a constant factor, aside from the extreme weather which too, needs to be confronted; but unlike any other buildings, it has the unique duty to protect and nurture its own users – the Emirati Family. This is where the inspiration of the Vortex is drawn from. Technological trends and styles come and go, but what has always been constant is the change of weather, and the family is at its center.
The vortex or “dawaama” itself becomes the form concept. UAE, being a region which uniquely experiences minimal rain, air in motion becomes a dominating element. This form allows for air circulation, and movement from outside and within which is quite fitting for the nurturing of energy such as air and even water.
