Four of the world’s most prestigious architecture firms will open offices in Dubai Design District (d3) this year. Santiago Calatrava, Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners and Benoy are collectively responsible for redefining modern architecture, creating some of the world’s most spectacular and innovative buildings.
Their move to Dubai signals d3’s emergence as a global design hub and also announcement a revival in fortunes for the global architecture industry. Since launching in April 2013, d3 has attracted a diverse portfolio of architectural firms and industry professionals including a number of large and medium sized companies like RMJM, SSH and Viktor Udzenija, Wanders Wagner and Grimshaw Architects.
According to the MENA Design Outlook Study, a project commissioned by the Dubai Design and Fashion Council and supported by d3, the region’s architecture market is expanding at a faster pace than the global industry.
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Operating Officer at d3, said: ‘We are extremely proud that Santiago Calatrava, Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners and Benoy have chosen to make d3 their new home. d3 is fully committed to supporting the development of the region’s design industry and the architecture market is a key component of this. We currently have over 30 architectural practices located at d3 but we are dedicated to ensuring that each and every brand that joins us – ranging from small design start-ups to iconic global brands – is part of a fully-fledged creative community that sits at the heart of our architectural design scene.”