The National Academy for Childhood Development in Abu Dhabi has a lofty ambition: to foster the preservation and promotion of Arabic and UAE national heritage.
Established last year under the auspices of President Sheikh Mohamed, the academy aims to equip teachers, caregivers and parents with the latest skills to nurture the next generation. Its training programmes focus on supporting children's mental health and development, particularly in the early years.
To create the best setting for such foundational work, Dubai's Roar Design Studio was enlisted to create the interior, with founder Pallavi Dean at the helm. The brief was to imagine the space as sleek yet versatile, while remaining cohesive across the academy's 5,000 square metres, which is spread over several floors including multi-purpose spaces.
“One floor is designed to cater to the students, while the others house the staff," Dean explains. "We were asked to imagine a minimalist interior space with adaptable areas, and the design needed to incorporate a simple colour palette."
The result is a sophisticated, neutral palette of pale greys, light creams, bone white and flashes of black and glass. They are warmed with accents of different tones of wood for what she describes as a "natural elegance".
A project of this size needs more than colour to hold it together, however, so a unifying theme is repeated in different materials throughout the building. Water naturally stood out for its significance within the UAE's desert landscape, as well as for its fluid agility and dynamic nature.
A graceful solution, it has allowed the design team to introduce a softer, more feminine feel to an otherwise pared-back interior. Concentric rings denote ripples in water, and the use of curved lines in interiors creates a feeling of welcoming calm and safety. Dean cleverly incorporates this across multiple areas, as seen in the curved lines of seating in the library, turned desks and undulating ceiling supports.
"Curvilinear shapes are represented throughout [the building] with the traces of the lighting and the shapes of the partitions," says Dean. In the lounge, a more artistic approach is taken, so that now pouffe seating mimics the “graceful movement of a water droplet enveloping the seat” and corridors follow lines “that elegantly encircle focal points, emphasising rounded shapes".
This idea has manifested in various ways throughout the centre. To address naturally dark spaces within the building, for example, Dean introduces box lighting for ambient light, enhanced by wooden joinery designed to scatter light in a "ripple pattern".
To create an organic flow through the building, Dean and her team bring new ideas into play. "The reception area features a focal seating zone with ceiling-hung, floating tables and subtle elements of UAE heritage," she says. These include walls punctured with intricate patterns reminiscent of mashrabiya (traditional Arabic latticework) and two-tone chairs that evoke the horizon.
"The winding corridors lead you to the next space, which is the flexible classroom surrounded by curving corridors that imitate the movement of the water in the joinery and ceiling patterns," Dean adds. "Lighting plays a pivotal role, enhancing the sense of movement throughout the area.
“[We chose] minimalist lighting with clean lines to complement the space, and to enhance the architectural details and highlight the textures of concrete and wood."
Part of the brief was to allow for flexibility in how each space is used, so Dean wanted to incorporate plenty of open-plan spacing and modular furniture that could be adapted to quickly alter a room's function.
“Using movable partitions, stackable furniture and movable TV screens in classrooms and meeting rooms enhances flexibility and adaptability based on user needs," she says. "The movable partitions allow rooms to be easily divided or expanded as needed, and this flexibility accommodates varying group sizes and activities without requiring permanent structural changes."
She cites an example of meeting rooms being turned into large, open spaces for presentations or smaller areas for group discussions, helping to "foster collaboration and creativity".
Being able to move furniture and certain walls ensures extra space for wheelchair users and those who are less mobile. "Adjusting the layout with movable partitions and furniture can improve accessibility, ensuring that spaces are inclusive," says Dean.
Bringing in low-tech ideas ensures that not only are they user-friendly – anyone can stack chairs – but cost-efficient, too. Dean says utilising movable partitions and stackable furniture reduces the need for additional construction or renovation expenses.
Meanwhile, future-proofing a building is a canny move, that requires an ability to look ahead. "It allows organisations to adapt their spaces economically to meet evolving needs over time, while flexible spaces and movable furniture promote sustainable practices by optimising energy use and reducing waste associated with fixed layouts or unnecessary expansions," she adds.
While the building may be brimming with practical solutions, that does not mean there aren't some deft, artistic touches, too. A key element was also to play with contrasting textures. “Balancing the smooth surfaces of concrete and cream with the tactile richness of wood added visual interest and enhances the sensory experience of the space," she says.
"We selected furniture pieces that echo the minimalist and sophisticated theme while incorporating decor sparingly, to maintain the clean aesthetic and focus on pieces that complement the overall palette and style."
As well as water, there is another recurring theme throughout that echoes the history of the region: the pearl. With a deep cultural resonance across the Gulf, it helped provide Dean with plenty of inspiration.
“The pearl diving history and its connection to water create an element of movement and flow," she says. "The design centres around a focal point that mimics the effect of a pearl delicately descending into water. This is accentuated by the play of light, with reflective bronze mirrors and winding corridors that resemble the gentle ripples formed on the surface."
