Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, Dubai

The Ministry of Culture & Knowledge Development works to enrich the cultural sector creatively and innovatively. The design brief given to SBID called for a celebration of local culture and community, “underlying the importance of how creativity shapes our current workspace”. The concept was inspired by the local craft of Al Sadu weaving, while  traditional Emirati Talli embroidery, first made by the Bedouins, forms the space’s architecture. Deconstructed elements of the Talli and Musada create a pathway towards the office’s adjacent areas while acting as connective passages for the space. The symbolism behind this represents the nature of this craft, weaving and intertwining various aspects of Emirati culture together.

The offices feature stylish, contemporary design with a high end appeal. The workspaces offer a playful balance between collaboration areas and focus spaces, enabling users to connect and concentrate on work when needed. The resulting design encapsulates refined elegance mixed with an earthy heritage visualised through warm woods and clean concrete finishing and textures. A rich material palette brings depth to the design and provides a warm and welcoming environment for people to connect and collaborate.