Since its rise from a small fishing settlement on the edge of the desert in the 1960s, to its transformation into one of the world's fastest-growing cities and commercial hubs, to its evolution into a breathtaking global tourist destination - Dubai is adept at reimagining its future.

This week, the city will host COP28, the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments will convene to discuss strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces significant climate vulnerabilities due to its hot and humid climate, and with a staggering population increase of 5,000% since its rapid urban development, it must prioritise the creation of sustainable urban spaces to accommodate its residents, visitors, and international investors.

The practice of adaptive reuse, which involves repurposing old buildings instead of demolishing and building new, has gained traction in the region. This approach offers a more sustainable solution by reducing the environmental impact associated with construction, such as energy consumption, material usage, and emissions.

Furthermore, adaptive reuse contributes to social and economic sustainability by preserving the cultural and historical value of existing structures, fosters the creation of vibrant placemaking, and often proves cost-effective compared to addressing legal, zoning, design, and construction issues associated with new sites.

According to Deloitte, it is estimated that by the end of this decade, approximately 90% of newly constructed buildings worldwide will be renovated or adaptively reused.

Expo City Dubai, the venue for COP28, serves as a notable example of adaptive reuse in the Middle East. Initially constructed for World Expo 2020, 80% of the site has been repurposed into a visionary sustainable, human-centric, smart city. Consisting of various attractions, venues, pavilions, parks, residences, and businesses, which showcase exemplary design, technology, and culture.

Our global multidisciplinary practice has been collaborating with clients across the region since the 1970s, and since 2013 we have been transforming existing buildings into a range of inspiring building typologies. These reinventions have generated value for stakeholders, building users, and local communities.

As we look to COP28 for a commitment to sustainable practices from the world’s leaders, we showcase how our team has creatively repurposed buildings to sustainably deliver reimagined spaces that both celebrate the UAE’s past and stimulate innovative thinking - to drive its progressive future.

For decades, Mina Zayed’s geographical location and historical significance have solidified its position as a cultural crossroads, a hub of trade and commerce within Abu Dhabi. Nestled amidst the bustling traditional markets along the water’s edge lies a linear grid of versatile warehouses, poised to undergo a remarkable metamorphosis into MiZa - an emerging innovation-focused neighbourhood for diverse entrepreneurial communities.

Forming the first phase of the masterplan, our designs for three sites, Warehouse 421, MAKE+SEAF and HEYR, will seamlessly blend heritage with cutting edge concepts, by harnessing the potential of the existing warehouse structures and urban architecture.

Our expansion to Warehouse 421, an established art gallery, office facility and artist residences, will offer commercial units to creative entrepreneurial startups. MAKE+SEAF will form a catalyst for innovation with an inclusive makerspace and artist university. While HEYR will house a flexible workplace ecosystem, for a varied community of practitioners to undertake peer-driven learning and project collaboration, to accelerate career development.

42 Abu Dhabi intelligently repurposes three warehouses, which are also located in the MiZa district. The design creatively reuses the existing warehouses' structural frame and form to create a campus for a non-profit, tuition-free computer coding school, employing a project-based curriculum where students rely on peer-to-peer collaborative learning.

Our award winning design combines comfortable learning areas with connected technology workspaces, providing an ideal environment for critical thinking, group work, and creativity to motivate growth and excellence in the UAE.

Dubai's Knowledge Park is home to the new 218,000 sqft Heriot-Watt University campus, hosting nearly 4,000 students from 105 different nationalities. The design converts an existing office building into a campus that evokes a sense of ownership, a place of creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking. 

The building was repurposed with targeted interventions to maximise floor to ceiling heights and adaptable elements for flexibility. Notably, the lecture spaces can be easily divided into smaller sections, and the Town hall area can be customised with movable partitions and 'Hellerup' Steps, serving as both informal seating and an auditorium.

Abu Dhabi's Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest building in the city, consists of the Inner Fort from 1795 and the Outer Palace from 1935. After ten years of restoration, it has been transformed into a museum in the heart of a new cultural district. The main objective of this project was to create a living memorial that facilitates the exchange of cultural traditions and experiences.

The restored pavilions and Tower House now exhibit the city's evolution, including artifacts dating back to 6,000 BC. The exhibition spaces are connected by glass structures, promoting a seamless flow, and a scented courtyard with date palms evokes memories of the fort.

COP28 image credits: UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth