Dubai Future Foundation Accelerator Space
A semi-open hub for technologists and an adaptive environment
TAGS
Accelerator Space
Innovation Lab
RESPONSIBILITIES
Architectural Design
Spatial Strategy
User Experience Design Environmental Graphics Design Detailed
Construction Control
Bidding Consultancy
CLIENT
Dubai Future Foundation
STATUS
Completed, 2020
RECOGNITION
IF Awards, Interior Design Winner, 2022
Architecture Masterprize, Honorable Mention, 2021
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) facilitates curated accelerator programs between startups, government entities, and large enterprises to come up with creative solutions to current challenges in Emirates Tower in a two-storey tech hub.
DESIGN CHALLENGE
Accelerator space used to be branded by private enterprises and government entities -primary funding group of cohorts-. Having individually-branded pieces caused fragmented use of site.
Located on a commercial floor of Emirates Towers, the space was encircled by other shops.
Lack of clear spatial boundaries and unified design language blurred the existence of DFA as the primary host and the vision and mission of the DFA.
ANALYSIS
5 global, 5 regional, and 8 local accelerator/ innovation hubs were studied to create a carefully designed physical and digital system.
After 80+ hours of field research and 20+ interviews from different user groups, three levels of interventions are defined in the areas of configurable spatial design, a showcase of vision and impact, and strategic alumni/user management.
SYNTHESIS
A design system with multiple attributes including a clear programmatic division between different acts of working is developed after analysis of current needs and benchmarking. Programmatic division for different working modes is defined under four groups.
The four core design principles are embraced in our vision. An open canvas is conceived, characterized by flexibility, neutrality, and future-proof adaptability. Multi-stakeholder engagement is facilitated, enabling many-to-many interactions and collaborations.
Spaces are crafted to be legible, ensuring easy navigation for visitors and showcasing achievements. A delicate balance between public and private areas is maintained, offering a harmonious blend that respects the need for both openness and personal privacy.
Designing an exploration and production space that is never underutilized
CONCEPT
With the right interventions, the site is designed to be a semi-open hub for technologists and an adaptive environment for the required level of privacy by utilizing the strengths of the given context.
To act as an enabler, the accelerator space allows startups to occupy determined parts of the space to fully cover the spatial needs of an ideation process such as idea mapping, brainstorming, and pitching.
The DFA team hosts international cohorts for startups once every 9 weeks. Every cohort is concluded with new ideas, MVPs, and success stories.
In the accelerator space, it is aimed to showcase the past, current, and future stories of these cohorts at the same time.
By bending a linear timeline, a loop is created. The loop that showcases past, current events, and future. This loop is represented with a hanging curvilinear track system in the space.
The spaces aimed to cater to specific needs of these working modes, like acoustic and visual isolation for focus areas; or easily mountable writing modules and privacy curtains for co-production.
Guidance in the space
A three-pronged track system creates natural guidance and a perceptive border in the space as an organizing element.
Defining space with hanging track line
Primary track system plays a role in guiding the primary and secondary entrances with its continuous form and linear lighting attached to it.
The secondary track line holds the curtain system which defines common areas at the center without dividing the center of the space with permanent elements.
Adjustable privacy levels
Primary and secondary track systems hold sliding panels as a writable surface/separator/ communication wall for adapting the space for changing needs.
ON-SITE
