Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Festival Waterfront Center
Festival Waterfront Center
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Festival Waterfront Center
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
YEAR
2007
Background
In 2000, Al Futtaim Investments approached Jerde to master
plan Dubai Festival City, intended to be the largest tourism and commercial
project in the Middle East. The project was envisioned as part of Crown Prince
General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to make Dubai a
world-renowned destination. The project creates an urban, mixed-use waterfront
district, a city within a city.
Jerde’s master plan for the project, which spans four
kilometers along the Dubai Creek, was inspired by the site’s natural
convergence of desert and sea. The predominant natural elements of water and
desert became the main organizing elements through the plan’s six districts.
The Crown Prince announced Dubai Festival City on March 1, 2001. The project’s
components are being designed and constructed over a number of phases; Festival
Waterfront Centre was designed by Jerde as the resort-style commercial and
communal center of Dubai Festival City. At the time, it was one of the largest
retail and entertainment development in Dubai with 600 shops, more than 100
restaurants and cafés, 12-screen Cineplex, bowling alley and other
entertainment venues.
Design
In creating Festival Waterfront Centre as the vibrant,
communal hub of Dubai Festival City, Jerde continued the spirit of the overall
master plan in the architectural design. Festival Waterfront Centre establishes
a new center of energy along Dubai Creek. As such, Jerde’s design is inspired
by the visible manifestation of energy on the water. The project’s key areas
are organized in radiating, arcing paths that recall ripples on the water.
Beginning at the waterfront, the first ring of energy is
Festival Marina, a 300-meter-wide marina, which is comparable to high-end
Mediterranean marinas and offers 100 berths for luxury yachts and other
watercraft. Taking full advantage of the creekside location, the Marina is
designed as a vibrant esplanade surrounded by fine dining, shopping, and
five-star accommodations.
The second ring is the Waterfront Pavilions, a series of
specialty retail shops fronting Dubai Creek. The Pavilions offer a high-end
shopping experience with specialty shops similar to Boulevard de la Croisette
in Cannes.
Next is Canal Walk, a freshwater canal that is lined by an
open-air promenade with two levels of terraced walkways and open-air dining.
Canal Walk contains the largest collection of international restaurants, cafés
and bistros in Dubai. A fleet of watercraft, or abras, are available to
transport guests along the canal. During lunch and dinner, music entertainment
is scheduled throughout the month of April. The canal runs between the main
shopping center and the pavilions that front onto the marina.
The fourth ring is Crescent Walk, an interior, three-level
pedestrian street lined on both sides by retailers. It is enclosed by a large
skylight to allow visitors to enjoy the desert sun while being protected from
the climate extremes. The heart of Crescent Walk is Festival Square, a vibrant,
high-volume space that will host world-class exhibitions, fashion shows and
other live performances.
Festival Waterfront Centre’s final ring of energy is
Crescent Drive, a vehicular street lined with upscale retailers. The design of
Crescent Drive is inspired by the street character of historic shopping
districts, with a pedestrian scale that is similar to Rodeo Drive.
The unique location and design of Festival Waterfront Centre
has helped attract an eclectic mix of international retailers. Several brands
have opened their first shops in Dubai, including Anne Klein, AMS, Danier,
Guru, JM Weston, Lancel, Lamarthe, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marccain, Nougat of
London, Sephora and Paul Frank.
At its southern end, Festival Waterfront Centre links to
Dubai Gold Marketplace, which features a large selection of the world’s best
gold retailers and connects the project to Festival Power Centre. In late 2005,
Festival Power Centre introduced big box retail to the Middle East with the opening
of the largest IKEA in the UAE. It also features Hyperpanda, Plug-ins
ElectroniX, Ace Hardware and a variety of lifestyle and convenience stores.
In 2000, Al Futtaim Investments approached Jerde to master
plan Dubai Festival City, intended to be the largest tourism and commercial
project in the Middle East. The project was envisioned as part of Crown Prince
General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to make Dubai a
world-renowned destination. The project creates an urban, mixed-use waterfront
district, a city within a city.
Jerde’s master plan for the project, which spans four
kilometers along the Dubai Creek, was inspired by the site’s natural
convergence of desert and sea. The predominant natural elements of water and
desert became the main organizing elements through the plan’s six districts.
The Crown Prince announced Dubai Festival City on March 1, 2001. The project’s
components are being designed and constructed over a number of phases; Festival
Waterfront Centre was designed by Jerde as the resort-style commercial and
communal center of Dubai Festival City. At the time, it was one of the largest
retail and entertainment development in Dubai with 600 shops, more than 100
restaurants and cafés, 12-screen Cineplex, bowling alley and other
entertainment venues.
Design
In creating Festival Waterfront Centre as the vibrant,
communal hub of Dubai Festival City, Jerde continued the spirit of the overall
master plan in the architectural design. Festival Waterfront Centre establishes
a new center of energy along Dubai Creek. As such, Jerde’s design is inspired
by the visible manifestation of energy on the water. The project’s key areas
are organized in radiating, arcing paths that recall ripples on the water.
Beginning at the waterfront, the first ring of energy is
Festival Marina, a 300-meter-wide marina, which is comparable to high-end
Mediterranean marinas and offers 100 berths for luxury yachts and other
watercraft. Taking full advantage of the creekside location, the Marina is
designed as a vibrant esplanade surrounded by fine dining, shopping, and
five-star accommodations.
The second ring is the Waterfront Pavilions, a series of
specialty retail shops fronting Dubai Creek. The Pavilions offer a high-end
shopping experience with specialty shops similar to Boulevard de la Croisette
in Cannes.
Next is Canal Walk, a freshwater canal that is lined by an
open-air promenade with two levels of terraced walkways and open-air dining.
Canal Walk contains the largest collection of international restaurants, cafés
and bistros in Dubai. A fleet of watercraft, or abras, are available to
transport guests along the canal. During lunch and dinner, music entertainment
is scheduled throughout the month of April. The canal runs between the main
shopping center and the pavilions that front onto the marina.
The fourth ring is Crescent Walk, an interior, three-level
pedestrian street lined on both sides by retailers. It is enclosed by a large
skylight to allow visitors to enjoy the desert sun while being protected from
the climate extremes. The heart of Crescent Walk is Festival Square, a vibrant,
high-volume space that will host world-class exhibitions, fashion shows and
other live performances.
Festival Waterfront Centre’s final ring of energy is
Crescent Drive, a vehicular street lined with upscale retailers. The design of
Crescent Drive is inspired by the street character of historic shopping
districts, with a pedestrian scale that is similar to Rodeo Drive.
The unique location and design of Festival Waterfront Centre
has helped attract an eclectic mix of international retailers. Several brands
have opened their first shops in Dubai, including Anne Klein, AMS, Danier,
Guru, JM Weston, Lancel, Lamarthe, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marccain, Nougat of
London, Sephora and Paul Frank.
At its southern end, Festival Waterfront Centre links to
Dubai Gold Marketplace, which features a large selection of the world’s best
gold retailers and connects the project to Festival Power Centre. In late 2005,
Festival Power Centre introduced big box retail to the Middle East with the opening
of the largest IKEA in the UAE. It also features Hyperpanda, Plug-ins
ElectroniX, Ace Hardware and a variety of lifestyle and convenience stores.
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.