The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali

The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect
Pei Partnership Architects
The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali is a
flagship development marking the launch
of Limitless LLC, the international development arm of Dubai World. It introduces the
first Class A corporate office space and fullamenity residential towers to the Jebel Ali
Free Trade Zone, the Gulf region’s industrial
and shipping center.
The development includes more than 600
apartments in two towers totaling over
96,000 m2, and Class A corporate office
space in two towers totaling over 131,000
m2. Four other office towers and the Jebel
Ali Free Trade Zone (JAFZA) headquarters face the same plaza and complete the
development.
Once master-planned as four city blocks,
the site might have been developed as
four separate towers with large setbacks
from the street, as is the norm in new cities
around the world. Nevertheless the client
responded enthusiastically to a PPA design
that consciously evokes the urban density of
more mature cities by linking the four buildings together into a linear complex of over
227,000m2 and by bringing them forward
to the property lines. While the height of
the towers was limited by the flight paths of
Dubai's second international airport, a sense
of height and urban presence was achieved
by the use of repeated vertical elements
clad both in Italian travertine and glazed
curtain walls.
Soon to become a Dubai interior landmark,
the Gallery will be the focal amenity of the
development. This cool and inviting indoor
promenade over 280 m long will serve as a
grand foyer for all four towers and will reinforce the sense of community and sense of
place for the projected 8,000 residents and
office workers. It will be enlivened with highend boutiques, restaurants and sidewalk
cafes all overlooking landscaped gardens,
a broad plaza and extensive water features. As it will be a venue for major social,
cultural, and commercial events hosted by
Dubai World and others the Gallery will be
appropriately finished in Italian travertine
and Portuguese limestone. At night the full
length of the vaulted ceiling will come alive
with unprecedented video performances.
The project is currently in construction.
The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Above: General view
Below: Night view
Pei Partnership Architects
The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Gallery
Pei Partnership Architects