DSA Digest Q1 2018 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 11
Grand Opening JUMEIRAH ROYAL SARAY, BAHRAIN
The Jumeirah Royal Saray, Bahrain opened on Wednesday 28 February 2018 and was inaugurated at a Gala Event the previous evening hosted by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, attended by DSA ME Director, Tim Goodall and Associate, Glen Beresford. Jumeirah Royal Saray is the Jumeirah Group’s first property in the Kingdom and offers a new wave of understated luxury on a private beach in the northern coastal Seef district. Designed by DSA and architecturally inspired by traditional Bahraini summerhouses, the hotel blends history and modern culture with chic dining, a spa and lagoon pool. The 174 room hotel features stunning rooms, unique summerhouses and royal residences, poolside cabanas and an upscale casual and trendy restaurant featuring a fantastic Gin bar. A spectacular lounge, ‘The Palm Lounge’ overlooks the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, serving world class coffee by Colombian baristas and a French Patisserie. For further information go to: https:// w w w.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-re sorts/bahrain/jumeirah-royal-saray
In this issue: • Welcome from the MD
• Hotel Ritz, Madrid, Spain
• Onwards & Upwards
• Bee’ah Headquarters, Sharjah
• International Women’s Day
• King Abdul Aziz Road, Saudi Arabia
• Project Update - Imperial Palace Resort
• Luxury Residential Complex, Saadiyat ,Abu Dhabi
• One to One with Glen Beresford
• World Spa Awards
• Al Zahia Site Visit
• Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon 2018
• Belgrade Year End Party
WELCOME TO DSA DIGEST A very warm welcome from all of us at DSA and to the first edition of the DSA Digest for 2018, which is already well and truly in full swing. This issue reflects the international reach and appeal of DSA Architects whilst also demonstrating our unique design and management capabilities in delivering world class projects that are acutely sensitive to both their unique local environments and cultures. Excellent examples being the award winning Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Mozambique and in contrast, the new headquarters for Bee’ah in Sharjah, UAE, both developments are outstanding in their own right. The number of new projects that DSA have been awarded augur well for this year and beyond, notably, the Saadiyat Beach Luxury Residences and the King Abdul Aziz Road development (KAAR) in Saudi Arabia, whilst the recently completed Jumeirah Royal Saray complex in Bahrain is a further showcase of DSA’s market leading pedigree. I am always proud to note the strength of community spirit that runs through our international office network and it is great to see that our staff are always prepared to fly the DSA flag through both community and sporting endeavours.
The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2018 provides a superb example of this and it was great to see the amount of training and effort that was put in by everybody. Our new project pipeline is a vital indicator of future trading and naturally the focal point of our strategy. It is important however, to reflect on past projects and consider how the experiences can shape our approach in the future. This in turn creates a culture of continuous improvement, which leads to business growth, not only for DSA Architects, but for all our stakeholders. We have begun 2018 on a strong footing and both I and my fellow directors look forward to maintaining and building on our position, not only as an architectural firm of choice, but an employer of choice. The longevity of DSA staff service is enviable and instils confidence in our existing and future clients. Thank you and good luck to you all for the rest of the year. Steve Kelshaw, MD Middle East
Onwards & Upwards
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Congratulations on More than 10 years service to:
New Joiner:
JACQUES BLAAUW
CONRAD BURGER
BINDIYA DAYA
Director - joined 1st December 2005 (13 years)
Associate - joined 17th February 2008 (10 years)
Commercial Officer
PETER DAVISON
GINU GEORGE
Director - joined 10th January 2007 (11 years)
Senior Draughtsman - joined 1st March 2008 (10 years)
Bindiya recently joined the commercial team at DSA Architects International. Her role is to serve as the commercial and legal facilitator for all DSA Middle East projects and support the directors and senior management team as required, assisting in the reviews and recommendations in relation to the commercial terms contained in proposals, tenders and contracts together with identifying and mitigating any unacceptable contractual risk that DSA may face.
SANJEEV MITTAL
RAFI BAIG
Site Architect - joined 24th January 2006 (12 years)
IT Manager - joined 7th March 2005 (13 years)
BABU RAMANAND
MAHER FLEIFEL
RFP Coordinator - joined 11th February 2007 (11 years)
Senior Associate - joined 14th March 2007 (11 years)
LIESLE AUCAMP
MANOJ KUMAR
Senior Associate / HR Manager - joined 14th February 2004 (14 years)
Document Controller - joined 19th March 2008 ( 10 years)
DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 11 | Q1 2018
THE WOMEN BEHIND DSA’s INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
#PROJECTUPDATE IMPERIAL PALACE Resort SAIPAN
In celebration of International Women’s Day on Thursday 8th March we recognise and honour all the women across our international office network.
DSA were invited to design the VIP resort component of this luxury themed resort on Saipan, in the Mariana Islands, in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The client’s desire was to capture the luxury and splendour that DSA had achieved in the award winning One&Only The Palm resort on the Jumeirah Palm Island in Dubai.
DS A Mi ddle Ea st
DSA Afri ca
DSA worked in conjunction with Steelman Partners who were the Lead Consultant for the casino building and towers. The design process involved extensive co-ordination with other International consultants. DSA undertook the design from our Johannesburg office, and through video conferencing and regular workshops in Hong Kong, took the project through concept, scheme design and design development over a 12 month period. The theme of the development was to capture the classical luxury in an understated genre which compliments the local environment. This contrasted with the strong forms, scale and highly decorated and elaborate casino building, shown in the background of the image below.
DSA Europe
Now, more than ever, there is a strong call-to-action to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive, something that DSA wholeheartedly supports. www.dsa-arch.com
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One to One with ... GLEN BERESFORD Associate – Dubai Office Since a young age, Glen has shown an interest in design. Growing up in Hertfordshire in England, he was never bored as a child. Even when it was too cold and wet to play football, as long as there was a paper and pens available, Glen would be designing cars or buildings. By the time he reached Senior School, Glen had decided that he would pursue a career in architecture. Glen continued his studies in Manchester gaining his BA (Hons) and BArch. In Glen’s opinion Manchester was the perfect place to be a student during the nineties, as the city was undergoing a cultural and sporting renaissance. Glen credits his Mum for her role in launching his career, firstly by encouraging him to follow his goals as a boy and later continuing her support throughout the seven years training required to qualify as an architect. On graduating in 1998, Glen joined GMW Partnership in Kensington, London, becoming a chartered architect a year later having passed his professional exam (RIBA Part III). One of his early roles at GMW was as Resident Architect on the Midsummer Place Shopping Mall in Milton Keynes in England, gaining valuable experience on site. On his return to the office, the partners’ faith and confidence in Glen led to his assignment as Project Architect on an office project for Vodafone. This faith was rewarded after the first project was successfully delivered and GMW and Glen went on to enjoy a long and successful partnership with Vodafone delivering a series of office projects. Following the success of the first Vodafone project, Glen was promoted to Associate in 2002 and progressed through the company, leading other office projects for blue-chip clients including Hammerson and KPMG. After seven happy years with GMW in London, Glen received an opportunity for an exciting new role in Dubai with RMJM. Glen arrived in Dubai in 2005 with only a suitcase and hand-luggage, but he was determined to make the most of this new opportunity. The experience gained in Dubai is probably unparalleled anywhere else in the world and he quickly settled into Dubai and his role as Project Leader, which involved leading in-house multidisciplinary teams. In 2007 Glen was approached by a developer and subsequently joined the ‘client-side’ as Client Representative, directing the consultancy team on two large hotel and residential projects on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, Oceana and Anantara. Glen enjoyed his time on the client-side and gained valuable experience of delivering projects as a developer. A return to consultancy remained appealing to Glen, particularly given his aptitude for positive interaction within a team environment. In 2010, the opportunity to join DSA Architects International arose, and it was clear that DSA’s strength in Design Management would be a perfect fit. 4
DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 11 | Q1 2018
Glen has been with DSA for almost 8 years and takes a central role in leading and developing the Design Management team. He has played a leading role in successfully delivering high-profile projects including the Four Seasons Resort at Jumeriah Beach in Dubai, the Jumeirah Royal Saray in Bahrain, Swiss International School in Dubai and the Mica Mall on Kish Island. The role of Design Management is to drive design progress through the promotion of teamwork, coordination and communication. Glen’s architectural background and qualifications together with his desire to bring the best out of people through teamwork and collaboration make his role in DSA the ideal job. Glen also plays a part in promoting positive interaction not only between colleagues, but also the wider DSA family. As Glen explains, “The annual End of Year Party is an opportunity for families to meet and celebrate the successes and achievements of the year.” As an integral part of DSA’s Event’s Team, Glen is proud to host DSA’s Year End Party’s as Master of Ceremonies, a role which he describes as “a combination of daunting and enjoyable” Glen enjoys family life with his wife Alice and their two young sons, Charlie and Harry. He has a passion for football, being a proud supporter of his hometown club, Watford FC. The interests in management and football have combined well in recent years, with Glen winning the DSA Fantasy Football league 3 times in 4 years!
SITE VISIT... AL ZAHIA Villas
After months of hard work, the Al Zahia Villas team had the opportunity to see the fruits of their labour first-hand with a visit to site in Sharjah to inspect progress on the upcoming show village, which is progressing at a pace. This prestigious residential project for Majid Al Futtaim was fully designed and managed by DSA, with construction currently being overseen by our Senior Site Architect, Wellington Kambarami. Main works are slated to commence later this year.
The DSA team on site at Al Zahia Villas.
BELGRADE YEAR END PARTY A fantastic night to celebrate a hugely successful year for the Belgrade Team was held at the city’s Manufaktura Restaurant. Attended by Middle East MD, Steve Kelshaw and Director, Peter Davison: staff and significant others had a great time singing along with the band. Special mention must go to Senior Associate, Aleks Milojkovic, for his organisation of the event and his lively vocal performance on the night!
www.dsa-arch.com
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Reflection of Excellence HOTEL RITZ, MADRID, SPAIN The traditional 5-star Hotel Ritz is located in the business district of Madrid, within a 10-minute walk of the city centre and features original architecture, from the hotel’s opening in 1910. Hotel Ritz Madrid is set close to the opera and art galleries as well as Paseo del Prado, Golden Triangle of Art and Puerta de Alcalá. Inspired by King Alfonso XIII’s desire to build a luxury hotel to rival the Ritz in Paris, the Hotel Ritz in Madrid shares a reputation with those in both Paris and London, of being one of the original grand luxury hotels in Europe. Originally appointed in 2004 to provide full architectural services, DSA has completed a full Refurbishment including a new extra floor and extension. DSA also re-decorated and restored much of the key public reception areas and replaced the main kitchen following a fire. The Hotel Ritz, Madrid, offers classic and deluxe rooms, as well as junior suites, deluxe suites and a royal suite. It consists of a total of 167 keys, 10 single rooms, 92 classic rooms, 35 deluxe rooms, 19 junior suites and 10 deluxe suites. Additionally, the hotel boasts a fitness centre and a variety of signature restaurants. There are 5 salons available for meetings, ranging from small and stylish to grand and imposing.
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DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 11 | Q1 2018
NEW PROJECT AWARD Bee’ah Headquarters, Sharjah DSA are delighted to have been appointed as architectural site technical services for the new office headquarters building for Bee’ah in Sharjah. In a representation of sustainable aesthetics, the building has been designed to resemble a series of intersecting sand dunes, enabling it to blend into the desert landscape and to optimise prevailing winds. The steelwork for the structure has been completed, while the architectural concrete dome that forms the centrepiece of the project has also been put in place. The main structure of the Visitors’ Centre and of the Main Dune is complete, while that of the standalone Energy Centre is ongoing. As well as recycled materials, the building incorporates a series of energy and water saving systems. For further information on Bee’ah go to: https://beeah.ae/en
NEW PROJECT AWARD NEW PROJECT AWARD LUXURY RESIDENTIAL Villas, King Abdul Aziz Road, SAADIYAT Island, ABU DHABI Mecca, Saudi Arabia DSA are proud to have been appointed as Design Architect for a 1,200,000m² masterplan development in a prime location in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The masterplan, which is a 3.6km long and 320m wide linear plot, consists of 205 buildings, comprising hotels, residences, commercial and retail, buildings around a focal mosque situated at the heart of the development.
DSA Architects are delighted to have been appointed as the architectural consultant to undertake concept and scheme design services on the exclusive SB-03 residential community being developed on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. The 75,000 m² site is located near to the existing St. Regis Hotel and fronts onto both the 7th fairway of the Saadiyat Golf Course and directly onto Saadiyat Beach, providing enviable views of the ocean from what will be a world-class destination.
The design brief requires DSA to develop architectural “themes” to provide an identity to the components and generate design guidelines for future development of the plots. This unique project has already enabled DSA, once again, to demonstrate originality, creativity and freedom of expression in composing a variety of architectural styles and innovations.
www.dsa-arch.com
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World Spa Awards Success The highly anticipated winners of the 3rd Annual World Spa Awards were revealed at a dazzling ceremony, which took place at the glamorous JW Marriott, Phu Qouc, Emerald Bay, Vietnam.
Africa’s Best Hotel Spa: THE SAXON SPA AT SAXON HOTEL WILLAS
DSA Architects provided full architectural services for two of the shortlisted projects and were naturally delighted to see them claim the top awards in their respective categories. Against stiff competition, the award for ‘Mozambique’s Best Spa Resort’ went to Anantara’s Bazaruto Island Resort and ‘Africa’s Best Hotel Spa’ award went to the The Saxon Spa at Saxon Hotel Villas in South Africa. Anantara’s Bazaruto Island resort is located on the paradise private island of Bazaruto, in a jewel-like archipelago off the coast of Mozambique. With few distractions, guests can completely lose themselves in dazzling natural beauty, peaceful island life and unforgettable experiences.
Mozambique’s Best Resort Spa: ANANTARA BAZARUTO ISLAND RESORT
The Saxon Spa at Saxon Hotel Villas, is an oasis nestled in unique surroundings. Cascading water features, a signature fireplace and influences of copper and Himalayan salts set the backdrop for a restful retreat. Well done to both!
STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON 2018 A fantastic effort from all the DSA staff that participated in the 2018 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon event held on 26th January. 26 dedicated athletes dusted off the trainers and gave their best efforts on what was a magnificent event, both in terms of organisation and the wonderful family atmosphere. A special mention goes to Manoj Kumar who completed the 10 km race in a very impressive 40 minutes. Congratulations to everyone who took part and for flying the DSA flag!
Manoj Kumar after completing the 10 km run in 40 minutes
The DSA team at the 2018 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon
DSA Architects International (Middle East) address: tel: fax: mail: web:
Office 204, Convention Tower, Zabeel, Dubai, UAE +971 4 329 2288 +971 4 329 2289 dsa.dubai@dsa-arch.com www.dsa-arch.com @DSAarchitects DSA Architects International @dsaarchitectsintl
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