Heritage Community Centre Shindagha

The Heritage Community Centre in Shindagha is a project carried out at the request of Yas Consult for Dubai Municipality and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The Mallinson team included landscape design by Kamelia Zaal, film design by Yoho Media, and graphic design by Why Not Associates. The project is for the design of a teaching and heritage display institute for the handicrafts of Dubai in Shindagha, the historic centre of Dubai on the peninsula at the entrance of Dubai Creek.

The project converts twelve reconstructed traditional coral buildings into a group of craft specific 'Houses' for coffee making, metal working, Burga and Talli making, Khos weaving, basket weaving, palm buildings, boat buildings, Al Sadu. Each House is designed to contain teaching and interactive learning facilities together with exhibitions and films to bring to life traditional craft practices for students and visitors alike. Each House consists of a covered courtyard for the main making activities, surrounded by a suite of smaller connected rooms and arcades. The courtyards are designed to be climate controlled by natural means and shaded to create different environments to suit each craft. Together the handicraft Houses form a new urban centre and heart for Shindagha's restoration, making a place of memory for the community who crafted its traditional form of life, and place of inspiration for crafts of the future. 

The project is under construction and due to open for the 2020 celebrations.