This project was a collaboration between Godwin Austen Johnson and Hopkins Architects. Hopkins undertook the initial concept design with Godwin Austen Johnson then working closely with them to develop the approved concept and then supervise its construction on site.
The Gate Village is a 90,000sqm complex of ten mid-rise buildings ranging from five to ten storeys located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Each of the granite-clad office buildings is unique in both plan form and height which in turn creates a strong and engaging urban setting of shaded streets and courtyards. This simple passive approach to dealing with the hot climatic conditions allows the buildings to be connected by an external podium that supports a mixture of retail spaces, galleries and restaurants.
The golf clubhouse was designed to reflect a modern interpretation of a traditional dhow in full sail capturing the essence of Dubai's seafaring traditions and the majesty and simplicity of the lateen-rigged dhows as they sailed up and down the coastline of Dubai.
The height and mass of the buildings is designed to shade the podium streets naturally, as in traditional Arab villages, tempering the harsh climate. The pedestrian streets vary in width and length and open onto larger piazzas. The use of shop canopies gives a human scale.
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