Dezeen School Shows: a school for blind and visually impaired children, complete with accessible facilities, is among the architecture projects from Abu Dhabi University.

Also featured is student housing designed to emphasise wellbeing and a modular, floating city for displaced communities.

Abu Dhabi University

Institution: Abu Dhabi University
Course: Bachelor of Architecture

School statement:

"Abu Dhabi University's RIBA-validated Bachelor of Architecture programme leads architectural education in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

"The five-year programme nurtures students through design studio education, offering future architects a comprehensive path to RIBA Part 1.

"It blends the traditions of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in France and the Bauhaus in Germany, underlying undergraduate architecture education in most universities.

"It culminates in a capstone graduation project over the last year, beginning with research and schematic design in project formulation and progressing to the final representation and presentation of a comprehensive design aligned with professional practice."

Aquapolis: Travelling Floating Community by Akram Walid

"Aquapolis proposes a modular, self-sufficient floating community designed to travel between coastal ports across the GCC – a city without a fixed address, built for refugees, migrants and those displaced by a changing climate.

"Its architecture is derived from chemical bonding principles: the molecular geometry of seawater becomes a generative system of circular nodes – residential, civic and communal – that cluster, expand and reconfigure on demand.

"Sustained by renewable energy, advanced desalination and zero-waste systems, the community docks temporarily at ports while remaining free of political borders. In a world defined by displacement, Aquapolis chooses resilience."

Student: Akram Walid
Tutor: Fehmi Dogan
Email: akramwalid77[at]gmail.com

Olfa Social Housing: Reigniting Lost Social Connections by Danah R Al Haddad

"A social housing project fostering strong community bonds through vernacular Yemeni architecture and new urbanism principles, emphasising social cohesion in bridging a gap between low- and high-income housing.

"It proposes an infusion of diverse architectural and urban design styles to create a walkable neighbourhood of social housing units, primarily serving middle-income people, grounded in the principles of social, economic, intellectual and personal value.

"Highlighting walkable neighbourhoods aims to inspire stakeholders by showing how design can enhance daily social interactions among neighbours, especially for singles, young couples and small families."

Student: Danah R Al Haddad
Tutor: Apostolos Kyriazis

Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts by Lian Abdul Razzak Alrabbat

"A detailed architectural project for a drama school, envisioned as a dynamic venue for developing creative talent and encouraging artistic expression.

"The project delves into the convergence of architecture and the performing arts to create an atmosphere that inspires, supports and propels students on their journeys of self-discovery and professional development.

"The drama school creates a unified, modern teaching environment by carefully arranging performance theatres, rehearsal studios, academic facilities and social areas, providing insight into how constructed form may build artistic communities and contribute to the city's cultural fabric."

Student: Lian Abdul Razzak Alrabbat
Tutor: Apostolos Kyriazis

Inclusive Housing by Maithaa Mohamed Alqutbah

"A project proposing a low-income social housing development for the Mohamed Bin Zayed City area of Abu Dhabi, addressing the growing demand for affordable and culturally appropriate housing.

"Inspired by traditional Emirati courtyard homes and the formal concept of Jenga, the design balances privacy, community and green spaces.

"It includes private outdoor spaces like courtyards and terraces, complemented by shading panels designed for comfort and style.

"It aims to be affordable, inclusive, and sustainable, engaging residents in the life of the community and reflecting a careful, considerate approach to meeting their everyday needs."

Student: Maithaa Mohamed Alqutbah
Tutor: Mohamed El Kaftangui

Pearl Arena by Malar Jeyaseelan

"Architecture plays a vital role in shaping spaces that bring people together, foster creativity, and promote sustainability.

"This project explores the design of a concert hall and its surrounding environment on Lulu Island in Abu Dhabi, creating a transformative space balancing functionality, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship.

"It serves as a hub for entertainment and cultural activities, providing an accessible venue for residents and tourists.

"It seeks to create a harmonious environment that celebrates art, community and nature by addressing the diverse needs of its users, including families, students, eco-conscious visitors, service staff and others."

Student: Malar Jeyaseelan
Tutor: Rim Meziani

Shraya Student Housing Complex by Neha Binoy

"This project creates a space that fosters wellbeing and community engagement for students and young professionals, inspiring a sense of shared purpose.

"By blending housing and commercial activity, it provides a flexible, adaptable environment that can evolve with the changing conditions.

"It aims to improve residents' quality of life, foster networks and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the city and its economy.

"Through thoughtful design and a focus on sustainability, the project aims to serve as a model for future student housing developments, benefiting both students and the urban environment."

Student: Neha Binoy
Tutor: Mohamed El Kaftangui

InterAct by Shefin Fathima Shaji

"A project exploring the possibilities of improving community facilities and green spaces in a vibrant, dense neighbourhood of downtown Abu Dhabi.

"The project features five components: a community centre, repurposed surface parking, elevated social spaces, learning and cultural spaces and plug-ins for in-between spaces.

"It envisions the city as a multi-layered canvas of human interaction, pulsating with energy, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.

"It reimagines a community centre not as a single enclosed building but as a network of spaces woven seamlessly across the city, bringing community life outdoors and into unexpected places."

Student: Shefin Fathima Shaji
Tutor: Nadia Mounajjed

Digitalain Portal To A Different Dimension by Gida Ali

"Where data, interaction and public life collide, Al Ain Town Square is reimagined as a dynamic digital-physical commons.

"Grounded in the belief that the digital realm should be as accessible and democratic as the physical city, the project challenges the divide between virtual and built space.

"Interactive systems, data-driven interfaces and adaptable environments transform a neglected urban node into a platform for evolving social, cultural and economic exchange.

"Informed by spatial analysis and digital design methodologies, the proposal envisions a responsive urban landscape that redefines the contemporary agora, anticipating new forms of civic life in smart cities."

Student: Gida Ali
Tutor: Fehmi Dogan
Email: gida.h.rufai[at]gmail.com

Skyward Living: A Future Urban Vision for Rising Sea level in Abu Dhabi by Manar Ahmed

"Skyward Living redefines urban design with a bold question: what if cities didn’t fight rising seas, but rose above them?

"Located on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, the project draws inspiration from mangrove ecosystems, translating their resilience into an elevated structural system.

"A central truss core rises from deep foundations to support branching slabs with modular, adaptable housing units.

"This elevated community addresses climate threats through resilience, adaptability and self-sufficiency, offering a visionary model for future coastal living."

Student: Manar Ahmed
Tutor: Fehmi Dogan
Email: manar.sobh[at]outlook.com

Al Baseera Children's School for the Blind and Visually Impaired by Noor Mohammed Al Housni

"Existing children's facilities for the blind and visually impaired in Abu Dhabi are insufficient or outdated to meet the growing demands of this specific community.

"The project was born of the desire to offer an inclusive and supportive educational environment for these students, allowing them the same educational opportunities as similarly aged children without vision problems.

"An inclusive approach highlights the importance of supporting these communities in creating meaningful change and ensuring equal access for all in tomorrow's Emirati education facilities."

Student: Noor Mohammed Al Housni
Tutor: Rim Meziani

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Abu Dhabi University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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