Location : Abu Dhabi

Type : Retrofitting

Project Description:

The pilot retrofit project transforms a residential building in the heart of Abu Dhabi into a contemporary, high-performance landmark. The original concrete façade—marred by exposed air-conditioning units and underused balconies—is wrapped in a new ventilated skin and vertical brise-soleil fins that reinterpret traditional mashrabiya patterns, modulating light and heat. Air-conditioning systems are centralized and concealed within technical shafts, eliminating visual clutter and cutting energy consumption by 40 percent. Beyond restoring aesthetic value and a clear identity to the building, the intervention extends its service life, enhances occupant comfort, and offers a replicable case study for the sustainable regeneration of the emirate’s urban fabric.