compose Archives

twenty-eight curved townhouses compose the fold residential complex in dubai

The Fold by Tkdp pops up in Jumeirah district

Architectural studio Tkdp – Tariq Khayyat Design Partners presents The Fold, a low-rise urban development along Al Wasl Road in Dubai‘s Jumeirah district. Comprising 28 terraced townhouses, The Fold seeks to redefine residential living in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council, introducing a new architectural paradigm that seamlessly integrates sophistication, refinement, and inclusivity. The design draws from the elegant simplicity of a field of tulips, deviating from the repetitive architectural language that has characterized the neighborhood for the past 50 years. Tkdp’s approach involves extensive research to address the social, environmental, and lifestyle needs of residents, resulting in a design that stands out for its daring yet functional solutions.

all images by Luke Hayes

long central axis organizes the terraced townhouses

The townhouses feature bespoke 12m double-curved Glass Reinforced Polymer components, resembling connecting points that bring cohesion to the overall ensemble. Tkdp enhances the design with Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems for a silky finish and improved insulation, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and thermal performance. The residences, organized along a 200-meter central axis, promote community-building through a wide pedestrian artery, offering a platform for interaction, socializing, and sports activities.

the houses are organized along a 200-meter central axis

terraces incorporate wooden louvers for shade and privacy

Each villa, boasting three or four bedrooms, incorporates high ceilings, spacious living and entertainment areas, and a screened private garden on the ground floor. The upper floor features wood-powder-coated aluminum louvers for shade and privacy on balconies connected to bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes, and bathrooms. To enhance the overall residential experience, the roof serves as a fully accessible terrace and spa with a secluded jacuzzi, providing panoramic views of Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, and the Jumeirah area. The Fold redefines urban living and fosters a sense of community engagement in its immediate surroundings.

the upper floors feature wood-powder-coated aluminum louvers

the concept revolves around elegant simplicity

the townhouses feature bespoke double-curved GRP components

the roof serves as a fully accessible terrace

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main entrance front view

pathway

street view

floor plans

roof plan

site plan

project info:

name: The Fold

architect: Tkdp – Tariq Khayyat Design Partners | @tkdp.design

design team: Tariq Khayyat, Xiaosheng Li

location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

photography: Luke Hayes | @lukehayesphotography

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

Reference

Architecture

five wooden house-shaped volumes compose nursery school in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,25/09/2023

himawari nursery school reimagines early childhood education

Akaike Tohyama Architects designs Himawari Nursery School in Musashimurayama City, Tokyo, relocating and expanding the original structure. Situated in the residential expanse extending toward the Musashino Plateau and Sayama Hills, the project reimagines early childhood education.

Departing from the previous two-story RC structure that segmented children’s activities, a single-story wooden structure rises to enrich interactions among children of varying ages. To achieve this, the design strategically places the nursery room, hall, and childcare functions on the first floor, while staff facilities, including the reception desk, are arranged on the second floor. This zoning strategy eliminates the division of children’s activities and fosters an environment conducive to cross-generational interaction.

all images by Kawasumi & Kobayashi Kenji Photo Office

nursery school becomes a dynamic playground

The entire site becomes a ‘playground’ where children are encouraged to explore both indoor and outdoor realms. Given the necessity for a single-story wooden structure, coupled with considerations for bicycle parking, childcare areas, and site conditions, the design team forms a compact schoolyard. Rather than opting for a single expansive playground, the approach scatters smaller play areas across the site. This arrangement integrates the ‘playground’ within the architectural volumes, culminating in a circulation system that seamlessly connects the interior and exterior. The plan offers a variety of play activities facilitated by accessible openings from nursery rooms and the hall, uneven terrain, diverse yard pavement textures, and pockets of green.

Himawari Nursery School is situated in a residential area of Musashimurayama City in Tokyo

House-Shaped Volumes Embrace a Child-Friendly Atmosphere

At the heart of the School’s plan lie five wooden house-shaped volumes that echo the scale of surrounding detached houses. The design maintains a low flat roof height, complemented by high ceilings, creating a gentle structure that seamlessly blends into the local townscape. Exposed wooden beams envelop the space in warmth, and each volume boasts a distinct structure, lending character to individual areas. Wood extends to the exterior and walls, enveloping the entire building in a child-friendly, inviting ambiance.

To seamlessly integrate the kindergarten into the neighborhood, the building’s volume is thoughtfully dispersed throughout the site, with the yard nestled within the architectural margins. The design introduces a walkway that connects the small garden with an alley-like path, allowing children to roam both indoors and outdoors. The small yard fosters unrestricted play for daily childcare. Himawari Nursery School redefines early childhood education, promoting childhood exploration and community integration.

five wooden house-shaped volumes that echo the scale of surrounding detached houses

the site becomes a ‘playground’ where children are encouraged to explore both indoor and outdoor realms

the small yard fosters unrestricted play for daily childcare

exposed wooden beams envelop the space in warmth, and each volume boasts a distinct structure

Reference

Architecture

thinned trees from japanese forest compose barrel-shaped sauna with stepped ceiling

By Zarkon Group,22/08/2023

kairi eguchi studio’s private sauna fosters interplay of light

Based on the classic structure of a barrel sauna, Kairi Eguchi Studio’s YOKI SAUNA sits on the site of an abandoned elementary school in Hyogo, Japan, as a rejuvenating experience rooted in nature and local heritage. Its wooden form is shaped by thinning trees collected from the engulfing natural environment, and is marked by a long, slender window crowned by a stepped ceiling. This distinct feature welcomes an interplay of light and shade into the space, immersing visitors in an ethereal, tranquil ambiance.

all images courtesy of the author

a tranquil experience rooted in nature

Located in Aogaki, Tamba City, the facility fosters a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding environment, with the water used in the sauna’s baths being drawn from the headwaters of the Kakogawa River. Further, extending its scope of the project beyond architectural design, Osaka-based Kairi Eguchi Studio’s branding of YOKI SAUNA pays homage to the backdrop of the nearby mountains. The project is shaped from thinning trees felled in the mountains — an operation initiated by the facility’s management company Ki-ei Co. — which informs the sauna’s logo depicting four interconnected trees.

YOKI SAUNA sits on the site of an abandoned elementary school in Japan