Dubai Marina
Why did you chose this city?
Answer: While thinking about the waterfront the only country came to my mind was Dubai. Dubai has many man made island which is built to serve the purpose they are built for.
What was the waterfront used from in the history?
Answer: Dubai Marina is a man made island which was established in 2003. It is about two miles long and accommodate about 120,000 people.
What caused the change at the waterfront?
Answer: The idea for making the man made island was inspired by Concord Pacific Place development along False Creek in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What are the new uses?
Answer: Dubai Marina has world’s tallest residential towers ranging from 820 ft to 1,693 ft. It also has Parks, Metro line, Marina Mall, Beach, restaurants, clothing stores, boutiques, department stores, cafes and gyms.
What are the transportation systems and the access to the waterfront?
Answer: Dubai Marina is connected to the Dubai Metro line which opened in 2010. It can also be accessed by boat.
Is there boat or water access?
Answer: Yes
How does the waterfront attract people?
Answer: The Palm Jumeirah and Blue water islands are visible from the Dubai Marina. In addition, Dubai Marina is also full of breathtaking views. A skydive Dubai is also very close.
What are the amenities?
Answer:
What type of retail/commercial/residential are at the waterfront?
Answer: Dubai Marina has retail, commercial and residential spaces all around it.
What type of public spaces are there?
Answer: The only public space is the Beach.
Who uses these spaces?
Answer: People who come from around the world for vacation and local residences.
What is successful about this waterfront development?
Answer: Everything, beach, skydive, and boats.
What is not successful about this waterfront?
Answer: The waterfront should have a boardwalk so people could run and ride bikes.
So what have you learned from this research that could be applied to your waterfront?
Since, I am willing to design a hotel/art gallery I learn many things from the Dubai Marina waterfront and from the surrounded hotels. Before doing this research, I knew the programs I wanted to have in my hotel/art gallery. Some of the outdoor programs I wanted to have were Resort/private beach and pool. One of my great professors said “people like to see people”. Therefore, as Dubai Marina’s beach is all public which allows more people, I want to have a small public beach too. The reason I want to do that is because I want to bring more public to Red Hook. There is not beach around Red Hook, the only beach is around is the Coney Island Beach. People are missing out the stunning views of the Verrazano bridge, Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, and tall buildings of Manhattan. By making a small Beach I will use the benefit of the waterfront as well as bring the public to my hotel/art gallery.
One of the hotel really manipulated beach was Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort. They made their Resort right in front of their hotel facing the beach which makes hotel’s customers more attached to beach and at the same time they are home.
