10 DESIGN: Winner of International Residential Architecture Awards 2020. 10 DESIGN (10) has created the ultimate in island living for Bluewaters Residences.  It is built on a new man-made island off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. The overall MLP and architectural design for the residential component of the Bluewaters development have been carefully considered to maximize the available views and value of the waterfront.

Bluewaters Residences comprise of 10 elegant mid-rise buildings providing 698 apartments, 4 penthouses, and 17 townhouses.  The development offers a premium lifestyle with residential amenities including state-of-the-art gymnasiums, swimming pools, landscaped gardens, basketball courts, and children’s play areas. 

In addition to creating an idyllic neighborhood and community, Dubai-based holding company, Meraas, is committed to creating an immersive destination for the entire Bluewaters development.  It is home to Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, complemented with a shopping paradise, and two world’s leading hotels by Caesars Palace. 

To synchronise the planning of the entire development, the respective design firms responsible for each section of the island had to work closely together to provide a coherent vision.  10’s overall massing of the residential development, therefore, had to not only respond to the available sea views and but also help to define the streetscape of the adjacent hotel and retail sites. 

10 has achieved this by steering a challenge into multiple design opportunities. Due to the construction technique of the island, basement space is limited.  10, therefore, introduced a ‘podium’ car park structure, which lifted the residential ground floor some 10m above the surrounding street level.   This in turn has provided multiple opportunities to the development. The private realm of the residential masterplan could enjoy elevated views out the ocean, above the public realm of the surrounding streetscape.

10 also utilized the ‘podium’ structure to introduce townhouse typology along the western edge providing living space with direct access to the water edge. The northern, eastern, and southern edges integrate arrival spaces to the main circulation spine and accommodate retail / F&B spaces to activate the ‘edges’ of the development seamlessly integrating with the surrounding commercial streetscape.

The overall residential development provides a harmonious and holistic approach to island living, combined with the advantages of modern mid-rise development. The design seeks to provide many opportunities for people to seek both social interactions through the use of dedicated communal facilities and privacy within the secluded green oasis garden courtyard spaces.  Also, daylight has been carefully considered throughout the development. Internally each unit balances an appropriate level of daylight depending upon the orientation, still ensuring to maximize the fantastic views to the surrounding. The client and the design team worked closely together to ensure each residential unit enjoys a diffuse level of daylight within to ensure comfortable habitation.

The development, positioned as one of the most iconic offshore developments of the 21st century, has sold well and is seen as an iconic living destination within Dubai – a success for Meraas and 10 DESIGN.

Beyond the above, easy accessibility is vital for any well-considered destination. Bluewaters is within touching distance of Dubai Marina and is just a short drive from Abu Dhabi. The development is connected to the mainland by a direct road linking to Sheikh Zayed Road and a pedestrian bridge linking to Jumeirah Beach.

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Winner: International Residential Architecture Awards 2020 

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Firm: 10 DESIGN
Architects: 10 DESIGN
Category: Housing Multi-Family
Project Location: Dubai
Team: Nick Cordingley, Chris Jones, David Emmer, Rita Pang, Javier Perea, Jason Easter, Marco Bonucci, Alexander Li, Inigo Arrotegui, Lukasz Wawrzenczyk, Dan Narita, Alexey Golbraykh, Harris Chu, Kishor Lad, Vincent Fung, Jamie Webb, Kevis Wong, Silan Yip, Yao Yap, Jonathan Van Der Stel, Nick Benner, Janet Tam, Nick Chan, Lynn Kim, Warith Zaki, Jane Yu, Jinjing Yu, Rachel Xia, Colin Ashton, Yao Ma, Liang Wang, George Aguirre, Sean Quinn, Ka Wai Tse, Eugene de Villiers
Country: United Arab Emirates
Photography ©Credit: Meraas, Rafael Vargas for 10 DESIGN, Leslie Pableo, 100pixels, ASAG

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10 DESIGN is an international award-winning practice of architects and creative talents with studios in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Edinburgh, Dubai, Miami, and London. We have expertise in the planning and design of projects in retail, office, hospitality, residential, cultural, education, and transport sectors. Since its inception in 2010, 10 DESIGN has evolved into a family of over 200 creatives, designing and delivering works in more than 60 cities across the world and winning 70+ international awards and design competitions.