Modern Heritage Research Grants

This study examines the Mulhaq — an ancillary architectural typology — within Dubai’s evolving urban landscape. Mulhaqs range from staff quarters and external kitchens to artist studios and semi-public cultural spaces. The research investigates their historical emergence, informal practices, municipal regulations, material standardization, and contemporary uses. Methods include field documentation, oral histories, typological mapping, and archival research to understand the Mulhaq’s spatial logic and cultural significance. The project extends the Mulhaq concept beyond residential settings to similar secondary structures in public and commercial contexts, reframing it as a spatial strategy rather than a fixed typology. A key focus lies in the emotional and social dimensions, capturing narratives of memory, nostalgia, and everyday life embedded in Mulhaqs. The outcomes include a public exhibition and printed publication documenting case studies, drawings, and interviews. This work aims to preserve and reactivate the Mulhaq as a living heritage, contributing to Dubai’s architectural record and informing future design and heritage practice.