Modern Heritage Research Grants

The project investigates how late 20th-century architecture in the United Arab Emirates responded to cultural, environmental, and social conditions through three significant modern heritage projects: the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi (The Architects Collaborative, 1982), the Kindergarten Prototype (Rais and Tukan, 1973), and the Ruwais Housing Complex (Caudill Rowlett Scott, 1979). Through archival research, analytical drawings, 3D-printed models, and stop-motion animations, the project examines how courtyards, shading devices, and façade systems mediated climate and community needs. Moving beyond stylistic interpretation, it explores how spatial and climatic logic reveal deeper sociocultural narratives. The findings will be presented through a bilingual (English/Arabic) printed catalog and an open-access digital platform, combining essays, analytical documentation, and visual studies to expand public and academic understanding of the UAE’s modern heritage and its continuing relevance to sustainable, contextually grounded architectural practice.