Modern Heritage Research Grants

This research examines the evolution of modern architectural typologies in the United Arab Emirates through the lens of materiality, exploring how construction materials, design ideologies, and global trade shaped the nation’s built environment. From the 1960s onward, rapid urbanization drove the adoption of imported materials—especially precast concrete—which enabled functional, monumental modernist forms in civic and institutional buildings. Case studies such as the Dubai World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi’s bus stops, and Sharjah’s Obaid Building reveal how modernism merged with local climate, craft, and culture, reflecting a critical regionalist approach.