Three-storey building is first of its kind in Gulf

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: View of the peninsular site and surrounding waterfront promenade

Source: Rory Gardiner

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: View of the peninsular site and surrounding waterfront promenade

Serie Architects has completed the first non-governmental contemporary arts institution of its kind in the Gulf.

The 10,000sq m Jameel Arts Centre is a three-storey, multi-disciplinary space on a sliver of land that reaches out into Dubai Creek.

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: The overall composition is a series of rooms around courtyards

Source: Rory Gardiner

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: The overall composition is a series of rooms around courtyards

It contains 10 gallery spaces of different sizes, the UAE’s first open-access arts library and resource centre, seven desert gardens designed by landscape architect Anouk Vogel, commissions, studio and events spaces, a restaurant and shop.

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: View from one gallery into another across the central courtyard

Source: Mohamed Somji

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai: View from one gallery into another across the central courtyard

Serie, a former YAYA winner, won the project in 2014 through an international invited competition.

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. The main entrance from the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park

Source: Rory Gardiner

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. The main entrance from the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park

Christopher Lee, principal of Serie, said: “We worked very closely with Art Jameel, listening to their needs, responding with architectural ideas, and discursively refining them. The architecture that emerged is one that is able to accommodate a wide range of uses and continues to evolve with the city it serves.

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Entrance colonnade with desert gardens

Source: Mohamed Somji

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Entrance colonnade with desert gardens

“It acts as a background structure for the life of the centre to unfold, without disappearing from view. Positioning galleries around courtyard gardens and framed views of the waterfront also serves to create moments of rest and connection, while providing potential spaces for commissioned installations.”

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Main entrance from the waterfront promenade

Source: Mohamed Somji

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Main entrance from the waterfront promenade

An open-air sculpture park created by Dubai-based architects Ibda Design serves as a bridge between the centre and the surrounding Jaddaf corniche.

Serie Architects' Jameel Arts Centre. The library and offices look north over Dubai Creek

Source: Simon Whittle

Serie Architects’ Jameel Arts Centre. The library and offices look north over Dubai Creek