The Shift is the highest earthen construction in the world. Both local and international, it reflects the school’s influence over the world, with a local climate-based design principle. The students’ curriculum begins at the top where they can free their minds from the reality of the city and understand the territory in its whole. It ends at the lowest floors, where they share room with professional architects.
courtesy of © Atelier du Pont
The school life takes place in several simple volumes, protected from the sun, wind and sand by thick façades made of clay. They shift from each other to allow light to enter in deep patios where open air basins regulate the atmosphere by cooling the air and controlling humidity. The implantation of the school within Dubai cityscape respects the urban scheme and its ambition to build a futuristic metropolis. It also plays with spectacular out of scale gaps in order to reveal the importance of the void in architecture, offering students both experimentation and meditation spaces so they can imagine the city of tomorrow.
courtesy of © Atelier du Pont
The Shift also aims to challenge the concept of vertical cities as a relationship between tradition and modernity. The stacking of human sized modules stages a comeback of mankind in its natural environment combined with contemporary technological prowess.
courtesy of © Atelier du Pont
Project Info:
Architects: Atelier du Pont
Location: Dubai, UAE
Year: 2014
Type: Educational/ Architectural School
Status: Competition
Competition team: Quentin Perchet, Nicolas Souchko
Hadeer Shahin is the Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she curates innovative architectural works from around the globe. With a background in architecture from Alexandria University and hands-on experience in design and digital content, she bridges the gap between technical precision and editorial vision. Hadeer’s keen eye for spatial storytelling and her passion for contemporary design trends make her a vital contributor to Arch2O’s mission of highlighting excellence in the built environment.