design Studio thunder It aims to create a “world-class government building” for the Court of the Ajman Ruler. united arab emiratesWhich holds the office of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi.
The design aimed to showcase both the heritage of Ajman – the smallest of the seven United Arab Emirates – and its contemporary culture.
“When designers think of the UAE they think of glitz: gold chandeliers and shiny marble.” thunder founder Pallavi Dean told Dezeen.
“If you take the time to scratch the surface it will uncover layers of character and rich cultural stories, all expressed in a very modern, non-sticky language. I hope this project and the government’s bold vision That’s all it will show.”
The studio was asked to create a design that would encourage collaboration between different government departments while increasing engagement and productivity.
To do this, it created a layout for a two-storey building that was partly based on the geography of Ajman.
“First, we redefined the interior architecture by creating three large double-volume spaces,” Dean said. “These voids act as interconnecting volumes that connect the floors visually and physically.”
“Second, we planned the space like mini districts within the emirate itself – each boasting a variety of workplaces for sitting, standing and deep work, complete with flexible meeting areas and a ‘local’ café Is.”
The Ajman Ruler’s Court includes the office of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, as well as meeting rooms, a boardroom and a reception, at the center of which is a staircase surrounded by sand dunes.
“The stairs represent the fluidity and flexibility of our region’s natural landscape and reflect the adaptability required in leadership and governance,” Dean said.
In another geographical reference, he designed the roof of the staircase as an allusion to a local type of boat.
“The Port of Ajman is one of the major contributors to the emirate’s economy,” Dean said. “The traditional dhow, a sailing boat, is inspired by the architectural forms you see in the ceiling of the main staircase.”
The staircase was also decorated with an installation of abstract palm trees as well as geometric shapes by Emirati artist Khaled Shafar.
“The attractive angular shapes you see here are reinforced in the space plan and interior elements,” Dean said. “These angles refer to the size of the emirate itself on the satellite map.”
The design language of the staircase was echoed in the reception area, which features a light color palette and artworks by local artists Akil and Azza Al Qubaisi.
Here, visitors can also admire the Sheikh’s elevator, which is based on the architecture of traditional Aresh houses made of palm trees and features brass panels and wooden details.
Dean used textures and forms to demarcate different areas of the Ajman ruler’s court while keeping the color scheme fairly consistent.
“The space is mainly monochromatic in terracotta tones – we used different textures, played with lighting and geometric forms in the ceiling to differentiate different areas,” she explained.
“Vernacular patterns given abstract features on wall coverings and screens that divide the space.”
In the office of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Roar used neutral tones and added an artwork by Ultra Arte that was created specifically for the space.
Meanwhile, the boardroom features a stainless-steel artwork informed by the Al Barwa letters that were traditionally written by the UAE’s rulers and dignitaries.
Roer also designed the Chairman’s Majlis, a meeting room furnished with low sofas. Here, wood paneling, marble-topped tables and soft carpets create a tactile feel, while a glass chandelier adds a playful design detail.
The Dean hopes that Ajman Ruler’s Court will be appreciated as a well-designed building not only locally but also globally.
“This building sends a message about the future of Ajman and its values – so people should think ‘Wow, this is one of the best government buildings in the UAE… Don’t wait. Globally!’ – Only the visitor can judge if we really did it!” He concluded.
“That’s the aspiration – we wanted to build a world-class government building.”
Roar’s other recent projects include A showroom of Jaipur Rugs in Dubai with cascading stairs And A café with decorative broken ceramic tiles,
Photography is by Yasser Ibrahim.
