DIGESTQ1 2016 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 3

• Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon• Meet Philipp Rietheimer• Mica Mall Update• Pierre Roux Conquering Kilimanjaro

• Social Media Blog• Blast from the Past • Rashid Centre for the Disabled• Cairo Design Competition

• American University in Dubai • DSA Sustainability Pledge• MEED Economic Review

DSA

IN THIS ISSUE:

DSA SIGNS CONTRACT FOR MAJOR MIXED-USE BAKU DEVELOPMENTDSA are delighted to announce our

appointment to design and supervise

The Crescent Development Project - a

luxury hospitality, residential, commercial

and retail project located on the coastline

of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan.

Developed by Gilan Holdings, The Crescent

will be an international landmark, with the

flagship hotel set to become an icon for

Baku. Inspired by the moon, the 150m high

structure, with its distinctive and striking

form, represents the birth of something vital,

breath-taking and unique. At night it will

form a beacon of light for the Bay of Baku

and the backdrop to the inaugural Baku

Formula 1 Grand Prix this coming June.

The overall project has a total area of around

500,000 m2, plus associated infrastructure

and public realm landscaping, which

includes an extensive lagoon surrounding

hotel which will feature a state-of-the-

art fountain, music and light show.

Peter Davison, Director for DSA,

commented: “We are proud to be given

the opportunity to be associated with

such a fantastic project and appreciative

of the confidence shown in our team

by Gilan Holdings. Everybody is 100%

focussed on delivering on their vision

for a truly world-class destination.”

www.dsa-arch.com

Welcome to the latest edition of the DSA Architects International quarterly newsletter.

This first newsletter of the year enables us to share positive news regarding our very healthy position in terms of workload for the coming year, an update on some of our ongoing projects, and some interesting staff stories and activities.

We have enjoyed a good deal of success over recent months, and are very pleased in particular to have signed the contract for The Crescent development in Baku, which is a massive commission for the Dubai office and one we can rightly be proud of.

This success comes as a result of a lot of hard work on the part of those of our team involved in preparing detailed and highly professional RFP submissions and design concepts, and to developing strong working relationships with clients who place their trust in DSA to deliver leading edge designs with an emphasis on quality, budget and time.

As we move through 2016, we are well placed to continue to demonstrate our unrivalled market leading expertise across all spheres of the hospitality and leisure sectors, as well as further developing our strengths and reputation in education, retail and residential markets both within the Middle East region and further afield.

As ever, we hope that you enjoy reading about what DSA International and our staff are doing both at work and outside of work.

Best wishes.DSA Management Team

A WARM WELCOME!

A number of DSA Dubai staff participated in the Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon 2016 events at the end of January.

The full 42km marathon and 10km started and finished on the Umm Suqeim Road opposite the DSA designed Madinat Jumeirah and in the shadow of the iconic Burj Al Arab.

Everybody did fantastically well in completing the individual races with Arina Loubser from our accounts department the real star of the show in finishing the full 42k Marathon.

Congratulations Arina!

Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2016

Q1 2016 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 3

Philipp Rietheimer, the son of a German father and a Portuguese mother, was born in Kobe, Japan, and moved to Portugal when he was 5 years old.

Philipp, now 44, joined Mike Scott in DSA’s office in the country’s capital in 2009, to assist with the design and delivery of the Park Hyatt Hotel, Mallorca, which is due to open in April this year, an event that Philipp admits to being “extremely proud and excited about”.

As an Associate of the practice he is responsible for overseeing all of the office design commissions and currently providing support to the Dubai office for the Al Loulouah project in KSA.

Completing all his studies in Portugal, including a Masters in Construction, Philipp is now a family man and very settled there, with a wife of 9 years, Angelica a ‘Qi Gong’ teacher and a son, Gabriel aged 7.

For those of you who don’t know, ‘Qi Gong’ is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention. In fact the couple met when they both happened to be volunteering for a charity organization providing food, clothing and a ‘smile’ for homeless people around Lisbon metropolitan centre.

His main passion, from a very young age has always been painting (now mainly Oriental Arts) and drawing, with some occasional clay sculpting, and freely admits it was a difficult decision to make between choosing to become an architect as opposed to an artist.

Meet Philipp Rietheimer, Associate Lisbon Office ...

A true ‘ARTIST’ amongst the DSA Architectural Team

Volunteer work - LBV - 2007

Part of the Lisbon team - “out for lunch” – 2013

A short holiday in Switzerland - 2012

portrait don

e by

his

3 y

ears

old so

n - 2012

“I think it might have been my father’s ‘German blood’ that gave me the structured decision making to becoming an architect, rather than simply following my heart into trying to make my way in life as an artist. However, I still like to spend my relaxation time perusing art galleries and exhibitions as much as I can”.

Of course Philipp’s other main passion is his family, and when he is not travelling he spends as much time as possible with Gabriel, including introducing his son to the artistic world he loves so much himself “At this time important time in his life, I hope that I can give Gabriel some guidance and advice, but at the same time not trying to be too influential in what he should do in life”.

In terms of his role at DSA, Philipp is notably humble about his achievements and describes the success of the projects he has been involved in as being very much a team effort, rather than simply down to one person.

“I like the collaborative nature of taking a design with a team from initial concept through detailed design and into eventual delivery. Often the problem with architects is simply that of ‘Ego’, and their belief that good design is down to them only. This is simply not the case, and even the most successful architects need good teams around them”.

When asked about his ambitions in life, again Philipp shows modesty in terms of his career goals, stating “I always aim to do the best job I possibly can - after that what will be will be. But really my main aim in life now is to help Gabriel to become a good man and to be there to support him”.

www.dsa-arch.com

Located in one of the most popular tourist areas of Kish Island, a resort island in the Gulf and a part of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mica Mall is set to add to the island’s reputation as a consumer paradise.

#ProjectUpdateMICA MALL, KISH ISLAND, IRAN

Work is progressing at pace on DSA’s Mica Mall project with construction now over 50% complete.

The 190,000m2 contemporary retail development will provide 7 levels of high-quality shopping, restaurant and entertainment space, including an aquarium, cinema, kid’s zone, ice-rink, bowling centre, digital golf experience and a state-of-the-art video arcade.

CONQUERING

KILIMANJARO!Huge congratulations to Pierre Roux of the Johannesburg office for the massive accomplishment of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

An amazing achievement Pierre, well done!

Q1 2016 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 3

‘A Marketing Revolution?’Virtually the entire world now has access to the World Wide Web – the Internet - and more and more of us are accessing on the go through mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.

The on-line population is exploding and Social Media has proved to be a dynamic and cost effective platform to create brand awareness and an opportunity to distinguish your firm from its competition. Social Media is now the ‘Digital Word of Mouth’ and in today’s modern world forward-thinking, dynamic companies like DSA understand that embracing social media platforms is imperative to progression and success.

It’s a little like the lottery – ‘If you are not in it – You Cannot Win It’ or ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’

It’s all about brand presence and engaging with your audience. Social Media creates an opportunity to showcase DSA’s experience, expertise and project diversity thus resulting in more exposure for our businesses. In addition, Social Media is a brilliant way of creating an association with existing clients and their projects, which is a win/win for all concerned. The major success factors DSA have seen from our social media focus include:

Clearly the power of social media and the extensive role it now plays in all our lives has created marketing opportunities of an extent never before seen.

Visit, Like, Retweet, Re-Pin and Share our amazing projects:

#1 Brand AwarenessSocial Media channels (Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram etc) are constantly introducing new ways to increase brand visibility and make the company more recognisable. We are also able to naturally target the demographic most appropriate to our business - those with a keen interest in the industry and design particularly.

#2 Brand and LoyaltyThe larger the interaction, the higher the brand authority. More engagement on social media has resulted in increased loyalty from followers. Social Media provides great tools for your brand to connect with your audience and increase brand loyalty.

#3 Mass Distribution of ContentPromoting quality content on Social Media is another path leading users back to the website (for example) and creating an opportunity for new visitors to explore the brand. The more quality content shared, the more inbound traffic generated - more traffic means more leads to potential business and likely conversions.

“Re-pinning is a Real Life Bulletin Board”showcasing project experience in a visual context.

The stats speak for themselves:

www.linkedin.com/company/dsa-architects-international

www.pinterest.com/dsaarchintl

www.twitter.com/dsaarchitects

www.facebook.com/DSA-Architects-International-278565038959368/

LinkedIn has in excess of 3 Billion

active users

Twitter has more than 23 million active

users

Pinterest has 100 million monthly active

users

www.dsa-arch.com

DSA was initially established in the Middle East in 2001 through our first project here– the

One & Only Royal Mirage Arabian Courtyard hotel one of the most critically acclaimed

and popular luxury hotels in Dubai. This month, DSA Digest took a visit back there to

see how one of our very favourites from the portfolio was faring.

Overlooking the Palm Jumeirah bay, close to the Marina in ‘new Dubai’, this beautiful, intimate, Arabian-style resort is set within 65 acres of landscaped sanctuary, sheltering guests from the hustle and bustle of the thriving Dubai outside and providing an opulence and privacy which is second to none.

With a 1km long pristine, golden sandy beach complementing the traditional courtyards, meandering walkways, inviting swimming pools, fountains and lush greenery comprising the exterior, the resort manages to combine all the extensive facilities expected of a 5-star luxury property with a richness and exclusivity guests desire. The Arabian Courtyard’s intricate arches, domes and towers comprise to create a truly dramatic building which pays tribute to traditional Arabian style architecture on a regal scale.

Operated by One & Only Resorts, part of the Kerzner International group, the Arabian Courtyard is one of three hotels making-up the overall Royal Mirage Resort (the others being The Palace and The Residence & Spa). It offers 172 luxury guestrooms and suites, each with their own private

balcony or terrace overlooking the ocean. As well

as The Rotisserie All Day Dining restaurant, two

speciality restaurants (Nina & Eauzone) respectively

offer Indo-European and Asian cuisine, and there is

also a Givenchy branded spa offering the ultimate

in relaxation and pampering.

Having won numerous awards, including the World

Travel Awards, The Sunday Times World’s Best

Hotels and Conde Nast Traveller Gold List and

Readers’ Choice, as well as various Trip Advisor

Traveller’s Choice awards; it is clear that the hotel’s

many guests, and industry professionals alike, are

as impressed with what the hotel has to offer as

we, here at DSA, are proud.

BLAST FROM THE PAST @ONE & ONLY ROYAL MIRAGE, DUBAI

Q1 2016 | DSA DIGEST | VOL 2 | ISSUE 3Q1 2016 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 3

DSA are proud to have been announced as the

winner of an architectural design competition

for a major hospitality project in Cairo, Egypt

for Al Futtaim Group Real Estate.

Located within the overall Cairo Festival City

development, the winning design consists of a

5-star luxury hotel of 200 keys, a 4-star hotel of

350 keys and an Event Centre with a capacity to

accommodate up to 2,000 people. The overall

built-up area is approximately 95,000m².

Conceived as an integrated development, the

design embraces efficiency through shared

facilities and integration of the public spaces to

the surrounding mixed use urban community.

DSA ‘WINS’ CAIRO DESIGN COMPETITION

High specialisation, the basis of the Centres’ work, is the key to success in this therapeutic process. This involves huge

financial cost and emotional support received from generous and caring people, which are essential for the centre’s

ongoing proficient performance.

As a result of the interaction with the centre, DSA Architects International would like to take this opportunity to congratulate

H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and all the Founders, Board of Governors and staff for their ongoing dedication

to making a difference to the lives of so many children here in the UAE.

Following recent fund raising efforts, DSA Architects

International handed over a donation to the Rashid Centre

for the Disabled, which will be used for the valuable help

that the charity provides towards the development of

children with special needs.

Rashid Centre for the Disabled aims to provide integrated

educational service and therapy covering learning speech,

cognition, motor skills, self-help skills, socialization and

play. One of the most important ways to achieve this aim

is providing services that are designed to meet individual

needs of children, in an environment of group cooperation

and socialization.

Rashid Centre for the Disabled

www.dsa-arch.com

American University in Dubai

DSA Architects International (Middle East)

address: Office 204, Level 2, Convention Tower, Road 312, Zabeel, Dubai, United Arab Emiratestel: +971 4 329 2288 | fax: +971 4 329 2289mail: dsa.dubai@dsa-arch.com web: www.dsa-arch.com

D S AA R C H I T E C T S

INTERNATIONAL

DSA SustainabilityClimate Pledge for COP21

DSA were represented by Design Principal Floris Smith at the American University in Dubai’s recent Department of Architecture Annual Advisory Board Meeting, the aim of which is bridging the gap between the architectural professional world and academia.

The board comprised prominent professionals from a number leading architectural practices, and provides advice to the Department’s administration as well as helping to set programme standards and providing feedback on alumni position in the marketplace.

As part of DSA’s on-going efforts on sustainability, we are pleased to have associated ourselves with the Emirates Green Building Council and to have pledge to make a real difference in relation to paper consumption.

We are committed to reducing our paper wastage by 40% within our practice along with our partners and clients by 2021. This will take the form of relying on soft copy documentations and BIM, along with using recycled paper for presentation and print material when needed. We are also committed to developing and sharing knowledge to deliver a zero carbon built environment, whilst supporting and demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable buildings and low carbon retrofitting to our clients.

Actual Value of GCC Contract Awards

(2015)

$165BILLION

Forecast Value for GCC Contract Awards

(2016)

$140BILLION

Forecast Value for UAE Contract Awards

(2016)

$37BILLION

A recent publication by MEED Projects showed a healthy outlook for

the regional construction market for 2016 and beyond leading up to

2020.

Many of Dubai key government and private clients have significant pipeline

of future planned projects.

The research undertaken by ‘MEED Projects’, the region’s leading projects

information provider, showed construction outlook for most countries in

the GCC as remaining strong, despite lower oil prices and geo-political

issues

Dubai particularly is likely to remain a leading construction market over the

next 12 months with a large number of major multi use developments due

to be carried across the Emirate

To read more click here: http://emiratesgbc.org/current-pledges

GCC ECONOMIC REVIEW 2016

‘Connecting Academia

and Industry’