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3. LITERATURE STUDY

3.1 Al Seef Heritage Development, Dubai

Dubai's fast growth sometimes overshadows its rich history of pearl searchers, merchants,
Thesis Report V-SPARC VIT
and fishermen trading on the Creek. The Al Bastakiya historic district on the southern Creek
shore is physically and architecturally connected to the Al Seef project. Constructed by

indigenous pioneers, the 1890s community featured sixty residences arranged along a maze
of small, winding lanes.

A large portion of the region was destroyed in the 1980s to create room for new
construction. An effort to save the remaining buildings was launched in panic. This

was successful, and the neighbourhood's distinctive wind towers, souks, and lanes

were preserved for future generations.

Figures 2 & 3: Photographs of Al Seef (Left) and the area of the Site

Redeveloping a 1.6km Creekside section near Old Dubai, developers Meeras
recognised an opportunity to fortify the area. Al Seef, which translates to

"coast/shore" in Arabic, would honourably commemorate the city's rich nautical

heritage and dynamic multicultural society.

The goal of the project was to integrate both contemporary and heritage sites into

Dubai to harmonise the two.

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