Architecture and Change: Designing for a Region That Moves Fast

In the Gulf, a skyline can change more in ten years than some cities change in a century. That speed is exciting. It is also a responsibility.

What does fast change mean for architects?

Briefs evolve mid-project. Regulations tighten. Markets shift from one building type to another. National visions redefine what a city is for.

How do you design for uncertainty?

• Flexible structure — floor plates that can become offices, apartments or hotel rooms.
• Generous floor-to-floor heights that allow future servicing.
• Simple, durable materials that age well.
• Good bones — orientation, daylight and circulation that stay right whatever the use.

Is ambition the enemy of longevity?

No. The most ambitious thing a building can do is remain useful and loved after the reason it was built has changed.

That is the kind of architecture we want to add to the region: buildings that move with it.

[Build something lasting with Cornerstone.](/contact?enquire=1)