DSAQ2 2019 | DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 13

Digest

In this issue:• Welcome from the MD

• Onwards & Upwards

• The Wavehouse

• One to One with Wellington

• Souk Madinat Jumeirah

• South Africa Relay Event

• Hemingways Nairobi

• Dubai Marathon

• Project Update

• Hotel Architecture Award Winners

• Young Achiever Award Winner

DSA are very proud to announce our appointment by Dubai

Holding as the lead consultant for the prestigious Madinat

Jumeirah Living project, which is an exclusive freehold residential

development located in a prime location in Jumeirah, neighbouring

the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. DSA’s role encompasses full

design and site supervision services: multi-disciplinary design

and construction site supervision.

The existing Madinat Jumeirah Resort, also a DSA project, has set

the gold standard for leisure lifestyle in Dubai and is recognised

internationally as a benchmark for hospitality and retail design.

The new Madinat Jumeirah Living development adds a luxury

residential component to the overall Madinat Jumeriah develop-

ment and understandably generated unprecedented demand at

the launch of the first phase at Cityscape 2018. Situated within

the sought-after Jumeirah district with its beautiful beaches and

well-known landmarks, Jumeirah is firmly established as a quint-

essential Dubai statement and a must-see destination for tourists.

Walking through the residential districts will offer a labyrinthine

experience, where surprise awaits around every corner. Facilities

such as day-care centres, play areas, gyms, swimming pools and

pocket parks are evenly distributed and available to all residents.

A connecting elevated pedestrian bridge will connect the Madinat

Living community to the Madinat Jumeirah and beyond.

The inspiration for its powerful design language derives from the

Bastakiya, the ancient heart of the city. The warm colours and

textured surfaces of the thick walls contribute to an environment

which offers a sense of enclosure and scale seldom achieved in

more contemporary buildings. The element of surprise is injected

by means of delightful architectural elements such as wind tow-

ers, rusticated balconies and pergolas, supported by landscape

design which stimulates all the senses.

Madinat Jumeirah Living

2 DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 13 | Q2 2019

WELCOME TO DSA DIGESTA very warm welcome to the latest edition of DSA Digest.

DSA’s current portfolio consists of a healthy

mix of both pre-existing projects and more

recent awards in the early stages of design.

We are particularly proud of the various

high-profile projects DSA are currently

designing and delivering, including our cover

story, the prestigious Madinat Jumeirah

Living project for Dubai Properties. This

project represents a major new commission

in Dubai, building upon DSA’s internationally

acclaimed Madinat Jumeirah Resort. The

project is a prized and exclusive freehold res-

idential development neighbouring the iconic

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, and unsurprisingly

demand from investors at the project launch

at Cityscape 2018 was unprecedented.

In respect of projects already underway, the

Al Zahia Residential project in Sharjah is a

great example of the architectural design

talent that DSA offers and how that trans-

lates into long-term customer relationships

and repeat project awards for DSA. The

latest phase continues DSA’s involvement

for a further two years.

DSA’s leading international status was

recently underlined at the 2018-2019 Inter-

national Property Awards with Nikki Beach

winning the award for Hotel Architecture.

Reflecting on the projects we have suc-

cessfully delivered is important, as they

have been instrumental in strengthening

and further building DSA’s experience and

unrivalled international reputation. In this

issue we feature the wonderful Hemingways

Nairobi 5-Star hotel.

I often refer to the strength in depth of talent

at DSA and this is underpinned with the

unique longevity of service we enjoy. This

is illustrated in the interview with our site

architect Wellington Kambarami who this

year celebrates his thirteenth anniversary

with DSA.

On the occasion of his retirement, I would

like to thank Floris Smith, Design Principal,

DSA, for the wonderfully unique designs and

architecture he has created over the years,

which has provided the foundation for our

success and the inspiration for our next

generation of architects. I wish both Floris

and his wife Wilma, the very best of health,

happiness and success in their next chapter.

Looking to the future, I am delighted that

Kajal Budhia, an architect from DSA Africa,

received the Young Achiever award at the re-

cent South African Women Property Awards.

Elsewhere in this issue, it gives me immense

pleasure to congratulate those members of

staff whose talent and dedication has been

recognised with promotion and to offer a big

welcome to new members of the DSA family.

In parallel to this professional success, DSA

remain focused on community projects that

we believe reflect our core values. It is fan-

tastic that in every edition of DSA Digest, I

am able to read of the personal commitment

and achievements of members of the DSA

team, often involving many weeks of per-

sonal sacrifice. DSA are committed to the

continuous participation in raising funds and

awareness for worthy local and international

causes, and it was a great effort from both

the DSA Africa team and the DSA Dubai

team who participated in the CESA Relay

event and 2019 Dubai Marathon events

respectively. Special mention goes to Manoj

Kumar who finished the full 42km Dubai

Marathon in just over 4 hours.

Wishing a peaceful and happy Ramadan

to the DSA family and all our friends and

colleagues – Ramadan Kareem.

Steve Kelshaw,

Managing Director

Middle East

Onwards & UpwardsA BIG DSA WELCOME TO OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS:

WILME MULLER

Architect

SHAISTHA BEGUM

Senior Architect

FARAH BLAL

Junior Architect

UMANG SHANDILYA

Project Coordinator

NIKHIL SHANMUKHAN

Architect

SHIHAB MOIDEENKUTTY

Architectural Draughtsman

MINAL UKABHAI Accountant

SREERAJ SUKUMARAN

Architectural Draughtsman

GIJO JOHNNY

Architectural Draughtsman

Recent PromotionsDSA are delighted to announce that

Saher Shah and Katherine Cham-

bers have both been promoted to

Associate in our Middle East Studio.

SAHER SHAH

KATHERINE CHAMBERS

3www.dsa-arch.com

PROJECT Opening THE WAVEHOUSE, ATLANTIS THE PALM, DUBAIWe are proud to announce the grand open-

ing of the ‘The Wavehouse’, an exciting new

state-of-the-art family entertainment and

F&B facility located at the iconic Atlantis The

Palm Resort, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

The venue blends together the concept of an

industrial gastro-pub with that of an indoor

adventure park providing a one-of-a-kind

family venue.

Wavehouse occupies 25,000 sqft and is

defined by a number of distinctive areas.

The ‘Gaming Room’ will be situated at

the entrance to the venue and features

attractions such as climbing walls, ad-

venture nets and slides. Once inside you

can experience classic old-school arcade

games, video games, televisions, pool

tables, boxing bags, ball pits and a cinema

zone. There is also a sleek bowling alley

which is one of only two licensed bowling

alleys in Dubai.

Customers will be able to relax in the vibrant,

rustic bar and watch their favourite sports

whilst enjoying a cold beverage. Alternative-

ly, the roof top garden terrace offers sunken

trampolines, gazebos for extra privacy,

glittering hanging lighting and comfortable

seating for all occasions adding an extra

dimension to Wavehouse.

With this project, Atlantis have introduced

an entirely new level of entertainment to

their internationally popular Aquaventure

Water Park.

FAREWELL IN RETIREMENT TO FLORIS SMITHDSA Middle East Design Principal, Floris Smith, has retired and is heading back to Australia to be with his family after 10 fantastic years with the company.

Floris made a huge contribution to DSA’s success, leading our design efforts on the many conceptual and master plan developments we have delivered since 2008, Floris will be missed greatly, both as a talented and experienced profes-sional and as a charismatic, gracious and captivating man.

From all of us at DSA we wish Floris and his wife Wilma, the very best of luck, health and happiness for the future!

Floris and his wife Wilma with DSA ME staff

A farewell dinner with DSA ME directors & associates

4 DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 13 | Q2 2019

One to One with ... WELLINGTON KAMBARAMI

Wellington is justifiably proud of the growth of Al Zahia Residential

and feels that this success is a result of DSA’s strong culture of allow-

ing architects to freely express themselves and fulfil their potential.

He says,

“ It is about the space we are afforded to be creative.”

Wellington has ambitions for his future career development and as

one of five professional siblings, there is the additional element of

family competition to drive him on.

Outside work, Wellington’s life is centred around his family. His wife

is an accountant and they have three daughters, two are in school

in Dubai and his eldest has graduated from university in the UK.

Maintaining his childhood passion for rugby, Wellington officiates as

a rugby referee and touch judge for local school teams and enjoys

working out and running to keep in shape – for the job as well as

the rugby.

It was travelling as a 15-year-old with his school rugby team on tours of Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi that fired Wellington’s imagination for a career in architecture.

On finishing school, Wellington embarked on a Diploma in Architec-

tural Technology from Harare Technical College. This coincided with

Wellington joining John Winter Architects in Harare, Zimbabwe which

ran a work experience programme allowing him to split college work

equally with practical experience. This balanced method of training

afforded Wellington the chance to gain practical knowledge in con-

struction technology from an early stage.

In 1998 Wellington graduated and joined the company as a full-time

junior architect. He was 26 and on his way. The projects he worked

on at this time included holiday resorts and game reserve lodges.

Over the next four years, Wellington steadily progressed through

the company, and by the time he was 30 he had been promoted to

senior architect.

The wider world now beckoned, and Wellington seized the opportu-

nity to move to Blantyre in Malawi, as a senior architect for ASCAS

Consultants. After four years running this office and gaining further

valuable experience, he was again guided by his early mentor, John

Winter who recommended Wellington set out to develop his career in

The Gulf. The sheer scale of the projects undertaken and underway

in the Middle East promised an exciting future for Wellington and his

determination led to his appointment with DSA in June 2006.

By 2008, two years after joining DSA, Wellington had completed his

first major project, the Palace Hotel in Downtown, Dubai. He cites

Nikki Beach as another iconic development in his growing portfolio.

Wellington believes his current project, the Al Zahia Residential proj-

ect in Sharjah, illustrates superbly the unique skill of DSA in providing

architectural design and then seamlessly realising this design with

first-class site supervision. Wellington has led the DSA site team in

delivering this gated community, which has culminated in further

phases including the construction of the latest phase over the next

two years.

Site Architect, DSA Middle East

5www.dsa-arch.com

NEW PROJECT AWARD Souk MADINAT JUMEIRAH EnhancementsDSA were delighted to be commissioned for enhancement works to the the Madinat Ju-meirah Souk.

The project entails a range of improvements to the Madinat

Jumeirah Souk and car parking.

This involves the provision of tensile structure shade to the

central open corridor open plaza, as well as associated interior

treatment and modifications to minimise duplicate circulation.

The new spaces will be fully air-conditioned.

The main entrance redesign will create a single grand entrance

to the Souk. This includes verification of a number of toilets and

the relocation of existing restrooms.

It is proposed that a dedicated pedestrian access from the bus

drop off to the souk will be created, including a new bridge and

viewing platform.

GREAT TEAMWORK IN AFRICA Congratulations to the DSA Africa Team who par-ticipated in the annual CESA (Consulting Engineers South Africa) Walk, Run and Cycle Relay event held at Riversands Farm, Midrand, South Africa.

The CESA has staged this annual fun event for 30 years, with teams

from many of the 500 member firms competing against each other.

Competitors cover 5km in a walk/run format and cycle 8km, whilst

also competing in a tug-of-war and volleyball.

DSA’s team featured, Pierre Roux, Bill Laburn, Michael Thomas

Janine Strachan, Harriet Mkhonza, Colleen Clinton, Carla Hadfield,

Ian Kullin, Debbie Kullin, Collin Fletcher, Lee-Anne Fletcher and Liam

Patterson.

The excitement and enthusiasm generated by this popular event has

seen a steady increase in attendance attracting more than 400 teams

and 3,000 competitors.

6 DSA DIGEST | ISSUE 13 | Q2 2019

Reflection of Excellence Best Hotel in KenyaHemingways Nairobi is a jewel in the DSA project portfolio and it is exciting to report that in the 2019 Trip Advisor ‘Traveller’s Choice Awards’, the boutique hotel which opened in 2014, was ranked first in Kenya in three categories: Top 10 Hotels, Top 10 Luxury Hotels and Top 10 Hotels for Service.

Set in the exclusive Nairobi residential sub-

urb of Karen, between Nairobi National Park

and the foot of the Ngong Hills, Hemingways

Nairobi is an exclusive 5 star hotel, far from

the bustle of central Nairobi.

The architectural theme is that of a Southern

States, Plantation Style Luxury Residence,

and in keeping with the residential nature of

the suburb in which is situated, the buildings

have consciously been kept to two stories.

The central public areas and Porte Cochere

are reminiscent of a Plantation Style Manor

house, with the bedroom suites located on

the North West boundary maximising each

unit’s view over the manicured gardens, to

the Ngong Hills in the distance.

Materials used have been carefully select-

ed, with imported Italian marble, as well

as hardwoods sourced from sustainable

forests. Both the public areas as well as the

suites, have a spacious feeling of generous

space which is enhanced by using generous

vertical volumes.

Hemingways Nairobi has a sophisticated

and tranquil ambiance. Each of the 45 suites,

ranging in size from 80 m² to 160 m², all with

walk-in dressing rooms and a terrace with

magnificent views of the Ngong Hills.

The State-Of-The-Art Spa and Wellness

Centre features a gymnasium, hairdresser,

pedicure and manicure facilities, specialist

spa treatment rooms, relaxation areas,

saunas and steam rooms.

7www.dsa-arch.com

PROJECT UPDATE Al ZAHIA RESIDENTIAL, SHARJAH

We are delighted to announce that the Al Lilac Residential project, part of the wider Al Zahia development by Majid Al Futtaim Properties in Sharjah has broken ground and construction is now progressing at pace.

An idyllic community, fully designed by DSA, comprising

3, 4 and 5 bedroom townhouses and villas, these luxurious

homes are scheduled for handover in Q1 2021.

DSA IN THE RUNNING

The Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai, was held January 2019 and the DSA Middle East team joined the event and completed the 4km, 10km and 42km races.

We applaud our colleagues who took part and performed superbly in

their respective races.

Special congratulations go to Manoj Kumar on finishing the 42km

marathon in an impressive time of 4 hours 3 minutes.

Manoj Kumar

D S ABELGRADE

D S ADUBAI

D S AJOHANNESBURG

D S ALISBON

DSA Architects International (Middle East)

address: Office 204, Convention Tower, Zabeel, Dubai, UAEtel: +971 4 329 2288 fax: +971 4 329 2289mail: dsa.dubai@dsa-arch.com web: www.dsa-arch.com

@DSAarchitects DSA Architects International @dsaarchitectsintl

Congratulations to DSA Africa’s ‘Young Achiever’

DSA TAKES TOP AWARD FOR NIKKI BEACH RESORT & SPA

Kajal Budhia, (pictured centre) an architect from DSA Africa re-ceived the Young Achiever Award in the South African Women Property Awards 2018.

The Awards were held at the Sanlam Art

Gallery and recognise those who continue to

influence and change the landscape of the

property industry. This not only recognises

the achievements of the individuals but

also the contribution they have made to the

broader industry.

We are thrilled that our entry for the International Property Awards 2018, for Nikki Beach Resort & Spa was an award winner for Hotel Architecture in the Dubai category.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa is a unique hotel property offering exclusivity, privacy and a beach

club experience. The development delivers on our client’s vision to create a location for

Glamour, a party lifestyle and the coolest place to be seen.

After receiving the award, on behalf of DSA, Director Tim Goodall commented: “This award is

fantastic recognition for DSA and testimony to the efforts and dedication of the whole team!”

Tim Goodall, DSA ME Director