Motor City started off as the Dubai Autodrome. Ivar was lead designer on this project while employed by HOK. 1 year later, design services for phase 2 were tendered, and the end result was that HOK didn’t get the job, with the project going to Burt Hill, a relatively large firm from Pittsburgh PA, USA.
The CEO of the development company, Simon Azzam, of Union Properties, invited Ivar to come to Dubai permanently to work on phase 2 with Burt Hill, and Ivar agreed, entering the firm as a Principal. The design presents unique challenges due to the racetrack in the middle. Circulation, building location, and noise mitigation drove the decisions which resulted in the final design. Motor City today has the highest leased unit percentage in the Dubailand region.
This is due to its welcoming neighborhood feel, which encourages even the residents of nearby developments such as Arabian Ranches and Sports City to come to Motor City for leisure activities and retail.
- Category
- Master planning, Residential
- Location
- Dubai, UAE
- Year
- 2003-2008
- Client
- Union Properties
- Role
- Ivar Krasinski was the Lead Design and Masterplanner on this project while at Burt Hill
- GFA
- 600 hectares, 5,000 units
- Project
- Masterplan, Residential
- Status
- Built
- Master Architect
- Burt Hill