Dubai’s waterfront enters a new era with Dan Sibert, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, leading the vision for Solaya in Jumeirah 1. He shares how the studio is redefining coastal living through calm modernism and fluid connections with nature.
In a city known for pushing the boundaries of architecture and setting new benchmarks, a landmark project is emerging along its pristine coastline. Solaya, an exclusive collection of 234 beachfront residences in the Jumeirah 1 neighbourhood, is poised to redefine residential living.
Solaya has been described as a blend of architectural precision and understated elegance. What was the overarching vision that guided Foster + Partners’ design for this landmark coastal development?
Our overarching vision is to provide a collection of curated residences that offer refined luxury living, where the city meets the sea. The collaboration between Meraas and Brookfield Properties has been instrumental in crafting this vision.
The buildings will be surrounded by incredible native greenery, and every apartment will be orientated to maximise views and celebrate indoor-outdoor living by the beach. We are also generating a brand- new civic space for Dubai, which takes the form of a spectacular landscaped park at the centre of the site.
How did the unique beachfront setting in Jumeirah 1 influence the form, orientation, and spatial organisation of Solaya’s nine buildings? The scheme comprises two distinct residential collections, which are connected by the new park that overlooks the beach.
Landscaping flows seamlessly from the park into the residential areas, creating a green sanctuary in the heart of Dubai.
The residential buildings have been designed from the inside out, so that their external appearance is defined by the arrangement of the apartments’ different rooms. The rooms are rotated to provide each apartment with direct views along the coast and towards the city’s skyline, resulting in a highly varied and stepped façade.
What architectural strategies did you employ to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces while maintaining privacy and comfort for
We are using rough-cast stone from the local area for the buildings’ vertical walls, creating a tactile, natural feel that connects the architecture to its beach context. This is contrasted with highly
machined balcony elements, establishing a dialogue between natural and engineered materials.
Our design also blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces – and includes landscape features within the apartments to enhance residents’ connections to the surrounding
environment. The apartments feature courtyards, balconies, and outdoor terraces, which harmoniously
blend nature with comfortable indoor living. Ground-floor homes connect with private gardens,
while the whole-floor penthouses have their own dedicated lift access, private pools, and 360-degree views.
We are also incorporating significant landscaped areas between the buildings and the beach, which allows residents to ‘breathe out’ upon arrival. This transition from the intensity of the city to the relaxed beach environment is a key experiential element of the project.