Concept Vision Development
3. Case studies research
The research
The purpose of this phase is to gather and analyse the most relevant
information related to the project and applicable worldwide best practices.
This research is about examples that combine retail and housing typologies
adapted in the local culture and architecture. Mainly studying big scale
innervations in Europe, Arabic world and Asia inspired by the identity of
each culture in diferent ways.
Similarly, another important element of our design, always combined with
retail use, is the presentation of local food and culture. Such example can
be found in Fico Eataly World in Bologna where traditional agriculture
production units as well as workshops of the fabrication of Italian products
is part of the visitor’s experience.
We particularly selected six projects according to the main functions of our
design. Urban markets that consist traditional features are also important for our
project. Two examples in India where a common ground for art, culture
and retail is made in order to provide a new but at the same time traditional
market experience. Those examples are the Dilli Haats in Delhi and the
Awadh Shipgram market.
Key elements of our project is the combination of food and retail uses
into an open space intervention. Thus, we analysed the most successful
examples of market spaces that emphasize the ides of regional food retail
district. An interesting approach of combining modern architecture with traditional
form is the Abu Dhabi Central market. It is a brand new approach of the
traditional souk markets is the Abu Dhabi Central market that using the
Islamic patterns innovates the retail area.
The main aim of Noah is the creation of an ethnographic district with
cultural elements that represent the regions of Armenia. Based on a similar
idea is the Pablo Espanyol project that reproduces the tradition architectural
elements in order to create the regional Spanish atmosphere. Another aspect of Noah is the combination of retail use with residential use.
This is already done in the Al Nasseem district that consist various housing
typologies with retail following the traditional architectural forms.
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