Dubai, UAE – 3 February 2023: The world is looking to London today as the results of the International Property Awards (IPA) are announced. Widely regarded as one of the most important and respected awards in the industry, the IPA are judged by an independent panel of experts in the field, who evaluate entries based on a range of criteria, including design, quality, innovation, sustainability, and more.
Today they have named CRTKL, the global cultural agency specializing in architecture, planning and design, the winner of the Best International Architecture Multiple Residence award for Central Park at City Walk.
Draped in plants and flowers suspended in hanging baskets from balcony edges, Central Park is an inspired solution that delivers green and health inner-city living. For every resident at Central Park at City Walk, there is more open green space, for every family more opportunities for outdoor play, and for every hybrid worker more amenities to support new ways of working.
Here, CRTKL converted a ‘park surrounded by buildings’ into a true ‘park living experience’ in the heart of Dubai, which improves the quality of air, increases clean energy contributions, and preserves natural resources, all while fostering real economic growth and social development.
Obada Adra, Associate Principal at CRTKL said: “We wanted to create a community that boosts wellness and add value to its city by creating a new public park, its residents by maximizing their exposure and access to green space, and its developer by maximising the units with park views and improving returns on investment.”
In collaboration with Meraas, CRTKL challenged the site’s potential and went about creating a lifestyle ecosystem rooted in wellbeing where residents are connected with the natural surrounds and each other.
CRTKL created an algorithm that qualitatively assessed views from every apartment and assigned a score to the overall masterplan massing. From there, the team eliminated the compromised masses and raised the buildings on pilotis to elevate them from the ground plane and connected the podiums with the park. The result increases the park area by 50%, provides residents with direct park access and increases the number of units with park views from 25% to 63%.
“At Central Park we prioritised the residents and sought out design innovations that would enhance their quality of life and enrich their day-to-day. For us, this was an opportunity to prove the impact of performance driven design and showcase how ESG can be a value driver for real estate,” says Adra.
“We are proud to see Central Park delivering on the climate positive, equitable and inspiring future we envisage for the built environment and grateful to the IPA and our clients for supporting these pursuits.”
Established in 1994, the International Property Awards (IPA) are widely regarded as one of the most important and respected awards in the property industry. The awards cover a wide range of categories, including residential, commercial, and leisure properties, as well as interior design and architecture. They are open to developers, builders, architects, interior designers, and other professionals in the property industry from around the world. The awards are highly sought after, and they are widely recognised as a symbol of quality and distinction in the industry.