This new skyscraper in the Dubai skyline, Muraba Velo designed by RCR Architects, is located next to the canal and next to Dubai's main transport artery, proposing a contemporary architecture inspired by vernacular culture and traditions.
The slender result of the project makes use of traditional ventilation and natural light techniques, taking advantage of an inventive and thoughtful architecture. Conceived and designed with precision, performance and beauty, the work represents more than the creation of a conventional residential building, but rather a synonym for the creation of landscapes and luxury in the heights.
A hair’s breadth of a building, the uniquely narrow profile slices through the air. Muraba Veil by RCR Arquitectes. Rendering courtesy by RCR Arquitectes, Muraba & MARCH.
Ten years of partnership culminate in a fifth collaboration between Dubai-based Muraba and Spanish studio RCR Arquitectes, who share a desire to work in harmony with the natural environment and concepts inspired by the unique characteristics of each location. Taking into account Dubai’s culture and climate, Muraba and RCR present a new type of skyscraper for the region: an exercise in adapting architecture to the site, working with nature rather than against it.
Muraba Velo rises to a height of 380 metres with an extreme slenderness of just 22.5 metres wide. The 73-storey tower has been approved and registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and will consist of 131 apartments, with exclusive 2- to 5-bedroom residences and leisure amenities such as a spa, a restaurant, a gallery, a paddle tennis court, private meeting rooms and a private cinema. The minimum price for the homes is AED 18,000,000. Muraba Velo is supported by world-leading engineering consultancy WSP and client advisory services from Arup.
Muraba Velo rises imposingly yet discreetly above the dunes of the UAE’s most cosmopolitan and futuristic city, offering a bold and striking spectacle, even in an architectural landscape as full of landmarks as Dubai. The building is revealed behind a series of layers, the first of which is the “Veil” itself, a custom-made, porous and responsive stainless steel mesh that reflects the different shades of the sky and dematerialises the presence of the architecture. The structure, whose unusually slender profile and appearance are due to its most advanced design and engineering, is inspired by centuries-old domestic architecture, which over time has sought to meet the basic human needs of shelter, security, privacy and a close connection to nature.
Expansive terraces provide stunning lateral views from each residence. Muraba Veil by RCR Arquitectes. Rendering courtesy by RCR Arquitectes, Muraba & MARCH.
Inside, the Veil is inspired by the model of the Arabian house, which reveals itself through successive layers softened by shade and vegetation before finally reaching the inner courtyard, which constitutes a cool, communal and convivial centre for the home and represents a paradise on earth. Each of the 131 exclusive residences spans the entire width of the building. Protected by the Mashrabiya-inspired veil and surrounded by generous outdoor spaces on either side, the residences enjoy dual orientation and a gentle breeze that naturally reduces the temperature – a reinterpretation of the Arabian courtyard.
Finally, the Veil is conceived as a sanctuary for this place and these times, offering the opportunity to live a serene, private, perhaps meditative existence, floating above the city in a retreat from the instantaneous, the material and the virtual, intended as an oasis for both mind and body. Wherever one is in the Veil, one will have the feeling of being covered and protected from the heat outside and at the same time liberated by space. This ambiance is present in the deep, high and spacious rooms and terraces of the individual residences as well as in the subterranean world of the Veil, where the domed spa, a wellness club with experiential pools, treatment rooms and gym, as well as a restaurant, lounges, an "oasis" and an amphitheater are located, all hidden beneath a vast dune-like shell at the foot of the foreshore.
Situated in a prime canal-side location, next to Dubai's main transport artery, Sheikh Zayed Road, the slender profile of the residential tower makes use of traditional ventilation and daylight-harvesting techniques, taking advantage of inventive and thoughtful architecture. Designed with precision, performance and beauty, this architectural gem is a well-kept work of art, with a gallery dedicated to its unique features that can only be visited by appointment.
A communal underground ‘oasis’ recreational area at the base of the building is shaded from heat and sun. Muraba Veil by RCR Arquitectes. Rendering courtesy by RCR Arquitectes, Muraba & MARCH.
"This is more than just a beautiful residence. We set out to achieve an architectural work that would enhance life and speak to the heritage of the UAE’s built environment. We want Muraba Veil to be synonymous with exquisite serenity, with the same calm that one feels when entering the courtyard of an Arabian house.”
Ibrahim Al Ghurair, CEO of Muraba.
“We are passionate about ensuring that our buildings respond to place, that they belong to the site and the indigenous landscape where they are situated. They must communicate with nature and be imbued with the atmosphere of the local culture.”
Rafael Aranda, Founder of RCR Arquitectes.
