Packagings visual process
01. Brief
This project was a collaboration with Slash, UAE. My role was to conduct research and analysis.
Abu Dhabi has over 30 Community Majlis spaces that are usually left empty. The brief was to research, analyze and provide a plan to enhance the current Majlis. The research starts with returning to its roots to re-imagine the existing Emirati Community, Majlis.
This research will help us understand why people needed the Majlis to exist and how they evolved. When did it start, and why? And what was its function compared to today?
After preliminary research, the strategy team arranged workshops spread on various days.
We visited three cities and three Majlis spaces to meet different generations and analyze their needs
INVITING DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
The purpose of the workshops was to hear the opinions of as many visitors as possible across wide age range. But also invite women and hear them out since they have never been to the Majlis before.
Keywords to spark stories
During the workshop, keywords from our earlier research was shared with the visitors in order to spark a discussion.
Collecting thoughts and ideas
Once we managed to break the ice we started digging deep into why the Majlis spaces are not visited anymore and what could we possibly do to re-introduce it? what do they need now that would make the Majlis space essential again?
02. Observation
Community Majlis architecture follows precisely the same layout in every city: a square design with a patio. Therefore, to understand how to re-imagine the new Community Majlis, we divided the needs into four main social layers: Society, Government, Health, Education & Culture.
This helped us to ask questions, hear stories, memories, wishes, expectations, and concerns, and later filter them into data.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Is the capital city; it offers many services to its citizens compared to the other two cities. However, the Majlis spaces are scattered all over the city. Some are easily accessible, while others require visitors to drive to them. Many of these Majlis spaces are usually occupied by older men. During the workshop, many younger adults, especially women, have never entered the Majlis space.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?
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They are opening spaces for Emirati women while respecting their privacy and traditions.
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Co-working spaces and libraries were a common need among the younger generation.
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To have access to a Majlis within every neighborhood.
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The younger generation expressed the need for mentoring and counseling.
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The older generation was in between wanting to change but maintaining what they are comfortable with now.
Al Ain
Compared to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain is still firmly attached to its bedouin past and traditions. An inland city that belongs to Abu Dhabi, it is a small city made of strongly bonded, humble community members. During the workshop, everyone knew everyone, and the younger adults expressed a lot of reserve and respect toward the older generation.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?
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Women were very bold in requesting a defined role within the Majlis space.
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Older generations expressed the need for social counseling and guidance.
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Coffee and poetry were essential to the bedouin culture; therefore, it was highly requested to be maintained in the modern Majlis.
Al Dhafra
An hour and a half away from Abu Dhabi by the car that's currently under development. A small community that is still connected to its traditional past and traditions.
Very hospitable and very generous. Since they were very far from the city, they felt the need to demand more from the government. During the workshop, only middle-aged men attended; there were no female visitors or older men or women.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?
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Many of the participants were keen on the idea of having accessible active living services, even if it was within the Majlis.
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They were keen on career-driven workshops and lectures to build their skills.
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Having the Majlis play a role in strengthening these societal bonds was more than welcome.
Each community's needs were different, and each generation's needs were different. The newly re-imagined assembly Majlis must be easily adaptable, allowing elements to shift and move while balancing between being private and public.
Everyone has a role within an inclusive Majlis, whether women, expat, young adults, or the elderly. The Majlis is active by its community members. It could also be a space for government institutions to synergise efforts.
What if
We could consider each square as a possible shifting space? Fluid, modular and adaptable. An element that we can quickly move around and construct other forms from. The people of the community decide the architecture of the area.