Dubai Design District (d3) has awarded London-based architectural firm Foster + Partners a contract to design the second phase of the development.

Following the delivery of phase one, d3 revealed plans for a 92,903sqm ‘creative community’ alongside the newly developed core buildings of the project. The new phase is expected to open in 2017.

The final design of the community was chosen following a competition involving a number of architectural firms, and Foster + Partners’ design was selected as the winning entry.

“Approaching the brief, our first step was to explore the balance of activities in a successful, youthful, creative hub, and to understand the aspirations of the different users,” commented Gerard Evenden, studio head at Foster + Partners.

“We analysed the way that spaces were being used, and then brought a variety of functions together to encourage collaboration between disciplines.”

Mohammad Al Shahi, COO of d3, said the creative community would be a hub for design talent in the UAE. “We quickly established that one of the key ingredients for a flourishing design scene…is affordable space designed to inspire creativity. The design of d3’s Creative Community by experts such as Foster + Partners offers a fully-fledged community that will be a fantastic melting pot of innovative and creative talents, as well as emerging and established brands.”