Dubai's climate stresses buildings in the opposite way to Bali's. Where tropical architecture manages relentless humidity, monsoon rain and cross-ventilation, Dubai construction has to handle very low humidity, summer temperatures regularly above 40°C, intense direct solar gain and fine airborne dust that gets into ventilation systems and window seals. Deep overhangs and cross-ventilation, which do most of the climate work in a Bali villa, matter less here than glazing specification, insulation values and mechanical cooling load, all typically reviewed under Dubai Municipality and Dubai Green Building requirements that most Gulf-region projects now have to meet.
The studio's relevant experience from Bali is in spatial planning for indoor-outdoor living, shaded courtyards, and material palettes built around natural stone, timber and plaster — elements that can be adapted to a Gulf climate but not copied directly, since materials that perform well in humidity often behave differently under UV load and heat. There is no completed built project in Dubai or the wider UAE to date; a first commission there would be worked through in partnership with a UAE-licensed architect of record who handles code compliance and permit submission.
Has the studio completed a project in Dubai? Not yet — current built work is in Bali, Indonesia and a small number of Latin American and Caribbean projects. A Dubai commission would be a first for this market.
Who handles UAE permitting and code compliance? A UAE-licensed architect of record, engaged separately or through the studio's network, since design services from Bali cannot substitute for local certification.
Dubai's climate shares some construction logistics with island markets like the Maldives and the seasonal extremes of Vietnam's dry season. Villa communities in areas like Emirates Hills or Palm Jumeirah, and low-rise development on the wider UAE coast, are the kind of setting where a design-led, interiors-focused role would fit most naturally, as opposed to high-rise tower work, which sits further from the studio's core experience. For a first conversation about a project in the UAE, reach out via the contact page.