designboom · Creativity & design

Emirati Heritage Infuses Al Maktoum Archives Interior Design

Dubai's Al Maktoum Archives features an interior design by Kart Group that integrates traditional Emirati patterns and crafts into a modern government workplace. The design aims to connect the archive's function of preserving history with the living heritage of the UAE.

The 8,000-square-foot headquarters, located in Dubai's Emirates Towers, was designed by Mustafa Khamash and his team at Kart Group. The space houses historical records and cultural narratives of the Maktoum family and the emirate's evolution.

The interior design draws inspiration from the traditional Emirati majlis for its furniture layout, placing a central seating area. Mashrabiya motifs from the Al Shindagha Museum also informed the geometric patterns used throughout the space.

These geometric motifs are realized in a custom hand-tufted wool carpet and are adapted for various surfaces. Traditional palm-frond weaving (Al Khoos) is reinterpreted through woven fronds, metal inlays, and stenciled wall coatings.

A principal feature wall showcases CNC-cut and engraved marble, bringing heritage geometry to an architectural scale. The design team adapted each motif to its specific medium, ensuring recognizability while respecting material properties.

Material selection includes New Zealand wool for resilience, woven palm fronds for a connection to traditional crafts, and marble for a sense of permanence. Contemporary textiles and furniture, such as Herman Miller Aeron chairs, are also incorporated to balance historical references with present-day functionality.

The design successfully merges the requirements of a contemporary workplace with cultural references, extending heritage beyond the archive's collection into the surrounding environment.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.