Chris Lee, principal of Serie Architects and the architect behind Jameel Arts Centre, talks about his work in connecting people to nature and the impact that thoughtful design can have on responding to climate change.  He hopes to be “a custodian of a still-inhabitable Earth” and said:

“In our architecture, nature is ever-present – we want to become closer to it and at times appreciate its beauty and fragility in today’s world.”

One of the first independent contemporary art institutions in Dubai, Jameel Arts Centre is influenced by the building’s position on the Dubai Creek and includes a subtle play on interior and exterior spaces, aiming to maximise a sense of openness and accessibility.  Light is funnelled into the galleries and library through seven gardens which punctuate the building, re-set the mind, and allow art, books and the community to directly interact with flora and the outdoor.

When asked about how he frames nature through his architecture, Lee said:

This can happen in various scales and through different building types. The Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai features nine courtyards framed by colonnades and galleries; each courtyard is viewed as a canvas filled with plants from different desert biomes around the world. The Oasis Terraces in Singapore features a terraced garden that is framed by a perimeter veranda block sloping toward a waterway.”

Read the full article in its original location here.