An innovative design creates a learning-friendly environment and fosters a culture of creativity amongst students. A study conducted by Salford University in the United Kingdom found that a well designed classroom could increase student performance by as much as 25%. As the populations of the Dubai and Abu Dhabi grow rapidly, a number of newly constructed schools are embracing modern educational design trends for this reason. Schools appreciate the important role design plays in helping students achieve success.

With so much competition within the education industry in the UAE and the MENA region in general, schools are looking to distinguish themselves from the competition by highlighting architectural features that boost the facilities educational value. One school that has placed design at the forefront is The Arcadia Preparatory School in Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai. Designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, a leading Dubai-based architectural firm, creating an environment that inspired students was the key to the project’s success. According to Jason Burnside, partner at Godwin Austen Johnson ‘The Arcadia Preparatory School is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility that was designed in line with the client’s aspiration to create a school that provides a flexible, open-plan learning environment for pupils.’

As you enter the school, the amount of open space, the vibrant colours, and the impressive wooden staircase in the lobby are instantly striking. The school’s classrooms, located around the edge of the building, surround the central courtyard, allowing natural light to fill the learning spaces. ‘The interiors of The Arcadia Preparatory School are designed to reflect the high quality and progressive thinking of the education provided within its classrooms and shared facilities,’ noted Mr. Burnside.

Open-plan learning environments are becoming increasingly popular for educational design within the Middle East. The move away from traditional classrooms encourages a sense of community amongst students. Schools with an open-plan layout also tend to have better behaved children. It appears the lack of boundaries and the emphasis on community that these styles of schools encourage has a dramatic effect on young learners. Open-plan learning encourages conversation, co-operation and collaboration, key skills to develop at a young age.

The Arcadia Preparatory School also has centralised hubs where children can read a book or engage in group exercises. With more and more businesses adopting this model, encouraging children to use these hubs is not only a great way to improve their social skills, but it’s also preparing them for their future careers.

To promote your institution’s design and architectural features to prospective students and parents through architectural fit out photography, email Chris Goldstraw Photography at chris@chrisgoldstraw.com.

Educational Design

In late September, Boutique le Chocolate opened in City Walk, the upscale development in the heart of Dubai. Having watched Meraas’s City Walk development grow steadily in Dubai, I was impressed with their emphasis on creating an elegant and refined commercial interior. So, when I was offered the chance to conduct the fit out photography for Boutique le Chocolate’s new 20,000 sq. ft. standout destination in City Walk, I was keen to see what design details were in store.

Boutique Le Chocolat takes chocolate from a pleasure to pure indulgence. It’s the only luxury retail brand where the product list consists entirely of chocolate. In the near future, there will be nearly ninety luxury chocolate brands available in the store with over 700 different flavours of chocolate.

The creativity of the design is immediately evident as soon as the customer walks through the door, with chocolate scented bubbles creating an intoxicatingly delicious aroma. Boutique le Chocolate has live chocolatiers who are able to craft almost anything from chocolate. For example, the high heel and the perfume bottle beside Fabrice Gillotte’s display cabinets are made purely from chocolate by Boutique le Chocolate’s expert chocolatiers.

I was struck by the new location’s precise architectural details, and the overall chic feeling of the store. The store’s design resembles an exclusive jewellery store, with glass cases full of elegantly displayed chocolate, whilst the café’s design has a more industrial feel, with polished concrete flooring, exposed brick walls and (obviously) chocolate-coloured piping on display.

The challenge for fit out photography is to capture the intricacy and detail that the designer and the fit-out company have meticulously crafted; therefore, a huge amount of planning needs to occur well before the shoot. I sketched out the type of images that I planned to take whilst deciding upon perspective and the best style of lighting. Achieving the perfect image really is a delicate balancing act.

With Boutique le Chocolate’s beautiful design, I was delighted to be a part of such a unique project, and in my humble opinion, the final images really showcase the incredible experience offered at their newest location.

For more information regarding commercial interior and fit out photography in Dubai , Abu Dhabi and the GCC please contact: chris@chrisgoldstraw.com.

Architectural Photography Dubai | Commercial Interior Photography Dubai | Fitout Photography Dubai

As property stakeholders demand increased transparency and accountability, the construction industry embraces project photography as a vital element of the building process. Project photography combines technical excellence in architectural, commercial interior, and fit out photography with creativity to document the full construction process, from site evaluation to finished structures. Project photography by a specialist creates unique high-resolution images by working closely with architects, project management, contractors and subcontractors, and property developers.

A professional and experienced construction project photographer will expertly capture actual site conditions and project development for project management purposes, annual and site reports, as well as investor reports. Investing in professional project photography for construction projects creates a permanent visual record for every stakeholder and for each stage of the project. With professional visual records of construction staging and completion, clients can monitor their return on investment, enforce accountability, and ensure transparency. From initial site investigation and ground works to construction, handover, and buildings in use, project photography documents the entire construction process.

As well as maintaining a visual record of a project’s development, professional project photography creates valuable marketing collateral for promotional materials. Potential investors are no longer satisfied with digital mock-ups and stock photos in promotional materials without much follow-up during the years between initiating construction and handover of the completed project. By including professional project photography at every stage, project developers not only memorialise important milestones, but also enhance stakeholder confidence.

Including detailed high-resolution images of the project in regularly updated promotional materials and investor reports enhances project PR, and highlights successes and milestones for investors keen to track development. By reinforcing trust and instilling confidence in current and potential investors, project photography provides the construction industry with a valuable tool for maintaining good relationships with its key target markets.

Project photography helps the construction industry meet stakeholder demands for transparency whilst also monitoring internal processes. By partnering with an expert in architectural, commercial interior, and fit out photography with project experience in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, both UAE construction industry professionals and stakeholders can monitor progress and return on investment without disrupting project development.

For more information on project photography, contact Chris Goldstraw at www.chrisgoldstraw.com.

Architectural Photography Dubai | Commercial Interior Photography Dubai | Fitout Photography Dubai