UAE National List of Modern Architectural Heritage

Works may be valued for their historical importance through their meaningful association with individuals, communities or events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the UAE’s development. Works may embody the distinctive aesthetic, physical, or architectural attributes characteristic of the political, social, and economic trends of a particular period. Works may also be associated with events that have had, or may continue to have, a profound effect or symbolic function on a particular community or cultural group or nation.

Works should demonstrate an approach to urban planning or architectural, urban and/or landscape design that can be characterized as significant in the UAE or globally. The value may be determined by the degree to which the intrinsic attributes that are associated with, or inspired by, Modern and post-Modern movements, or other recognized design movements, in architecture, urban design and landscape design, are incorporated. The design may fulfill a particular need within the community and/or positively impact the community. The design may respond to/integrate with the immediate social, cultural, physical or environmental context. A work may also be valued for identifiable, unusual and/or unique design characteristics, or for a lasting influence on the practice of urban planning, architecture, urban design and landscape design in the UAE.

The aesthetic value of a work is determined by assessing a range of factors that includes, but is not limited to visual appearance, possibly in relation to its context, or sensory engagement that enhances user experience.

Works may derive their value from factors such as the use of innovative technology to solve structural, programmatic, or, aesthetic challenges for its time. This may include employing advanced or innovative materials, construction techniques, building technology, or the development of building systems which may have had a lasting influence in the UAE, regionally or globally. Works may also be valued for their creative adaptation at a particular period, in the fields of design, construction, manufacturing, craftsmanship, or some other technical field.

Attention to environmental concerns could be an important factor in assessing work. Consideration may be given to environmental performance quantified in terms of material use, resource consumption and environmental impacts over the whole life cycle. Other aspects include i) the adoption of innovative and integrated passive design strategies, responding to and/or enhancing the environmental context ; ii) the intentional use of durable material and equipment that have low recurrent embodied energy and that can be repaired and recycled, so as to continue to perform their function over an extended lifetime; and/or iii) the potential for re-use and/or adaptation, reconciling the requirements for modern standards of operation and enhancing performance.

The social value of works being considered may be evaluated based on the degree to which they respond to and/or reflect changing social patterns during the time period that they were designed and constructed. Social value could be illustrated by the work’s ability to improve either living or working conditions. Social value could be demonstrated by the degree to which a work may support the community’s interactions, activities or, traditions; contributes to a community’s sense of identity and belonging; or performs a role in maintaining the collective memory of a community or the nation.