Al Qasimiyah School
General Description
Al Qasimiyah School, located in Sharjah's Al-Manakh neighborhood, forms an educational cluster alongside two adjacent buildings. The school features a two-story building with classrooms, labs, a library, and a theater, organized around visually interconnected courtyards. Currently serving as the headquarters for the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, the school has undergone limited renovations to preserve its architectural integrity while transforming classrooms into exhibition and workshop spaces. The adaptive reuse project aims to facilitate conversations, public exchanges, and the dissemination of knowledge in the field of architecture.
Criteria
01
Embodies the distinctive aesthetic, physical, or architectural attributes characteristic of the political, social, and economic trends of a particular period.
02
Demonstrates a sustained environmental performance quantified in terms of material use, resource consumption and environmental impacts over the whole life cycle.
03
Contributes to the community’s sense of identity and enrichment of the UAE’s diversity, or is recognized as a place of collective memory for the UAE.
Statement of Significance
Al Qasimiyah School, built in 1981, stands as a symbol of the UAE's investment in education and civic projects. Following the renowned Khatib & Alami architectural firm's prototype, it represents a ubiquitous typology of educational facilities seen across the country. The school's design prioritizes the well-being of students and teachers, with modular classrooms surrounding interconnected courtyards, providing natural ventilation and a pleasant environment. These buildings, including Al Qasimiyah School, hold significance in Sharjah's urban fabric and continue to contribute to the collective cultural memory, making them potential venues for new cultural and educational institutions, like the Sharjah Architecture Triennial.