The Special Education Support Center
General Description
The Special Education Support Center in Sharjah occupies a building based on the "Rais and Tukan" kindergarten prototype from 1973. It was commissioned to meet the growing educational needs of the United Arab Emirates. The building features a courtyard, covered loggia, and classrooms organized around multipurpose halls. However, some spatial modifications have affected the original design, such as converting outdoor classrooms into interior spaces and covering pyramidal roofs with false ceilings. Despite these changes, the building continues to serve its purpose, and the alterations are believed to be reversible.
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
The commission of Rais and Tukan reflects the UAE's emphasis on education, providing free and comprehensive schooling for children. These architects, active in the 1970s and 1980s, contributed to the development of a unique architectural identity by blending historical and traditional elements with contemporary design. Their kindergarten prototype features an introverted courtyard scheme, with designated learning spaces surrounding a central open-air playground. The building creates a harmonious flow between indoor and outdoor areas, facilitating a balanced environment for children's education and playtime.