6Degrees

Hassan Sharif Museum Professor: George Newlands Partner: Roula Alnidawi Site: Dubai, UAE This museum honors Emirati artist Hassan Sharif. It sits on a man-made island in Dubai, accessible by a vehicle bridge, and surrounded by the Versace Hotel, Art Jameel, and residences. The program includes a lobby, four exhibitions, an archive, library, café, offices, and storage. The design draws from traditional Emirati Sikkas, narrow alleys, arranged around a central courtyard that evokes local urban patterns. The layoutis a cluster formation organized along a main axis. Each exhibition is color-coded: white, yellow, red, and a dark/light room. In winter, the courtyard becomes an interactive space by opening large doors, merging it with adjacent galleries. The gaps betweenbuildings reference the near by mangrove landscape, while a pavilion surrounded by water symbolizes the island itself. The roof is designed to filter sunlight during the day, and at night, exterior lighting placed on the roof provides ideal museum illumination. This spatial and environmental sensitivity reflects both Sharif’s experimental spirit and the site’s natural context.