A passion for sustainable design, combined with the pursuit of holistic wellness, brought Mona Abdullah Al Ali a big prize last year: the Mubadala Design Commission Award, an initiative by the Abu Dhabi Music & Art Foundation.
The young Emirati, who has a master’s in engineering systems and management from Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute, won for her submission titled Enlightenment House. Al Ali’s design was inspired by the indigenous al qebqab flower, which blooms high in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. Known as a medicinal herb, the plant is traditionally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis – something that the architect herself struggled with for many years.
“It all stemmed from my own health problems,” she says. “I envisioned Enlightenment House as a 19,000-square-metre, holistic extension to a healthcare facility. It has four levels, an urban walkway and a spa, and is designed to include special spaces for rest and relaxation, both indoors and outdoors, which I felt would be beneficial for patients suffering from chronic diseases, as well as the general public.”
Enlightenment House is a fitting metaphor for the spirit of innovation and creativity channelled by determined young Emiratis today. Its design deftly dovetails the UAE’s cultural and physical features with state-of-the art technology, while keeping sustainability and comfort in mind.
Fujairah-born Al Ali, who also has a degree in architectural engineering from UAE University, says she has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil.
“I’ve loved doodling all my life, and in school I was given all the art projects to do,” she explains. “So it was only natural to go to the next level – design and architecture.”
One of 13 siblings, Al Ali laments that she’s often roped into helping her brothers and sisters with their school art assignments. “It’s hard not to get involved,” she laughs.
While Al Ali ranks Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania as her top example of good architecture, some of her other favourite man-made structures are right here in the UAE: the old Emirati houses in Dubai’s Al Bastakiya neighbourhood and Abu Dhabi’s Martyrs’ Memorial. The imposing, 23-metre-tall structure, designed by Idris Khan, a British architect, was erected to the east of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in September last year.
“Everything about this memorial is awe-inspiring,” Al Ali says. “The concept, the design of the metal panels and, most of all, what it ultimately represents: valiance, patriotism, loyalty and sacrifice. It’s everything our nation stands for.”
Al Ali also believes that sustainability and low-energy consumption are cornerstones of good design.
“I think one of the most important things to consider is Sun and wind analysis,” she says. “This has an important environmental impact on the ‘performance’ of any building, especially in the hot climate of the Middle East. The selection of the building’s orientation – which way it faces – and deciding where windows and exits/entrances should be placed, is all determined by the position of the Sun, heat and light.”
To that end, Al Ali’s creations invariably feature solar panels and heavily invest in good-quality, sustainable materials, such as high-performance window glazing and insulated facades. But perhaps her first love is integrating nature in each of her designs.
“The best part is figuring out how to include nature in your plans,” she says. “For example, providing a green roof on a building. It is a great way to utilise space. It provides a lovely, easy-to-access retreat for residents, while at the same time minimising heat gain from the Sun by offering cool pockets of shade. I also like blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces with green areas.”
While Al Ali has previously worked on design plans for many private and semi-governmental initiatives, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, she’s currently running a small independent landscape and interior design business in the capital.
“It’s called Monart Oasis, and it’s only been up for about a year now,” says Al Ali. “I am a freelance architect and designer now, and have completed five projects so far, all for Emirati homes.
“My speciality is designing ecological gardens and outdoor spaces, and I like to use desert plants, such as date palms. I believe it’s important to promote and be proud of our natural riches, although sometimes, depending on requests, I also use exotics such as Yucca gloriosa [Spanish dagger] and Strelitzia reginae, which is better known as Bird of Paradise.”
But it’s not all work and no play for the architect.
“I like to swim whenever I can,” Al Ali says. “I’m happiest when in the pool, and try to go at least twice a week. I love water, not least because it has helped me greatly with overcoming arthritis.”
Which city has your favourite architecture?
I find it hard to pick one, because there are too many to choose from.
Who is your favourite architect?
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Do you count the Burj Khalifa among your favourite structures?
It is a magnificent achievement, but it’s not really my style.
What would your dream house look like?
I haven’t decided yet, but it would be modern, with clean lines, and integrated with nature.
Which country do you plan to visit next?
I would love to visit Australia for its variety of natural landscapes.
How do you unwind and relax?
I head to the spa for massage treatments. I also like to watch reality shows on television.
What are your hobbies?
I like oil-painting, horse-riding and cooking.
What do you do to stay fit?
I try to visit the gym as often as possible, because I am into toning. But swimming is my all-time favourite activity.
What's your favourite food?
I always opt for Thai cuisine when eating out.
Which is your go-to restaurant in the UAE?
I like Lemongrass. It’s a Thai restaurant chain with really great food.
weekend@thenational.ae
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
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UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
