sharjah design centre announces 2029 opening with seven specialist labs in the UAE

Sharjah Design Centre to launch as a regional design hub in 2029

Opening in 2029 as part of the Sharjah Creative Quarter in the UAE, the Sharjah Design Centre (SDC), designed by Taller de Arquitectura – Mauricio Rocha in collaboration with architect Daniel Rosselló, the institution connects material research, design experimentation and manufacturing under one roof. The purpose-built facility aims to connect designers, researchers and manufacturers through a shared infrastructure for developing and producing new work. Its ambition extends beyond providing space for exhibitions and studios. The center seeks to address the gap between developing an idea and bringing it into material form.

Located opposite the University City of Sharjah and adjacent to the House of Wisdom, SDC will bring together seven specialist laboratories dedicated to textiles, rapid prototyping, glass, ceramics, jewelry, metal and wood. These will operate simultaneously as research facilities, learning environments and production spaces, giving members access to equipment, technical expertise and fabrication resources. Alongside the labs, the institution will house a Material Library, a Digital Archive, private studios, co-working spaces, exhibition areas and a retail space.

architecture shaped by material and climate

The building, designed by the team at Taller de Arquitectura – Mauricio Rocha in collaboration with Daniel Rosselló, combines local materials and vernacular building principles with contemporary technology, responding to the climate and landscape of Sharjah. Among its defining construction strategies is rammed earth, an ancient building technique that the project incorporates as part of its approach to reducing environmental impact.

The center will form part of the wider Sharjah Creative Quarter, a cultural district bringing together institutions working across art, design, craft, fashion and heritage. Its planned neighbors include the Irthi Museum, Sharjah Fashion Lab, Qasimi Archives, the Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Collection and L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. With its opening scheduled for 2029, SDC offers a developing framework for considering how regional resources and creative knowledge can contribute to the future of design.

researching materials rooted in the local landscape

One of the center’s central ambitions is to investigate how locally available resources and industrial byproducts can inform design and construction today. Through Theatrum Al Kimiya, an ongoing research initiative developed with Atelier LUMA, SDC is exploring materials including salt, brine, limestone, sand, clay, palm, shells, demolition waste, ceramic waste, wool and mycelium, considering how these resources might find applications beyond their existing uses, particularly in architecture and design. The initiative builds on the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council’s Architecture of Culture publication (2023), extending material research previously connected to craft into new design applications.

Alongside this work, SDC is developing a material certification program with Atelier LUMA and the American University of Sharjah (AUS). Supported by the Energy, Water, and Sustainable Environment Research Center of the university, the collaboration focuses on testing and certifying experimental materials with an emphasis on their scalability and practical application. This process supports the center’s broader ambitions by going beyond the identification of alternative materials to establish their technical performance and suitability for real-world applications.

connecting design with regional manufacturing

Beyond material experimentation, the center is also looking at the relationship between creative practice and existing industrial infrastructure. In collaboration with the Sharjah Economic Development Department and the AUS College of Engineering, SDC is developing Sharjah Industrial Mapping, an initiative documenting the emirate’s manufacturing capabilities. The platform is intended to connect designers with local industries, potentially creating new opportunities for collaboration between independent practitioners, manufacturers and emerging businesses. Designers will be able to investigate materials, develop prototypes and access specialist manufacturing knowledge within the same ecosystem. The center will also offer workshops, courses, masterclasses, residencies and professional development programs, seeking to bridge the distance between design education and professional practice.

Under the leadership of H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Design Centre, the institution positions production as an essential part of design development rather than a separate stage that begins once an idea has been resolved. As she explains, ‘Promising ideas often remain at the research stage because the infrastructure to develop and realise them is not readily accessible. Sharjah Design Centre will change that and give designers a place to research, test and realise their ideas with the expertise, resources and collaboration opportunities to take them all the way into production.’

project info:

name: Sharjah Design Centre (SDC) | @sharjahdesigncentre
architect: Taller de Arquitectura – Mauricio Rocha | @taller_mauricio_rocha in collaboration with Daniel Rosselló | @danirossello10

location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
director: H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi
opening: 2029
part of: Sharjah Creative Quarter