Inside Look: Damac Hills

Working in the Middle East in the realm of landscape design and architecture is a challenging but rewarding process.

However, we at International Design Group (IDG) in the UK thrive in doing so and have made a great success of it. Working with an exciting range of client’s and consultants, we have a wide portfolio in the region and always welcome the opportunity to work there.

However, there is one particular project which stands out for us: Damac Hills by Akoya in Dubai.

Currently, Dubai is one of the most desirable and ambitious estate markets in the world. This means that Damac Hills’ claim to become the new ‘Beverley Hills of Dubai’ is very serious, with some hefty baggage. Given the prestige, IDG were delighted to be involved and provide high-quality design work so the project can strive for, and meet, this target.

The impressive and forward-thinking development is more than one million square metres of private villas (for 40,000 people), hotels, shops and offices, parks and there is also a championship golf course. The project is large and complex with a multitude of moving parts all of which were crucial to understand in order to comprehend the development in its entirety. IDG was brought on board in 2013 during the early stages to assist in resolving the masterplanning, working alongside CallisonRTKL, a globally-known design consultancy firm. As legal boundaries from the masterplanning stages were completed, the project moved into detailed stages and IDG were invited to continue their involvement.