International team unveil 76,000 m2 waterside development in Abu Dhabi

Dutch architect MVRDV has unveiled a group of seven mid-rise towers that are to be built on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island.

The Pixel development was designed in conjunction with Ramboll Middle East and local architect Dewan for client Imkan Properties. The buildings will be home to retail, office, co-working and community spaces at lower levels and 480 apartments at upper levels.

Jacob van Rijs, MVRDV co-founder, said the pixilated designed would “offer contemporary living in a dynamic setting for future residents, as well as both local and international creative”.

He added: “All of the towers façades combine concrete with luminous pearly ceramics on the inside – a nod to the region’s pearl diving heritage – and they will be a vibrant and engaging community for creativity, learning and forward living.”

Buildings will be arranged around a pedestrianised plaza called the Artery designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group.

The development will be located on Imkan’s 18ha Makers District on Reem Island, opposite to Saadiyat Island, home to the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. It will also be close to the recently announced 600,000 m² Reem Mall.

Pixel is due to be completed in 2020 and bears a resemblance to another MVRDV project, which contains “pixel-type” apartments, designs of which were unveiled earlier this year.