Muraba Residences: What you need to know

Considered to be an architectural gem, Muraba Residence, is located on the eastern crescent of the iconic Palm Jumeirah and is perfectly positioned in order to maximise its views. The development has been designed with a minimalist, international design aesthetic and is complemented by quality finishes. 

"Muraba Residences Palm Jumeirah is set to be exactly as per the design promise; an exceptional living space on the East crescent of Palm Jumeirah with a focus on style and design," said Ibrahim Al Ghurair, the founder of pioneering real estate developer Muraba. 

The development features 46 apartments and 4 penthouses with magnificent and far-reaching sea and skyline views.

Penthouse

“We are pleased to introduce the penthouses which stand to embody the concept of Muraba Residences on more of a considerable scale. As with the apartments, they were designed from the inside out, to ensure the living space is absolute and cohesive; I have no doubt RCR Arquitectes have achieved what they set out to,” said Ibrahim Al Ghurair, Founder of Muraba Properties, the development company behind Muraba Residences.

The luxurious penthouses are complemented with extraordinary amount of indoor and outdoor space that flows fluently and creates a contemporary, comfortable and tranquil living space, consisting of four double bedrooms, two of them with private balconies, extended living areas and a private elevator lobby. 

The generous outdoor living spaces are ideally designed to relax in private from where one can enjoy the unmatched vista of the city and the soothing Arabian Gulf, providing them with a sense of balance and serenity. 

Especially for hosting guests, an open kitchen has been designed, allowing a natural fluency between the cooking area and the indoor and outdoor dining spaces. Besides the open kitchen, a professionally sized kitchen serves best for bigger events.

A perfect place to start or conclude a day, the master suites have been designed functionally so as to offer a sense of clarity, laid out in a linear progression, consisting of the dressing room, bathroom and bedroom, which culminates in the private terrace and panoramic vista across the beautiful palm.

Residences

Created with certain sensibility, the apartments of Muraba Residences have a positive ambience, along with a non-tangible connection with the environment.

The living rooms are complemented with floor-to-ceiling windows, which allows sunlight in as well as enables the residents to enjoy panoramic views across Dubai's skyline. The key architecture of the building makes sure to provide maximum visibility to the residents while also ensuring them privacy. 

The layout of the kitchen is defined by clean line, open spaces and careful consideration of light. It also has a sense of connection with the whole space and flows almost seamlessly to the other parts of the apartment. 

The contemporary, yet intimate master bedroom maintains the feeling of lightness and open-ness, as well as privacy like the rest of the home. Special focus has been given to line, texture and to the introduction of sunlight.

Amenities

Muraba Residences, has on offer some of the world class amenities that include a swimming pool, an indoor gym and vitality pool. 

The beautiful swimming pool, which is a part of the property, overlook the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai's breathtaking skyline to the east. It extends across the full width of the buildings's facade and is also connected to the indoor gym. 

The residents who like to keep themselves in good shape and remain physically active can make use of the fully equipped indoor gym, equipped with latest gear. The floor-to-ceiling window allows gaze over the pool and skyline beyond.

When in stress or whenever the residents want to have some relaxation, they can head to the vitality pool and rejuvenate themselves. The Aqua Tonic at the spa's core, have separate areas for men and women and are equipped with expensive showers and crystal steam rooms.

Architecture

The Muraba Residences has been designed by RCR Arquitectes, the winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize, who uses simple material palette and focuses on the quality of spaces in order to achieve a timeless feel.  The development provides the required privacy to the residents, while optimising the changing effects of daylight.

The development is the first residential project to be done by the architects and was thought and realised as an artwork of living. It follows RCR's approach of designing buildings from the inside out.

Be it the choice of soft colours, or the organisation of spaces, everything about Muraba homes reflect a sense of peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The holistic transition from the outdoor to the indoor, gives the residents the feel of nature right inside their homes. Plush and extremely sophisticated primal material have been used in the property, thus giving it a calming effect. 

"Seen from outside, the building is serene and restrained. Its modest scale and simple materials lend it a nobility and strength, in contrast to the extravagance of its neighbours. By renouncing excess and avoiding the glib attempts at 'icon-making' that characterise so many developments around the world today, Muraba defines a new era in Dubai property," the architects were quoted saying. 

The homes are also bestowed with uninterrupted and breathtaking views of the ocean and the gorgeous skyline of the city, making it a peaceful retreat, while remaining connected to the city. 

"Innovation does not occur in isolation, but as a result of the joining together of different disciplines which can unite and give the best of themselves only after extensive examination. In architecture, innovation is often portrayed as something superfluous, perhaps merely something linked to design. But we shall only have real innovation if it is also at the origin of the concept, in the programme itself and in the material and the construction techniques; we shall only have it if it is present from the first moment, when the need becomes a question to answer, and if that question is considered by all the participants in the answer. Only something which improves a person's experience qualitatively can be really innovating."- Rafael Aranda, RCR Arquitectes.

To ensure natural light deep into the apartments, open-plan living areas have been designed that culminates in balconies and the full-height glass doors provide a direct connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

A system of louvred glass slats moulded with a ripping pattern, that is incorporated into the building's facades, restricts views into the residence, thus proving the residents with complete privacy. 

"What is very special is that the building has been able to work from the shared space to the private space of each apartment, right down to the smallest detail of furniture and materials. It really is, as a whole, very uniform and working in all its parts," explained Vitalta.

The Architects

The creative minds behind the timeless creating of Muraba Residences are Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta, who have been working together since 1988 under the name RCR ARQUITECTES in Olot. 

The trio makes use of the most advanced technologies and materials such as steel or glass, with established rhythms and light that acts in opposition to each other to create an essence of space, where the soul of the architecture lies.

The 39th recipient of the architecture’s most prestigious award, the three Catalan architects's other recent work has included the Musée Soulages in Rodez, France; the Waalse Krook, Urban Library of the Future and Centre for New Media, Gent, Belgium.

Ibrahim Al Ghurair, founder, Muraba Properties, said: “The Pritzker Architecture Prize is often cited as the ‘Nobel’ prize of architecture and is recognition for the great work RCR has done. We knew that RCR was the right partner for us to develop the vision for Muraba Residence Palm Jumeirah and this award cements that decision.” 

Notable projects of the trio include La Cuisine Art Center (Nègrepelisse, France, 2014), Soulages Museum in collaboration with G. Trégouët (Rodez, France, 2014), La Lira Theater Public Open Space in collaboration with J. Puigcorbé (Ripoll, Girona, Spain, 2011), Les Cols restaurant marquee (Olot, Girona, Spain, 2011), El Petit Comte Kindergarten in collaboration with J. Puigcorbé (Besalú, Girona, Spain, 2010), Bell-Lloc Winery (Palamós, Girona, Spain, 2007), Sant Antoni - Joan Oliver Library, Senior Citizen’s Center and Cándida Pérez Gardens (Barcelona, Spain, 2007), and Tossol-Basil Athletics Track (Olot, Girona, Spain, 2000).

Pritzker Laureates

The Pritzker Prize is an international award, modelled on the Noble Prize, that was set up in 1979 to honour the work of living architects. 

The laureates of 2017 Pritzker Prize, Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta, are the first trio of architects to be bestowed the field’s highest accolade. They have handled a wide range of project types, that ranges from libraries, to wineries to parks, most of them being located in their hometown of Catalonia, Spain. 

Mr. Pritzker remarks: “The jury has selected three architects who have been working collaboratively for nearly three decades. Mr. Aranda, Ms. Pigem and Mr. Vilalta have had an impact on the discipline far beyond their immediate area. Their works range from public and private spaces to cultural venues and educational institutions, and their ability to intensely relate the environment specific to each site is a testament to their process and deep integrity.”

"We live in a globalised world where we must rely on international influences, trade, discussion, transactions. But more and more people fear that because of this international influence we will lose our local values, our local art, and our local customs. Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta tell us that it may be possible to have both," said the jury.

The work of the three architects admirably and poetically fulfill the traditional requirements of architecture with regards to function and craftsmanship but whats sets them apart is their unique approach, which makes buildings and places both local and international at the same time.

"Aranda, Pigem and Vilalta have had an impact on the discipline far beyond their immediate area," said the Pritzker jury, which was chaired by Australian architect Glenn Murcutt.

"Their works range from public and private spaces to cultural venues and educational institutions, and their ability to intensely relate the environment specific to each site is a testament to their process and deep integrity," he added. 

The trio intensely collaborated, where they equally shared the creative process, commitment to vision and all responsibilities. 

“They’ve demonstrated that unity of a material can lend such incredible strength and simplicity to a building,” says Glenn Murcutt, Jury Chair. 

“The collaboration of these three architects produces uncompromising architecture of a poetic level, representing timeless work that reflects great respect for the past, while projecting clarity that is of the present and the future,” he added. 

Inspiration Behind The Creation

The master minds behind the spell-binding designs of this property primarily aimed to emphasise on serenity, elegance and beauty. They also emphasised on the relationship with the natural environment, well-being and the creation of a living space where people will be happy, healthy and in peace, which resulted in an inspiring experience. 

"When we begin a project, we are very interested in visiting the place. We are used to 'reading' the place as if it spoke to us with its own alphabet – an alphabet established between the site and us," says Carme Pigem. 

"It is also very important to study what we are to do there. We don't like to start with a typology or assumptions," she added.

The work of the RCR Arquitectes are known to have a strong sense of place and are always powerfully connected to the surrounding landscape. An understanding of history, natural topography, customs and cultures and an observation of light, shade, colour and the season helps them develop the connection.

Their work is a result of true collaboration and service towards the community. The creation of the lasting and meaningful creation is a fruit of their understanding that architecture and surroundings are inter-related in an intimate manner and also the fact that the choice of materials and the craft of building are the most powerful tools.