Regional Knowledge, Given New Form

Shaped By The Way People Live

MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network) is an architecture practice based in Dubai, founded by Riyad Joucka in 2016. We design homes, wellness and hospitality spaces, retail environments and cultural projects, both new buildings and the adaptation of existing ones.

Vernacular architecture is a continuous source of inspiration for our work. Among the things we study are the shelter of a courtyard, the way a mashrabiya filters light and views, and the place of the majlis in the life of a home. Computational design and digital fabrication allow us to develop these ideas in contemporary materials and forms, and to adapt them to each project.

From the organization of a building to a handrail or a piece of furniture, we consider how each part is used and how it is made.