Visa Middle East Headquarters

Sector

Commercial

Project Roles

Design, Lead Consultancy, Executive Architecture, Interior Design, Executive Interior Design, Engineering, Contract Administration, Construction Supervision, Masterplanning

Completion

2021

Floors

G+5

Contract

Standard

Design

BSBG +studio

Location

Dubai, UAE

Client

Sweid & Sweid

A crafted monument fitting for the world’s largest financial services organisation

A bespoke architectural development, and home to one of the world’s leading financial institutions, the Visa Headquarters building features stacked floorplates, carved edges and a discernibly rhythmical quality to the façade.

The concept is largely driven by the exposed nature of the site and the strength of the internalised structure. Live edges on all four sides of the building made the architecture eminently visible from all angles, and led to the development of a clean, simple approach that reveals more intricate details upon inspection from closer quarters. The prominent corner site lines a pedestrian thoroughfare in one of Dubai’s most vibrant and bustling working districts, with the design of a public plaza at the prow of the building providing connectivity and interaction with the existing surroundings.

Beneath the building, four basement levels are incorporated to meet the demands of staff car parking, with the extra space utilised to create an activated urban frontage that gives prominence to the entrance and creates a public realm with cafés, restaurants and outdoor seating.

Michael Lewis

Group Design Director

“The concept is founded on the strength of the internalised structure, featuring a strong rhythmical quality to the façade, with aspirations of becoming something of a reference point in terms of commercial design.”

Project Team

Scott Orwin

Partner

Michael Lewis

Group Design Director

Abdul Rahman Qureshi

Senior Project Manager

Roxanne Djaiji

Lead Design Architect

Gabrielle Robles

Senior Architect

Awards

Office Architecture Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Winner

Office Development Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Winner

Best Office Architecture 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

Winner

Best Office Development 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

Winner

Visa Middle East Headquarters

Michael Lewis

“The concept is founded on the strength of the internalised structure, featuring a strong rhythmical quality to the façade, with aspirations of becoming something of a reference point in terms of commercial design.”

Project Team

Scott Orwin

Michael Lewis

Abdul Rahman Qureshi

Roxanne Djaiji

Gabrielle Robles

Awards

Office Architecture Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Office Development Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Best Office Architecture 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

Best Office Development 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

The art of flexible design

BSBG unveils Michael Lewis as new Group Design Director

BSBG reveals design details of new Visa Headquarters building in Dubai

ICD Brookfield Place

The Opus

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Visa Middle East Headquarters

Michael Lewis

“The concept is founded on the strength of the internalised structure, featuring a strong rhythmical quality to the façade, with aspirations of becoming something of a reference point in terms of commercial design.”

Project Team

Scott Orwin

Michael Lewis

Abdul Rahman Qureshi

Roxanne Djaiji

Gabrielle Robles

Awards

Office Architecture Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Office Development Dubai 2020 | International Property Awards

Best Office Architecture 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

Best Office Development 2020 | Arabia Property Awards

Project Articles

The art of flexible design

BSBG unveils Michael Lewis as new Group Design Director

BSBG reveals design details of new Visa Headquarters building in Dubai

Related Projects

ICD Brookfield Place

The Opus

Addax Tower