Inside Dubai’s Koa Canvas development, a new co-working space has been piquing the curiosity of the city’s creatives. Nasab, the city’s first members-only workplace and social club, is equally attuned to the global shared working space movement as well as the needs of local creatives and entrepreneurs.
“Internationally, shared working spaces are changing the way people work and the way business is done,” says Mohammed bin Zaal, founder of KOA Canvas and the creative force behind Nasab. “As I watched this change take place on a global scale, I noticed that there was no place in Dubai that had realized this movement to its full potential.” So, Bin Zaal envisioned Nasab with the idea of creating a community that provides meaningful associations, and a platform for education and cultural enrichment. “Nasab is a home for creatives, where members can truly express themselves and produce great work,” he says.
Spanning three floors of an open-air loft house, the space features private offices, social work settings, alcoves, a photography studio, a meditation room, a high-altitude studio, a screening room, a fitness studio, a library, a gallery space, a rooftop with an infinity pool, and several indoor and outdoor event spaces, replete with amenities.
It was designed by Dubai-based T.ZED Architects, with British interior designer Fran Hickman creating the sleek interiors. The aim was to cultivate an air of unhurry with luxe, comfortable furnishings and a vibrant color palette, mixing traditional craftsmanship with innovative design to create an aesthetic vocabulary that is at once culturally rich and relevant.
“There is no one aesthetic or trend that defines Nasab. We have had multiple designers contribute to the space on different levels, which has made it eclectic and ever-evolving,” notes Bin Zaal. “It is really a place that needs to be seen. Our intention through the design was to imbue it with culture, energy and inspiration.”
While most co-working places in Dubai are open-to-all, Nasab is exclusive, with an application process and packages ranging from ‘Suite’, the perfect office space for two to 12 persons; to ‘Nomad’, recommended for non-residents with access to hot desks and complete office amenities and social benefits for 10 days per month. “The members-only aspect ensures that Nasab stays true to its vision and attracts like-minded people,” explains Bin Zaal. “Creating a meaningful community is everything to us, and our membership process ensures our members share our vision and ethos.”
The response has been incredible so far. “The quality of the applications and the feedback from the industry have confirmed what we knew—that this was a much-needed space for the creative fields,” Bin Zaal says.
Nasab also offers film screenings, musical performances, art exhibitions and political discussions. In keeping with Art Dubai 2019 (20-23 March), it will showcase regional talent, including Saudi artist Abdullah Qandeel, who will be joining the team for a week-long residency in March to create a series of portraits that will become a permanent part of Nasab’s interiors. Among other highlights are art talks hosted by British artist Patricia Millns and Get Me’s contemporary portrait series, Hipster/Muslim Project, which will travel to Dubai for the first time.
Membership packages at Nasab start from Dhs750.
Images Courtesy of Nasab
