Imkan, a UAE-based real estate developer, has unveiled a new waterfront community, Makers District, featuring a mix of residential, hospitality, commercial and retail space, over a 180,000-sq-m area on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.

This is Imkan's first project which is being designed to be the new heart of Abu Dhabi, said a statement from the company.

The developer has awarded The-Artery design to BIG, an architectural design firm based out of Copenhagen and New York. Architectural firms MVRDV from Rotterdam and 10 Design from Hong Kong will also be involved in Phase One of the development.   

The-Artery, which will sit at the heart of Makers District, is the first building to be unveiled by Imkan.

An innovative flexible art space that will offer artists a place to both create and showcase their work, The-Artery spanning 26,000 sq m is a multi-use building that integrates makers space with a parking garage, said the statement.

Announcing the project at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, CEO Walid El Hindi, said: "Imkan is setting out to create a dynamic, integrated and engaging community that captures the collaborative spirit of the maker movement."

"This journey begins with The-Artery, which will be a regional creative powerhouse in the heart of Abu Dhabi," noted El Hindi.

Led by a strong research base, with a heavy focus on identifying new trends and emerging opportunities, Imkan aims to introduce creative solutions while bringing disruptive change to the region’s real estate landscape.

"We are committed to creating soulful places that enrich people’s lives both in the UAE and overseas. As we make progress with the Makers District Abu Dhabi, our intention is to roll out the concept in Egypt, Brazil, Morocco, the UK and Montenegro," stated El Hindi.

Construction on The-Artery is set to begin later this year. Makers District is scheduled to be operational by 2020.-TradeArabia News Service