Guggenheim Abu Dhabi invites you to the first City Circles Talk: From Traditional to Contemporary.
Join two architects as they explore how traditional architecture in the UAE continues to shape contemporary design today. From wind towers and courtyard homes to modern houses and public spaces, the conversation looks at how ideas from the past, such as shade, ventilation, materials, and privacy, are being adapted for today’s climate and way of life.
The roundtable will explore how and if we can build modern spaces that still feel connected to local culture and environment.
Moderator Ahmed Emad - Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Abdalla Almulla
Architect and founder of MULA studio
Abdalla Almulla is an Emirati architect and founder of MULA, a multidisciplinary design studio established in 2018. His work explores the intersection of cultural narratives and formal experimentation, with a focus on geometry and patterns. Through research-driven, iterative processes, he creates thoughtful spaces that balance function, atmosphere, and experience across scales.
Azza Aboualam
Assistant Professor - Zayed University
Azza Aboualam is an Emirati architect, educator, and researcher. She serves as Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai. She is also Co-Founder and Director of Research at Holesum Studio, an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based in New York and Sharjah, established in 2021 after her graduation from the Yale School of Architecture. Her work bridges academia and practice, exploring critical spatial narratives and contemporary design approaches. In 2025, she became the first Emirati female curator of the National Pavilion UAE at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
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