Shahram Agaajani and GG Kirchner, both of Metaform Architects, which was in charge of the pavilion in Dubai. Photo: SIP/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

Shahram Agaajani and GG Kirchner, both of Metaform Architects, which was in charge of the pavilion in Dubai. Photo: SIP/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

The Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020, designed by Metaform Architects, has drawn considerable praise. The firm’s partners opened an office in Dubai in 2018, the fate of which remains uncertain. Shahram Agaajani, architect and partner at Metaform, spoke to Delano’s twin publication Paperjam.

Paperjam: Metaform Architects has had an office in Dubai since February of 2018. Expo 2020 ends on 31 December. Will you continue to be present in the United Arab Emirates?

Shahram Agaajani: We opened this office for Expo 2020, after winning the competition for the design of the Luxembourg pavilion and providing on-site support. Unfortunately, we were not awarded the construction of the pavilion.

Why not?

Simple: I don’t live in the United Arab Emirates. I was offered to come and live here in Dubai, to get a house, to have my children’s school fees taken care of… But we have a lot of projects in Luxembourg, with nearly 60 people in our workforce and a great dynamic. So it wasn’t possible. We would have had to find a local partner, which hasn’t happened--because in order to become a partner, you have to agree on projects, the level of quality, the standard of professionalism. I demand follow-up and consistency. Ultimately, joining forces is not something to be done lightly. The saying goes that it is easier to separate from your wife than from a partner.

So where does this leave us?

Either we find this partner or we close the office. Nothing has been decided; we are still thinking about it.

Would that be regrettable?

On the one hand, such a branch would have been an additional step in our development. It has also enabled us to win two competitions in the region, one in Abu Dhabi and another in Kuwait. For various reasons, our office works 90% through competitions. But on the other hand, if we close, I will also see it as an experience that will help us in the future, especially in the context of new projects. So there will be regrets, but if that’s the way it has to be, so be it.

How many people work in Dubai?

It varies a lot. It has ranged from a few employees to nobody. The point was that there are a lot of resources for entrepreneurs in the UAE. The rents are affordable, they make it easy…

What will happen to the pavilion?

It was designed to play on symbols that are dear to Luxembourgers and Emiratis alike. And it was a great source of pride that our pavilion was the first one chosen to remain on the site, donated by Luxembourg to the Emirates. I suppose there will be discussions between the two states as to its future. But that is no longer our concern.

This article on Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.

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