Enlivening the Sphere of Relics reimagines Al Dhayah Fort in Ras Al Khaimah as a living dialogue between past and present. Introducing the Narratorium, a spatial prototype for reanimating heritage sites, the project transforms the fort’s landscape into a journey of memory, craft, and renewal.

Visitors descend into a subterranean museum where light shafts reveal stories of trade, resilience, and transformation, guided by local storytellers. Emerging into open courtyards, they engage in craft workshops, community talks, performances, and evolving exhibition halls featuring collaborative art and artifacts. A palm-wood lattice bridge and open courts host markets, festivals, and reflection spaces, reconnecting the fort with civic life.

The memorial court honors the Battle of Al Dhayah, blending remembrance with communal gathering. Materials and passive systems - including locally quarried stone, lime-plastered fly-ash blocks, barjeel ventilation, and palm - wood panels - celebrate vernacular wisdom, sustainability, and local craftsmanship.

About Prerna Revankar & Sanjana Chavadi:

Prerna Revankar is a UX designer with a background in architecture, creating intuitive, user-focused digital experiences. She has worked on projects like ReVastra, a sustainable fashion platform, and NowNow, a grocery app redesign, and previously contributed to hospitality and workplace projects at Nelson Worldwide and Studio Chintala.

Sanjana Chavadi is a designer passionate about art, architecture, and storytelling, holding a B.Arch and M.S. in Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She currently works as a Design Architect at XYZ Designers, focusing on user-centered solutions, and has experience in hospitality, community, and retail projects across Chicago, Dubai, and Mumbai.