Ethnography of Transfer

The paper aims at providing an understanding of sustainable architectural design through an ethnographic study of Masdar City. Following how design travels from the practice of an architect in London (Foster and Partners (F+P)) and is translated, implemented and used by embracing the inherent dynamism and unpredictability embedded in the process. Focus is on the designs and technologies of Masdar City as the main case study; a project that is designed by F+P and developed in the United Arab Emirates. This has been followed through a two-part ethnographic study that was conducted through fieldwork taking place from January to September 2014. The first part was carried out in F+P office in London, UK, where the designs and technologies were initiated. The second part was completed in F+P office in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the designs and technologies were implemented and put to use