Mark Powell Kyffin

Architecture Section Head
Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

Mark is the Head of Architecture for Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture & Tourism. He is a longstanding member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a past Branch President and a former member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservators. He has studied and worked in the field of Architecture for over 25 years and has extensively worked on complex and demanding projects particularly in the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Sectors. For the past sixteen years Mark has worked in The UAE and gained an extensive knowledge of both Emirati Vernacular Architecture and the Modern Heritage of Abu Dhabi. This work has been mainly focused on the restoration, remodeling, and refurbishment of Qasr Al Hosn (a building which is defined as Abu Dhabi’s most significant heritage structure) The Cultural Foundation (a significant modern heritage landmark of Bauhaus origins) and the urbanisation of the heart of Downtown Abu Dhabi. Most recently Mark has been working with Gehry Partners on Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and with other Internationally recognised Architects for a variety of significant Cultural and Tourism developments within the Emirate. Mark’s Architectural studies are encapsulated within his sketchbooks, which he was delighted to have exhibited in the UAE pavilion at the Venice Architectural Biennale in 2014. Prior to joining The Department of Culture & Tourism Mark has worked for numerous international high profile Architectural Practices. He has been internationally recognised by his peers for the rehabilitation of Liverpool’s oldest city centre cultural building, ‘The Bluecoat’, which is a World Heritage Site that was conserved and extended as a contemporary arts centre in 2008. The works which Mark has undertaken have been recognised by UNESCO as being an exemplar approach to rehabilitating a Grade 1 Listed Building. He is delighted to have been recognised by the profession for these works which obtained a High Commendation in the ‘Mies van der Rohe’ award at the World Architecture Festival, in Barcelona 2008 and for the Qasr Al Hosn which was recognised at the World Architecture Festival Awards in Amsterdam and Lisbon. Subsequently Mark has been an awards judge at the World Architecture Festival since 2020 and a guest speaker and panel member at numerous International Architectural Events which serve to promote industry best practice in design and building conservation.