Column Removed, Then Rebuilt: A Lakes Villa Structural Review
A real case from The Lakes, Emirates Living: a contractor removed a column, then rebuilt it when the first-floor extension loads showed it was needed. The owner still wanted the room without that column, so they asked us to review the design and find another way.
The case in short
The owner of a villa in The Lakes was adding an extension on the first floor and wanted an open ground-floor space with no middle column. On site, the contractor removed the column, then rebuilt it after finding the extension loads needed it. Seeing a column taken out and put back worried the owner, so they asked us for an independent review of the contractor’s structural assessment and for an alternative that carries the loads without the column. The false ceiling sits about 30 cm below the existing slab, so any new structure had to fit within that space. We reviewed the existing assessment and proposed an alternative structural system that keeps the open layout, with no middle column, within the ceiling space.
What we check first
- Existing structure: slabs, beams, columns and foundations, from the Emaar as-built plans and on site.
- New loads: extensions, new rooms and openings that add or move load.
- Existing calculations: any design already prepared by a contractor.
- Unapproved works: older changes that need approval before new works.
Documents you will need
- Photos of the villa and the area you want to change
- Villa and plot number in The Lakes
- Title deed and owner ID
- Any existing drawings or contractor calculations
- The layout you want
Who does what
The approval route in The Lakes
The Lakes is part of Emirates Living: Emaar first, then Dubai Municipality.
| Step | Approval route | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Design Structural Solutions | Site check, drawings and stamped structural calculations, using the as-built plans Emaar provides. | As-built drawings, The Lakes |
| Emaar NOC Emaar Community Management | NOC through the Emaar Community Portal; Emaar reviews the design and confirms its fees. | Emaar extension fees |
| Permit Dubai Municipality | Building permit for structural works, submitted by an approved consultant. | The Lakes building permit |
| Inspections Emaar and Dubai Municipality | Inspections during and after the works; the order can vary. | — |
| Completion Dubai Municipality | Completion certificate that closes the permit; Emaar then closes its file. | Lakes extension sign-off |
How it works
What we did
Site visit
We saw the rebuilt column and the extension works, and went through the owner’s concerns and the layout they wanted.
Review of the existing assessment
We checked the contractor’s structural assessment against the real loads, including the new first-floor extension.
Alternative design
We studied options that carry the loads without the column within about 30 cm below the slab, and proposed the one that suits this villa.
Approval path
Stamped calculations and revised drawings for the Emaar NOC and the Dubai Municipality permit.
Guides for works in The Lakes
What each work needs in The Lakes
- Extension: Emaar NOC, Dubai Municipality permit and stamped calculations
- Wall or column removal: structural design, Emaar NOC and Dubai Municipality permit
- Change during construction: revised drawings approved before works continue
- Pergola or steel shade: stamped calculations and an approved steel contractor or specialist stamp
- Pool: Emaar NOC, Dubai Municipality permit and the DM environmental NOC
Questions
Questions from this case
Why was the column rebuilt?
The first-floor extension added load that the structure below needed the column to carry. Without a design that carries that load another way, the column could not simply be left out.
Is a rebuilt column safe?
It depends on how it was designed and built: its connection to the beams and slab, the reinforcement and the concrete. An engineer should check both the design and the work on site.
Can a column be removed even with an extension above?
Often, yes, with an alternative structural system designed to carry the loads. In this case we proposed one. Every villa is different, so the answer comes from a study of the actual structure.
What did the 30 cm ceiling space mean for the design?
Any new structure had to fit between the existing slab and the false ceiling, about 30 cm. A standard deep beam would not fit, so the design needed more care.
Which solution did you propose?
An alternative system that suits this villa’s structure, loads and layout. The right solution differs from villa to villa, so we study each one before recommending it.
Does this kind of change need approval in The Lakes?
Yes. Structural changes need an Emaar NOC through the Emaar Community Portal and a Dubai Municipality permit, with stamped calculations and revised drawings.
Who can review my contractor’s structural design?
An independent structural engineer. We review the calculations, the drawings and the work on site, and tell you clearly what is fine and what needs to change.
Can you help if my works have already started?
Yes. We can review the design during construction and propose changes before the works go further.
Last checked: October 2026. Official sources: Emaar · Dubai Municipality
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