Middle East Architect 201206

NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC

JUNE 2012 / VOLUME 06 / ISSUE 06An ITP Business Publication

BUILDING FOCUSDiscovering Goettsch Partners Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi

INTERVIEWGAJs Graeme Fisher discusses

his move to GEMS Education

MEA gets submerged in DOTs audacious designs for an underwater hotel off the coast of Dubai

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JUNE | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 06.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

4FRONT

This months top stories including the unveiling of

new leisure projects in Dubai 6

12THE BIG PICTURE

Lester Ali captures the overlooked entrance area of the Aldar HQ in Abu Dhabi 14

ANALYSISExperts at World EcoConstruct discuss Dubais eco credentials

18INTERVIEW

GAJ partner Graeme Fisher on his client-side switch to

GEMS Education 24BUILDING FOCUSMEA visits Sowwah Square, the heart of Abu Dhabis new commercial business ditrict

34FEATURE

54CULTURECool products, clever ideas, and some of the latest gadgets in the design world

40CASE STUDIESPerkins Eastmans Saadiyat hotel, Dubais underwater resort and the Titanic Belfast

52

The recent trends and challenges in regional material speci cation

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering the projects MEA has featured recently

PROJECTSA round up of the latest project news from MENA and the rest of the world

JUNE 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 06

56LAST WORD

Phil Dalglish, director for Buro Happold, on his rms

regional experience

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.12 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | JUNE

2

DUBAI UNVEILS NEW LEISURE SCHEMESUnderwater hotel, Palm Jumeirah and JBR projects off er signs of positivity

Two major leisure projects were an-nounced for Dubai, while another will be completed this year, giving hope to the emirates architects and construc-tion professionals.

Nakheel announced a new water-side residential and leisure project for Palm Jumeirah called Palm Views, while an audacious underwater hotel was revealed.

A statement released by Nakheel said its project Palm Views East and West will be a collection of 192 pied--terre style contemporary

units and retail, dining and tness facilities, all off ering panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai skyline.

Construction will begin by the end of 2012, with completion due by the end of Q1 2014.

Meanwhile, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World has announced plans to build a series of underwater hotels in the emirate.

In a statement released, Drydocks World said it has signed an agreement

Ocean View Hotel,

JBR walk.

with a Swiss contractor to develop the World

Discus Hotel.According to Drydocks

World, BIG InvestConsult will provide the required technological expertise for the unusual concept.

One of the emirates leisure projects to be completed this year is Jebel Ali International Hotels 4-star Ocean View Hotel on Dubais JBR Walk.

It will be the only 4-star property on JBR Walk, containing 341 rooms and suites.

1979Inauguration

of GAJs Dubai College

(page 18)

n ns se))

341ROOMS IN OCEAN

VIEW HOTEL

JUNE | FRONT


Winners of Middle East Design

Competition announced

TDIC starts handover of Saadiyat

Beach Villas

25 essential iPad apps for interior

design students

Breakfast club doubles in size

Dubais Princess Tower wins Guinness

World Record

Travel website Trippy.com published a list of the worlds ugliest buildings, according to its staff and users.

The winning building was the brutalist 1975 FBI headquarters in Washington DC by Charles F Mur-phy and Associates.

Denys Lasduns Grade II* listed Royal National Theatre in London,

Website chooses worlds top ten ugliest buildings

Aedas named largest practice on the planetAedas won the accolade of Worlds Largest Practice after three years in the number two spot in the WA 100 (World Architecture annual survey).

The recognition comes as a result of strong growth in Asia for the company, where turnover increased by a quarter, surpassing the previous years 15% rise.

Virtually all of the 364 architects who joined the practice this year are working in China, with a handful based in Singapore.

While staff numbers have shrunk in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, chairmain Keith Griffi ths said its continuing presence is a sign that work is still

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

A practice in Thailand has proposed a habit-able water city to help a ood-stricken town in the Asian country. Designed by Supermachine Studio, the city would be built on the sides of a 150m-high reservoir capable of managing 1,500 million m3 of water.

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

Aedas designed U-Bora Tower, Dubai.

IM Peis museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

FOUROffi ce towers in Sowwah Square

(page 24)

3,000

named largest

Aluminium shards in Titanic Belfast (page 48)

17

as well as IM Peis Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (pic-tured) in Cleveland, Ohio, came in at second and tenth place respectively.

A controversial scheme in Toron-to, Canada - Sharp Centre for Design by Alsop Architects with Robbie, Young and Wright Architects - took third place in the list.

Meanwhile, the distinctive Trump Tower in New York, developed by Donald Trump and designed by Stu-dio 505, was judged to be the worlds eighth ugliest building.

No buildings from the Middle East were deemed ugly enough to appear in the list.

available in the two emirates as well as the wider Gulf region.

The other top 10 rms in WA100 were Aecom, Gensler, IBI Group, Nikken Sekkei, Foster & Partners, DP Architects, P&T Architects & Engineers, Samoo Architects & En-gineers and HDR Architecture.

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FRONT | JUNE

4

Tony Archibold, former associate director, RMJM Architects, has moved to Bluehaus Group as design director.

Archibold worked in his previous role for four-and-a-half years delivering projects such as Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Muscat, and Europes 450m tallest tower in Istanbul, which he designed and won as part of a competition team.

In his new role, he will be expanding the interior design side of the business and developing its architectural services across the Middle East. He will also be working alongside the companys new MEP division.

Archibold will work with 30 people in-cluding eight engineers in the MEP division at the rms offi ces in Tecom, Dubai. The division recently moved from the Gold & Diamond Park.

RW Armstrongs Mona Salem picked up the award for MENA Best Woman in the Corporate Sector from job site AmCham.

The MENA Women Awards recognise individuals in the non-pro t and corporate sectors, with the inaugural awards taking place on 10th May in Tunis.

Salem, vice president and head of MENA operations, said: I am truly honoured to receive this award and am very proud to be recognised among such an outstanding group of nominees.

The award belongs to my family and team and con rms RW Armstrongs com-mitment to valuing its people and encour-aging greatness in the workplace.

In 2011, Salem was ranked number 34 in Construction Weeks Power 100, a col-lection of the most in uential people in the GCC construction industry.

PEOPLE

RMJM director joins Bluehaus Group

MENA boss hailed Best Woman

A vast knowledge of material speci cation is a vital advantage to propose alternatives in case of lack of availability, long lead times or value engineering.Reza Kiamanesh, Lecturer, IAU University, Dubai

We should be using the lessons learnt from

Estidama to establish a consistent base level across the UAE that raises the minimum

standards.Dr Rob Cooke,associate, Buro Happold, discusses sustainability in the UAE

60 SECOND INTERVIEWMARK SCAIFE, ASSOCIATE,ACOUSTICS, WSP ENVIRON-MENT AND ENERGY (ME)

What are the common mistakes in acoustic design? E mploying the acoustician too late or not for the entire design and construction, so that they are prevented from adding their true value. Mis-understanding the diff erence between common acoustic ratings (Rw and DnTw) for materials is also common and can lead to expensive mistakes.

Are there any recent trends or innovations?Acoustics is becoming more important to developers in the Middle East and this is being picked up in the numerous Green Building codes around the Gulf such as Esti-dama and QSAS.

What are the most problematic building types in terms of acoustics?Schools are of particular interest because studies have shown that schools located in areas of high noise levels have students that suff er long term learning impairment. Therefore, without proper consideration to acoustics, we could be im-pacting future generations.

nsive nsive

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Tony Archibold becomes design director.

Mona Salem wins corporate award.

ci cation is a ge

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value ,

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Sharing knowledge with international companies and building up support is

something that has to be done in

a developing city.Eng. Hani A.Kayal, COO HALJ

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FRONT | JUNE

6

3QATARCrescent tower in Lusail inspired by Qatari swordsPlans have been unveiled for a crescent-shaped building in Lusail, inspired by the two curved swords in the emblem of Qatar. The project Lusail Marina Iconic Development was unveiled by Qatar-based Katara Hospitality, and will contain 800 units including hotel rooms, apart-ments, offi ces, boutique retail and restaurants. The ve-star complex is aiming for completion by 2016, in time to serve the World Cup in 2022.

2ABU DHABITDIC starts handover of Saadiyat Beach VillasTourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), master developer of Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, announced the start of handover of Saadiyat Beach Villas. The rst phase of the development, which consists of 254 villas, was launched in 2009 and completely sold out. A second batch of 90 villas was released in November 2011 to meet demand, and handover of both phases is set to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.

1DUBAIPrincess Tower claims Guinness World RecordGuinness World Records has offi cial-ly recognised Tameers 414m-high Princess Tower in Dubai Marina as the worlds tallest residential build-ing. The 107-storey tower occupies 3,476m2, with 763 luxury apartments and eight retail stores.The dome and decorative mast, made of aluminium and steel, weight a total of 110 tonnes. It forms part of the tallest city block in the world, along with SOMs In nity Tower and the 90-storey 23 Marina.

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FRONT | JUNE

8

3FRANCE

UK architecture giant Foster + Partners has revealed the rst images of its museum for Roman artifacts in the city of Narbonne, southern France, a former Roman port with several archaeological sites. The rm is working with museum designer Adrien Gardere following success in an international competition. The centrepiece of the museum is a collection of more than 1,000 ancient funerary blocks excavated nearby.

2USAOne World Trade Center may not be USAs tallest A late change to the design of the One World Trade Center in New York may cost the tower its title as USAs tallest tower. US media have reported that the 124m needle on the top will no longer be enclosed in a breglass and steel enclosure, due to maintenance issues. This means the needle may be deemed an antenna rather than a spire, and will not count towards the nal height measurement previ-ously anticipated at 541m.

1CHINABeijings CCTV toweroffi cially completedBeijing celebrated the offi cial completion ceremony of its famous looped skyscraper, for China Central Television (CCTV). Designed by Rem Koolhaas Dutch rm OMA, construction began in 2004. Rising from a common platform, two towers lean towards each other and merge in a 75m cantilever. The faade re ects the structure: diagonals becomes dense in areas of greater stress, and looser in areas requiring less support.

Foster + Partners to design Roman museum

21

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FRONT | JUNE

10

2

THE BIG PICTURE Aldar HeadquartersOne of the most distinctive buildings in the region, the circular form of the Aldar Headquarters has been an Abu Dhabi landmark for several years. This image, by ITP staff photographer Les-ter Ali, focuses on the entrance details, with its looped canopy and landscap-ing. Designed by MZ Architects, it is the rst circular building of its kind in the Middle East, achieved through the use of a structural diagrid.

JUNE | FRONT


MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.12 | www.designmena.com12

NEWS ANALYSIS | SUSTAINABILITY

ANALYSIS

BALANCING ACTA panel discussion at the World EcoConstruct seminars discussed whether UAE has moved towards sustainable architecture. Devina Divecha reports

DIFC was hailed

as one of the

sustainable hubs

in Dubai.

T he word sustainability has been bandied about in the world of architec-ture and construction to saturation point. In the worst of cases, it is merely used to sound relevant in todays world; countless projects list reams of sustainability credentials in a hope to keep up with competitors.

A panel discussion held at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2012, as part of the World EcoConstruct seminars, discussed whether architecture can make a diff erence towards sustain-able building practices.

Its panelists also examined the role of design and architecture in deliver-ing sustainable buildings, and using

design principles in the construction process to meet its challenges.

Sherif Anis, regional director, CBT Architects, and secretary, AIA Middle East, said at this point in time, architecture is a function of the day-to-day design process. We talk about sustainability and treat it as though it were a parallel discipline; but in


SUSTAINABILITY | NEWS ANALYSIS

fact, its now becoming a much more integral process, as it should be. If its not, then youre probably approaching your project from the wrong way.

This sentiment was echoed by Kyle Krall, senior principal, Thornton To-masetti, UAE, who said if architects dont take advantage of sustainable building practices, then its simply bad architecture.

He pointed out LEED raised the bar and posed questions on whether graded buildings are better for the en-vironment. Drawing comparison with emission controls on cars in the USA in the 1960s-80s, Krall said a similar situation occurred with sustainable building: when LEED was created, it gradually became adopted by govern-ments. LEED and its adoption by governments are forcing buildings to

raise the bar; buildings are going to get better and better, he added.

Krall noted one of the problems in this process is an owner who doesnt want to spend money for a better structure. He stressed, however, be-ing sustainable doesnt always mean one has to spend more money.

Anis said LEED Gold and similar requirements should be the baseline, not the goal. Its only a starting point. We should be getting better, and we can get better. To demystify what sustainable practice in architecture is: its really just common and good building practice.

Anis believes that pre-crisis, many projects were not designed sustain-ably. Back then, its almost as though many buildings were just designed for design competitions. Half the time I wondered whether a rendering won the project there was no thought given to the building, its placement, its materials, height and width. And in the end, that creates a really bad scenario for our built environment, and it makes it harder and harder to really create sustainably.

Comparisons were drawn between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and both emir-ates commitment to the green cause. I think its evident going around Dubai that its a wonderful city in a lot of respects, but in terms of being a sustainable city, its got a long, long way to go. It really needs patchwork to x a lot of mistakes, added Anis.

To focus on getting the project done correctly, Krall said owners should be encouraged to participate in the de-sign process with the structural and mechanical engineers, architects and designers. While the design process will be longer, the resulting building

LEED and its adoption by governments is forcing buildings to raise the bar; buildings are going to get better and better.Sherif Anis, CBT Architects

will ultimately be better due to the right questions being asked earlier on in the project rather than a few months into construction.

Anis said he felt Abu Dhabi always had a diff erent outlook from the start, and is building sustainably and re-sponsibly. He said the capital is think-ing more about the environment, culture and the economy whereas Dubai didnt really put those at the top of the list.

Krall stressed the rush to build has died down, and people are starting to realise its about educating the owner and the community about the respon-sibility to make buildings that are mindful of the environment. Theres some fantastic architecture out there thats sustainable, pushing the limits and educating others.

An important development in Abu Dhabi in recent years is Estidama and its Pearl rating system (PRS). Krall said construction professionals should be encouraged to go above-and-beyond the minimum Estidama requirements.

Focusing on Dubai, Krall added that while there was a building rush in

Sherif Anis

and Kyle Krall

at World

EcoConstruct.


NEWS ANALYSIS | SUSTAINABILITY

Dubai, a positive turn is coming with moves to make it more sustainable, including concepts like retro- tting. There are still some issues that need to be addressed, however.

The one thing that drives me crazy where I live is why arent we recycling all our trash? I live in Jumeirah Beach Residences, and there is no place for me to conveniently collect the trash. That should be the next focus for Dubai, Krall said.

In addition to this, cultural sen-sitivities and image are factors that have to be taken into consideration. Obviously image sells. When you y into Dubai on Emirates and they roll the lm when youre landing thats what theyre selling, said Krall.

A component related to image is iconic architecture, a term which has been used generously in Dubai for over a decade. Anis said he steers away from using the term, as it has been overplayed and used in almost every contest in the earlier part of the century. I dont see it anymore, which is probably a good thing. But I think if we were to look at whats dotting the skyline in terms of iconic

architecture, youll know what those buildings are, he added.

Krall said: The word iconic is not being used anymore because it doesnt mean anything here. It just used to mean the craziest building that is recognised.

I think a lot of successful projects that people consider iconic are really just a design to attract attention and done by an interesting architectural rm. However, its nice to see those kinds of things here, because it de -nitely puts Dubai on the map in terms of a world-class status, said Anis.

Iconic architecture doesnt always translate into sustainability, or user-friendliness. Anis said while Dubai is not a very walkable city compared to Abu Dhabi, there are still some examples of sustainable and public spaces, which exude vibrancy.

DIFC is a hub; it becomes sustainable on its own. Abu Dhabi is starting to develop those type of places. Im

excited to see what will come out of Sowwah Square.Kyle Krall, Thornton Tomasetti

Sustainabilty

should be an

integral process

of architecture.


COMMENT | EDITORS LETTER

16

Possible design in uences include Oscar Niemeyers saucer-like art gallery and the Enterprise from Star Trek.

EDITORS LETTER

THE LIFE AQUATICAn underwater hotel is planned but will the idea oat?

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

months issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

Dubais hotel under the sea.For those of us that have lived in Dubai for a few years, this months un-veiling of an underwater

hotel in the emirate was accompa-nied by a strong sense of dj vu.

Back in 2006, a design was re-vealed for a hotel called Hydropolis, that would have been the worlds rst underwater luxury resort.

It was to be submerged 20m beneath the surface just off Jumeirah Beach and original costs for con-struction were around $435m.

But like many grandiose schemes conceived in the boom, the Hydropo-lis project was washed away in the tide of the credit crunch.

Now, several years later, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World, Drydocks World, announced it has signed an agreement with a Swiss contractor to develop an underwater hotel in the emirate.

While the Hydropolis felt like something from a comic book, the newly-unveiled Water Discus Hotel seems more appealing and architec-tural, with a modernist meets space-age aesthetic.

I would hazard a guess that the design in uences include Oscar Niemeyers saucer-like art gallery in Rio de Janeiro and the Enterprise from Star Trek.

Yet the question on most peoples lips will be: is this a real project? Certainly, the conviction of the press release would make you believe its not pie in the sky (or sea).

Cynics should take note of the Maldives Rangali Island resort, which contains an underwater sec-tion built in 2010.

Admittedly, this is just a single room - a luxurious honeymoon suite - but its existence shows that it is technically, and perhaps eco-nomically, feasible to sleep with the shes, as a movie gangster might say.

However, the backers of the scheme must surely realise that the crystal clear view of aquatic life, as depicted in the renderings, may be tough to replicate in Dubai waters. Anyone that has ever scuba dived

in the emirate will know that the visibility can be decidedly poor, particularly in the areas that have been dredged.

One of the big challenges will be nding a location that is suitable - this was one of the key issues with Hydropolis, in addition to several other problems.

In December 2008, Crescent Hydropolis CEO Uwe Hohmann told Construction Week that a new location must be found, as the original spot, to the west of the Palm Jumeirah, was deemed unsuitable due to new construction.

It was proven that the original lo-cation was not ideal. At the time that this location was discussed there was no Jumeirah Beach Residence in place. A project like Hydropolis needs to have the right location, commented Hohmann.

The backers of the latest under-water hotel in Dubai should be wary that a sh-view room might lose a lot of its appeal if you cant see any sh.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.12 | www.designmena.comMIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.12 | www.designmena.com18

I nd development fascinating - I think its just as creative as design in many respects. Donald Trump calls it the art of the

deal and I think its very much an art form.

C areer switches can be a daunting prospect but Graeme Fisher is relish-ing his forthcoming shift from designer to developer. Although Fishers new role as head of design and infrastructure for GEMS Educa-tion will see him move away from the drawing board, the 41-year-old GAJ partner believes his design skills will be put to good use.

Obviously I love design and architecture - that is still my rst love. But having spent such a long time in practice there are certain things that an architect can bring to the develop-ment table, he remarks while sitting in a glass-walled meeting room in GAJs Barsha offi ce.

He points out that a client-side switch has been on his mind since university. Id always had a desire to move into development at some point. I nd it fascinating - I think its just as creative as design in many respects. Donald Trump calls it the art of the deal and I think its very much an art form. Youre identifying the opportu-nity. bringing in the consultants, the nancial companies and ultimately delivering the building.

As head of GAJs education group, Fisher grew into the position due to his specialist education experience. He explains: When I rst left univer-sity in 1995 I moved over to Brunei for a couple of years. The main project I did was the rst international school in Jerudong. That really gave me an initial interest in education design. I moved back to London in 1997 and started working for Sheppard Robson where I spent nine years and my primary focus was on schools.

When I moved to GAJ in 2006, the company was more hospitality biased. However, GAJ already had a great education portfolio, includ-ing the sequential development of Dubai College. Last year we decided, with the new focus in the country on infrastructure projects, to really go for winning school work.

Fisher reveals that GAJ is working on two GEMS schools in Qatar which are starting on site and due to open in 2013, as well as a school in Abu Dhabi. More recently, the rm picked up three school projects in Dubai. This is a great Dubai story for me. The schools are being built because of market research - people need them

desperately. We are all gunning for Dubai, Fisher remarks.

He continues: The growth and success of GAJs education team this year will de nitely continue - there is a great team now. It will be headed by David Green and the school sub-sets will be led by Jason Burnside. If there is a good time to leave it is now.

Ive got a huge amount to be thankful for, particularly to Brian Johnson who made me a partner within a year. The great thing is that GEMS is a client of the practice, and there is no reason to think that that relationship wont continue.

Fisher explains more about his new role on the client side. GEMS is already the worlds largest operator of schools and has very big global expan-sion plans. My role is head of design and infrastructure and that is based in Dubai at the HQ, but my remit is to help with the global growth. Ill be the custodian of design and Ill have to develop relations with consultants across the world. I will also be re-sponsible for the successful delivery of GEM projects.

When asked about his school de-sign ethos, he replies: I tend to turn

THE INTERVIEW

Oliver Ephgrave meets GAJ partner Graeme Fisher, who is set for a client-side switch with his recent appointment as head of design and infrastructure for GEMS Education

INTERVIEW | GRAEME FISHER

NEW SCHOOL

GRAEME FISHER | INTERVIEW

19www.designmena.com | 06.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT




20 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.12 | www.designmena.com

to corporate headquarters to look at how they deal with staff attainment and staff performance. Its about the quality of the space, the areas for in-teraction and facilities. They all have a massive impact on staff attainment.

If you are providing a similar space for a school, then you will see a reduction in absenteeism and the level of teaching is naturally going to be enhanced. Its not going to provide everything but it is a backbone.

When it comes to the common design mistakes made in Middle East schools, he says: There is sometimes too much emphasis on elements that are just gloss. They arent really going to aff ect the quality of teaching.

Theres no doubt that with fee paying schools you need to provide something that is going to entice the clients, i.e. parents, such as great sports facilities and a great audi-torium. But if youre spending all your money there and sacri cing the teaching spaces, then there is a bit of a question mark.

It will take a bit of time to get the balance right. However, its great to see organisations like GEMS, ADEC and others taking a leading role in looking at contemporary teaching and education spaces.

Fisher points out that schools are far from static projects. Of course we dont always get things right the rst time. Its vital to have lessons learnt workshops after a project has been operation for a year or so. Certainly in my experience, teachers have a lot of things to comment on - they are the people we need to listen to the most.

Its important that we leave a certain amount of exibility, for instance, to be able to double the size of classroom space effi ciently and economically. We need to ensure there is an ability to expand either horizontally or vertically, unless its a tight site. A lot of schools are phased programmes anyway.

For Fisher, Dubai College, de-signed by GAJ, is still the benchmark

for regional schools. I refer to it when Im in meetings with GEMS. Its not brand spanking new - some of the buildings are 20-years-old - but it has a lovely feel to it. There are clusters of classroom spaces and so many people feel at home there. Its almost the an-tithesis of the commercial HQ. I think getting a mix of the two is the chal-lenge. Also the auditorium is amazing - it is the best in the country.

Another reason for its success, ac-cording to Fisher, is its use of external circulation. He continues: I am a big advocator of using external circula-tion space as much as possible to reduce air conditioning load. Yes, of course it gets hot, but this climate is far more appropriate for people being outside for longer periods of the year than it is in the UK. Plus schools dont operate in the height of summer.

When it comes to other benchmark regional projects, Fisher highlights Education City in Qatar. The work by the likes of Allies & Morrison and Henning Larsen in particular is phe-

nomenal. It is more higher education but it is very responsive and respon-sible education work - you know that it is part of this region.

At the same time it is producing fantastic levels of teaching and learn-ing spaces. It is a brilliant focus for this region. I was blown away. We can learn a lot of lessons from it.

Fisher continually expresses his passion for education, and the twinkle in his eyes suggests he genuinely wants to make a positive impact in his new role at GEMS.

For me, education design, paticu-larly schools, is the most interesting type of design because it throws up such a range of possibilities. Theres a blend between diff erent ages and cultures. Its a really fascinating sec-tor to be in.

We all want to make a diff erence. An architect is lucky enough to make a physical diff erence, but to apply that skill-set to something that makes a genuine diff erence is something Ive always wanted to do.

Fisher has been

actively involved

in education

design since

1997.

Bathroom design UHGHQHG

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SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT, SHARJAH

This recently completed facility for

the American University of Sharjah

(AUS), designed by GAJ, houses

lecture rooms, seminar rooms,

faculty and public spaces facing

onto three courtyards to provide

natural daylight to the interior of

the building. The external envelope

has been designed to blend with

the adjacent AUS buildings while

the interiors are open and modern.

PORTFOLIO:Graeme Fisher

CENTRE FOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE, LONDON

Fisher worked on this scheme when at the UKs

Sheppard Robson. Completed in 2003, CEME is

a 12,000m2 hub of education, enterprise and

manufacture for east London, a agship

project for the Heart of Thames

Gateway regeneration scheme.

It is the rst purpose built

campus in the country.

PORTFOLIO | GRAEME FISHER




GRAEME FISHER | PORTFOLIO

DUBAI COLLEGEGAJ has been involved with the continuing growth of

the college since its inauguration in 1979. The latest

phase of development, completed in 2009, includes a

hyper-modern 900-seat auditorium.

JERUDONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, BRUNEIAs a 24-year old architect, Fishers rst foray in education design was the

International School built in Brunei in 1997. Located in Jerudong, it was

conceived as a through school, providing facilities from kindergarten

through to sixth form, with a total of 1,250 students.

BRADENTON ACADEMYOne of the rst co-education schools approved

by KHDA, Bradenton Academy provides a

rigorous and comprehensive American university

preparatory curriculum from pre-kindergarten

to grade 12. Completed in 2009, GAJs design

features vibrant colours and courtyards that

draw inspiration from regional architecture.

SCHOOL IN QATAR GAJs ongoing project in Qatar includes a multi-purpose indoor sports hall, library, art spaces

and various specialist labs. It uses a conceptual street as the heart of the school where students

interact and congregate, as well as circulate to various activities. The street opens onto the

football pitch and outdoor spaces, enabling a strong link between indoors and outdoors.

24

SITE VISIT | SOWWAH SQUARE


Devina Divecha visits Sowwah Square, the heart of Abu Dhabis new commercial business district

CROWN JEWEL

The new HQ

for the Abu

Dhabi Securities

Exchange at

Sowwah Square.

290,000M2AREA OF

OFFICE SPACE

25


www.designmena.com | 06.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

A dusty morning does nothing to dampen the commanding nature of Sowwah Square, the quadruple-tower centrepiece of Abu Dhabis new commercial business district and headquarters for the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Steven Nilles, partner, and Mat-thew Berglund, associate, of project architect Goettsch Partners sit in the ethereal atrium of Tower One, with Nilles sipping on a hot coff ee as he dives into the particulars of the scheme in the UAE capital.

With headquarters in Chicago, a branch offi ce in Shanghai and now another in Sowwah Square, Goettsch Partners won the project in an international design competition in 2007, for client Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality. There was a requirement to deliver an iconic stock exchange building but also to surround that with very effi cient and Class A international standard offi ce buildings, says Nilles. The scheme contains over 290,000m2 of offi ce space and also incorporates two levels of retail and two parking structures to the north and south of the square.

He comments on how the rm kept in mind the stock exchange, in terms of its programmatic requirement needed to be a four-storey building.

We decided to really create some-thing very special at the plaza level, adds Nilles.

To do this, Nilles and his team looked at opportunities for core sup-portive buildings, a concept which has been emphasised in architecture over the last many years.

He explains: Everybody seems to be fascinated and focused on the tower at the top; we are also fasci-nated and focused on the base of the building. Its the spaces in between the spaces that I think are very special on this project.

A landscaped plaza connects the four buildings, ranging from 31-37 storeys in height, and the exchange.

26



Four offi ce

buildings range

from 31-37

storeys in height.

Glass-enclosed, with a roof the size of a football eld, the stock exchange building rises 27m above a water feature on four mas-sive granite piers. The piers house the stairs, mechanical risers and service elements.

All the columns have been transferred to open up the entrances and the lobby, and also to elevate the exchange building on four legs. Nilles re ects that in projects Goettsch Partners designed recently, all focused in diff erent ways on creat-ing an urban environment, with no transition between the interior and exterior space.

He proudly says the lobbies in the four offi ce towers are dramatic, be-cause of the glass non-re ective cable wall enclosure that functions like an exterior space. Due to the glass, visitors to the buildings cannot feel the division between outside and in, and the core supportive design lends to the lobbies feeling more open than they actually are.

These are not tall buildings; if you compare this to Dubai, theyre noth-ing. Theyre background buildings in some respects. But yet this composi-tion of offi ce towers really creates a setting for the exchange building and thats really the crown jewel of the project, says Nilles.

Designing the stock exchange led to various challenges. The building is oriented in an East-West direction, which is not ideal for solar exposure. The team came up with ideas to design the building in a cross-orienta-tion that is solar-eff ective.

Cantilevered glass screen walls have been installed that buff er the building from the exposures. On the surrounding towers, motorised shades follow the sun angle in the form of active sunscreens.

A double-wall faade has been cre-ated in the buildings to create a form of thermal control. All structures

need to have a certain percentage of outside air entering inside for air pressure, and for every cubic foot of air coming in, a similar amount has to be thrown out. Instead of throwing the air out like every other building in the world, we actually throw it into that cavity to create a thermal pillow and then extract the air. So you take the exhaust air, you create a thermal buff er within the cavity, which is all sealed and then you extract it. That picks up the heat, so its a thermal control. These walls are cool as a cu-cumber, says Nilles enthusiastically.

Another challenge was being selec-tive about materials. The environ-ment in this region is incredibly

Everybody seems to be fascinated and focused on the tower at the top; we are also fascinated and focused on the base of the building. Its the spaces in between the

spaces that I think are very special on this project.Steven Nilles, Goettsch Partners

2,550M2PVS ON ROOF

Intercontinental & Crown Plaza Hotel, Festival City, Dubai

Client Al-Futtaim Group Architect Cox Crone ArchitectsConstruction 2003 2007Application of FOAMGLAS behind stone cladding facade 8000 m2

Build-up1 Stone cladding2 Rail support system for cladding

xed in concrete3 FOAMGLAS mechanically-

xed4 Structural wall concrete

Long term investment in safety and durability.Web: www.foamglas.ae Email: [email protected] Dubai ofce Tel: +9714 434 7140 Doha ofce Tel: +974 465 5360

FOAMGLAS Insulation

The Intercontinental and Crown Plaza Hotel are part of Festival City project which, once nished, will be one of the largest mixed-used developments in Dubai. FOAMGLAS is used behind the stone cladding because of the unique property of being fully resistant to any kind of water and vapour and therefore can be applied on the wall structure without any additional protection against the high humidity. No additional foil for vapour protection is required trough the closed cell structure of the material FOAMGLAS itself. Result is the life time constant performance of the thermal insulation. Degradation through humidity absorption is the biggest problem in the Middle East for wall insulation next to re issues. FOAMGLAS is fully inorganic and will not support any re. With no ame spread and no smoke development it provides, especially in hotel project with towers, the highest safety and ensures the highest standard. It contains 66% recycling glass content and is environmentally sound in its manufacturing, usage and eventual disposal.

Ventilated Facade

1

2

4

3

ASTM E84,

E136

THE

BEST

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28



corrosive. The humidity, the heat, the sun, the temperature and the dust and condensation that forms on the outside of the building will turn even normal stainless steel into mush, Nilles says emphatically.

He says there is no substitution for glass, and even with detailing stone architects need to be careful. He warns against curvilinear buildings as its easier to notice dust on such structures. A prime example is the armadillo-shaped transit stations in Dubai. Youre better off going straight. Once you start curving, its almost like your eye just knows its dirty, he says.

Sustainability is high on the agenda; Sowwah Square is the rst project in Abu Dhabi to be pre-certi ed LEED-CS Gold. In addition to the double-skin faade and the thermal controls, the roof of the ex-change building contains 2,550m2 of photovoltaic panels to capture solar energy. The design also incorporates condensation collection from cooling coils to supply the water feature as well as providing irrigation.

The project did not apply for LEED Platinum because of the point of diminishing returns, according to its

Making

the square

pedestrian-

friendly was a

priority.

architects. When you get to LEED Platinum in this instance, theres a point of diminishing returns. You can keep dialling in things but its going to cost a lot of money, explains Nilles.

Every project has got its potential. Every project that Goettsch Partners designs is not only environmentally sustainable, but is economically sus-tainable, adds Nilles.

He adds that the rm creates a val-ue-driven solution, where the project turns out to make money as well. At the end of the day, we gure out whats best for our client and whats best for the project, and whats economically viable, Nilles says.

Berglund chimes in and says while architects can meet and exceed met-rics on the LEED scorecard, there are some pointers such as occupant comfort that do not show up in the rating system, but will be re ected in the users' attitude to the space.

Al Shamsi clari ed the project also follows the Estidama Pearl Rating System for Abu Dhabi.

Another eco-friendly feature of the buildings is what Nilles refers to as tech-zone lighting systems. All of the light xtures in the square can be controlled with a Building Manage-ment System (BMS). Possessing daylight sensors, they can dim down or light up automatically.

As Nilles and Berglund walk around the development, the stock

exchange building stands in promi-nence despite being shorter than the surrounding offi ce towers.

Berglund comments: One thing that came to mind is that its put in a context before there even was a context. It went rst and everything was built around it.

Sowwah Squares architecture is complemented by the creations of American landscape architect Martha Schwartz. This, added to the core supportive building style, lends to the square being more pedestrian-friendly. Berglund said in Dubai, the typical situation is that buildings have a podium with a tower on top, which is a complete block for pedestrians.

Theres no pedestrian experience whatsoever, but here youre essen-tially on top of that podium since the island is on a raised level and the pedestrians have space.

Everything is engineered; it looks so simple but its not. Its very involved, says Nilles.

A pool will soon appear under the stock exchange building, which Nilles refers to proudly as a jewel box. It will feature blue pearl granite and oating electronic lily pads. The latter are light xtures of 15 diff erent sizes and are tethered to random spots around the pool.

The ceiling is made of a textured, patterned, non-re ective laminated glass that will provide a soft glow at



It is the rst

project in Abu

Dhabi to be pre-

certi ed LEED-

CS Gold.We looked at a lot of diff erent options, but really, if you just envision this thing as a big loaf of bread on four legs, it doesnt look so good. Steven Nilles,

Goettsch Partners

30



all times of the day. I think its going to be quite dramatic, says Nilles, looking over the ongoing construction of the pool. The construction is slated to nish in a couple of months.

The journey from the lobby to the stock exchange area is made via a glass elevator. As the elevator goes up, the surrounding islands come into view. A lot of nancial districts shut down at 5pm, but thats not what were doing in Abu Dhabi, says Nilles as the oors whizz past.

The interior of the stock exchange is luxurious yet functional, and it comes as a surprise to see the room is circular, bearing in mind the external shell is a rectangle. Gensler worked on the interior, with Goettsch Partners responsible for the core-and-shell. The whole concept of a circle within a rectilinear form was something we all worked together on as the common point to the geometry of the grid.

Nilles then compares the ceiling to a skylight. The curve on the top is always fascinating to see. Again, you can build all the models and do all the renderings in the world but until you create a space like that, you dont know what youve got.

The sloped oors seem more impressive from inside the building. Nilles says he prefers them to some of the views at the top, because it feels like one can have an interaction with the people in the plaza. We looked at a lot of diff erent options, but really,

if you just envision this thing as a big loaf of bread on four legs, it doesnt look so good, he adds.

As a light drizzle falls from the skies, Nilles becomes nostalgic and talks about the rst visit to the site ve years ago. When we started this it was just a strip of sand. There was absolutely nothing out here all we saw was a desert fox and cat missing half its ear. We had to create our own context within the framework of the masterplan, and thats what we did. Its not going to feel like an island.

The sloped

edges of the

building create a

sense of drama.

SETTING THE BENCHMARKFOR THE REGIONSARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY

To submit your nominations, or for more information, please visit:www.constructionweekonline.com/meaa

The 5th annual Middle East Architect Awards are an opportunity for the industry to come together for one night to toast exceptional performance in architecture, engineering & design.

NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST 2012

NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST 2012

Andrew ParkesAdvertising Director, Construction GroupTel: +971 4 444 3570Email: [email protected]

For table bookings and further information please contact:Michelle MeyrickEvents ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3328Email: [email protected]

Yazan RahmanSales Director, Construction Group Tel: +971 4 444 3351Email: [email protected]

For sponsorship enquiries please contact:

For nomination enquiries please contact:Oliver EphgraveEditorTel: +971 4 444 3303Email: [email protected]

TUESDAY 23RDOCTOBER, 2012

THE WESTIN, DUBAI

Gold SponsorPlatinum Sponsor Category Sponsor

32



Technical drawings supplied by Goettsch PartnersSOWWAH SQUARE

The solid building masses at the ground oor are limited

to the elevator and stair

enclosures and the structural

centre core. As a result, the site

is visually open, and both the

open exterior space and glass-

enclosed lobbies are shaded by

the offi ces oors above.

FLOOR PLANS

WEST ELEVATION

The west elevation shows the Stock Exchange building

raised ve oors above the

podium level and supported

on four massive structural

columns that contain the MEP

risers, service elevators and the

exit stairs. To make the Stock

Exchange building even more

monumental, the horizontal

surface of the podium under the

Exchange is lowered 11m to a

re ecting pool at natural grade.

33



The east and west exposures of the Tower 3 and 4 facades

are shaded with horizontal

glass louvers that respond to

the suns rays by rotating and

shading the direct rays as the

sun moves around the buildings.

EAST ELEVATION

This section cuts through the centre of the project at the east-west axis. Here the south

elevation of Tower 4 shows the sloped structural

transfer of the perimeter columns into the centre

core, giving the building mass a simple elegance

and recognisable form that would not have been

achieved with a more conventional structural

concept. The expression of the tower core is

emphasised by the diff erence in the building

enclosure. The core element is enclosed with a

double glass wall utilising return air to temper

the air between the glass walls and reduce the

overall heat gain.

SECTION

34

FEATURE | SPECIFICATION


The GCC's abundance of sunlight might be a bless-ing for barbecue lovers and beachcombers, but for

the region's architects it is a constant challenge. One of the major consider-ations is the speci cation of appropri-ate materials that can withstand the extreme heat and humidity.

Tarek Qaddumi, principal for UAE-based TNQ Architectural & Engineering Consultants, remarks: Extreme heat is always top of mind for architects and engineers in the GCC. This translates into choos-ing high performing materials with strong heat insulation qualities, and heat resistant materials which will maintain their integrity throughout their intended lifetime.

Unfortunately sometimes we see a speci cation of natural materials with low tolerance to heat, humidity and strong sunlight.

Qaddumi suggests the industry should be more proactive in nding ways to beat the heat. He continues: I think the weather has been a strong reason for a very conserva-tive approach to the exploration of

MATERIAL WORLD

The weather is

one of the major

concerns for

specifiers in the

Middle East.

Oliver Ephgrave speaks to regional experts on the

challenges and recent trends for material specification

in the Middle East

alternative materials. I would highly encourage exploring the viability of diff erent materials to expand the pool of tried and tested products. But equally, I would encourage such endeavours to proceed with caution, research and experimentation under actual conditions.

Most technological advancements in the eld of con-struction have been geared to serve colder climates, while I think hotter climates have just as much need for research in the eld. Over the next few years, we at TNQ intend to explore diff erent systems as we've already started in several of our projects.

Another consideration for speci ers is the distance from building materials manufacturers. Most materials are not manufactured locally, he continues. Shipping materi-als across large distances has its environmental impact. Availability of samples locally for physical inspection and readily available stock for delivery on site at short notice are also missed because of these distances.

For this reason Qaddumi states that regional speci ers are more inclined to work with reputable traders who come prepared with samples and carry a fair amount of stock rather than those that depend entirely on orders to import material.

He says his rm is not averse to specifying local materials, adding: I have no concerns over specifying locally - the products are fairly competitive in price and quality. The concern stems from products that are imported from less than depend-able sources.

49CHIGHEST RECORDED

TEMPERATURE IN

DUBAI

35



36



Sumaya

Dabbagh,

principal,

Dabbagh

Architects.

Sumaya Dabbagh, principal at Dubai-based Dabbagh Architects, is not convinced by the quality of all local products but states they should be considered for sustainability. She says: The quality of materials that are manufactured locally varies. Some adhere to international stan-dards, whereas others do not.

When it comes to the common mistakes made by architects when specifying, Dabbagh points to a lack of research and thorough under-standing of materials.

She opines: It is vital that the material is well understood and its performance is evaluated based on standards and tests done by the man-ufacturer in order to select the right material that would give the required performance. This study of materials before including them in speci ca-tions is sometimes lacking amongst

consultants due to time constraints during the design stage.

Dabbagh adds that sometimes ma-terials are incorrectly applied. Even good quality materials, if not used in the correct way, can be problematic. For instance, certain porous stone may be excellent as wall cladding but the same material can perform poorly when used as ooring. These over-sights can easily be avoided through more careful study and trials through mock-ups, prior to using the material in a real project.

She continues: Some external cladding materials rely on frequent rainfall for cleaning. Deposits of dust and oils from the atmosphere can cause certain materials to deterio-rate. Most manufacturers test the ma-terials before they launch the product and problems appear if materials are exposed to conditions diff erent from those in which they were tested un-der. This is where architects must pay attention to the technical speci ca-tion of each material.

Qaddumi states that Middle East architects have a watered down role in speci cation compared to other markets. With a few exceptions, the reality is that architects are not generally paid to produce coordi-nated construction documents and to perform the QS and particular speci cation scope as required. In the Middle East, what is known as nal design is the equivalent to the US design development stage.

He says that his own rm is pushing to change this trend but is encounter-ing client resistance. We've been advocates for changing this reality and often pushing our own design scope beyond our commission. How-

ever we've noticed that most clients understand the status quo and accept that as a market standard.

Usually, the client is happy with the existing model, because they maintain a certain degree of exibility as far as selection. It also allows them to involve the contrac-tor - the common perception is that the contractor has a deeper physical engagement with the construction industry and, therefore, an inherent control over the schedule and nal cost of a project.

Qaddumi continues: The choice of materials then becomes a pseudo-democratic process where the archi-tect argues performance, quality and

I think it would be very beneficial if consultants would

share experiences or lessons learned with regards to

material specifications."

Sumaya Dabbagh, Dabbagh Architects


www.designmena.com | 06.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 37www.designmena.com | 05.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

Tarek Qaddumi,

principal, TNQ.

2005FORMATION DATE OF

TNQ

aesthetic (or doesn't), the contractor argues cost and delivery times and the client has the third vote. This is ne for as long as the contractor is responsible for the overall design and coordination from the moment they're on board, as is the case in the French delivery model.

The situation in the Middle East, according to Qaddumi, is that the coordination is a grey area during the construction process, as the contractor is making choices and the architect is approving partial shop drawings and material submissions.

Instead, he advocates the architect taking the leading role, as in the US market model. The approach we

advocate, and implement our-selves, is that the architect chooses every mate-rial and speci es every source, brand, make and model; produces coordinated construc-tion documents based on these choices; prepares or supervises the preparation of accurate cost estimates on this basis; and follows the construction on site with much greater clarity.

He continues: The architect can then be held more responsible for ensuring quality, schedule and cost. Should there be a reason for revisions or value engineering, these can be treated systematically as a stand-alone exercise.

Qaddumi states that clients are wary of over-speci cation. Given the importance of the economic viability and sustainability of such large investments, a developer wants to know that they are not overspend-ing on materials that a better design could have at least mitigated. They also want to know that they are not overspending on performance that is not necessary, given the development targets, or buying an overly resilient material that is several times more expensive than an alternative that requires replacing once during the lifetime of a building.

Another client concern is over-spending for the sake of installing a particular brand that is equal to a generic alternative. Once a client is assured of all of these things, other costs can be appreciated as an invest-ment in reducing future running costs and resources. The investment in good materials should, therefore, make as much sense to the investor as it would to the architect.

Dabbagh calls for more collabora-tion and knowledge-sharing in the industry. It would be very bene cial if consultants would share experi-ences or lessons learnt with regards to material speci cations. In the

UAE, we need to create more forums for discussion amongst consultants and suppliers.

When asked whether there are any recent trends in speci cation, Qaddumi replies: Besides a move-ment towards specifying more green materials, the only other trend I'm aware of in recent weeks is the au-thorities mandating non- ammable aluminium composite panels follow-ing several res in the UAE because of non- re rated counterparts that have been an industry standard in the GCC for years.

Dabbagh also points to the move towards more sustainable products. I would say the recent trends are the speci cations of environmentally- friendly products such as recycled materials that contribute to a reduced carbon footprint; materials that are free from VOCs and products that reduce energy consumption of buildings. Such materials are becoming more relevant in increasing the awareness about the bene ts of green buildings. This is the only way forward if our built environment in this region is to become sustainable, she concludes.


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THE PROJECT The rst hotel project to be

completed on Abu Dhabis Saadi-yat Island, as well as the rst Park Hyatt-branded property in the

UAE capital, the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas

opened its doors in No-vember 2011. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the 306-key 45,000m2

resort is oriented with views to the Arabian Sea,

along with private villas that line a boardwalk and private beach. The energy-effi cient design meets LEED Certi ed standards.

306TOTAL NUMBER

OF KEYS

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PARK HYATT ABU DHABI Architect: Perkins EastmanLocation: Abu DhabiCASE STUDY


THE SITE Developed by Abu Dhabi Na-

tional Hotels (ADNH), the hotel is located on Saadiyat Beach, a ve-mile stretch of protected white sand beach. The resort was designed to respond to its site, which includes a protected sea turtle habitat, sand dunes and coastline. Saadiyat Beach is located on the islands northwest coast, and will feature several ve-star hotels including the now open St. Regis, as well as a pending Rotana resort and Shangri-La hotel. In the future, the resorts will support visi-tors to the high-pro le museums in the nearby Cultural District.

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THE CONCEPT According to Shawn Basler,

principal in charge of the project at Perkins Eastman, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi combines the pleasures of an urban resort with the ambience

45,000M2TOTAL AREA OF

THE RESORT

of island living and luxury. It tries to blur the indoors and the outdoors with large terraces, covered outdoor areas and views of the sea. The na-ture of the site was key to the design

and the feeling of the resort, both in the architecture and the organisa-tion of spaces. The architects tried to capture the essence of being in the desert, surrounded by the sea.

THE DETAILS The resort was designed

to achieved LEED Certi- ed standards in order to adhere to the green requirements of the Saadiyat masterplan by developer Tourism Development & Invest-ment Company (TDIC). One of the eco measures included the protection of the extensive sea turtle habitat and dunes. In addition, the project used local and recycled materials wherever possible, as well as solar panels for heating water, and grey water irrigation to help off set maintenance for the neighbouring golf course.

www.constructionweekonline.com/conferences

5TH NOVEMBER 2012THE WESTIN, ABU DHABI

A B U D H A B I

This one day forum brings the whole spectrum of the construction, real estate and FM sectors together for an open discussion alongside

government representatives to promote sustainability initiatives in the Middle East

MEDIA PARTNERS HOSTED BY:

GOLD SPONSORS FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

YAZAN RAHMANYYSALES [email protected]: +971 4 444 3351

CARLO MENEZESCARLSPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER, [email protected]: +971 4 444 3306

44

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THE CONCEPT This daring concept for an under-water hotel was conceived by Polish company Deep Ocean Technol-ogy (DOT). Last month, Drydocks World, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World, signed a deal to be-come the exclusive main contractor for the hotel concept in the Middle East. Named Water Discus Hotel, the design envisages an 'ultimate leisure facility' with a structure that is partly above water and the rest submerged underneath.

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WATER DISCUS HOTEL

Concept designer: Deep Ocean Technology Location: Worldwide

CASE STUDY


The main disc and adjacent satellites on the upper section are located ve to seven metres above the water surface. These discs include a res-taurant, spa and a rooftop area with seawater swimming pools and train-ing pools for divers. The underwater section is located up to 10m beneath the surface and each disc is com-posed of 21 hotel rooms. A wide shaft with a view of the sky gives a sense of spaciousness, and helps to counter a feeling of claustrophobia.

THE PROJECT

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THE DETAILSA number of individual modules can be used to build a hotel complex of minimum 2000m2 which can be further extended with additional modules (1000 - 1500m2 each). According to DOT, the building remains safe even in the event of a tsunami due to its sturdy structural design. Safety measures include an earthquake and weather warning system and remotely operated un-derwater vehicles. The underwater disc automatically surfaces in the event of any danger. Even if ooded, each satellite disc has positive buoy-ancy and can be used as lifesaving vessels after detachment.

THE SITEDOT claims the Water Discus Hotel can be built anywhere in the world and tailored to suit the location. If any changes in environmental conditions occur, the various mod-ules can be transferred to a diff erent site. This mobility is said to enable straightforward changes to interior design, as any disc can be detached and replaced. The structure sits on three solid legs xed to the seabed while the upper disc is suspended above the water surface. A vertical shaft contains a lift and stairway.

21NUMBER OF

HOTEL ROOMS IN EACH DISC


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TITANIC BELFASTConcept design: CivicArts/Eric R Kuhne & Associates Lead consultant: Todd ArchitectsLocation: Belfast, Northern Ireland

CASE STUDY


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THE PROJECT This $140m cultural scheme is a strikingly modern homage to the Titanic, located on the site where the ill-fated ship was designed and built. It is the worlds largest ever Titanic-themed visitor attraction and Northern Irelands largest tourism project. Its six- oors feature nine galleries documenting the Titanic, as well as the maritime history of the city. The building houses temporary exhibits, a 1,000-seat banqueting suite, education and community facilities, catering and retail space and a basement car park.

Titanic Belfast forms part of the $11bn Titanic Quarter development, one of Europes largest urban water-front regeneration schemes, which is transforming a 75ha site on the banks of Belfasts River Lagan into a new mixed use maritime quarter with a mile of water frontage. The museum is sandwiched between the site of the drawing offi ce where Titanic was designed and the River Lagan where it rst set sail in 1912. The 14,000m2 building took three years to complete the same length of time as Titanic itself.

THE SITE

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THE DETAILSThe faade replicates four 27m-high hulls and is clad in 3,000 silver anodised shards, using Novelis 3mm aluminium J57S. The shimmering eff ect is enhanced by re ec-tive pools of water at the base of the structure. Its interior contains a glass atrium and a 1,000-seater banqueting centre, complete with a 10,000-piece near replica of Titanics Grand Staircase. The entrance level includes an 18m-high wall covered in sheet metal panels similar in size to those used on the ship's hull.

THE CONCEPTConceived as the centrepiece of the quarter, the distinctive form unites the sites various heritage elements. Concept design was provided by CivicArts and Eric R Kuhne & Associates, while local Northern Irish Todd Architects worked as lead consultant. Sweett Group provided programme and cost management services. Having rst investigated options for recreating Titanic at vari-ous scales, it was decided to create an entirely original structure. With its jagged silhouette, inspired by the ship itself, the building was com-pleted in March, in advance of the centenary of Titanics tragic voyage in April 2012.

3,000ALUMINIUM SHARDS

IN THE FACADE


FEATURE | EDUCATION DESIGN

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THE GALLERIES

Architect: Burt HillLocation: Downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai

As the agship project for UAE developer Limitless, the Galleries is a mixed-use scheme in Downtown Jebel Ali containing Grade-A offi ce space, housing and retail space. Since last month, all four towers in the Galleries Offi ces Buildings are now open, with 70% of the 800,000m2 space already leased. Certi ed LEED Silver, it consists of two groups of four buildings, sepa-rated by a landscaped plaza.

THE VERTICAL OASIS

Architect: Aaron Marriott and Clarissa Wenborn, University of NottinghamLocation: Abu Dhabi

This eco tower for Abu Dhabi was designed as part of a masters course at the University of Nottinghams architecture department. The proj-ect, called the Vertical Oasis, was created by students Aaron Marriott and Clarissa Wenborn. As suggested by the name, the project aimed to recreate the oasis in the sky, for a site on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, adjacent to the ADIA Tower.

18M HEIGHT OF

LOBBY SPACES

AZERENERJI HQ

Location: Baku, AzerbaijanArchitect: P&T Architects and Engineers

This tower complex is the head-quarters for AzerEnerji, the state provider of power for the whole of Azerbaijan. P&T was tasked with producing a building that is highly secure and functional, which also the advanced technology used in Azerbaijans new infrastructure grid. The 28-storey tower is capped with a triple-high lounge space for the com-pany president, with views across Baku and the Caspian Sea.

28NUMBER OF STOREYS IN THE TOWER

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XEROX EMIRATES HQ

Architects: AK Design/ Adel Almojil Consulting EngineersLocation: Dubai

Designed by UAE-based AK De-sign and Adel Almojil Consulting Engineers, this clean-lined complex serves as a showcase for the Xerox brand in the Middle East. It contains a customer showroom, offi ces, work-shops, support centres and train-ing facilities. The large open-plan areas encourage transparency and interaction between departments. The Xerox complex was completed in late 2011.

MARINA MALL

Architect: HOKLocation: Lusail, Qatar

Designed by HOK, this futuristic retail complex for Qatars mammoth Lusail development contains ve interconnected retail islands with water running through the centre. Smaller outlying pods will house ad-ditional retail, exhibition and enter-tainment space, such as a skate park and childrens play area. It is aiming for the top ranking in Qatars green building index and was recently granted planning permission.

KUWAIT CULTURAL CENTRE

Architect: BDPLocation: Sabah Al-Ahmad City, Kuwait

BDP has been appointed by the Public Authority of Housing Welfare to design a landmark cultural centre in Sabah Al Ahmad, a new city for 2,500 people in the Kuwaiti desert. According to the architect, the centre will off er an inspirational home for a wide range of cultural activities and includes a gallery, museum, theatre, screening room, conference centre and childrens theatre.

2,500 ESTIMATED

POPULATION OF SABAH AL-AHMAD

CITY

ETIHAD TOWERS

Architect: Design by Innovation (DBI)Location: Abu Dhabi

Completed in November 2011, this mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi comprises ve towers, plus an inter-connecting podium, developed by Sheikh Suroor Projects Department (SSPD). It includes the 585-key Jumeirah Etihad Towers Hotel. The project contains three residential buildings, housing 885 apartments, a commercial offi ce tower, a shopping mall, restaurants and cafes and the UAEs largest banqueting hall.

US$1BN TOTAL VALUE OF

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FURNISHINGKUBEEgo Paris

Ego Pariss latest lounger is more than just a chaise - its an armchair, a pouf and a coff ee table. Its also elegant, comfortable, compact and mobile. Depending on their needs, customers can recon gure Kube to be just about whatever they want. This means that, rather than opting for a selection of diff erent outdoor furniture items, a few Kubes may do the job.


LIGHTINGALVAR ALTO PENDANT LAMPArtek

Created by Alvar Aalto in 1953, this pendant lamp is made with white painted aluminium, polished brass rings or chromed rings. The lamp was rst introduced in the interior design of the University of Jyvskyl. Decorative and sculptural even when unlit, this is a true design classic.

LAST WORD | PHIL DALGLISH


Phil Dalglish, director at Buro Happold, on regional experience and renewable energy

THE LAST WORD

BURO VISION

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Buro Happold has 35 years of experience in the region. Saudi Arabia is the big market for us.

We have also been in Kuwait for many years. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are relatively new markets for us.

Dubai is the place where everybody wants to live - it has the infrastructure and the capacity.

Try getting a ight on Thursday night from Doha, Riyadh or Bahrain.

Working with a contractor is hard work - they need clari cation. Pressure on fees often means that some consultants, not all, will leave a lot of the

design liability and requirements with the contractor.

The Middle East is a developing market and youve got a fair amount of specialists that are coming in and trying to do more with less.

We are not in a mature market - we have subsidies on utilities, we have the whole idea that if we comply with LEED then we must be sustainable. Thats only the start.

Renewable energy is not feasible to do in most parts of the world. Let alone in the subsidised economies of the Middle East.

At the time of the crisis, we probably had 20% of work in the Middle East.We quickly jumped up to 40% in global turnover after the slowdown.

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Qbiss One on McLaren Production Centre, GB | Architect: Foster + Partners

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