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NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC
JUNE 2012 / VOLUME 06 / ISSUE 06An ITP Business Publication
BUILDING FOCUS
Discovering Goettsch Par tners
Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi
INTERVIEW
GAJs 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
12
THE BIG PICTURELester Ali captures the
overlooked entrance area of
the Aldar HQ in Abu Dhabi 14
ANALYSISExperts at World
EcoConstruct discuss
Dubais eco credentials18
INTERVIEWGAJ part ner Graeme Fisher
on his client-side switch to
GEMS Education 24BUILDING FOCUSMEA visits Sowwah Square,
the heart of Abu Dhabis new
commercial business ditrict34FEATURE
54CULTURECool products, clever ideas,
and some of the latest gadgets
in the design world
40CASE STUDIESPerkins Eastmans Saadiyat
hotel, Duba is underwater
resort and the Titanic Belfast52
The recent trends and
challenges in regional
material specification
THE WORKA detailed reference section
covering the projects ME A
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
56
LAST WORDPhil Dalglish, director for
Buro Happold, on his fir ms
regional experience
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FRONT| JUNE
2
DUBAI UNVEILS NEWLEISURE SCHEMESUnderwater hotel, Palm Jumeirah and JBR projects ofer signs o positivity
Two major leisure projects were an-
nounced or Dubai, while another will
be completed this year, giving hope to
the emirates architects and construc-
tion proessionals.
Nakheel announced a new water-
side residential and leisure project or
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 o 192
pied--terre style contemporary
units and retail, dining
and fitness acilities, all
ofering panoramic views
o Palm Jumeirah and the
Dubai skyline.
Construction will begin by the end
o 2012, with completion due by the
end o Q1 2014.
Meanwhile, the shipbuilding arm
o Dubai World has announced plans
to build a ser ies o 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 or the unusual concept.
One o 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)
341ROOMS IN OCEAN
VIEW HOTEL
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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 o the worlds ugliest buildings,
according to its staf and users.
The winning building was the
bruta list 1975 FBI headqua rters i n
Washington DC by Charles F Mur-
phy and Associates.
Denys Lasduns Grade II* listed
Royal National Theatre in London,
Website chooses worlds topten ugliest buildings
Aedas named largest
practice on the planetAedas won the accolade o Worlds
Largest Practice ater three years in
the number two spot in the WA 100
(World Architecture annual survey).
The recognition comes as a result
o strong growth in Asia or the
company, where turnover increased
by a quarter, surpassing the previous
years 15% rise.
Virtually all o the 364 architects
who joined the practice this year are
working in China, with a handul
based in Singapore.
While staf numbers have shrunk
in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, chairmain
Keith Gri 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 flood-stricken town in
the Asian country. Designed by Supermachine
Studio, the city would be built on the sides o a
150m-high reservoir capable o managing 1,500
million m3 o water.
DESIGNMENA.COM
DATASTREAM
Aedas designed U-Bora Tower, Dubai.
IM Peis museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
FOUROf ce towers in
Sowwah Square(page 24)
3,000Aluminium
shards in Titanic
Belfast (page 48)
17
as well as IM Peis Rock and Roll
Hall o Fame and Museum (pic-
tured) in Cleveland, Ohio, came in at
second and tenth place respectively.
A controversia l scheme in Toron-
to, Canada - Sharp Centre or Design
by Alsop A rchitec ts wit h Robbie,
Young and Wright Arch itects - 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 rom the Middle East
were deemed ugly enoug h to appear
in the list.
available in the two emirates as well
as the wider Gul region.
The other top 10 firms in WA100
were Aecom, Gensler, IBI Group,
Nikken Sekkei, Foster & Partners,
DP Architects, P&T Architects &
Engineers, Samoo Architects & En-
gineers and HDR Architecture.
BUILDINGSOVER
300M
BUILDINGSOVER
150M
BUILDINGSOVER
200M
12
1
QATAR TOWERS
(DATA FROM CTBUH)
Image:Getty
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FRONT| JUNE
4
Tony Archibold, ormer associate director,
RMJM Architects, has moved to Bluehaus
Group as design director.
Archibold worked in his previous role or
our-and-a-hal 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 o a competition team.
In his new role, he will be expanding
the interior design side o 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 firms of ces in Tecom, Duba i. The
division recently moved rom the Gold &
Diamond Park.
RW Armstrongs Mona Salem picked up
the award or MENA Best Woman in the
Corporate Sector rom job site AmCham.
The MENA Women Awards recognise
individuals in the non-profit and corporate
sectors, with the i naugural awards taking
place on 10th May in Tunis.
Salem, vice president and head o MENA
operations, said: I am truly honoured to
receive this award and am very proud to
be recognised among such an outstanding
group o nominees.
The award belongs to my amily and
team and confirms RW Armstrongs com-
mitment to valuing its people and encour-
aging greatness in the workplace.
In 2011, Salem was ranked number 34
in Constr uction Weeks Power 100, a col-
lection o the most influential people in the
GCC construction industry.
PEOPLE
RMJM director joinsBluehaus Group
MENA boss hailedBest Woman
A vast knowledge ofmaterial specification is avital advantageto proposealternatives incase of lack ofavailability, longlead times or valueengineering.Reza Kiamanesh,
Lecturer, IAU
University, Dubai
We should be using thelessons learnt from
Estidama to establisha consistent base levelacross the UAE thatraises the minimum
standards.Dr Rob Cooke,
associate, Buro
Happold, discusses
sustainability in the
UAE
60 SECOND INTERVIEW
MARK SCAIFE, ASSOCIATE,
ACOUSTICS, WSP ENVIRON-
MENT AND ENERGY (ME)
What are the common
mistakes in acoustic design?
Employing the acousticiantoo late or not or the entire
design and construction, so
that they are prevented rom
adding their true value. Mis-
understanding the diference
between common acoustic
ratings (Rw and DnTw) or
materials is also common and
can lead to expensive
mistakes.
Are there any
recent trends orinnovations?
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 Gul such as Esti-
dama and QSAS.
What are the most problem
atic building types in terms of
acoustics?
Schools are o particular
interest because studies have
shown that schools located in
areas o high noise levels have
students that sufer long term
learning impairment. Thereore,
without proper consideration
to acoustics, we could be im-
pacting uture generations.
nsive
ed
us
odes
uch as Esti-
Tony Archibold becomes design director.
Mona Salem wins corporate award.
e
ngvalue
,
i
Sharing knowledge withinternationalcompaniesand buildingup support is
something thathas to be done in
a developingcity.Eng. Hani
A.Kayal, COO
HALJ
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FRONT| JUNE
6
3
QATAR
Crescent tower in Lusail
inspired by Qatari swords
Plans have been unveiled or a
crescent-shaped building in Lusail,
inspired by the two curved swords
in the emblem o Qata r. The project
Lusail Marina Iconic Development
was unveiled by Qatar-based Katara
Hospitality, and will contain 800
units including hotel rooms, apart-
ments, of ces, boutique retail and
restaurants. The five-star complex
is aim ing or completion by 2016, in
time to serve the World Cup in 2022.
2
ABU DHABI
TDIC starts handover of
Saadiyat Beach Villas
Tourism Development & Investment
Company (TDIC), master developer
o Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, announced
the start o handover o Saadiyat
Beach Villas. The first phase o the
development, which consists o 254
villas, was launched in 2009 and
completely sold out. A second batch
o 90 villas was released in November
2011 to meet demand, and handover
o both phases is set to be completed
by the ourth quarter o 2012.
1
DUBAI
Princess Tower claims
Guinness World Record
Guin ness World Records has of 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 o aluminium
and steel, weight a total o 110 tonnes.
It orms part o the tallest city block in
the world, along with SOMs Infinity
Tower and the 90-storey 23 Marina.
2
MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT
1
3
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FRONT| JUNE
8
3
FRANCE
UK architecture g iant Foster +
Partners has revealed the first images
o its museum or Roman artiacts
in the city o Narbonne, southern
France, a ormer Roman port with
several archaeological sites. The fi rm
is working with museum designer
Adrien Gardere ollowing success
in an international competition.
The centrepiece o the museum is a
collection o more than 1,000 ancient
unerary blocks excavated nearby.
2
USA
One World Trade Center
may not be USAs tallest
A late change to the design o 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 fibreglass 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
final height measurement previ-
ously anticipated at 541m.
1
CHINA
Beijings CCTV tower
of cially completed
Beijing celebrated the of cial
completion ceremony o its amous
looped skyscraper, or China Central
Television (CCTV). Designed by
Rem Koolhaas Dutch firm OMA,
construction began in 2004. Rising
rom a common platorm, two towers
lean towards each other and merge in
a 75m cantilever. The aade reflects
the structure: diagonals becomes
dense in areas o greater stress, and
looser in areas requiring less support.
Foster + Partners to design
Roman museum
21
3
GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT
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FRONT| JUNE
10
2
THE BIG PICTURE
Aldar Headquarters
One o the most distinctive buildings
in the region, the circular orm o the
Aldar Headquarters has been an Abu
Dhabi landmark or several years. This
image, by ITP staf photographer Les-
ter Ali, ocuses on the entrance details,
with its looped canopy and landscap-
ing. Designed by MZ Architects, it is
the first circular building o its kind in
the Middle East, achieved through the
use o a structural diagrid.
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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.
The word sustainability
has been bandied about
in the world o architec-
ture and construction to
saturation point. In the worst o cases,
it is merely used to sound relevant in
todays world; countless projects list
reams o sustainability credentials in
a hope to keep up with competitors.
A panel discussion held at
Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2012, as part o
the World EcoConstruct seminars,
discussed whether architecture can
make a diference towards sustain-
able building practices.
Its panelists also examined the role
o design and architecture in deliver-
ing sustainable buildings, and using
design principles in the construction
process to meet its challenges.
Sheri Anis, regional director,
CBT Architects, and secretary, AIA
Middle East, said at this point in time,
architecture is a unction o the day-
to-day design process. We talk about
sustainability and treat it as though
it were a parallel discipline; but in
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SUSTAINABILITY| NEWS ANALYSIS
act, it s now becoming a much more
integral process, a s it should be. I its
not, then youre probably approaching
your project rom the wrong way.
This senti ment was echoed by Kyle
Krall, senior principal, Thornton To-
masetti, UAE, who said i architects
dont take advantage o sustainable
building practices, then its simply
bad architecture.
He pointed out LEED raised the
bar and posed questions on whether
graded buildings are better or 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 orcing buildings to
raise the bar; buildings are going to
get better and bet ter, he added.
Krall noted one o the problems in
this process is an owner who doesnt
want to spend money or 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 demystiy 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 or
design competitions. Hal 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 or our built environment,
and it makes it harder and harder to
really create sustai nably.
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 wonderul city in a
lot o respects, but in terms o being
a sustainable city, its got a long, long
way to go. It really needs patchwork to
fix a lot o mistakes, added Anis.
To ocus on getti ng 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 ew
months into construction.
Anis said he elt Abu Dhabi always
had a diferent outlook rom 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 o 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
mindul o the environment. Theres
some antastic architecture out there
thats sustainable, pushing the limits
and educating others.
An importa nt development in Abu
Dhabi in recent years is Estidama
and its Pearl rating system (PRS).
Krall said construction proessionals
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.
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NEWS ANALYSIS| SUSTAINABILITY
Dubai, a positive turn is coming with
moves to make it more sustainable,
including concepts like retro-fitt ing.
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 tra sh? 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 fly
into Dubai on Emirates and they roll
the film 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 k now what those
buildings are, he added.
Krall said: T he 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
firm. However, its nice to see those
kinds of things here, because it defi-
nitely puts Dubai on the map in terms
of a world-class status, said A nis.
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 stil l 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.
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COMMENT| EDITORS LETTER
16
Possible design influences include Oscar Niemeyers saucer-
like art gallery and the Enterprise from Star Trek.
EDITORS LETTERTHE LIFE AQUATICAn underwater hotel is planned but will the idea float?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 o us that have
lived in Dubai or a ew
years, this months un-
veiling o an under water
hotel in the em irate was ac compa-
nied by a strong sense o dj vu.
Back in 2006, a design was re-
vealed or a hotel called Hydropolis,
that would have been the worlds first
underwater luxury resort.
It was to be submerged 20m
beneath the su race just of Jumei rah
Beach and original costs or con-
struction were around $435m.
But like many g randiose schemes
conceived in the boom, the Hydropo-
lis project was washed away in the
tide o the credit crunch.
Now, several years later, the
shipbuilding arm o Dubai World,
Drydocks World, announced it has
signed an agreement with a Swiss
contractor to develop an underwater
hotel in the em irate.
While the Hydropolis elt l ike
something rom 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 influences include Oscar
Niemeyers saucer-like art gallery in
Rio de Janeiro and the Enterprise
rom Star Trek.
Yet the question on most peoples
lips will be: is this a real project?
Certainly, the conviction o the press
release would make you believe its
not pie in the sky (or sea).
Cynics should take note o t he
Maldives Rangali Island resort,
which conta ins an underwater sec-
tion built in 2010.
Admit tedly, thi s is just a single
room - a luxurious honeymoon
suite - but its existence shows that it
is technically, and perhaps eco-
nomically, easible to sleep with the
fishes, as a movie gangster might say.
However, the backers o the
scheme must surely realise that the
crystal clear view o aquatic lie, as
depicted in the renderings, may be
tough to replicate in Dubai waters.
Anyone that ha s ever scuba dived
in the emirate will know that the
visibi lity c an be decidedly poor,
particularly in the areas that have
been dr edged.
One o the big challenges will be
finding a location that is suitable -
this was one o 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 ound, as the
original spot, to the west o 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 t here
was no Jumeir ah Beach Residence
in place. A project like Hydropolis
needs to have the right location,
commented Hohmann.
The backers o the latest under-
water hotel in Dubai should be wa ry
that a fish-view room might lose a lot
o its appeal i you cant see any fish.
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I find 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 orthcoming shit
rom designer to developer. Although
Fishers new role as head o design
and inrastr ucture or GEMS Educa-
tion will see him move away rom 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 sti ll my first 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 of 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 find it ascinating - I think it s just as
creative as design in many respects.
Donald Trump calls it the art o the
deal and I think its very much an art
orm. Youre identiying the opportu-
nity. bringing in the consultants, the
financial companies and ultimately
delivering the building.
As head o GAJs education group,
Fisher grew into the position due to
his specialist education experience.
He explains: When I first let univer-
sity in 1995 I moved over to Brunei
or a couple o years. The main project
I did was the first international school
in Jerudong. That really gave me an
initial interest in education design.
I moved back to London in 1997 and
started working or Sheppard Robson
where I spent nine years and my
primary ocus was on schools.
When I moved to GAJ in 2006,
the company was more hospitality
biased. However, GAJ already had
a great education portolio, includ-
ing the sequential development o
Dubai College. Last year we decided,
with the new ocus in the country on
inrastructure projects, to really go
or 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 firm picked
up three school projects in Dubai.
This is a g reat Dubai story or me.
The schools are being built because o
market research - people need them
desperately. We are all gunning or
Dubai, Fisher remarks.
He continues: The g rowth and
success o GAJs education team this
year will definitely 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. I there
is a good time to leave it is now.
Ive got a huge amount to be
thankul or, particularly to Brian
Johnson who made me a partner
within a year. The great thing is that
GEMS is a client o 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 o
schools and has very big global expan-
sion plans. My role is head o design
and inrastructure and that is based
in Dubai at the HQ, but my remit is
to help with the global growth. Ill be
the custodian o design and Ill have
to develop relations with consulta nts
across the world. I will also be re-
sponsible or the successul delivery
o 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
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GRAEME FISHER| INTERVIEW
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GRAEME FISHER| INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW| GRAEME FISHER
20 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com
to corporate headquarters to look at
how they deal with staf attainment
and staf perormance. Its about the
quality o the space, the areas or in-
teraction and acilities. They all have
a massive impact on staf attainment.
I you are providing a similar
space or a school, then you will see
a reduction in absenteeism and the
level o 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 afect the quality o teaching.
Theres no doubt that with ee
paying schools you need to provide
something that is going to entice the
clients, i.e. parents, such as great
sports acilities and a g reat audi-
torium. But i youre spending all
your money there and sacrificing the
teaching spaces, then there is a bit o a
question mark.
It will take a bit o 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
ar rom static projects. O course we
dont always get things right the first
time. Its vital to have lessons learnt
workshops ater a project has been
operation or a year or so. Certainly
in my experience, teachers have a lot
o things to comment on - they a re the
people we need to listen to the most.
Its important that we leave a
certain a mount o flexibility, or
instance, to be able to double the size
o classroom space e ciently and
economically. We need to ensure
there is an ability to expand either
horizontally or vertically, unless its a
tight site. A lot o schools are phased
programmes a nyway.
For Fisher, Dubai College, de-
signed by GAJ, is still the benchmark
or regional schools. I reer to it when
Im in meetings with GEMS. Its not
brand spanking new - some o the
buildings are 20-years-old - but it has
a lovely eel to it. There are clusters o
classroom spaces and so many people
eel at home there. Its almost the an-
tithesis o the commercial HQ. I think
getting a mix o the two is the chal-
lenge. Also t he auditorium is amazing
- it is the best in the country.
Another reason or its success, ac-
cording to Fisher, is its use o external
circulation. He continues: I am a big
advocator o using external circula-
tion space as much as possible to
reduce air conditioning load. Yes, o
course it gets hot, but this climate is
ar more appropriate or people being
outside or longer periods o the year
than it is in the UK. Plus schools dont
operate in the height o summer.
When it comes to other benchmark
regional projects, Fisher highlights
Education City in Qatar. The work
by the likes o 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 o this region.
At the same time it is producing
antastic levels o teaching and learn-
ing spaces. It is a brilliant ocus or
this region. I was blown away. We can
learn a lot o lessons rom it.
Fisher continually expresses his
passion or education, and the tw inkle
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 o design because it throws up
such a range o possibilities. Theres
a blend between diferent ages and
cultures. Its a really ascinating sec-
tor to be in.
We all want to make a d iference.
An architect is lucky enough to make
a physical diference, but to apply that
skill-set to something that makes a
genuine diference is something Ive
always wanted to do.
Fisher has been
actively involved
in education
design since
1997.
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sanitary modules for WCs with integrated cistern combine timeless design with
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INTERVIEW| GRAEME FISHER
22 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com
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 flagship
project for the Heart of Thames
Gateway regeneration scheme.
It is the first purpose built
campus in the country.
PORTFOLIO| GRAEME FISHER
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GRAEME FISHER| INTERVIEW
23www.designmena.com| 06.12| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
GRAEME FISHER| PORTFOLIO
DUBAI COLLEGE
GAJ 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, BRUNEI
As a 24-year old architect, Fishers first 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 ACADEMY
One of the first 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.
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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
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Adusty morning does
nothing to dampen the
commanding nature o
Sowwah Square, the
quadruple-tower centrepiece o Abu
Dhabis new commercial business
district and headquarters or the Abu
Dhabi Securities Exchange.
Steven Nilles, partner, and Mat-
thew Berglund, associate, o project
architect Goettsch Partners sit in
the ethereal atrium o Tower One,
with Nilles sipping on a hot cofee as
he dives into the particula rs o the
scheme in the UAE capital.
With headquarters in Chicago,
a branch o ce in Shang hai and
now another in Sowwah Square,
Goettsch Partners won the project in
an international design competition
in 2007, or client Mubadala Real
Estate and Hospitality. There was
a requirement to deliver an iconic
stock exchange building but also to
surround that w ith very e cient and
Class A international standa rd o ce
buildings, says Nilles. The scheme
contains over 290,000m2 o o ce
space and also incorporates two levels
o retail and two parki ng structures
to the north and south o the square.
He comments on how the firm kept
in mind the stock exchange, in terms
o its programmatic requirement
needed to be a our-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 or core sup-
portive buildings, a concept which has
been emphasised in architecture over
the last many years.
He explains: Everybody seems
to be ascinated and ocused on the
tower at the top; we are also asci-
nated and ocused on the base o the
building. Its the spaces in between
the spaces that I think are very special
on this project.
A landscaped plaza connects the
our buildings, ranging rom 31-37
storeys in height, and the exchange.
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Four of ce
buildings range
rom 31-37
storeys in height.
Glass-enclosed, with a roo the
size o a ootball field, the
stock exchange building
rises 27m above a water
eature on our mas-
sive granite piers. The
piers house the stairs,
mechanical risers and
service elements.
All the columns have been
transerred to open up the entrances
and the lobby, and also to elevate the
exchange building on our legs. Nilles
reflects that in projects Goettsch
Partners designed recently, all
ocused in di ferent ways on creat-
ing an urban environment, with no
transition between the interior and
exterior space.
He proudly says the lobbies in the
our o ce towers are dramatic, be-
cause o the glass non-reflective cable
wall enclosure that unctions like
an exterior space. Due to the glass,
visitors to the buildings cannot eel
the division between outside and in,
and the core supportive design lends
to the lobbies eeling more open than
they actually are.
These are not tall buildings; i you
compare this to Dubai, theyre noth-
ing. Theyre background buildings in
some respects. But yet this composi-
tion o o ce towers rea lly creates a
setting or the exchange building and
thats really the crown jewel o the
project, says Nilles.
Designing the stock exchange led
to various challenges. The building is
oriented in an Ea st-West direc tion,
which is not ideal or solar exposure.
The team came up with ideas to
design the building in a cross-orienta-
tion that is solar-efective.
Cantilevered glass screen walls
have been installed that bufer the
building rom the exposures. On
the surrounding towers, motorised
shades ollow the sun angle in the
orm o active sunscreens.
A double-wall aade has been cre-
ated in the buildings to create a orm
o thermal control. All structures
need to have a certain percentage
o outside air entering inside or air
pressure, and or every cubic oot o
air coming in, a similar amount has to
be thrown out. Instead o 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
bufer 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 enthusiastical ly.
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
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Intercontinental & Crown Plaza Hotel,Festival City, Dubai
ClientAl-Futtaim GroupArchitect Cox Crone ArchitectsConstruction 2003 2007Application of FOAMGLAS behind stone claddingfacade 8000 m2
Build-up1 Stone cladding2 Rail support system for cladding
fixed in concrete3 FOAMGLAS mechanically-
fixed4 Structural wall concrete
Long term investment in safety and durability.Web: www.foamglas.ae Email: [email protected] Dubai office Tel: +9714 434 7140 Doha office Tel: +974 465 5360
FOAMGLAS Insulation
The Intercontinental and Crown Plaza Hotel are part of Festival City project which, oncefinished, will be one of the largest mixed-used developments in Dubai. FOAMGLAS is usedbehind the stone cladding because of the unique property of being fully resistant to anykind of water and vapour and therefore can be applied on the wall structure without anyadditional protection against the high humidity. No additional foil for vapour protectionis required trough the closed cell structure of the material FOAMGLAS itself. Result is the
life time constant performance of the thermal insulation. Degradation through humidityabsorption is the biggest problem in the Middle East for wall insulation next to fire issues.FOAMGLAS is fully inorganic and will not support any fire. With no flame spread andno smoke development it provides, especially in hotel project with towers, the highestsafety and ensures the highest standard. It contains 66% recycling glass content and isenvironmentally sound in its manufacturing, usage and eventual disposal.
Ventilated Facade
1
2
4
3
ASTME
84,E136
THEBEST
FACADE
FORHIGHRISEBUILDIN
GS
FIRE
SAFE
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corrosive. The humidity, the heat, the
sun, the temperature and the dust
and condensation that orms on the
outside o the building will turn even
normal stainless steel into mush,
Nilles says emphatically.
He says there is no substitution or
glass, and even with detail ing stone
architects need to be careul. He
warns against curvili near buildings
as its easier to notice dust on such
structures. A prime example is the
armadillo-shaped transit stations
in Dubai. Youre better of 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 first
project in Abu Dhabi to be pre-
certified LEED-CS Gold. In addition
to the double-skin aade and the
thermal controls, the roo o the ex-
change building contains 2,550m2 o
photovoltaic panels to capture solar
energy. The design also incorporates
condensation collection rom cooling
coils to supply the water eature as
well as providing irrigation.
The project did not apply or LEED
Platinum because o the point o
diminishing retur ns, according to its
Making
the square
pedestrian-
friendly was a
priority.
architects. W hen you get to LEED
Platinum in this insta nce, theres a
point o diminishing returns. You can
keep dialling in things but its going to
cost a lot o 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 firm creates a val-
ue-driven solution, where the project
turns out to make money as well. At
the end o the day, we figure out whats
best or our client and whats best or
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
comort that do not show up in the
rating system, but will be reflected in
the users' attitude to the space.
Al Shamsi clarified the project also
ollows the Estidama Pearl Rating
System or Abu Dhabi.
Another eco-riendly eature o the
buildings is what Nilles reers to as
tech-zone lighting systems. All o
the light fixtures 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 o ce towers.
Berglund comments: One thing
that came to mind is that its put in
a context beore there even was a
context. It went first and everything
was built around it.
Sowwah Squares architecture
is complemented by the creations
o American landscape architect
Martha Schwartz. This, added to the
core supportive building style, lends
to the square being more pedestrian-
riendly. Berglund said in Dubai, the
typical situation is that buildings have
a podium with a tower on top, which is
a complete block or pedestrians.
Theres no pedestrian experience
whatsoever, but here youre essen-
tially on top o 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
reers to proudly as a jewel box. It
will eature blue pearl granite and
floating electronic lily pads. The latter
are light fixt ures o 15 diferent sizes
and are tethered to random spots
around the pool.
The ceiling is made o a textured,
patterned, non-reflective laminated
glass that will provide a sot glow at
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It is the first
project in Abu
Dhabi to be pre-
certified LEED-
CS Gold.
We looked at a loto diferent options,
but really, i you just
envision this thing as
a big loa o bread on
our legs, it doesnt
look so good.
Steven Nilles,
Goettsch Partners
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all times o the day. I think its going
to be quite dramatic, says Nilles,
looking over the ongoing construction
o the pool. The construction is slated
to finish in a couple o months.
The journey rom 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 o financial districts shut
down at 5pm, but that s not what were
doing in Abu Dhabi, says Nilles as
the floors whizz past.
The interior o the stock exchange
is luxurious yet unctional, 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 or the core-and-shell.
The whole concept o a circle within
a rectilinear orm was something we
all worked together on as the common
point to the geometry o the grid.
Nilles then compares the ceiling
to a skylight. The curve on the top is
always ascinating 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 floors seem more
impressive rom inside the building.
Nilles says he preers them to some o
the views at the top, because it eels
like one can have an interaction with
the people in the plaza. We looked
at a lot o diferent options, but really,
i you just envision this thing as a big
loa o bread on our legs, it doesnt
look so good, he adds.
As a light drizzle alls rom the
skies, Nilles becomes nostalgic and
talks about the first visit to the site
five years ago. When we started this
it was just a strip o sand. There was
absolutely nothing out here all we
saw was a desert ox and cat missing
hal its ear. We had to create our own
context within the ramework o the
masterplan, and thats what we did.
Its not going to eel like an island.
The sloped
edges of the
building create a
sense of drama.
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SETTING THE BENCHMARKFOR THE REGIONSARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY
To submit your nominations, or for more information, please visit:
www.constructionweekonline.com/meaa
The 5th annual MiddleEast Architect Awards arean opportunity for theindustry to come togetherfor one night to toastexceptional performancein architecture,engineering & design.
NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23
rdAUGUST 2012
NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23
rdAUGUST 2012
Andrew ParkesAdvertising Director, Construction Group
Tel: +971 4 444 3570Email: [email protected]
For table bookings and further information please contact:
Michelle Meyrick
Events Manager
Tel: +971 4 444 3328Email: [email protected]
Yazan RahmanSales Director, Construction Group
Tel: +971 4 444 3351
Email: [email protected]
For sponsorship enquiries please contact:
For nomination enquiries please contact:
Oliver Ephgrave
EditorTel: +971 4 444 3303
Email: [email protected]
TUESDAY 23RD
OCTOBER, 2012THE WESTIN, DUBAI
Gold SponsorPlatinum Sponsor Category Sponsor
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Technical drawings supplied by Goettsch Partners
SOWWAH SQUARE
The solid building massesat the ground floor 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 of ces floors above.
FLOOR PLANS
WEST ELEVATION
The west elevation showsthe Stock Exchange building
raised five floors above the
podium level and supported
on our 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
surace o the podium under the
Exchange is lowered 11m to a
reflecting pool at natural grade.
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The east and west exposureso the Tower 3 and 4 acades
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 o theproject at the east-west axis. Here the south
elevation o Tower 4 shows the sloped structural
transer o the perimeter columns into the centre
core, giving the building mass a simple elegance
and recognisable orm that would not have been
achieved with a more conventional structural
concept. The expression o the tower core is
emphasised by the diference 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
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FEATURE| SPECIFICATION
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com
The GCC's abundance o
sunlight might be a bless-
ing or barbecue lovers
and beachcombers, but or
the region's architects it is a constant
challenge. One o the major consider-
ations is the specification o appropri-
ate materials that can withstand the
extreme heat and humidity.
Tarek Qaddumi, principal or
UAE-based TNQ Architectural &
Engineering Consultants, remarks:
Extreme heat is always top o mi nd
or architects and engineers in the
GCC. This tra nslates into choos-
ing high perorming materials with
strong heat insulation qualities, and
heat resistant materials which will
maintain their integrity throughout
their intended lietime.
Unortunately sometimes we see
a specification o natural materials
with low tolerance to heat, humidity
and strong sunlight.
Qaddumi suggests the industry
should be more proactive in finding
ways to beat the heat. He continues:
I think the weather has been a
strong reason or a very conserva-
tive approach to the exploration o
MATERIALWORLD
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 o diferent materials to expand the pool o
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 field o con-
struction have been geared to serve colder climates, while
I thin k hotter climates have just as much need or research
in the field. Over the next ew years, we at TNQ intend
to explore diferent systems as we've already started in
several o our projects.
Another consideration or specifiers is the distance rom
building materials manuacturers. Most materials are not
manuactured locally, he continues. Shipping materi-
als across large distances has its environmental impact.
Availability o samples locally or physical inspection and
readily available stock or delivery on site at short notice
are also missed because o these distances.
For this reason Qaddumi states that regional
specifiers are more inclined to work with
reputable traders who come prepared with
samples and carry a air amount o stock
rather than those that depend entirely on
orders to import material.
He says his firm is not averse to speci ying
local materials, adding: I have no concerns
over speciying locally - the products are airly
competitive in price and quality. The concern stems
rom products that are imported rom less than depend-
able sources.
49CHIGHEST RECORDED
TEMPERATURE IN
DUBAI
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FEATURE| SPECIFICATION
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FEATURE| SPECIFICATION
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com36
Sumaya
Dabbagh,
principal,
Dabbagh
Architects.
Sumaya Dabbagh, principal at
Dubai-based Dabbagh Architects,
is not convinced by the quality o all
local products but states they should
be considered or sustainability. She
says: The quality o materials that
are manuactured locally varies.
Some adhere to international stan-
dards, whereas others do not.
When it comes to the common
mistakes made by architects when
speciying, Dabbagh points to a lack
o research and thorough under-
standing o materials.
She opines: It is vital that the
material is well understood and its
perormance is evaluated based on
standards and tests done by the man-
uacturer in order to select the right
material that would give the required
perormance. This study o materials
beore including them in specifica-
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, i 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 perorm poorly
when used as flooring. These over-
sights can easily be avoided through
more careul study and trials through
mock-ups, prior to using the material
in a real project.
She continues: Some external
cladding materials rely on requent
rainall or cleaning. Deposits o dust
and oils rom the atmosphere can
cause certain materials to deterio-
rate. Most manuacturers test the ma-
terials beore they launch the product
and problems appear i materials are
exposed to conditions diferent rom
those in which they were tested un-
der. This is where architects must pay
attention to the technical specifica-
tion o each material.
Qaddumi states that Middle East
architects have a watered down role
in specification compared to other
markets. With a ew exceptions,
the reality is that architects a re not
generally paid to produce coordi-
nated construction documents and
to perorm the QS and particular
specification scope as required. In the
Middle East, what is known as final
design is the equivalent to the US
design development stage.
He says that his own firm is pushi ng
to change this trend but is encounter-
ing client resistance. We've been
advocates or changing this reality
and oten 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 certai n degree o
flexibility as ar 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 a nd, thereore, an inherent
control over the schedule and final
cost o a project.
Qaddumi continues: The choice o
materials then becomes a pseudo-
democratic process where the archi-
tect argues perormance, 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
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FEATURE| SPECIFICATION
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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
fine 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 specifies 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-specification. 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 beneficial
if consultants would share experi-
ences or lessons learnt with regards
to material specifications. In the
UAE, we need to create more forums
for discussion amongst consultants
and suppliers.
When asked whether there are
any recent trends in specification,
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-flammable
aluminium composite panels follow-
ing several fires in the UAE because
of non-fire 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
specifications 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 benefits 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 first hotel project to be
completed on Abu Dhabis Saadi-
yat Island, as well as the firs t Park
Hyatt-branded property i n 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 A rabian S ea,
along with private villas that
line a boardwalk and private beach.
The energ y-ef cient design meets
LEED Certified standards.
306TOTAL NUMBER
OF KEYS
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PARK HYATT
ABU DHABIArchitect: Perkins Eastman
Location: Abu Dhabi
CASE STUDY
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THE SITE
Developed by Abu Dhabi Na-
tional Hotels (ADNH), the hotel
is located on Saadiyat Beach, a
five-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 five-
star hotels including the now open
St. Regis, as well as a pendi ng Rotana
resort and Shangri-La hotel. In the
future, the resorts wi ll support visi-
tors to the high-profile museums in
the nearby Cultural District.
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THE CONCEPT
According to Shawn Basler,
principal in charge o the project at
Perkins Eastman, Park Hyatt Abu
Dhabi combines the pleasures o
an urban resort with the ambience
45,000M2
TOTAL AREA OF
THE RESORT
o island living and luxury . It tries
to blur the indoors and the outdoors
with la rge terrace s, covered outdoor
areas and views o the sea. The na-
ture o the site was key to the design
and the eeling o the resort, both in
the architecture and the organisa-
tion o spaces. The architects tried
to capture the essence o being in t he
desert, surrounded by the sea.
THE DETAILS
The resort was designed
to achieved LEED Certi-
fied standards in order
to adhere to the green
requirements o the
Saadiyat masterplan
by developer Tourism
Development & Invest-
ment Company (TDIC).
One o the eco measures included
the protection o the extensive sea
turtle habitat and dunes. In addition,
the project used local and recycled
materials wherever possible, as well
as solar panels or heating water, and
grey water irrigation to help ofset
maintenance or the neighbouring
gol course.
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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 ofthe construction, real estate and FM sectors
together for an open discussion alongside
government representatives to promotesustainability initiatives in the Middle East
MEDIA PARTNERS HOSTED BY:
GOLD SPONSORS FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Y ZAN RAHMAN
SALES DIRECTOR
DIRECT: +971 4 444 3351
LO MENEZES
SPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER,
DIRECT: +971 4 444 3306
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THE CONCEPT
This dari ng concept for an under-
water hotel was conceived by Polish
company Deep Ocean Technol-
ogy (DOT). Last month, Drydocks
World, the shipbuilding ar m 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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SCUS
O
WATER
DISCUSHOTELConcept designer: Deep Ocean Technology
Location: Worldwide
CASE STUDY
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The main d isc and adjacent satellites
on the upper section are located
five to seven metres above the water
surface. These di scs 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 t he sky g ives a sense of
spaciousness, and helps to counter a
feeling of claustrophobia.
THE PROJECT
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THE DETAILS
A number o individual modules
can be used to build a hotel complex
o minimum 2000m2 which can be
urther extended with additional
modules (1000 - 1500m2 each).
According to DOT, the building
remains sae even in the event o a
tsunami due to its sturdy structural
design. Saety measures include an
earthquake and weather warning
system and remotely operated un-
derwater vehicles. The underwater
disc automatically suraces in the
event o any danger. Even i flooded,
each satellite disc has positive buoy-
ancy and can be used as liesaving
vessels a ter detachment.
THE SITE
DOT claims the
Water Disc us
Hotel can be built
anywhere in the
world and tailored
to suit the location. I
any changes in environmental
conditions occur, the various mod-
ules can be transerred to a diferent
site. This mobility is said to enable
straightorward changes to interior
design, as any disc ca n be detached
and replaced. The structure sits on
three solid legs fixed to the seabed
while the upper disc is suspended
above the water surace. A vertical
shat contains a lit a nd 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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C
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S
THE PROJECT
This $140m cultural
scheme is a strikingly
modern homage to the
Titanic, located on the
site where the ill-ated ship was
designed and built. It is the worlds
largest ever Titanic-themed visitor
attraction and Northern Irelands
largest tourism project. Its six-floors
eature nine galleries documenting
the Titanic, as well as the maritime
history o the city. The buildi ng
houses temporar y exhibits, a 1,000-
seat banqueting suite, education and
community acilities, catering and
retail space and a basement car park.
Titanic Belast orms part o the
$11bn Titanic Quarter development,
one o Europes largest urban water-
ront regeneration schemes, which
is transorming a 75ha site on the
bank s o Belasts River Laga n into
a new mixed use maritime quarter
with a mile o water rontage. T he
museum is sandwiched between
the site o the drawing of ce where
Titanic was designed and the River
Lagan where it first set sail in 1912.
The 14,000m2 building took three
years to complete the same length
o time as Titanic itsel.
THE SITE
10,000PIECES IN THE
REPLICA
STAIRCASE
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THE DETAILS
The aade replicates
our 27m-high hulls and
is clad in 3,000 silver
anodised shards, using
Novelis 3mm alumi nium
J57S. The shimmering
efect is enhanced by reflec-
tive pools o water at the base o
the structure. Its interior contains
a glass atrium and a 1,000-seater
banqueti ng centre, complete with
a 10,000-piece near replica o
Titanics Grand Staircase. The
entrance level includes an 18m-high
wall covered in sheet meta l panels
similar in size to t hose used on the
ship's hull.
THE CONCEPT
Conceived as the centrepiece o the
quarter, the distinctive orm unites
the sites various heritage elements.
Concept design was provided by
CivicArts and Eric R Kuhne &
Associates, whi le local Norther n
Irish Todd Architects worked as lead
consultant. Sweett Group provided
programme and cost management
services. Having first investigated
options or recreating Tita nic at vari-
ous scales, it was decided to create
an entirely original structure. With
its jagged silhouette, inspired by the
ship itsel, the building was com-
pleted in March, in advance o the
centenary o Titan ics tragic voyage
in April 2012.
3,000ALUMINIUM SHARDS
IN THE FACADE
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FEATURE| EDUCATION DESIGN
52
THE
WORKPROJECT UPDATE
THE GALLERIES
Architect:
Burt Hill
Location:
Downtown
Jebel Ali, Dubai
As the flagship pr oject or UAE
developer Limitless, the Galleries is
a mixed-use scheme in Downtown
Jebel Ali contain ing Grade-A of ce
space, housing and retail space.
Since last month, all our towers
in the Gal leries Of ces Buildings
are now open, with 70% o the
800,000m2 space already leased.
Certified L EED Silver, it consists
o two groups o our buildi ngs, sepa-
rated by a landscaped plaza.
THE VERTICAL
OASIS
Architect:
Aaron Marriott
and Clarissa
Wenborn,
University of
Nottingham
Location: Abu
Dhabi
This eco tower or Abu Dhabi was
designed as part o a masters course
at the University o Nottingha ms
architecture department. The proj-
ect, called the Vertical Oasis, was
created by students Aaron Marr iott
and Clarissa Wenborn. As suggested
by the name, the project ai med to
recreate the oasis in the sk y, or a site
on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, adjacent
to the ADIA Tower.
18MHEIGHT OF
LOBBY SPACES
AZERENERJI
HQ
Location: Baku,
Azerbaijan
Architect: P&T
Architects and
Engineers
This tower complex is the head-
quarters or AzerEnerji, the state
provider o power or the whole o
Azerb aijan. P&T was tasked w ith
producing a building that is highly
secure and unctional, which also
the advanced technology used in
Azerba ijans new in rastructure grid.
The 28-storey tower is capped with a
triple-high lounge space or the com-
pany president, with views across
Baku and the Caspian Sea.
28NUMBER OF
STOREYS IN
THE TOWER
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EDUCATION DESIGN| FEATURE
53
THEWORK|PROJEC
TUPDATE
XEROX
EMIRATES HQ
Architects:
AK Design/
Adel Almojil
Consulting
Engineers
Location: Dubai
Designed by UAE-based AK De-
sign and Adel Al mojil Consulting
Engineers, this clean-lined complex
serves as a showcase or the Xerox
brand in the Middle Eas t. It contains
a customer showroom, of ces, work-
shops, support centres and train-
ing acilities. The la rge open-plan
areas encourage transparency and
interaction between departments.
The Xerox complex was completed
in late 2011.
MARINA MALL
Architect: HOK
Location: Lusail,
Qatar
Designed by HOK, this uturistic
retail complex or Qatars mammoth
Lusail development contains five
interconnected retail islands with
water ru nni ng throug h the cent re.
Smaller outlying pods will house ad-
ditional retail, exhibition and enter-
tainment space, such as a skate park
and childrens play area. It is aimi ng
or the top ranking in Qata rs green
buildi ng index and was recently
granted planning permission.
KUWAIT
CULTURAL
CENTRE
Architect: BDP
Location: Sabah
Al-Ahmad City,
Kuwait
BDP has been appointed by the
Public Authority o Housing Welare
to design a landmark cultural centre
in Sabah Al Ahmad, a new city or
2,500 people in the Kuwaiti desert.
Accordi ng to the arch itect , the centr e
wil l oer an inspirat ional home or a
wide ra nge o cultu ral act ivit ies and
includes a gallery, museum, theatre,
screening room, conerence centre
and chi ldrens theatre.
2,500ESTIMATED
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 five towers, plus an inter-
connecting podium, developed by
Sheikh Suroor Projects Department
(SSPD). It includes the 585-key
Jumeira h Etihad Towers Hotel. The
project contains t hree residential
buildi ngs, housing 885 apa rtment s, a
commercia l of ce tower, a shopping
mall, restaurants and caes and the
UAEs largest banqueting hall.
US$1BNTOTAL VALUE OF
PROJECT
5,193M2GROSS FLOOR
AREA
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com54
LIKE
WANTNEEDCULTURE
FURNISHING
KUBE
Ego Paris
Ego Pariss latest lounger is more
than just a chaise - its an armchair,
a pou and a cofee table. Its also
elegant, comortable, compact and
mobile. Depending on their needs,
customers can reconfigure Kube to
be jus t about whatever they want.
This means that, rather than opting
or a selection o diferent outdoor
urniture items, a ew Kubes may
do the job.
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 05.12| www.designmena.com
LIGHTING
ALVAR ALTO PENDANT LAMP
Artek
Created by Alvar Aalto in 1953,
this pendant lamp is made with white
painted aluminium, polished brass
rings or chromed rings. The lamp was
first introduced in the interior design o
the University o Jyv skyl. Decorative
and sculptural even when unlit, this is a
true design classic.
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LAST WORD| PHIL DALGLISH
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com56
Phil Dalglish, director at Buro Happold, on regional
experience and renewable energy
THE LAST WORD
BURO VISION
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Offices in Dubai & London
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Tel: +971 4 444 3303 email: oliver.ephgrav [email protected] m
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