me architects - jun 2012

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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


2/60

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3/60

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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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com

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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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 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


6/60


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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10/60


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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JUNE| FRONT



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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.

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.


16/60


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

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


21/60

GRAEME FISHER| INTERVIEW

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




22/60


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.


23/60

BathroomdesignUHGHQHG

,PSOHPHQW\RXULGHDVIRUDQHZEDWKURRPHRUWOHVVO\7KH*HEHULW0RQROLWK

sanitary modules for WCs with integrated cistern combine timeless design with

VLPSOHLQVWDOODWLRQ7KH\DUHDYDLODEOHLQPDQ\GLHUHQWJODVVFRORXUVDQGFDQ

EHFRPELQHGZLWKYDULRXVFHUDPLFDSSOLDQFHVSURYLGLQJ\RXZLWKORWVRIIUHHGRP

RIFKRLFH)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQSOHDVHYLVLW ZZZJHEHULWDH

*HEHULW0RQROLWK


24/60



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



25/60



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.


26/60

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


27/60

25


www.designmena.com| 06.12| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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.


28/60

26



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


29/60

Intercontinental & Crown Plaza Hotel,Festival City, Dubai

ClientAl-Futtaim GroupArchitect Cox Crone ArchitectsConstruction 2003 2007Application of FOAMGLAS behind stone claddingfacade 8000 m2

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fixed in concrete3 FOAMGLAS mechanically-

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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.

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28



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


31/60



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


32/60

30



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.


33/60

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


34/60

32



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.


35/60

33



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


36/60

34

FEATURE| SPECIFICATION


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


37/60

35




38/60

36



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


39/60


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

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


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

[email protected]

DIRECT: +971 4 444 3351

LO MENEZES

SPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER,

[email protected]

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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WATER

DISCUSHOTELConcept designer: Deep Ocean Technology

Location: Worldwide

CASE STUDY


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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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com48 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 06.12| www.designmena.com

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-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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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.


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


Phil Dalglish, director at Buro Happold, on regional

experience and renewable energy

THE LAST WORD

BURO VISION

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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me architects - jun 2012

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