middle east architect - sept 2010

PORTFOLIO

Modern Mecca, an African spa and the new pride of Libya

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

SEPTEMBER 2010 / VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 9An ITP Business Publication | Licensed by Dubai Media City

WORK IN PROGRESS

AEB’s latest projectin downtown Doha

The region’stop 15 architecturefi rms revealed

ANALYSIS

All change forCityscape Dubai

Alumil Gulf fzcsubsidiary of ALUMIL in the Middle East

Technology Park, RAK FTZ, RAKtel +971 7 2444106, fax +971 7 2444107email [email protected]

SEPTEMBER | CONTENTS

www.constructionweekonline.com | 09.10 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2WHAT’S ON THE WEB

See more of MEA online, with up to date news and

an archive of projects and case studies

6

9SNAPSHOT

A short sharp summary of industry news from the last

30 days, including Estidama training for architects

12ANALYSIS Cityscape is back in Dubai, but with a brand new name and focus

18WORK IN PROGRESS AEB show us around its

latest project in Doha, the city’s newest business park

22THE INTERVIEW Dewan founder Mohamed Al Assam talks about infrastructure, Iraq and where it all began

30COVER STORY

54THE WORK A detailed reference section covering all the regional projects MEA has looked at in recent months

60CULTURE

Cool products, clever ideas, and some of the latest books

in the world of design

64THE LAST WORD British artist Kevin Dean talks about his plans for the future in the UAE

WHATSee mowith u

an arch

38EDUCATION FOCUSArchitects fi ght it out for the UAE’s lucrative education contracts, in both the public and private sectors

44

From Kuwait City to Muscat, MEA unveils the top 15 local

fi rms in the GCC

SEPTEMBER 2010 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 9

OPINION Hisham Youssef tackles the profi ts and pitfalls of emerging markets for architects and designers

CASE STUDIES A new cultural centre in the KSA, a health spa in Gabon

and an iconic new project for Tripoli, Libya

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.10 | www.constructionweekonline.com

ONLINE | SEPTEMBER

2

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NAKHEEL TO RESTART WORK ON SIX PROJECTSDeveloper of Dubaipalm starting to engage contractors after hiatus.

GREEN DESIGN:CONSUMER IS KINGSelina Denman argues that the design industryis inherently wasteful.

ABU DHABI’S ACC TO BUILD JORDAN’S TALLEST BUILDINGArabian Construction Company will soon start work on Amman tower.

US HARDWOODCOUNCIL TARGET UAE Industry body plan to give free seminar for architects and designers in Dubai.

IN PICTURES: CHINA’S HORIZONTAL SKYSCRAPERThe headquarters of Chinese real estate giant Vanke, the Vanke Centre was fi nished in 2009 in Shenzhen and has come to be known as the ‘horizontal skyscraper’, a new technique for sustainable development.

CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMONLINE

COLUMNS & FEATURES

EDITOR’S CHOICE

• In pictures: World Largest Clock Tower

• Taj Mahal Hotel opens its doors

• Dubai speed limits cut, more road humps

• More land releasedfor housing projectsin Kuwait

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COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

4

Not-in-my-backyard-ism was an attitude that I came across a great deal as a reporter in the UK.

I used to attend planning meetings and see residents screaming abuse at developers when six-storey buildings were approved within a mile of their houses. Living in a town fl at with views into a dozen of my neighbours’ front rooms, I had little sympathy.

I even found myself growing to hate the spokesmen from various heritage organisations, who would turn up week in week out to object to anything over four storeys that didn’t look like it had been built during the reign of King George. At heart I am a modernist and a fi rm believer that our cities should evolve as we do.

Its critics rightly see it as just one in a long line of projects that have decimated the historical fabric of Mecca.”

SAUDI ARABIA

So it is with my cards fi rmly on the table that I introduce the topic of this week’s column, the Royal Mecca Clock Tower, which was unveiled by the Saudi government last month. At over 600m tall, the building can be seen for miles around, while its luxury penthouses and hotel rooms tower over the Grand Mosque.

It is clear that the clock tower is a magnifi cent feat of construction, with a huge footprint, seven separate tow-ers and the clock tower centrepiece which will be six times the height of London’s Big Ben. Even looking at the limited pictures that have been al-lowed to seep out of the kingdom, the sheer size of the project is breathtak-ing. It is obvious why many in Saudi Arabia see the tower as a symbol of

CALLING TIME

the kingdom’s growth and ambition.But equally, it is easy to see why

the monumental project – designed by European engineers – is contro-versial. Its critics rightly see it as just one in a long line of projects that have collectively decimated the historic fabric of Islam’s holiest city. Like Jed-dah, Mecca’s old buildings are seen as little more than an inconvenience to city planners – as a result, they are increasingly making way for modern malls and metro lines.

Five years ago, the Independent re-ported that fewer than 20 structures remained in Mecca that date back to the time of the Prophet (PBUH). Those that have disappeared include the house of Khadijah, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH), demolished to make way for public lavatories.

In light of this, I fi nd it diffi cult to see how anyone interested in archi-tecture in Saudi Arabia could defend the development taking place around the Grand Mosque. The kingdom has already come under fi re for failing to protect the historical districts of cities such as Jeddah. With Mecca – a city with over a millennia and a half of history – the stakes are far higher.

As for the clock tower, if it had been built in Riyadh, Al Khobar or Dam-man, I would probably be praising it right now. But it wasn’t, and while Mecca may be a long way from my backyard, even I can appreciate that the city is a diff erent kettle of fi sh. Mecca has had a landmark building for the last 1,400 years – it is diffi cult to see why it needed another one.

The Mecca Clock Tower is a stepbackwards for Saudi Arabia

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

orlando.

crowcroft

@itp.com

The fi nished Royal Mecca Clock

Tower was unveiled last month.

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COMMENT | EMERGING MARKETS

6

Markets in the MENA region have presented exciting and lucrative opportunities for in-

ternational designers in recent years, as fi rms search to diversify their work load and get project experience.

While the GCC has shown ap-preciation for the value added by the experience that international design fi rms bring, other nascent markets like Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Syria, are slowly coming to the fore, with some exciting opportunities of their own.

These recent emerging markets present diverse project opportunities, but equally so, challenges for the un-initiated. The local experience of the design and construction industry has not caught up yet with the sophistica-

In new markets, construction methods and experience have a long way to go.”

OPINION

tion of taste, vision and demand by a new and emerging generation of global jet-setting executives and owners.

The primary challenges lie, equally, with the expectations of the foreign de-sign fi rms that are designing for these relatively young markets, as well as the executives who travelled and worked overseas. These challenges are primar-ily with the obstacles the local market experience poses: local consultant experience, contractor experience, and availability of materials necessary to realise the proposed designs.

The fi rst of these, local consultant experience, is that as international design fi rms rarely have an offi ce in a new market, they have to rely on local consultants to provide local knowledge and project documentation.

Wonderful renderings are prepared, with seductive curvilinear shapes, undulating roofs and sophisticated curtain walls. We have all seen them and produced them, but the lack of experience of the local consultants in these emerging markets poses an ob-stacle to making the designs realisable.

After the design phase it is the con-tractor that will make the design vision a reality – and here lies the second problem. We all know that not even the best drawn projects can be built well without a competent and experienced contractor. In these new markets, construction methods and experience have a long way to go.

The fi nal problem is the availability of building materials and products. The success of some design propos-als is sometimes contingent on a particular material being used without which the design would look ordi-nary. Understanding the availability of building materials, execution of details, and even local import regula-tions and duty are crucial to executing a smart proposal in these new markets. Often great designs prove fi nancially prohibitive beyond the reach of clients which leads to value engineering the projects to a point that makes the best designs little more than ordinary.

Well executed buildings must start with smart design; design that factors in an understanding of the limitations of the local market. I have learned that one can always push the envelope, but until the market reaches the next level, quantum leaps could backfi re. The key is designing smart from the outset.

New markets pose challenges for architects and designers

Hisham Youssef

is an architect

at Gensler,

responsible

for the fi rm’s

projects in

Egypt and

North Africa.

Algeria is one of a number of North

African countries with exciting prospects.

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SEPTEMBER | SNAPSHOT


THIS MONTH’SNEED TO

KNOW

TRADE VISITORS EXPECTED AT OCTOBER’S CITYSCAPE GLOBAL (Page 12)38 THOUSAND

“It is known in the Arabic world thatthe best designers are the Iraqis and the Lebanese,which is something we are proud of.”Mohamed Al Assam, Dewan. (Page 22)

“It will be a source of pridefor the nation it represents.”

Melkan Gursel Tabanlioglu

(Page 48)

BUDGET FORSCHOOLS INABU DHABI (Page 38)

The operational life of white LED lamps is 50,000 hours, which is more than 10 years of continuous operation (Page 26)

“Increasing economic growth, improving the quality of life

of citizens, and achieving balanced development of the

Kingdom’s regions are some of (our) main objectives.”Khaled Al-Gosaibi, Economy and

Planning Minister, Saudi Arabia

()

“The building has become

a local attractionto the city’s population.”Ahmed Chami (Page 52)

“The participants worked incredibly hard over the course of about 48 hours to produce some exceptional and unique designs.”Sareh Ameri-Mills (Page 16)

number of architects at Khatib & Alami, MEA’s top local fi rm (Page 30)

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.10 | www.constructionweekonline.com10

SNAPSHOT | SEPTEMBER

Abu Dhabi has launched a training programme for architects, design-ers and contractors to help them understand the new Estidama Pearl Rating system.

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has designed the training programme to help industry professionals understand how to achieve high Pearl ratings for new buildings in Abu Dhabi, and reach higher levels of sustainability in future developments.

The fi rst two courses cover un-derstanding and awareness and ap-plication of the new system, and are applicable to architects, designers and developers, while a third course covers administration of the Pearl rating system and is aimed at those

ARCHITECTS OFFERED ESTIDAMA TRAININGNew Pearl rating training programme off ered by Abu Dhabi UPC

who will assess applications. All the courses count towards achieving the ranking of Estidama Pearl Qualifi ed Professional (PQP).

“The successful implementation of Estidama’s principles and guide-lines cannot be achieved without ensuring a seamless understanding of this sustainability initiative,” explained HE Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.

“The Estidama training pro-gramme will not only introduce the key aspects of Estidama to Abu Dhabi’s urban development industry, but will also aim towards integrat-ing sustainability practices into Abu Dhabi’s urban development process in the long term.”

The fi rst course on off er is Un-derstanding Estidama and the Pearl Rating Systems for Buildings, Villas and Communities, which provide an overview of Estidama, and what is needed for developers to achieve certain Pearl certifi cation levels.

The second is the Application of the Pearl Rating System , which will pro-vide professionals with a comprehen-sive understanding of the PRS credits. Those who attend this course will be prepared for the offi cial PQP exams.

The fi nal course on off er is the Administration of the Pearl Rating System courses, which will be pro-vided to individuals that must assess applications. All three courses will run until 11 January.

The Pearl rating system was un-veiled earlier this year as part of Abu Dhabi’s Estidama framework. The UPC plans to use the strict sustain-able guidelines to evaluate all new buildings in the emirate, and achiev-ing an adequate Pearl rating could eventually become compulsory.

Estidama is key to new developments under Abu Dhabi 2030.

We aim to integrate sustainability practices into Abu Dhabi’s development process.”

HE Falah Al Ahbabi, UPC general manager

SEPTEMBER | SNAPSHOT


MASDAR MEGA DRIVE A long-awaited revised master

plan for Masdar City is nearly com-plete, according to the architect that designed the Abu Dhabi mega-proj-ect. Foster + Partners said in August that its own review of its plans for the carbon-neutral city is “nearing completion”, and will form part of a wider overhaul which will “refi ne the overall master plan design with the benefi t of lessons learnt so far.” Lord Foster said the review refl ected on “lessons learned” over the past three years. He also confi rmed that further phases of Masdar City would soon get underway.

IN BRIEF

CHINA WIN FOR BDP UK architect fi rm BDP, which

recently opened an offi ce in Abu Dhabi, has won a contract to develop two buildings in China’s Jiangsu Province. The 70,000 m2 project is for two new buildings on a key site at Nanjing Medical University, and the fi rst on the campus by foreign architects. One of the buildings is for teaching and research and the other is for administration. Project director John McManus said: “We are delighted to win such a presti-gious commission. Our experience in higher education projects undoubt-edly played an large part.”

BUILDING BRIDGES Work is due to start

next year on the expan-sion of the King Fahad Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which will en-able the connection to handle up to 100 million passengers a year. A new long-term plan, which will include the construction of two artifi cial islands, each 400,000m2 in size, was launched in August. One of the artifi cial islands will be located on the Bahrain side of the causeway and the other will be in the Saudi side, the report added. Work will include expanding the causeway to 48 lanes.

FIVE ALIVESaudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has endorsed the kingdom’s ninth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-14), a US$373b plan that details spending on the nation’s infrastructure and welfare projects for the next half decade. Over half the money will be set aside for educa-tion and training, while 7% will be put aside for transport and housing respectively. Economy and Plan-ning Minister Khaled Al-Gosaibi told reporters that the fi ve-year plan focuses on providing housing, employment, education, health care and other services and facilities.

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BDP has bagged a lucrative contract in Nanjing, China.


NEWS ANALYSIS | CITYSCAPE DUBAI

Cityscape Dubai is back, but not as we may know it

ANALYSIS

GOING GLOBAL

It has been quite a year since Cityscape last closed its doors at the Dubai Exhibition Centre back in October 2009.

The event had suff ered a 50% drop in turnout and the record-breaking project launches and celebrity guests were only notable for their absence. Cityscape, long considered the barometer of Dubai’s real estate industry, got a frosty reception.

But in 2010 Cityscape is back with a new focus and a new name. Re-branded as Cityscape Global, the property road-show will focus on presenting emerging markets to Middle East-based investors, and linking up designers, contractors and architects with developers from China and elsewhere in Asia.

At least, that is the plan. Chris Speller, Cityscape group director,

Dubai is not on the back burner. It remains our fl agship event.”Chris Speller, group director, Cityscape

CITYSCAPE DUBAI | NEWS ANALYSIS


says that the event has already got 38,000 trade visitors confi rmed, of which 10,000 will be fl ying in from overseas, as well as 200 exhibitors. North Africa will be represented by a stand-alone Egypt pavilion, which will host developers and government departments looking to make con-nections in the Middle East.

Speller believes that Cityscape can harness Dubai’s skill and maturity as a centre for the world’s construction,

architecture and property trade and make connec-

tions with developers and investors. Architec-ture fi rms will be well represented, with Nik-

ken Sekkei, FX Fowle, RTKL, AEDAS, Atkins,

Dewan Architects, GAJ, DSA Architects, Gensler, RW

Armstrong, Perkins Eastman and P&T already confi rmed exhibitors.

“Cityscape Global is not only about Dubai or the UAE – it now covers emerging markets around the world, which will generate strong interest from investors from all cor-ners of the globe,” explains Speller.

“That said, Dubai’s role as the un-disputed business hub in the Middle East is not forgotten. The location of the emirate and its infrastructure and transport links make it easily

38,000EXPECTED 2010

VISITORS

High-profi le

guests have

been part and

parcel of

Cityscape in

recent years.


NEWS ANALYSIS | CITYSCAPE DUBAI

14

accessible from all continents, while

it also has a number of world class hotels and

conference facilities.”In terms of architecture, City-

scape hopes to help fi rms head-quartered in the Middle East make links with emerging markets such as China, where there is a great deal of work, but not nearly as much exper-tise. While many major fi rms have offi ces in China – AEDAS, Atkins and Gensler among them – there is still plenty of work to go around in growing cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

At the same time, Cityscape Global is reaching out to architects’ love of awards with the 8th edition of the Cityscape awards, which will focus on sustainable development and major projects in emerging mar-kets. A special award for best young designer in the UAE is also bound to be hotly contested between architec-ture students in the emirate.

More generally, Speller says that while Cityscape Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, both of which took place this year, are more local – and in Saudi Arabia’s case, closed – markets, Dubai’s international nature makes it a perfect setting for a more global-ly-orientated Cityscape event. While Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi are the markets of choice for many at the end of 2010, Dubai is still important.

“With exhibitors from more than 30 countries and attendance from 115 countries in 2009 Dubai is not on the back burner but quite the opposite, it will remain our fl agship event,” he says.

But while the new focus for City-scape may be appropriate given the ongoing market downturn in Dubai, does Speller miss the heady days of 2007-08, when Cityscape was known for its wild project launches and celebrity guests?

“Of course 2004 to 2008 was an exciting time for anyone involved in the Dubai real estate market, and that included us. But we learn from the past as we continue to look forwards,” he says.

“For local market players and regulators now is the time to address such issues as restoring inves-tor confi dence, establishing price levels based on supply and demand, transparent legislation and ongoing construction progress.”

FIVE THINGS FOR ARCHITECTS TOLOOK OUT FOR AT CITYSCAPE GLOBAL

1. The Egypt Pavilion will bring a

host of Egyptian developers and

political representatives to Dubai,

including SODIC, Rooya Group,

United Gulf Properties and the

Ministry of Housing, Utilities and

Urban Development.

2. Exhibitors from more than 27 countries, including Qatar, Saudi

Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Palestine,

Egypt, Morocco, China, Malaysia,

Japan, South Korea, Australia,

Poland, France, UK, Spain, Italy,

Russia, Canada, USA and Chile.

3. The major fi rms who will

exhibit this year, including

Nikken Sekkei, FX, Fowle, RTKL,

AEDAS, Atkins, Dewan Architects,

GAJ, DSA Architects, Gensler,

RW Armstrong, Perkins Eastman

and P&T.

4. Finished projects or phases of master developments that were

unveiled in their planning stages

at previous Cityscape shows, such

as Meydan and Emaar.

5. The World Architecture Congress (WAC), which promises

a ‘more accessible pricing

structure’ this year.

Nakheel is

unlikely to

have as big-

ger presence

as in previous

year’s events.

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REPORT | CAMEROON

16

Students from the UAE have designed an innovative school project for Cameroon

HELPING HAND

It goes without saying that Ngoketunjia, in northern Cameroon, is a place with very diff erent challenges to the

United Arab Emirates. Despite being built next to a

hydro-electric dam, Umbissa Island

The challenge is not making fancy structures but making something that is simple, beautiful.”

Petra Matar, student-winner

has no electricity, as the power is transferred to Douala, Cameroon’s largest city. The island’s population live in the shadow of a dam on their land, but useless to them.

But Umbissa Island has become an unlikely destination for a group

of UAE architecture students, who have designed a school to be built for the local children. The team won a recent competition by Open Source Arc and AUD International Aid (AIA), which challenged young architects to design a sustainable building using the limited resources available to them in the mountains of northern Cameroon.

The design workshop took place at Shelter Gallery in Al Quoz, Dubai, at the end of May, bringing together architecture students from several UAE universities and high profi le architectural fi rms such as Atkins, RMJM and Hopkins.

“It was an opportunity for stu-dents of the UAE to work together and use their knowledge and skills to design for children in a deprived region of our planet,” said George Katodrytis, an organizer of the event and professor at the American University of Sharjah.

“The participants challenged their consciousness and ethical values. A large group of practicing architects joined this eff ort as well with equal


CAMEROON | REPORT

40ARCHITECTURAL STUDENTS FROM

DUBAI AND SHARJAH WERE INVOLVED

WITH THEPROJECT

enthusiasm. The dynamics and outcome of this event were beyond our expectations.”

The students were asked to design four classrooms of approximately 9x7 meters each, specifying that the designs needed to address directly social and economic needs as well as environmental and functional requirements in a region that has access to limited resources.

The wining team – made up of Aezad Muzaff ar, Wasib Mahmood, Naji Muneer, Enayat Ghaedi, Petra Matar and Saeid Khezri – designed a series of learning spaces arranged along a wall with staccato breaks in its structure. The team conceived of the walls as being a space from which knowledge and information can ‘leak’ into the classrooms extending from it.

“The experience of designing for the welfare of a wider global com-munity, was a unique opportunity. Coming from an academic back-ground that focuses on innovative sustainable design, this project helped us apply our knowledge to

resolve real-life challenges,” said Aezad Muzaff ar, a member of the winning team.

Petra Matar, another student-win-ner, added: “It takes such a simple project to prove that the challenge in architecture is not making fancy structures but making something that is simple, beautiful.”

The team admitted that they struggled with constructa-bility issues, as coming up with a suitable design was only the fi rst part of the process – they knew that on the ground, the skills of the workers, contractors and engineers may be limited.

Sareh Ameri-Mills, from the AIA, commended all the teams that took part for their eff orts.

“The participants worked incred-ibly hard over the course of about 48 hours to produce some exceptional and unique designs. Watching their collaborative eff ort was very inspir-ing for us.”


WIP | DOHA BUSINESS PARK

WORK IN PROGRESS

FULL CIRCLE

L ocated on an 110,000m2 site on Doha’s Airport Road, Arab Engineering Bureau’s (AEB) latest

project in Qatar is one of its biggest yet in the country.

The Business Park will eventu-ally include six offi ce buildings, a 300-room hotel and serviced apart-

ments set around a striking, elliptical-shaped confer-

ence centre, formed from steel and clad in aluminium.

AEB estimate that the project is around

30 lifts from comple-tion, and with just under

1,400 workers onsite every day,the fi rm is racing to see the develop-ment fi nished before its 2011 deadline. “Construction is going on full speed,” said senior architect Sammy Juntilla.

AEB’s portion of the development amounts to some 23, 771m2 , which will form part of a wider business district. The fi rm has used curves and elliptical shapes for the build-ings to create a dynamic composi-tion and at the same time allow a fl uid pedestrian network, but the curves in both the conference centre and the hotels have been a particu-lar challenge during construction, Juntilla explained.

Arab Engineering Bureau is rounding off the corners at its Business Park Project in Doha

1,400WORKERS ON-SITE

CURRENTLY

DOHA BUSINESS PARK | WIP


“AEB estimates that the project is around 30 lifts from completion, and with just under 1,400 workers onsite every day the fi rm is racing to fi nish before the 2011 deadline.

The egg-shaped conference

centre forms the centerpiece

of the development, but has a

signifi cant construction challenge.


WIP | DOHA BUSINESS PARK

“The ellipsoidal shape of the conference centre using structural steel and the curvature for the hotel have been the most chal-lenging part of the design,” he said. “That needs a lot of effi cient coordination, control and monitoring of all trades.”

All of the buildings within the complex are aluminum and glass clad, with accents of stainless steel, and Juntilla admitted that sustainable initiatives are “limited to the use of some materials like Low-E glass to reduce energy consumption and the introduc-tion of LED lights.”

That said, in design terms the Business Park is unique to Qatar due to its compelling curved form, centered on the conference center. “The concept was driven by the organic shape, where curves are emphasized. The focal point of the project is the egg-shaped conference facility,” Juntilla said.

A lot of thought has gone into parking and access also, and nu-merous vehicular access points and parking zones have been inte-grated into the design to avoid overcrowding and traffi c congestion.

The development is racing ahead in Doha, and fulfi lling the 2011 completion date is looking increasingly likely as the summer rolls on. Interior design and fi t out of the hotel and conference centre is being undertaken simultaneously with construction work, with the former due for completion in October 2011, six months ahead of the construction deadline, which is April.

Juntilla said that seeing such an ambitious and unusual design coming to life, especially on such a large scale, was very reward-ing. “I think every architect will always be proud and delighted to see his designs become reality,” he said.

I think every architect will be proudto see their designs become reality.”Sammy Juntilla, senior architect, AEB

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INTERVIEW | MOHAMED AL ASSAM

Mohamed Al Assam talks to Middle East Architect about infrastructure,Iraq and the future of Dewan

ALL RIGHT NOWW ith offi ces in

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Iraq,

Dewan has come a long way since its foundation by 23-year-old Mohamed Al Assam in Baghdad.

Over the last four decades, Al Assam has led Dewan from Baghdad

to Dubai to Abu Dhabi and, most recently, back into Baghdad, where Dewan is raking in contracts since re-opening its offi ce in 2008. At the helm of the now 300-strong architecture fi rm, Al Assam and his son, Ammar, have seen the UAE change irrevo-cably since they fi rst arrived in the country in 1976.

“At the time we were looking for bet-ter opportunities, looking for freedom, both as people and as architects,” Al Assam said.

“The opportunity was there in the UAE, and that is still represented now. Even in those years the UAE had the image of freedom, and that’s what I found when I fi rst came here. We

THE INTERVIEW

MOHAMED AL ASSAM | INTERVIEW


this year set up a joint venture with Portuguese fi rm COBA to target what is an essential market in both coun-tries, as well as in the UAE.

“We are now targeting projects from metro lines, to roads, to sewage systems and marketing ourselves in Iraq, Saudi and UAE in that order. Iraq needs infrastructure right from zero, and in KSA and UAE there are big plans too,” he said.

Al Assam is keen to stress that Dewan is an international fi rm, but the fi rm’s roots in Iraq are impossible to play down. Few Middle Eastern fi rms have anything close to the amount of contracts that Dewan has won in the past two years, and Al Assam’s background is undoubtedly a factor in this success.

He was one of a golden generation of Iraqi architects who studied at the prestigious Baghdad School of Archi-tecture before the destructive reign of Saddam Hussein began in 1979. Al Assam remembers the reputation that the city had even then for having the strongest faculty and churning out the best designers in the region.

“We had very strong teachers and most of the pioneer architects from Iraq in 20th century taught at that school. We are a generation that learned in that school when it was strong and good,” he said. “It is known in the Arabic world that the best designers are the Iraqis and the Lebanese, which is something of which we are proud.”

This background, as well as Dewan’s quick re-entry into Iraq fi rst in 2003 and later in 2008, has shown a dedica-tion to the country that is appreciated in the corridors of power in Baghdad. The fi rm recently won the contract to develop Iraq’s three holy cities, includ-ing the Shiite shrine at Al Kadhimiya, a project that Al Assam describes as one of his proudest.

“The are huge in terms of the land, but this is the most prestigious project in Iraq at the moment. To master plan and design the old city, keep its charac-ter as an old city but at the same time modernize it and create an economic atmosphere that encourages invest-ment so the whole economy of the area grows,” he said.

“It is known in the Arabic world that the best designers are the Iraqis and the Lebanese, which is something we are proud of.

didn’t feel like foreigners or strangers, we had a great margin of freedom that we didn’t enjoy in our own country.”

Dewan has thrived in the UAE since arriving over 30 years ago. The fi rm’s fi rst building, the Baniyas Tower, was the fi rst major modern development in Abu Dhabi, and in 2010 Dewan is working on two fi ve star hotels and 19 schools in the emirate. Al Assam also has the benefi t of having already lived through one fi nancial crisis in the Gulf, at the end of the 70s, so the present economic situation was not as big a shock as it could have been.

“The late 70s was very hard for us because we were small, but we passed it. This one is much bigger, volume-wise, because the economy is much bigger than before. But if we learn from the history lessons than we know that this will pass as well,” he said.

It perhaps because of this expe-rience that Dewan has chosen to meet the economic challenges with expansion. Al Assam opened an offi ce in Riyadh earlier this year, with plans for offi ces in Jeddah and Doha, Qatar, next year.

But it is not just in terms of geogra-phy that Dewan plans to expand in the wake of the fi nancial crisis. It’s focus on Saudi Arabia and Iraq has neces-sitated a new drive towards infrastruc-ture development, and Al Assam has

Dewan’s

Sheikh Khalifa

Residential

Tower is its most

recent project in

Abu Dhabi.


INTERVIEW | MOHAMED AL ASSAM

More recently, Dewan has secured the contract for the city council build-ing in the city of Najaf. The design, with its transparent glass walls and opacity to the streetscape, is represen-tative of Iraq’s new political scenery, Al Assam said, a factor which swayed the judges in Dewan’s favour.

“In a dictatorship everything is closed, everything is inside, and whether they wanted it or not that was refl ected in the architecture in Iraq. The government buildings that were built and designed in the 1980s and 1990s they were very much closed buildings, you can’t see from outside to the inside, they have small windows. Architects without knowing it refl ected what the politics was of the time,” he said.

“With our new design the jury understood what we wanted to say. They appreciated very much that we wanted to create a new philosophy in design for Iraq, showing that it is an open society, after being closed for a very long time.”

It is another important aspect of Dewan’s design philosophy, Al As-sam explained, that it is a fi rm very

much rooted in the Middle East. Dewan’s architects come

from old Arab cities like Baghdad, Damascus

and Cairo, but they

also consider themselves part of the modern world. The balance between old and new is something that Al Assam believes is essential to good contemporary design in the region.

“When we design buildings we try as much as possible to refl ect the fact that we are sons of both the modern world and of our tradition. This way I think we have been very successful,” he said.

“This is refl ected even in our offi ces, our offi ce here in Dubai has a tradi-tional style, but if you go to my offi ce in Abu Dhabi it is completely modern. That was done on purpose because we are from tradition as well as being from the new world.”

Al Assam believes that this, along with Dewan’s reputation as a non-hierarchical fi rm where it is easy to engage with the management, bodes well for 2010. While Al Assam and his sons, Ammar and Haider, all work within the senior echelons of Dewan, he feels the family links within the fi rm are more than just blood.

“It is like a family, I mean it is a family, but most of the corporations they work as a machine and we don’t have this feeling. We started young and small and we grew but we kept this tradition, the family feeling. People feel that, and it’s something I am very proud of,” he said.

THEN AND NOW:Dewan in the Middle East

BANIYAS TOWERCompleted: 1989

Client: HH Sheikh Hazaa Bin

Zayed Al Nahyan

Project: This 24-fl oor offi ce tower

in the centre of Abu Dhabi was

one of the fi rst in the emirate to

utilise curtain wall systems in its

façade. With its subtle hints of

Islamic architecture, the building

remains a landmark for Abu

Dhabi even after 20 years.

AL KADHIMIYACompleted: 2010

Client: Baghdad Municipality

Project: Dewan beat 10 other

Iraqi and international fi rms to

secure this contract in Baghdad.

The project is centred around the

historical area – part of which

are the holy shrines. It is also

surrounded by historical market

and traditional houses.

175METRES

TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE 40-STOREY

MEDIA ONETOWER, DUBAI

Dewan has

a number of

UAE projects,

including

Dubai’s Media

One Tower.


FEATURE | LED LIGHTING

LED technology is developing fast, and architects mayfind it a useful way of reducing a development’s carbon footprint

LED THEREA s a number of countries

in the Middle East struggle to boost their green credentials on

the world stage, it is inevitable that lighting will become a hot topic.

Architects tasked with produc-ing truly sustainable buildings for a new generation of environmentally-conscious clients will be aware that lighting represents 22% of electricity usage in the Middle East. In markets like the UAE – where new regulations will rank buildings on their effi ciency both in the design phase and at full capacity – lighting is a big factor in se-curing a high environmental ranking.

And it is not just about saving face, it’s also about saving clients money. According to RWN Trading market-ing director Carol Prince, GCC con-sumers could save US$400 million and 5.1 megatons of carbon dioxide emissions annually if they switched to more effi cient lighting solutions. With the bottom line at stake, designers will be forced to look at the lighting they are specifying more and more.

Prince believes the solution lies in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which have a substantially longer life than incandescent bulbs and use a fraction of the energy. The operational life of white LED lamps


LED LIGHTING | FEATURE

is 50,000 hours, which is more than 10 years of continuous operation, or 20 years of 50% operation. This is a stark contrast to the average life of an incandescent bulb, which is approximately 5,000 hours.

And LEDs are no longer limited to the bright, bluish white spotlights that they were some years ago. The tech-nology has come a long way from the days when LEDs were strictly only used for exterior lighting displays.

“ LEDs are available as small solid light bulbs or in cluster form with diff user lenses, which are ideal for the home environment. These cluster beams can use as many as

Elevated

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FEATURE | LED LIGHTING

180 bulbs per cluster and the light is spread evenly,” Prince explained.

Another new product on the market is dimmable LEDs, which off er extra savings in energy because when they are dimmed to the zero position they emit no energy, unlike their traditional counterpart that still emits energy loss at zero.

Louis Hakim, VP of Royal Philips Electron-ics and CEO of Philips Middle East, points out that the problem is even worse in non-residential develop-ments. In Europe, 75% of non-resi-dential buildings like public offi ces and schools use old 1940s technology, and only 1% is using lighting controls.

Even if all new developments switched to environmentally-friendly lighting now the current rate of renovation in offi ces is only about 7% per year, and street lighting is not more than 3%. At this pace it will take 30 years to be able to reap the environmental and economic benefi ts

“It is not enough to only switch to energy-saving lights at home or create new, low-energy buildings. In fact, municipalities and companies can also make a diff erence right now, being able to signifi cantly reduce

energy consumption and carbon emission, in addi-

tion to overall costs.”To its credit

Philips is taking steps to encourage the change of mindset. This month the global lighting manufacturer will begin phasing out incandescent lamps in the GCC, a step that the fi rm hopes will draw attention to energy effi ciency in the lighting world.

RWN’s Prince believes the solu-tion lies in Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s), which have a substantially longer life than incandescent bulbs and use a fraction of the energy. The operational life of white LED lamps is 50,000 hours, which is more than 10 years of continuous operation, or 20 years of 50% operation. This is a stark contrast to the average life of an incandescent bulb, which is approximately 5000 hours.

Some companies in the Middle East are starting to take notice. In-terContinental Hotels Group (IHG) properties at Dubai Festival City is in the process of replacing all of their interior lighting with LED solutions. A total of 35,000 light points – in hotel rooms, suites and public areas – will be replaced with sustainable alternatives. This is phase two of a project that has already seen the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza hotels replace all of their exterior façade lighting with LED solutions.

As a result of this initiative, the hotels will reduce their carbon emissions by two million kg per year, and will minimize their energy costs by some 50%, explained Tom Lord, hotel manager, InterCon-tinental Dubai Festival City.

“We have done this for a number of reasons – one is to become a market leader in the fi eld of green. Secondly, to be honest, the lighting that we had on the outside of the building was failing in certain areas and the exist-ing lighting solution just didn’t have any longevity. But mainly, we did this because we thought it was the right thing to do. We are on a big drive to be a more responsible business and lighting was one area that we could really start with,” said Lord.

We did this because we thought it was the right thing to do. We are on a big drive to be a more responsible business

and lighting was one area that we could really start with.”Tom Lord, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City

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COVER STORY | TOP GCC ARCHITECTS

From Jeddah toDoha to Dubai,Middle East Architect reveals the top 15 local architecture fi rms in the GCC

any of the biggest and best-known projects in the Middle East bear the name of fi rms headquartered in the US, UK or Europe, but the fi rms of the GCC have also left their indelible stamps on the architecture of the region.

From regional giants such as Saudi Arabia’s ZFP and Abu Dhabi’s Dewan, to the 5-10 person outfi ts of Jeddah, Dubai and Kuwait, Middle East Architect has ranked GCC’s brightest and best according to the number of architects on their staff . All of the fi rms that follow are headquartered in the GCC and completed our online survey at www.ConstructionWeekOnline.com.

TOP GCC ARCHITECTS | COVER STORY


KHATIB & ALAMIArchitects: 500Staff : 1,500HQ: Sharjah, UAEFounded: 1959

The fi rm: Khatib and Alami began its life in Lebanon as a consulting fi rm but has since spread to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait and Iraq, as well as the Caucuses and Europe. Founded by Samir Abdulhadi in 1959, the fi rm now has over 50 years experience in major projects in the Middle East, providing consulting services in architecture, planning, construction and IT and MEP systems.

Project: Motor City Green Community, Dubai.

ZUHAIR FAYEZ PARTNERSHIPArchitects: 300Staff : 3,000HQ: Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFounded: 1975

The fi rm: With offi ces in Riyadh, Mecca, Damman and Medina, ZFP are Saudi Arabia’s biggest architec-ture fi rm. Founded 35 years ago by architect Zuhair Fayez in Jeddah, the

DEWAN ARCHITECTSAND ENGINEERS Architects: 120Staff : 230HQ: Abu DhabiFounded: 1984

The fi rm: Founded in Baghdad by chairman and CEO Mohamed Al Assam, De-wan now has offi ces in Dubai, Riyadh, Baghdad, Manila and Doha. The fi rm

is responsible for a number of high-profi le projects in the

UAE but has most recently turned its attention back to Iraq, where it is currently working on a redevelopment

of the area surrounding the holy shrines at Kadhimiya,

Baghdad. Dewan are also currently developing six schools for the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Project: Media One Tower, Dubai, UAE.

fi rm now has international offi ces in Cairo, Dubai, Manila and Hyderabad, and a slew of major projects under its belt – including individual develop-ments and those carried through with international partners. ZFP’s most recent project is the High Technology Park Buildings for Pension Fund in Riyadh. Project: ITCC, Ri-yadh, Saudi Arabia.



ARAB ENGINEERINGBUREAU (AEB)Architects: 81Staff : 400HQ: Doha, QatarFounded: 1966

The fi rm: Over the past 45 years AEB has completed over 1,000 projects across the Middle East and Asia, from private villas to billion dollar mega-projects. Founded by Ibrahim Mohamed Al Jaidah in Doha, Qatar, the fi rm now has offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Manila and Kuala Lumpur and plans to open a new offi ce in Muscat, Oman, in the near future. Recent projects include the Park Hyatt Hotel in Doha, and a number of embassy buildings including the Omani embassy inYemen and the Qatari Embassyin Cyprus. Project: Kempinski Tower, Qatar.

DSA ARCHITECTSINTERNATIONALArchitects: 40Staff : 71HQ: DubaiFounded: 1985

The fi rm: Based in Dubai, DSA Architects has projects ranging from the Seychelles to Mexico including hotels, industrial and commercial projects, retail and residential.

DRAW LINK GROUPArchitects: 20Staff : 80HQ: DubaiFounded: 2000

The fi rm: With offi ces in Tuni-sia and Qatar, Draw Link Group’s

The fi rm behind both the Madinat Jumeirah and Dubai Old Town, DSA has a signifi cant presence in the region, and large offi ces in South Africa and Portugal to serve its regional markets. Other recent developments include Al Fattan Residences in Abu Dhabi, and IFA Fairmont Residences, Jumeirah Palm Island. Project: Tilal Liwa Hotel,Abu Dhabi, UAE.

most recent projects are a boutique hotel in Deira as well as the Dougga Centre in Tunisia, where founding partner and lead architect Daousser Chennoufi hails from. Draw Link also designed the Al Mizar andZabeel mosques in Dubai, UAE. Project: Dougga Centre, Tunisia.

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34 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.10 | www.constructionweekonline.com

AL HATMY ENGINEERINGCONSULTANTSArchitects: 30Staff : 320HQ: Muscat, OmanFounded: 1978

The fi rm: Based in the Omani capi-tal of Muscat, Al Hatmy has worked in

UAE, Pakistan and Africa since it was founded 30 years

ago by Ali Al Hamdani. Recent projects include

a building on Dubai Marina and a sports complex in Oman. The fi rm is also doing a great deal of work in Tanzania,

and is currently developing the Royal

Dar Es Salaam Golf Course.

Project: Royal Dar Es Salaam Golf Course, Tanzania.

X ARCHITECTSArchitects: 15Staff : 35HQ: DubaiFounded: 2003

The fi rm: Started by Ahmed Al Ali and Farid Esmaeil just seven years ago in Dubai, X Architects has been involved in a number of well-received residential projects in the UAE, including Xeritown, an eco-city

DUBARCHArchitects: 10Staff : 60HQ: Dubai Founded: 1986

The fi rm: Started by architects Amir Rahbar

and Ahmed Al Banna in the late 1980s, Dubarch was responsible for one of Dubai’s fi rst iconic

landmark buildings, the National Bank of Abu

Dhabi, on which Rahbar was chosen as lead consultant. Since then the fi rm has established offi ces in Abu Dhabi and Manila, and worked for high-profi le clients including the Commercial Bank of Dubai and the Shangri-La Hotel. They recently worked on Qasr Al Sarab, a desert resort. Project: Qasr Al Sarab, near Liwa , Abu Dhabi, UAE.

designed in 2008 and the winner of Middle East Architect’s best mixed use development award in 2009. The fast-growing Emirati fi rm has also designed numerous villas, house boats and showrooms in the UAE and recently established an offi ce in Abu Dhabi. X Architects has developed a reputation for highly-sustainable architecture and local design. Project: Kojack Motor Showroom, Motorcity, Dubai.

TOP GCC ARCHITECTS | COVER STORY


3 SQUAREArchitects: 6Staff : 15HQ: Dubai, UAEFounded: 2006

The fi rm: Primarily involved in interior design, 3 Square’s exterior and landscape work only accounts for around 15% of its total work. But the

YASSER HEJAZYCONSULTING ENGINEERS Architects: 5Staff : 42HQ: Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFounded: 1991

The fi rm: Jeddah-based architect Yasser Hejazy recently entered into a partnership with Lebanese engineering company DEP. The fi rm is benefi tting from Saudi Arabia’s recent construction boom, and is set to open offi ces in Riyadh later this year. Recent developments include the iconic Jeddah Gate Twin Tower and residential villas at the massive Knowledge Economic City. Project: Knowledge Economic City, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

TRACE DESIGN Architects: 5Staff : 25HQ: Dubai, UAEFounded: 2008

The fi rm: TRACE Design was founded by Yemeni architect Suhail Thabet, who returned to the Middle East in 2007. Since then, the fi rm has been extremely active in the UAE, designing the offi ces for Dubai fi rm Profound Management Corporate, and a fi ve villa compound in Al Ain. TRACE is also involved in two high-end restaurant projects. Project: Offi ce concept, UAE.

fi rm are looking to boost this to over 30% in the next 12 months. With Nazneen Sabavala heading up the landscape design divi-sion has a number of projects under consideration. One of these projects includes a 20,000m2 farmhouse in Khawaneej, near Dubai. Project: Private residence, Dubai.


DXB.LABArchitects: 5Staff : 7HQ: DubaiFounded: 2000

The fi rm: Set up ten years ago by architect Khalid Al Najjar, dxb.lab has made quite a name for itself in the UAE, designing a range of commercial, residential and public sector developments. Since being joined by Shahab Lutfi , CEO, in 2005 the fi rm has stretched itself into larger scale projects, including, in 2010, two labor camps in Jebel Ali and six private villas. Project: Private villa, UAE.

URBANPHENOMENAArchitects: 4Staff : 10 HQ: Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFounded: 1999

The fi rm: Since starting out in Jeddah just over ten years ago, Urbanphenomena has sought to

bring together young architects and design-ers in Saudi Arabia. The fi rm was set up by Moham-mad Al-Sharif and Reda Sijiny and is involved in a number of residential projects in Jeddah and Riyadh. Project: Al-Wesal Residential Units, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


GEC DAR - GULFENGINEERS CONSULTANTSArchitects: 4Staff : 10 HQ: Kuwait City, KuwaitFounded: 2008

The fi rm: Headed up by sisters Shatha and Nada Al-Fahad, GEC DAR is only two years old but hoping to corner attract those clients in the Kuwaiti market who are looking for quality design within realistic budgets. The fi rm’s latest project is a social center and building for Imams and preachers in Kuwait, other de-velopments on the boards include the Amwaj Centre in Saudi Arabia and the White Residence in Kuwait. Project: Social Center & Imams Forum Building, Kuwait.

Tel: +971 4 267 2499 | Fax: +971 4 267 2492P.O.Box 86972, Dubai, UAE | Email: [email protected]

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FEATURE | EDUCATION


Global design fi rms are battling for lucrative school deals in the UAE, both in the public and private sector

Schools and educational facilities have long been bread and butter for designers and architects

in the UK. But the last couple of years has seen

many fi rms up sticks and move to the Middle East, as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and

Kuwait seek to shore up education sectors that have historically lacked investment and resources.

In 2010, it is the UAE that is lead-ing the pack in terms of opportunities for designers and architects, with the Abu Dhabi Education Council boasting a budget of AED9.8 billion for schools alone. ADEC already has

18 schools underway in Abu Dhabi, designed by various global fi rms, and plans for many more as part of its 10 year strategic plan.

“The existing school stock in the government sector is extremely poor,” says Nadine Nackasha, head of British fi rm BDP’s Abu Dhabi offi ce. “One of the key things that parents

EDUCATION | FEATURE


complain about here is that they can’t fi nd good schools for their kids.”

BDP is one of a number of UK fi rms that have set up shop in the UAE in an attempt to cash in on ADEC’s new education drive. The fi rm is currently involved in a design competition with a dozen other fi rms to design 15 new schools for Abu Dhabi.

ADEC is happy to admit that ageing facillites are one of the main reasons why growth in the emirate’s school stock is needed, but rising standards and new facilites are also a factor. Matthew Kennedy, Middle East director of Wates International, the construction company currently in a joint venture with Al Fara’a

Integrated Construction Group to build two major government schools in Abu Dhabi, knows about these new challenges fi rst hand.

“Designs for schools are improving all the time to promote learning and academic achievement. ICT is a major part of the design, while seemingly simple things, such as trips, fi nger

Firms that

have designed

schools in the

UK are now

eyeing the UAE.


FEATURE | EDUCATION

40

traps, lighting levels and child-sized washroom facilities, have to be con-sidered,” Kennedy says.

But sustainability, the buzzword in Abu Dhabi in the last few years, is also paramount, explains Alberto Treves, section manager for educa-tion facilities design at ADEC. “This is the fi rst time that sustainability features have been incorporated into school design, including energy effi cient air conditioning systems and water-saving devices,” he says. “Orientations, insulation and shading devices have been carefully planned, and electricity for classrooms will be generated on the school site.”

BDP’s Nackasha says that these new demands, as well as an increased budget for new builds, make the education sector an exciting market. It also seems that in 2010 ADEC is ready to put its money where its mouth is – while in 2005 it required schools to be built for AED2,300 per square metre, now the budget is closer to AED4,500.

“ADEC’s aspirations are very high, on a par with the BSF programme in the UK, which is very exciting. It’s great that high standards are being set,” Nackasha says.

“They do have a lot of the same principles, but the local climate has to be taken into consideration as well as the promotion of sustainable materi-als, which is very new to building programmes here.”

The public sector is only one area of opportunity for fi rms in Abu Dhabi, demand for private schools is also growing as the emirate expands. The recent announcement from ADEC that over 70 ‘Villa Schools’- low fee, private outfi ts that cater to the children of expatriates in Abu Dhabi – would be forced to close by 2013 has left an estimated 45,000 students needing new facilities.

UK fi rm Stride Treglown, which recently opened an offi ce in Abu Dhabi, has targeted this corner of the

PACK IT IN

As an option for developers

and designers, prefabricated or

modular buildings are yet to take

off in the Middle East.

But in the education sector,

where new facilities need to

be built quickly, cheaply and

sustainably, modular construction

could well become a popular

option for developers.

“You reduce weight signifi cantly,

you can make the buildings very

air-tight and they are generally

very energy effi cient. It’s defi nitely

something that should be

investigated further in terms of low

cost schools,” says Zander Muego,

regional director at Thomas and

Adamson International.

Thomas and Adamson has been

working with architects Stride

Treglown on fi nding aff ordable

options for the 70+ villa schools

due to be closed down by ADEC

by 2013. Nathan Hones, general

manager at Stride Treglown,

adds that prefabrication doesn’t

necessarily limit designers.

“In fact it off ers up other

opportunities that block work and

traditional forms of construction

doesn’t,” he explains.

The problem with the market

for prefab in the UAE, however,

is that there is a lack of suppliers

and a lack of knowledge about the

options out there.

“People are here and they’re

willing to supply but often the

products are manufactured in

China or Turkey or even the

UK. That is one of the biggest

challenges,” Muego says.

“The other thing is that fl at

packs are only as good as the

installer. They work very well in

the UK and Australia because the

labourers putting them together

know what they are doing, but the

challenge for the market here is to

get that same level of expertise.”

The UAE

has numer-

ous design

challenges,

including the

climate.

EDUCATION | FEATURE


market. The fi rm has already found that fulfi lling ADEC’s high standards for new schools with the limited bud-gets of villa school owners has been a signifi cant challenge.

“You have villa school owners who have been making 30 or 40% profi t with a thousand pupils in a cramped and inappropriate villa school, now needing to fund a building of around 25 to 30 million dirhams,” explains Nathan Hones, general manager of Stride Treglown in the Middle East.

“Even though ADEC provide land to these villa school owners, it does not address the construction costs, the land is often way out in Mussafah or Bani Yas City where it is available, but not overly desirable.”

One of the most onerous require-ments for the villa school owners is having to provide larger spaces per student, and having to incorporate science labs, music and recreation facilities and special education areas into their new facilities. In some cases these facilities are not required since the schools teach Indian or Filipino curriculums, with less emphasis on music and the arts.

In order to address this, Stride has been working with ADEC to modify its requirement for villa schools, and the fi rm has already had some suc-cess. The most recent design manual

issued to architects looking to design private schools has reduced the space per pupil from 2.2m2 per pupil to 1.8m2, and requiring music and art facilities only in schools where those subjects account for more than 40 hours per week in the curriculum.

“This is a real step forward for ADEC

who seem to have been listening to the struggling low income schools and have made a number of concessions,” Hones says.

Sustainability is still a factor for designers looking into the private

school sector, but Hones believes that green initia-

tives, and their cost, are easier to justify to developers when they are applied to a school than an offi ce building.

“When people worry about sustainability add-

ing to construction costs you usually fi nd it’s developers selling apartments or offi ce buildings and trying to recoup the cost at the point of sale. But ADEC look at the capital costs as they run that over an operat-ing cost of fi ve years, so when you do that it does tend to make even more sense,” Hones explains.

“The school is the end user and you’re not trying to recoup that initial capital cost after day one, you’re run-ning it over fi ve years.”

“The school is the end user and you’re not trying to recoup that initial capital cost after day one, you’re running it over fi ve years.Nathan Hones, Middle East general manager, Stride Treglown

AED9.8BILLION

ABU DHABI EDUCATION COUNCIL’S BUDGET

FOR BUILDINGNEW SCHOOLS

Modern British

schools (above

and left) have

been an inspira-

tion to planners

in the UAE.

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54/59THE WORK

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TRIPOLICONGRESSCENTREArchitect: Tabanlıoğlu ArchitectsLocation: Tripoli, Libya

THE PROJECT This 9,000m2 project is set in

woodland near Tripoli, Libya’s capital city and the country’s base for banking, finance, trade and international relations. Completed earlier this year, the Congress Cen-tre will host world leaders visiting Libya for conferences and summits, as well as other VIPs and media.

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THE CONCEPTTabanlıoğlu Architects designed the Congress Centre to reflect the country’s recent economic suc-cesses and openness to the outside world, represented by the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003 and the positive impact it has had on Tripoli’s economy.

“The function of the building is to welcome world leaders in a natural environment, and as a place that is open to world cultures and where diverse languages meet up. It will be a source of pride for the nation it represents,” Melkan Gursel Tabanlıoğlu, a partner at the firm, said.

THE SITE The building site is located next

to the Zoo Park and set in wood-lands close to the centre of the city. The Congress Centre is part of 25,000m2 site known as Congress Valley, which will include a hotel, private villas and other facilities for foreign leaders and dignitaries visiting Libya.

THE DETAILS The building’s perimeter is

covered with a bronze mesh, which is decorated with patterns inspired by the trees that surround the site. The mesh provides daylight but also ensures privacy.


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The interior glass walls are de-signed to be a metaphor for direct-ness and openness, reflecting the building’s use as a forum for world leaders. They also provide views into the surrounding woodlands, with no horizontal or vertical mul-lions to obstruct the line of site.

Tabanlıoğlu has designed the building to be both contemporary and functional, but also to refl ect its natural sur-roundings. “In align-ment with its function as a meeting place for the presidents of the world, the building is strong yet symbol-izes to be humble; it is simple but functional and fi nds its expression in clarity and sincerity,” Tabanlıoğlu said. “It is also in harmony with the environment, making optimum use of natural resources such as daylight, greenery and water.”

The main conference hall is a rectangular space at the ground floor, with a circular seating plan. There are four other meeting rooms on the ground floor, as well as rooms for the media, lounges and VIP areas and a separate VIP entrance. On the first f loor are two other conference halls, administra-tive offices and a restaurant. In an effort to reduce the impact of heat on the building, an 8-metre corridor encircles three sides while the main building is f lanked by a 4-metre wide reflection pool while water elements provide a cooling effect in front of the building.

9,000METRES2

TOTAL FLOORSPACEOF TRIPOLI’S NEW

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MECCA GATEWAY CULTURAL OASISArchitect: Design Worldwide PartnershipClient: Sumou Real EstateLocation: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

THE PROJECT This massive development will

be home to museums, a convention centre, shops, hotels and apart-ments on the outskirts of Mecca. The client, Sumou Real Estate, drafted in Bahrain-based firm Design Worldwide Partnership (DWP) and Sidel Gibson Archi-tects to come up with the overall concept for the site, which will serve as a cultural attraction for religious tourists and Saudis. The Cultural Oasis will include a Hajj museum, a visitor centre and a Centre for Sustainable Research, as well as four million metres2 of affordable housing, community services, schools and hospitals.

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THE SITE The development will be built

just outside the haram area of Mec-ca, meaning that it can be visited by anyone interested in the Hajj or the religion of Islam, whether they are Muslim or not. Situated close

to the main entrance to the city. The perimeter of the district is sur-rounded by planned communities and tall apartment blocks which protect the Cultural Oasis from high winds and sandstorms.

THE CONCEPT DWP has designed the Cul-

tural Oasis to be a one-stop shop for those looking to learn about Islam. “This one is a place for all visitors to go. Anything you want to know about history and culture the journey of Hajj,” said Kristina Zanic, DWP founding partner. Zanic added that the development was in line with the traditional architecture of the Hejaz region. “We were asked by the client to really focus on Hejazi architec-ture, which was really something that is renowned in Jeddah. We focused on that but we also looked at very modernistic entrances, iconic spaces,” she said.

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4 MILLIONMETRES2

OF HOUSING, SCHOOLS AND

HOSPITALS WILLBE BUILT

THE DETAILS The entrance to the site is marked

with a an Arabic masharabiya, which creates shading patterns on the walkway. “We wanted to create a pattern and shadow on the entrance road, as opposed to making the patterns just in the buildings themselves,” Zanic said. The designers tried to incorporate traditional Hejazi architecture, using simple but bold forms such as domes and cylindrical towers. Pe-destrian archways and domes create a traditional sense of grandeur.

The main focal point of the Visitor Centre is a glass observation bridge connecting two design galleries and shops. The top level of the central tower is a large panoramic café for visitors to enjoy views of surround-ing area. The glass bridge creates a gateway to between the business and cultural districts of the develop-ment. One of the largest galleries is the Hajj Museum which tells the story of the pilgrimage to Mecca over time. In the Time Line Gallery, the museum features a large digital map showing historical routes of pilgrim-ages from across the world.

The Convention Centre is housed under a giant shell-like canopy clad in bronzed metal panels, which cov-ers the entire length of the exhibition space and projects over the grand arrival lobby. A large plaza which is adjacent to the arrival lobby provides space for evening outdoor events.

A pedestrian corridor circumnav-igates the entire development and borrows urban features from both new cities and the old souks. The corridor runs parallel to a ground-level tram system, which has stations shaded by tensile fabric structures and palm trees.

Zanic said that as a fi rm, working in the realm of Islamic architecture had been rewarding. “It was exciting, understanding the culture because we’re not Muslims. I went out and bought books on the Hajj and on Islamic architecture, you get to un-derstand and appreciate it,” she said.


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SPA YACCINEArchitect: Ahmed ChamiLocation: Gabon

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Spa Yacine is the first spa and

fitness complex to be built in the West African nation of Gabon, a country of 1.5 million people bordered by Cameroon that is one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Morocco-born architect Ahmed Chami designed the exterior of the 30,000 m2 building while the interiors were designed by his wife, interior designer Nadia Benmoussa.

THE SITE The property is located halfway

between the airport and centre of Libreville, Gabon’s capital city, home to 600,000 people. Spa Yacine is on the outskirts of a residential area, next to a site set aside for a botanical garden. The garden was not only the reason for the choice of location, but also the underlying concept – the combina-tion of architecture and nature.

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www.constructionweekonline.com | 09.10 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE CONCEPT Chami and his wife worked

closely to ensure that the interiors and exteriors of the building complimented each other, and they managed not only the design but the construction work, landscaping

and project management. “The result is an

integrated concept which, incorporated into the natural surroundings, offers visual and

physical diversity and recreation,” Chami said.

THE DETAILS The cube-shaped elements of

the building, laid out to optimally fulfil their function, appear to be seperate but still create one unit. Bridges serve as links between the elements and also offer space below for patios and sheltered landscaped gardens.

The complex was designed to give off an air of informal tranquillity, Chami explained, which was achieved by the alternating use of vertical and horizontal elements – among these are the stairway to the main entrance, vertical recesses on the front and horizontal elements on the facade. “It is the design of the facade which is pivotal to the harmonious nature of the building,” he said.

30,000METRES2

FLOORSPACE OFTHE SPA YACCINE

The facade is clad in aluminium composite panels that change colour in response to the sun. “The surface reveals ever-changing colours, glossy hues and depths,” Chami said. “The building hence fits perfectly into its surroundings“. The facade, designed by Reynobond, also has the benefit of being very durable, the high-tech coating is strong and resistant to wear and tear.

Gabon has no specific regulations governing eco-friendly construction, but Chami said he was guided by the economical and ecological principles of modern European architecture. “The building has heat insulation throughout and a pleasant indoor climate, with air humidity and conditioning having been measured in relation to the intended use of the space,“ he explained.

The interiors of the building were designed an individual concept for each space, whether for massage, fitness, relaxation or sauna, but it is the exteriors that have caught the eye of local residents. “The inhabitants of Libreville are quite fascinated by the shimmering colours of the chameleon coating“, says Ahmed Chami. “The building has become a local attraction to the city’s population.”

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BURJ RAFAL

Architect: P&TClient: Rafal GroupLocation: Riyadh

This 62-storey tower in the heart of Riyadh, will be one of only three tall towers in the city and contain the fi rst Kempinski hotel in Saudi Arabia. The tower – which will be the tallest in the Saudi capital – will include 260 luxury apartments, a 297-room hotel, and up to 6,000 sq2 of retail and a 2,000 sq2 ballroom in an attached podium. The 19,315 m2 site is on King Fahd Road near the King Abdullah Financial Centre.

LUANDASKY CENTRE

Location: AngolaDesigner: Risco

Portuguese fi rm Risco architects have designed these two towers to form part of a signifi cant develop-ment in Angola’s capital city of Luanda. Work has begun on Sky Residence II – a 22-storey residen-tial tower – and the adjacent Sky Business Tower. Risco has designed the facades of the buildings to have two layers, increasing the cooling ca-pability of the building to make them less reliant on air conditioning.

THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE


KHAN SHATYR ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Architect: Foster + PartnersLocation: Astana, Kazazhstan

The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre contains over 100,000m2 inside an ETFE dome, which has recently been announced the tallest tensile structure in the world. The tent-like, cable-net structure soars 150-metres into the air from an el-liptical base to form the highest peak on the Astana skyline. Inside the tent is an urban-scaled park, along with entertainment facilities, shops, cafes and areas for events and exhibitions.

100,000METRES2

FLOORSPACEINSIDE THE

DOME

305METRESTOTAL EXPECTED

HEIGHT

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TILAL LIWA DESERT HOTEL

Client: RoyaArchitect: DSA Architects InternationalLocation: Madinat Zayed, Empty Quarter

This project in the UAE’s Empty Quarter resembles a traditional desert fort, and is situated some two hours from Abu Dhabi. The 40,500m2 hotel includes 120 guest rooms, a restaurant and a health club set around traditional courtyards. DSA Architects incorporated a number of traditional elements into the design, including thick walls and small windows enabling the building to keep cool in the summer months.

RUWAIS CITY

Client: Abu Dhabi Urban Planning CouncilArchitect: RNLLocation: Abu Dhabi

This massive master plan project has been drawn up by design fi rm RNL for Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council. The 27km2 development will be a new city for Al Gharbia, in-cluding a harbour and marina, hous-ing, schools, retail and recreation facilities. The development is in line with the Al Gharbia 2030 plan, which seeks to increase the popula-tion by creating a new industrial hub in the Western Region.

JENAN CITY

Client: Jenan Real EstateArchitect: NORR ConsultantsLocation: Saudi Arabia

Jenan City will be a 44,655m2 mixed-used development in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which will include offi ces, apartments, a mall and a hotel. Spread across two adjacent sites, Jenan City will provide upwards of 100 luxury apartments, a 250-room hotel and a mall on the fi rst plot, and a medium density residential development on the second.

NOBU DOHA

Client: NobuArchitect: Rockwell GroupLocation: Qatar

Created by New York design-ers Rockwell Group, this is a new 26,000ft2 restaurant for Doha waterfront. The three story building is raised on a glass podium, giving the impression that it is fl oating over the harbour from a distance, and will cater for around 250 people in its restaurant and rooftop bar. The building’s interiors feature hand-painted murals of koi fi sh by Japanese artist Hideki Kimura.

340,000METRES2

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COPENHAGEN GRAND MOSQUE

Client: Bach Gruppen A/SArchitect: BIG-Bjarke Ingels GroupLocation: Denmark

Denmark’s fi rst purpose-built mosque is being built in coop-eration with the Muslim Council of Denmark, an umbrella organization representing 13 diff erent Muslim organizations. The mosque is part of a 124,000m2 religious complex that will include a prayer hall, shops, , an auditorium and an Islamic library. The project has re-ceived planning permission.

3000CAPACITY OF THEGRAND MOSQUE’S

PRAYER HALL

BRITISH EMBASSY ALGIERS

Client: British Foreign Office Architect:John Mc Aslan+ PartnersLocation: Algeria

This project in the Algerian capital saw a thoroughly modern embassy building incorporated into the site of a colonial residence. The British For-eign Offi ce had strict requirements relating to cost, use and security, all of which had to be balanced against design considerations by John Mc Aslan + Partners. The eco-friendly building also had to fi t into a tight 1,800m2 footprint, without obscur-ing views across the Bay of Algiers.

150TREES WERE PLANTED

TO OFFSET THECARBON USED

TRANSPORTING MATERIALS TO

SUDAN

DJAMAAEL DJAZAIR

Client: Government of AlgeriaDesigner: Jurgen Engel ArchitektenLocation: Algeria

Due to become the third biggest mosque in the world, the Djamaa El Djazair in Algiers has been designed in a joint eff ort by Jurgen Engel Architekten, Drees & Sommer and engineering consultancy Krebs und Kiefer. The project will include a prayer hall holding 35,000 worship-pers, as well as the tallest minaret in the world, due to stand at 264 metres. The mosque will take more than four years to complete.

SALAMCENTRE

Client: Emergency Ong OnlusDesigner: TamassociatiLocation: Sudan

Italian architecture fi rm Tamasso-ciati used discarded cargo containers to build staff accommodation. The fi rm had used the contain-ers to transport materials to Sudan. The buildings house 60 staff , set around a courtyard in which the designers planted 100 trees to off set the carbon they used shipping materi-als to Sudan.


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LAUFEN FORUM

Client:LaufenArchitect: Nissen & WentzlaffEngineer: Walther Mory Maier

Swiss bathroom company Laufen’s new headquarters is an unconven-tional design, constructed entirely from concrete and without windows. The two-storey showroom is a scale replica of a Laufen washbasin, and was constructed in a single mould with a 44cm-thick concrete. 50 skylights provide light while also limiting the eff ect of seasonal changes in the sun’s position.

ONEMOLD WAS USED

TO CAST THECONCRETE

FACADE

RUKN AL AQEEQ

Architect:Maan Alsalloum, CowiLocation:Saudi Arabia

The Rukn Al Aqeeq is a mixed-use development incorporating a 21 storey hotel and 12-storey offi ce tower, linked by a single storey of retail space. The entire building will be clad in stainless steel mesh and is designed to be elliptical, with the hotel and offi ce towers joining together at the fourth fl oor. The steel mesh is designed to help the building obtain a LEED ranking.

ABU DHABI INVESTMENT COUNCIL HQ

Client:Abu Dhabi Investment CouncilArchitect: Aedas ArchitectsLocation:Abu Dhabi

Touted as the new gateway to Abu Dhabi, the ADIC headquarters will provide 350,000ft2 of offi ce space, as well as retail and food outlets for an estimated 2,000 workers. Designed by Aedas Architects’ London offi ce, the two 25-storey towers utilize a number of high-tech green initia-tives, including a mashrabiya screen which shifts in order to protect against direct sunlight. The towers will be completed in 2011.

BREAKWATER BEACON JEDDAH

Client:Saudi AramcoLocation:Saudi Arabia

This contemporary lighthouse in Jeddah was commissioned by HOK, architects for the nearby King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) project. Designer Dan Tobin was originally asked to produce a 30m tower but the project ended up twice as high. Eventually the tower will include 150 lights, which will glow through the lattice of hexagons from top to bottom, and a marble interior.

50,000 MILLION M2

TOTALDEVELOPMENT

AREA

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BATHROOM SHOWERDuravit

Modern bathrooms are designed to be more than places where you get clean, and Duravit’s multi-functional shower aims to bridge the gap between bathroom and personal spa even further. This shower unit is suitable for either back-to-back or corner installations, and with

dimensions of 1800 x 1100 x 2340 mm will fi t into even the smallest of rooms. The frameless cabin, which is made of transparent glass, features a shower, steam bath, massage function and water hose, all controlled by an aluminium control panel which is mounted directly into the tiles.


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CARPETBUILDMARTDanube

This range of carpets from Danube are available in Build-mart stores across the region. A recent backlash against minimalist interior design has made patterned carpets are all the rage in 2010, not only because they liven up a space, but because they are a thrifty way of adding color to a room.

BOOKBUILDING (IN) THE FUTURE:RECASTING LABOR IN ARCHITECTURE Princeton Architecture Press

There is no denying the transfor-mational role of the computer in the evolution of contemporary archi-tectural practice. But are humans becoming irrelevant to the overall development of the built environ-ment? Building (in) the Future con-fronts this important question and others like it with submissions from architects, engineers, fabricators, contractors, construction manag-ers, lawyers, and scholars. The book examines how contemporary prac-tices of production are reshaping the design and construction process in the 21st century.

KITCHENBLENDERKenwood

With 100,000 man hours of development and 60,000 hours of testing, the Kenwood Cooking Chef is the blending enthusiast’s blender. Now available in Dubai, Kenwood has been making blend-ers for as long as man has been making soups and smoothies, and the introduction of heating tech-nology make this an essential part of any kitchen.

KITCHENFRIDGESamsung

Marketed as a new fridge for Ramadan, Samsung’s TWIN se-ries has enough room for all those Iftar feasts, and, according to the promotional material, is doing its bit for the environment too because it prevents people from throwing out food when the fridge gets full. The chrome fi nish and blue LED panel on the exterior also brightens up a dull kitchen.

100,000MAN HOURS OF

DEVELOPMENT WENT INTO THE KENWOOD

COOKING CHEF

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Air Master is a new kind of high-tech carpet that traps and immobilizes dust, improving indoor air quality. Desso, the company be-hind the carpet, claims that tests show Air Master is eight time more effective at capturing and retaining fine dust than hard flooring, and four times more effec-tive than standard carpeting.

BEDROOMBEDBoConcept

In its latest design, BoConcept have sought to create a bed which imitates the style of a hotel room with the flexibility of the home. This model comes in 78 different fabrics and colours, and the cover is removable, adding to its longer

lifespan. The upholstered head-board is available in four sizes and is covered on the back, so it can be freestanding for those who want their bed in the middle of the room. The frame is avail-able in six sizes.

APPACTPRINTERHoudah

Although your iPad may do most things that a computer can do, it cannot do everything – namely print documents. This app costs less than a dollar, and lets you ‘reverse print’ your desktop docu-ments to your iPad, allowing you to carry them to meetings, sites, etc.

78DIFFERENT COVER

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LAST WORD | KEVIN DEAN


British artist Kevin Dean, who worked on the interiors of the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, spoke to Middle East Architect

THE LAST WORD

INSIDE OUT When I left college I used to haul my portfolio all over London seeing publishers and design agencies. I got some good jobs that way.

The UK has a great tradition in visual art so I don’t have to look very far for inspiring and infl uential artists and designers.

I was recommended for the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque project by the Royal College of Art. HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan liked my design for the courtyard fl oor and I went on to design various fl oors, walls and archways.

I did plenty of research so that the fi nished designs have echoes of Islamic design. Sheikh Sultan was very interested in moving away from traditional Islamic geometric designs to more free fl owing fl oral designs

The best thing about working in Abu Dhabi was the people. The worst thing was not being able to travel on foot, either because of the distances involved or the heat.

I am hoping to do more work in the Middle East and have just been discussing a new project in Dubai with the craftsmen that did much of the marble work on the Grand Mosque.

As the world comes out of recession I think the Gulf is going to be an even more exciting place for artists and designers.

At the moment I’m working on several projects. My own brand of wall-coverings, textiles and tableware, as well as a restaurant mural and a new architectural project.

The person who has had the most infl uence on me is probably my former tutor at The Royal College of Art.

My wife is a graphic designer. She’s also my greatest fan and critic.

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Middle East - AsiaG Direct FZEOffice #310, BC-2, RAK Free Trade Zone, Ras Al Khaimah, UAET: +971 7 2046570 F: +971 7 2046571 E: [email protected]

BATHROOM ACCESSORIES

MIRRORS

WATER SCREENING ELEMENTS

BATHROOM EQUIPMENTFOR THE DISABLED

PUBLIC WASHROOMEQUIPMENT

See our complete range of more than 1.000 products in our website www.gstyle.com

middle east architect - sept 2010

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