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An ITP Business Publication

NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC MARCH 2009 |VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3
MARCH 2009 | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3
NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
UNITING CULTURES SHOULD PROVE LUCRATIVE FOR FUJAIRAH’S GOLDEN BEACH

LIVING IN GLASS HOUSES TOP OF THE CLASS


An ITP Business Publication

The who, what, why & how A look at some of the world’s
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CONTENTS
MARCH

MARCH 2009 ISSUE 3 VOLUME 3

14
12 18
07 REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
X-architects sets benchmarks, KEO simplifies
sustainability and Cairo is being transformed. All
that plus the latest news from around the globe

12 POST SHOW REPORT: MADEexpo ‘09


Twice as big as the UAE’s Cityscapes, Milan’s
MADEexpo is the new ‘must-attend’ in Europe

18 FEATURED FIRM: ATKINS


From its engineering work on Dubai Creek to Burj
Al Arab to BWTC, Atkins is a Middle East mainstay

21
21TOP OF THE CLASS
A brief look at 10 of the world’s top
postgraduate architecture universities

33 27 Q&A: FRANZ KOOK, DURAVIT, CEO


Lauren Hills speaks to Franz Kook about working
with some of the worlds top bathroom desginers

30 STUDENT UNION
Princeton graduate students work with dxb.lab
and Jesse Reiser through pr0gress design studio

33ARCHITECTURE UNDER REVIEW


ARCHITECT mainstay M Alaa Mandour analyses
the parallelism of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture

48 38COVER STORY: GOLDEN BEACH


Burt Hill architects John Kim and Mohammed
Zannouneh present their new Fujairah project

48ARCHITECTURAL GLASS
Architects and LEED APs talk to Jeff Roberts about
the who, what, when & why of glass for buildings

56BATTLE OF THE...
Guggenheim Museums: Frank Lloyd Wright
(New York City) vs. Frank Gehry (Bilbao, Spain)

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 001


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Better Light for a Better Life.


EDITOR’S
LETTER

-)$$,%%!34

Registered at Dubai Media City


PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00 971 4 210 8000
Fax: 00 971 4 210 8080
LEARNING FROM NATURE
Web: www.itp.com
Offices in Dubai & London In early February, while attending Milan’s MADEexpo 2009, I found
ITP Business Publishing myself sitting in the audience during a presentation on applying the con-
CEO Walid Akawi
Managing Director Neil Davies cepts of biomimicry to the built environment (check out p. 12-13 for the
Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell
Editorial Director David Ingham
full post-show report). Dr Denise DeLuca, LEED AP and representative
Publishing Director Jason Bowman of The Biomimicry Institute (TBI), was speaking passionately about using
EDITORIAL nature to address the challenges of our personal and professional lives.
Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews
Group Editor Jeff Roberts At first, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Reading the title of her presentation,
Tel: +971 4 435 6269
email: jeff.roberts@itp.com Biomimicry: innovation inspired by nature, I expected to be confronted
Assistant Editors Lauren Hills, Selin Arkut
Emails lauren.hills@itp.com; selin.arkut@itp.com.
by a daisy-chain donning hippie encouraging me to use vegetable oil in
ADVERTISING
my Jeep’s straight-6. But, from the moment she read that first quote from
Commercial Director Michael Stansfield Janine Benyus, TBI founder and president, I was fascinated. It went like
Tel: +971 4 435 6350
email: michael.stansfield@itp.com this: “The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely
Group Advertising Manager Keiron Gallagher
Tel: +971 4 435 6349 we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone.”
email: keiron.gallagher@itp.com
Let me pause. For those unfamiliar with the concept, biomimicry is:
STUDIO “The practice of developing sustainable technologies inspired by ideas
Group Art Editor Daniel Prescott
Designer Lucy McMurray, Gurpreet Jhita from nature.” I understand how it sounds and I can imagine the images
PHOTOGRAPHY it evokes in the heads of my readers—a bunch of really intelligent, really
Director of Photography Sevag Davidian eccentric scientists gathered round a table trying to devise better, more
Chief Photographer Nemanja Seslija
Senior Photographers Valeriano Handumon,Alan intimate ways of hugging trees or speaking to flowers.
Desiderio, Efraim Evidor,Khatuna Khutsishvili
Staff Photographers Khaled Termanini,Thanos If that’s how you’re thinking, hold on. Let me at least offer some con-
Lazopoulos, John Pocock, George Dipin, Samin Abarqoi,
Leila Cranswick, Rajesh Raghav, Ruel Pableo, Louis Savage crete examples of just how important this science is to the built environ-
PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION ment. The Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe, features an HVAC
Group Production Manager Kyle Smith system modeled on the self-cooling mounds of Macrotermes michaelseni,
Production Manager Eleanor Zwanepoel
Production Coordinator Louise Schreiber termites that maintain the temperature inside their nest to within one
General Manager - Regional Distribution
Shaded Ali Shaded degree while ambient temperatures fluctuate between 3ºC and 42ºC.
Distribution Manager KarimaAshwell
Distribution Executive NadaAlAlami Another example is how engineers and scientists have studied hump-
CIRCULATION back whales to learn to create efficient wind power. Using science much
Head of Database & Circulation Gaurav Gulati too complex to describe here, scientists have studied the tubercules on
MARKETING the humpback’s fins to achieve an 8% increase in lift, a 32% reduction in
Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell
Marketing Executive Masood Ahmad
drag and a 40% increase in angle of attack—all of which is being used by a
company called WhalePower to design more efficient wind turbines.
ITP DIGITAL
Director Peter Conmy TBI analyses trees and bones to optimise safety and gas mileage in
Internet Applications Manager
Mohammed Affan
automobiles; it uses the Golden Ratio to create ultra-efficient fans and
Internet Design Manager Hitesh Uchil
Web Designer Meghna Rao
water mixers; it studies how chimpanzees cope with illness to devise new
ITP GROUP
medications; it studies prairies to learn to grow food sustainably and the
Chairman Andrew Neil forest canopy to develop green roofing systems.
Managing Director Robert Serafin
Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies All of these are examples of how biomimicry has helped advance hu-
Board of Directors K M Jamieson, Mike Bayman,
Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin
man civilisation. Biomimicry is, at the same time, incredibly simple and
Circulation Customer Service Tel:+971 4 286 8559
incredibly complex. It’s about slowing down, getting over ourselves and
Certain images in this issue are available for purchase.
our status as ‘dominant species’ and looking to nature for answers. Long-
Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details or time biomimicry advocate William McDonough designed a building that
visit www.itpimages.com
mimics every function of a tree except reproduction. If more of us paid at-
tention to the basic precepts of biomimicry in our projects, we’d move well
Printed by Emirates Printing Press L.L.C Dubai
Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions
past green buildings and into the realm of living, breathing ones. I can’t
The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or wait to experience it when we it happens.
omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions
and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the
publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on
information contained in this publication which is provided for general use
and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances.The
ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication
or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the
publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used
for the purpose of fair review.

BPA Worldwide Business Publication Audit Membership Applied for Jeff Roberts, Group Editor
August 2008.
jeff.roberts@itp.com

Published by and © 2009 ITP


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www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 005


05
Emicool keeps you COOL

Emirates Glass, L.L.C., P.O. Box 29769, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 7094700 Fax: + 971 4 3471440
E - m a i l : e m i g l a s s @ e m i r a t e s . n e t . a e W e b s i t e : w w w. e m i r a t e s g l a s s . c o m
REGIONAL
NEWS

LOCAL ARCHITECTS GET SHOT IN NUMBERS


TO SET GLOBAL BENCHMARK
AL AIN, UAE // Al Naseem, a
desert masterplan in Al Ain
25
The percent of Deyaar’s projects scheduled to
(Dubai), designed by X-ar- continue as planned in 2009. Ironically, this is also
chitects, was chosen to be a the percent of Deyaar projects scheduled to be
pilot project for Abu Dhabi’s postponed indefinitely during the same period.
Estidama sustainability as-

$10.4 MILLION
sessment tool.
Considered a very strin-
gent set of guidelines for US
achieving environmental, The cost of design and construction of Metito’s
social, cultural and economic state-of-the-art water treatment plant, which is to
sustainability, Estidama was residents while maintaining technology, society and con- be built in the Jebel Ali Power Complex. Metito’s
designed by Abu Dhabi’s a community-based identity text,” explained X-architects’ first water treatment plant in Jebel Ali is one of the
Urban Planning Council to and low-density architecture. founder and CEO, Ahmed Al UAE’s only LEED Gold building.
address the specific chal- “In Al Ain, you cannot Ali. “Starting from scratch,

20.7 BILLION
lenges facing the region’s build higher than approxi- we considered the wind and
built environment. mately 20m, which is only how it shapes the dunes
“The basic environmental G+3 or G+4,” explained around the original site. AED
elements – sun, wind, sand Esmaeil. “[Al Naseem] is a Then, we looked at the sun Value of Emaar Misr’s total development portfolio
– are very specific for this compact city and hence it is and orientation. We also had in Egypt, which includes several smaller, smarter
part of the world,” explained more sustainable.” to address the lack of water and cost-competitive mixed-use developments.
X-architects’ founding part- Due to north/south-facing and the need for water-sav-

3
ner, Farid Esmaeli. “For ex- facades, the windows of the ing strategies. We considered
ample, how can you use wind buildings will be exposed to climate, energy and soil.”
to reduce the use of energy? less direct sunlight. Likewise, Al Naseem – cur-
How can you use the sun to the east/west-facing facades rently entering the detailed The number of masterplans currently breaking
do the same? These are the will take advantage of vast masterplanning stage – is ground in Cairo’s ‘New Cairo City’ district. The
things we’re focusing on.” expanses to control thermal one of the first projects to masterplans include Marassi, Uptown Cairo &
Al Naseem is a mixed-used bridging, increase energy-ef- have successfully met all Mivida.
development that incorpo- ficiency and control light. requirements for Estidama

8.48 BILLION
rates all of the necessary Orientation is just one approval. Providing every-
amenities to allow residents of many considerations thing runs smoothly, the
to live, work, stay, play considered by X-architects development will serve as AED
and pray. The masterplan to maximise the level of a functioning benchmark Value of Dubai’s non-oil trade with Singapore
addresses the needs of its sustainability of Al Naseem. against which other projects including free zone and customs warehouse trade at
“[Al Naseem] is sustainable seeking Estidama approval the end of 2008.
from the perspectives of will be measured.

Abu Dhabi, with multi-billion dollar long term


US $8.3 BILLION
Estimated losses by Kingdom Holding Company
(KHC) during Q4 2008, which is the reason cited
plans for continued infrastructure development, is for postponing construction on KSA’s planned
providing the world with remarkable opportunities Mile-High Tower.

3500
that simply do not exist elsewhere. What is
becoming clear in the new global economic
The official – but presumed to be understated
climate is that Abu Dhabi is fast establishing – number of jobs lost in the region’s building sec-
tor since the onset of the financial downturn
itself as a beacon of cultural renaissance as well.
ROHAN MARWAHA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CITYSCAPE EVENTS

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 007


On Time
Save
Control
Improve
REGIONAL
NEWS

16 MILLION
Reported population of Cairo in 1997
We believe that the fundamentals of the [Egyptian]
market are robust and continue to present an attractive
SOROUH CITY TO HELP investment opportunity for both local and international
MEET SPACE SHORTAGE markets. By offering well-designed units that suit
CAIRO, EGYPT // To meet the its design plan, which features smaller families we are offering customers quality
growing demand for residen-
tial and office space in the
an integrated mixed-use
development that holds 30.7
homes in an integrated community.
greater Cairo area, UAE- million ft² of residential units SAMEH MUHTADI, CEO OF EMAAR MISR ON EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN EGYPT
based developer Sorouh has including town houses and
appointed Callison to master apartments, 4.3 million ft²
plan and design Sorouh City.
The 42.3 million ft² devel-
of office space and 1.85 ft² of
space designated for retail. EMAAR FINDS FUTURE IN EGYPT
opment – sited just outside
the Cairo city centre and a
central part of the develop-
Sorouh City will be located
along the banks of a large,
man-made lake and is
WITH AED 20.7 BILLION INVESTMENT
ing New Cairo City – will be surrounded by lush parks, CAIRO, EGYPT // The Spanish throughout the master plan. community atmosphere.
in close proximity to schools, public squares and tree-lined colonial architecture that Introducing smaller, more Following the EGP 12
hospitals and the Cairo Inter- boulevards; providing a dra- typifies Santa Barbara, Cali- technologically advanced billion (AED 7.9 billion) Up
national Airport. matic green respite from the fornia (USA) is the design housing that suits smaller Town Cairo, and the EGP
Callison recently released bustling Cairo city centre. inspiration behind Emaar families, the project is intro- 9.92 billion (AED 6.5 billion)
Misr’s Mivida masterplan ducing a suburban lifestyle Marassi currently under con-
in Cairo’s ‘New Cairo City’ into an urban setting, and struction, Emaar Misr’s Mivi-
district. the Santa Barbara-inspired da raises the firms investment
Moving away from the design style is set to be trans- portfolio by EGP 5.75 billion
vernacular architecture of lated throughout the built (AED 3.8 billion); cementing
Cairo and driven by the environment and outdoor the developer’s confidence in
overpopulation of the city, the space, providing a relaxed- the growth of the real estate
Emaar Misr has launched the yet-lavish, Mediterranean, industry in Egypt.
sprawling, Mediterranean-fla-
voured mixed-use develop-
ment Mivida.
“The construction of the
Business Park and other
infrastructure work is already
underway, and the master-
planning has been complet-
ed… sales of homes within the
community will start shortly,”
said Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of
Emaar Misr.
A 3.8 million m²
masterplan, Mivida en-
compasses an integrated
neighbourhood of 5000
apartments, townhouses,
villas, office and retail space,
as well as healthcare facili-

46 MILLION
ties, schools and hospitality
venues. Landscaped parks
and community complexes
are to create public meeting Estimated population of Cairo in 2009
points that infuse continuity

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 009


REGIONAL
NEWS

KEO OFFERS WORKABLE MODEL


FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AED 5.578 BILLION
Emaar Properties’ reported net profit for 2008

ABU DHABI, UAE // The Moham- developers and end-users by shaded pedestrian walk-
med Bin Zayed City Towers
designed by KEO as part of
will very little effort.
“The completed develop-
ways and parks. District
cooling and double glazing TWIN ELEVATORS TO
Mohammed Bin Zayed City
is an example of working
ment will cater to the mid-
dle-income tenant market,
have been employed to
maximise energy efficiency,
REVOLUTIONISE LIFTS
sustainability in the region. which is currently highly Nienstedt continues.
This is according to Uwe underserved in Abu Dhabi… The AED 25 billion DUBAI, UAE // ThyssenKrupp’s
Nienstedt, the Managing the development has been Mohammed Bin Zayed City new TWIN elevator system
Director of KEO Interna- designed taking many of the development is at once is a revolutionary compact
tional Consultants’ Urban principles of Estidama into addressing the significant vertical transport system
Development Division in account,” said Nienstedt. shortage of residential that offers greater capacity
Abu Dhabi, who insists The residential tow- space in Abu Dhabi while than traditional systems.
that KEO’s masterplan for ers will encourage a more also providing end-users With a total of four cabs
sustainability can be fol- pedestrian lifestyle as the and investors with afford- and 17 conventional eleva-
lowed and implemented by development is surrounded able, sustainable housing. tors, TK’s TWIN is set to be
used in the 210-metre-high
mixed-use Latifa Tower in Arabia and the UK, and is
AUTODESK LOOKS TO EGYPT IN Dubai, which is scheduled
for completion in 2010.
now being used in the UAE.
“The increasing number
BID FOR REGIONAL SUPREMACY As one of the latest
innovations in vertical
of TWINs around the world
shows that architects and
CAIRO, EGYPT // As the building a largely untapped market. to the stable atmosphere transport technology, the developers have been won
industry begins to boom in Managing Autodesk’s and solid economic status TWIN system comprises over by the elevator system
Egypt, Autodesk appointed Cairo office, Khaled is enveloping the country... two or more independent- and its advantages – in-
Hazem Nabil Khaled to grow looking to offer new cus- Egypt is an attractive zone ly-operable elevator cars cluding reductions in build-
the company’s position in the tomer-oriented divisions for IT and communication within one elevator shaft. ing volume and greater
burgeoning market. and enhance technical industries,” said Khaled. The TWIN design has been capacity,” said Monica
Autodesk products have support and implement an embraced by architects and Soffriti, communications
long been the software of educational division in con- developers in Germany, the manager for ThyssenKrupp
choice for architects looking junction with the Egyptian Netherlands, Spain, Saudi Elevator AG.
to visualize and simulate Government.
the performance of their “Despite the global
designs, and Khaled’s man- financial crisis, I am very
date is to focus specifically optimistic about the future
on growing the business in of the Egyptian market due

Expanding to the Middle East gives us the opportunity to


remain competitive in an area of the world that has seen
exponential growth in recent years. This new office will
operate with a multidisciplinary team serving the diverse
business culture in the Middle East, with our award-
winning building design geared to furthering a global
‘green’ society.
ISMAEL LEYVA, DIRECTOR OF ISMAEL LEYVA
ARCHITECTS ON OPENING AN OFFICE IN QATAR

010 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


POST SHOW REPORT
MADEexpo 2009

MADE expo 2009 FIERA MILANO, RHO


FEBRUARY 4-7

TODAY, COMPUTERS THINK FOR initely. Venice? Absolutely. Milan? Not so tion supply chain planning, construction
much...until now. IT, worksite equipment/technologies and
US, AND THEY THINK TOO FAST…. Upon arriving at Milan’s 2nd Edition sports facilities/fitness/urban finishings.
of the Milano Architettura Design Edilizia The four-day event saw 200,126 visitors
NOWADAYS, FORM SWALLOWS (MADEexpo), held from February 4-7, from 118 different countries. For readers

FUNCTION. 2009, it quickly became clear that Italy’s


fashion capital, long overshadowed by its
more familiar with the Cityscape brand of
architecture/development exhibition these
ALEXANDROS N. TOMBAZIS
more architecturally endowed sister cities, numbers put MADEexpo into perspective:
has officially announced its presence on Cityscapes Abu Dhabi and Dubai both re-
Nowadays, Italy is probably most the world’s architecture stage. ported record turnouts in 2008, the total
famous for fine fashion, football and number of visitors to those shows were
food. The mere mention of the Mediter- SIZE AND SCALE 48,354 and 51,885 respectively. In four
ranean peninsula conjures up images of Italy’s foremost international trade days, the Milan event attracted double
open-air cafés set amidst cobblestone show for building and architecture, the what the UAE Cityscapes get in five days.
piazzas and starry-eyed lovers bent on MADEexpo showcased an extraordinary
romantic liaisons. and comprehensive range of products and BIOMIMICRY AND ECO-DESIGN
Milan in particular evokes images of technologies for building, renovation and Sustainability, energy efficiency, safety.
ridiculously attractive models stalking redevelopment. As one might have expected, these were
catwalks practicing faces of brooding Massive in scale and scope, MADEexpo the buzzwords of the event and were the
intensity. Milan is stylistic brilliance. Mi- boasted separate halls for each of the main issues around which MADEexpo
lan is retail bliss. Milan is haute couture. following industry subsections: struc- and its 100+ conferences revolved. Among
Relatively speaking, Milan is not generally tures/construction systems/materials, the most popular and highly-attended
considered a hotbed of Italian architec- building envelope, interior architecture, conference was CITYFUTURES; an aca-
ture. Rome? Of course. Florence? Def- installations/renewable energy, construc- demic conference, jointly organized by

012 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


POST SHOW REPORT
MADEexpo 2009

posed an altogether different question:


Is the trend toward ecologically sensitive
design any different from what we’ve been
doing since the origin of buildings?
In Tombazis’ estimation, vernacular ar-
chitecture cannot be quantified, classified
or copied, and that quality is what makes
it inherently ‘ecological’. “Vernacular
architecture is an adherence to social rules
and a reflection of social needs, usually
built by people with limited means but
unlimited intelligence,” he says.
However, the current state of the indus-
try reflects a much different reality. “After
post-modernism, the rule became ‘any-
thing goes’,” explained Tombazis. “Too
often those cultures with unlimited means,
have limited brains. Today, computers
think for us, and they think too fast….
Nowadays, form swallows function.”
Despite his assertion that mainstream
architecture is about the 15 minutes of
fame that comes with building the largest,
tallest, broadest or deepest structure,
Tombazis conceded that now, practitio-
ners are much more aware of ecological
issues. “Things have changed. We are
starting to smell spring in the air, but we
have to move from words to works.”
From the Baths of Diocletian to the
Basilica of Santa Croce; from Bruneschelli
and Albertini to Palladio and Piano, archi-
tecture has been interwoven into the fabric
of Italy ever since the first Roman coveted
the vaults and arches of ancient Greece.
This year’s MADEexpo was just the
second iteration of what has become one
of Europe’s ‘must-attend’ events in the
architecture world. Much like the fashion,
food and football that so stereotypi-
cally characterises the Milan experience,
MADEexpo is a wonderful example of how
an industry trade show should be done.

MADEexpo and the Italian Organization through the use of biomimicry—velcro


of Architectural Technology during which mimics the function of a burr; corrugated
engineers, scientists, administrators and steel mimics the texture of a shell; PV
architects presented challenges and solu- panels mimic the process of photosyn-
tions for building cities of the future. thesis in plants—and urged scientists,
Of particular interest were presenta- engineers and architects to study nature
tions given by Denise DeLuca (Biomimicry more closely.
Institute) entitled “Biomimicry: innova- She reminded building professionals
tion inspired by nature” and Alexandros that thus far, humans still haven’t man- ORGANISMS IN NATURE FACE THE
N. Tombazis (UNESCO/UIA & PLEA aged to manufacture materials that handle
member) entitled “Eco-technologies in force as well as the horn of the rhinoceros; SAME CHALLENGES HUMANS
architectural design: Is ecological design
something different?”
or distribute energy as efficiently as the
electric eel; or adhere to dry surfaces like
FACE, BUT THEY MEET THEM
DeLuca’s message was simple: “Organ- the gecko; or displays brilliant colour vari- SUSTAINABLY.
isms in nature face the same challenges ation without pigment like the peacock.
humans face, but they meet them sustain- “Biomimicry is about learning from
ably.” Using this rationale, DeLuca chal- the natural world, not extracting from it,” DENISE DELUCA
lenged her audience to use nature to solve explained DeLuca. “If you have a problem,
the problems of the built environment. ask nature, then try to emulate its genius.”
DeLuca offered several examples of In examining the ‘genius’ behind eco-
human problems that have been solved logical design, Alexandros N. Tombazis

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 013


GLOBAL
NEWS

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK// Perkins+Will are revolu- a space from which scien- York has long been known
Lehman College’s new sci- tionising the classroom tists can conduct ecological, for its rich architectural
ence building, designed by experience by going beyond life science research, and heritage, with architects
Perkins+Will, is the first just housing academic pro- will also feature displays like David Todd and Jan
groundbreaking in the City grammes, and using the new that provide real-time Pokorny shaping the college
University of New York’s ‘De- building itself to facilitate information on building and surrounding landscape,
cade of the Sciences’ initiative. teaching and research. operations, including energy and the new Lehman College
Embracing the concept Dubbed an ‘urban wet- and water usage. building aims to be a striking
of ‘living classrooms’, land’, the building provides City University of New addition to the campus.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL// Once complete, the build-


Isay Weinfield and Domin- ing will feature 62 elevated
gos Pascali’s 360º building homes, each complete with
has won the MIPIM Archi- their own garden space,
tectural Record’s Future which are not balconies but
Project Award. rather the larger outdoor liv-
360º Building is situated ing spaces you would enjoy
on the ridge separating in the backyard of a ground
the districts of Alto de level development.
Pinheiros and Alto da Lapa, The judges of the compe-
a location that offers great tition were most impressed
sights of the city. by “the way in which the
Mindful of the bustling, architecture of a pinwheel
overcrowded urban environ- plan arrangement had been
ment, the architects have combined with a construc-
introduced the 360º Build- tion proposition to produce
ing as a compact, very green an exemplary series of
alternative to the low, verti- apartment layouts with
cal multi-family housing generous open space in the
model that is typically seen form of ‘yards’, attached to
in the region. apartments on every floor.”

014 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


30th March 2009, Dubai 31st March 2009, Dubai
Standard delegate rate: $995 Standard delegate rate: $995

13th May 2009, Jeddah 4th June 2009, Doha 15th June 2009, Amman
Standard delegate rate: $995 Standard delegate rate: $995 Standard delegate rate: $995

29th April 2009, Dubai 27th May 2009, Dubai


Standard delegate rate: $995 Standard delegate rate: $995

HURRY! Limited supply of 50 season passes


ARC2602

REGISTRATION HOTLINE
Tel: +971 4 4356125 or +971 4 4356893

www.itp.net/events/cwseasonpass
GLOBAL
NEWS

REGGIO CALABRIA, SICILY//


Zaha Hadid Architects have
recently released their de-
signs for the Museum of the
Mediterranean, as well as a
multifunctional building for
the performing arts; both
are to be situated on the
Regium Waterfront.
In a step towards defining
Reggio Calabria as a Mediter-
rean capital of culture, the
projects have been designed
to complement the topogra-
phy of the area while injecting
cultural energy into the space.
Situated on the narrow
sea strait that separates Italy
from Sicily, the museum
draws inspiration from
the organic shapes of the
starfish; the symmetry of
the shape differentiate the
different sections of the
museum, providing space
for exhibitions, restoration
facilities, an archive, an
aquarium and a library.
The performing arts
building will house a gym,
craft laboratories, shops
and a cinema, as well as
three auditoriums that
can join to form one large
performance space.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN// the one million m2 develop- is designed to be a sustain- from Bjarke Ingels Group. biotopes and eco-niches, it
After the award-winning ment resembles an illumi- able urban environment “This new architecture channels water and stores
Mountain Dwelling project, nated mountain range from that creates a striking not only recreates the iconic heat, it provides viewpoints
the Bjarke Ingels Group a distance, however up close skyline that is recognisable silhouettes of the seven and valleys, access points
are reaching new peaks in the development functions along the city’s coastline. peaks, but more importantly and shelter space.
manmade mountain designs as a fully inhabited space “What we propose for the creates an autonomous eco- The Seven Peaks of
with their Seven Peaks of for residential, cultural and Zira Zero Island is an archi- system where the flow of air, Azerbaijan are not only
Azerbaijan masterplan. recreational living. tectural landscape based on water, heat and energy are metaphors, but actual living
As Central Asia’s first Located within a crescent the natural landscape of Azer- channeled in almost natural models of the mountainous
carbon neutral master plan, shaped bay, the masterplan baijan,” said a spokesperson ways. A mountain creates ecosystems of Azerbaijan.”

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 017


FEATURED
FIRM

ATKINS EST. 1967

Tim Askew has over 30 Jim Carless, AILA, Joe Tabet is design Simon Crispe was Shaun Killa has over
years or practice in the manages a dynamic Director in Abu Dhabi recently appointed the 16 years experience, sev-
construction industry landscape design team, and has over ten years first Ambassador for en in the Middle East,
and has been Manag- bringing over 15 years design experience across RIBA’s newly formed and specialises in urban
ing Director for Atkins experience in outdoor the gamut of building Gulf Chapter. Currently design projects. He has
in the Middle East and design to projects sectors, specializing Commercial Director for won many awards for
India Region, since including Durrat Al in hotel design and is the Middle East, he has his designs including
1999, overseeing all op- Bahrain, Iris Bay and currently overseeing the been involved in several Bahrain World Trade
erations as well as staff The Wave in Oman. design of Al Ajlan Tower projects including the Center and DIFC Light-
across nine offices. in Riyadh. Jumeirah Beach Resort. house tower.
END OF THE 1980S
1985

1994
1960S

A small team of Atkins Atkins’ future is altered


engineers carries out dramatically when, fol-
design and supervision lowing a limited compe-
commissions in Dubai, Atkins’ portfolio includes tition with some of the
Muscat, RAK, UAQ, Abu Atkins acquires it’s first urban planning, trans- world’s best design-led
Dhabi. The early work is architectural commission port studies of Dubai practices, the com-
exclusively engineering - a private villa design in Creek, police stations, pany is appointed lead
and involved dredging Dubai. Officers’ Sports Club, architect & engineering
the Dubai Creek, laying Dubai Police College, consultant for Jumeirah
1987

pipeline, surveying, wa- a Police Academy, Al Beach Hotel, Wild Wadi


ter-related engineering Mussalla Tower, the and the official icon of
projects and road design. Taj Palace Hotel and Al Dubai, the Burj Al Arab.
Salam Tower.
1970S

1999
1992

While engineering work


continues with projects
like roads in Satwa
Demand for Atkins and strengthening of
services grows and in this quay walls at Jebel Ali,
decade, three permanent Atkins receives more Opening of Atkins office
offices are established building design com- in Sharjah, whose focus Burj Al Arab and Wild
across the Middle East. missions, starting with is design and project Wadi open in time for the
The Abu Dhabi office the Standard Chartered management to the oil Millenium celebrations to
opens in 1976, Kuwait Bank Building, followed and gas industry. The worldwide interest, setting
in 1977 and the regional by numerous design business diversifies and the scene for dramatic
head office in Dubai on projects for the municipal grows and now includes a growth in the region over
March 28th, 1979. authority. thriving Rail business. the next decade.

018 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


FEATURED
FIRM

Lee Morris is a Design Nicholas Lander spe- Paula Hirst brings over
Director in Dubai. He cialises in Sustainable a decade of experience
has worked on global Design and Building working on large scale
projects including the Physics. As Regional mixed use regenera-

2009
Sales Centre in Business Head of Sustainabil- tion projects and now
Bay, Museum of Sydney, ity, he brings extensive oversees the regional
the Royal Hong Kong experience in passive Masterplanning and
Jockey Club and Dubai’s design, operation and urban design business.
Trump Hotel & Tower. master planning.
2006
2002

2004

A plethora of proj-
ects set for comple-
Atkins’ opens its office Nakheel appoints Atkins tion across the region
in Doha, Qatar. This Atkins first major job to undertake compre- including Dubai Metro
is closely followed by out of the Bahrain office hensive masterplanning, red line, Doha Dukhan
a major infrastructure is to masterplan and design and delivery Highway, Al Mas, The
commission when provide design consul- of ‘Coral Island’ a Address, DSEC Tower,
the Qatar Ministry of tancy services for Durrat 270,000sq m luxury Indigo Tower, Tiffany
Municipal Affairs and Al Bahrain, a 20km2 resort on The World. Towers, and the Bah-
Agriculture appoints sustainable residential, rain World Trade Center
2007

the company as lead commercial and leisure - the first commercial


consultant for the 42km resort for a population building to harness wind
Doha-Dukhan Highway. of 60,000, consisting of power for energy.
13 man-made islands.
2003

2009
2005

RTA appoint Atkins to


the Dubai Metro project
(red and green lines),
to provide full multi-
In Oman, Barr Al Jis- disciplinary design,
sah is completed. The design coordination of
project involves roads, civil works (including
tunnels, environmental geotechnical and site Atkins receives its trade
21st Century tower is impact studies, coral investigations), and con- license for Saudi Arabia,
complete, which at this relocation and building struction supervision and work continues on
time is the tallest resi- design. In Dubai, work of tracks, underground the 220m, 40 storey
dential building in the completes on Arabian stations and mainte- Abdullah Fahad Al Ajlan
world at 269metres. Ranches & Zabeel Park. nance depots. office tower in Riyadh.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 019


Mandaly Bay Hotel,
Las Vegas, USA

light
& ambience

The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Chicago Beach Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

te o & e The Fullerton, Singapore


Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa, Key West, USA

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority · Bldg. 6 West A – Office 731 · P.O. Box 54744, Dubai – UAE
Tel. +971 4 609 1033 · Fax +971 4 609 1016 · operations@targettipoulsenme.ae
FEATURE
TOP ARCHITECTURE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
UNIVERSITIES

ARCHITECT EXPLORES SOME


OF THE BEST POSTGRADUATE
ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITIES
FROM AROUND THE WORLD

f undergraduate architecture “Given the pressing need for postgradu-


training provides a groundwork ate-level training in order to prepare local
of theory and practice that gives practitioners for their respective profes-
architects the skills and confidence sions, universities like the British Univer-
to enter the working world, it is post- sity in Dubai allow students to conclude
graduate studies that hone these skills their Masters with a work-based project,”
furher through in depth specialisation; says Richard Smith, the Technical Director
giving practitioners cutting edge ideas for Atkins in the Middle East and Asia.
and proficiency to approach the ever-
changing built environment. BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI, UAE
Design is at the core of architecture, but The Faculty of Engineering at the British Uni-
professionals have long felt—and research versity in Dubai (BUiD) provides both practi-
has supported this notion—that once cal and research programmes to support the
architects are in the field, working on similar development needs of the Middle East.
projects day in and day out, their growth as The university offers full-time and part-
an architectural designer is often diminished. time Masters programmes in Sustainable
Architects already working in the field Design of the Built Environment and
can benefit greatly from mid-career archi- Systems Engineering in collaboration with
tecture courses designed to reinvigorate the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff
their design skills and allow them to remain and The University of Manchester.
at the top of their game. “Essentially, BUiD was the region’s first
And similarly, if you have completed research-based postgraduate university
your BA in Architecture and you wish and they offer specialised MSc programmes
to complete your Masters straight away, across several fields of academia. Atkins
many universities offer programmes that works closely with BUiD students and fac-
are designed specifically to make a smooth ulty to encourage practical, industry-based
transition from undergraduate level into research, shared educational tools and
the working world. market data,” says Smith.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 021


FEATURE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
TOP ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITIES

Speciality: Speciality:
Sustainable design Spatial information architecture
Featured postgraduate course: through computer aided design
Master of Science, Sustainable Featured courses:
Design of the Built Environment Short courses in computer aided design
Head of department: Head of department:
Professor Bassam Abu-Hijleh, head of Sustain- Melanie Dodd, Professor of Practice Coordina-
able Design of the Built Environment tor and Senior Lecturer of design and social
context
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, WALES
The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, UK
was voted as the UK’s top school of archi- Architecture has been studied at Cam-
tecture in the Times Higher Education bridge University since 1912, and the Fac-
Supplement, and its holistic approach to ulty of Architecture is respected for push-
design embraces all aspects of architecture. ing boundaries and diversifying to address
WSA is currently expanding its taught issues within the built environment.
Masters programme, offering course The university’s Master of Philosophy
options in Environmental Design of Build- in Engineering for Sustainable Develop-
ings, Theory and Practice of Sustainable ment was launched in 2002 and now, in
Design, Urban Design, Sustainable Energy its seventh year, this course has been aid-
and Environment, Building Energy and ing architects and engineers to find the
Environmental Performance Modelling. best possible sustainable solutions.
The Design Research Unit within the Especially designed to attract topflight
WSA is a nurturing space where design and engineers early in their careers, the course
research come together to produce innova- enables professionals to engineer build-
tive and sustainable built solutions. Real, ings for sustainable development through
workable design projects are carried out, enhanced technical skills and a holistic un-
producing buildings designs that can are derstanding of a sustainable development.
pushing the envelope in practical solutions. Similarly, a part-time Masters in Inter-
disciplinary Design, built especially for
Speciality: architects, is a course for design, strategy,
Sustainable design leadership and sustainability in architec-
Featured postgraduate course: ture, ensuring a multiple-voiced approach
Master of Science, Sustainable to built solutions.
Energy and Environment
Head of Department: Speciality:
Professor Phil Jones, chair of Architectural Sci- Sustainable engineering and
ence and Head of School at the Welsh School interdisciplinary design
of Architecture, Cardiff University. Featured course:
Master of Studies, Interdisciplinary
ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF Design for the Built Environment
TECHNOLOGY (RMIT), AUSTRALIA Head of department:
RMIT focuses on exploring the emergence Sebastian Macmillan, Course Director of Inter-
of innovative practices in the context of disciplinary Design for the Built Environment.
international architectural debate, promot-
ing a constructive environment for learning UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON, UK
through project-based research and critique. The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Envi-
What differentiates RMIT’s Masters ronment was opened at the University
programme from other universities is the College of London (UCL) in 1841, and
Urban Architecture Laboratory in which has since then been a prominent force
students undertake urban architectural elec- in international architectural debate.
tives in conjunction with spatial information Students, staff and alumni contribute to
architecture electives. The RMIT mission is architecture around the globe through
“to provide a rich and challenging scholar- designs, buildings and books.
ship environment for students, academics Through a stimulating teaching environ-
and creative practitioners engaged in the ment, new waves of architecture have been
activity of designing.” explored throughout the years; “This is a
RMIT also offers short courses in 3D school where people constantly design,
Max, AutoCAD, Photoshop and Rinoceros invent, explore, write, draw, teach, specu-
to keep architects’ computer aided design late, theorise, map, film, critique, analyse
skills at the forefront. and imagine,” says Professor Iain Borden,

022 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


FEATURE
TOP ARCHITECTURE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
UNIVERSITIES

the Director of the Bartlett School of which was America’s first, continues
Architecture, UCL. to train professionals in the under-
The Masters programmes include standing of historic architecture, arte-
Master of Architecture, Master of facts and landscape.
Architectural Design, Master of “The architect’s buildings are
Architectural History, Master of Ar- placed in the city like the books of a
chitecture Urban Design and Master thoughtful novelist might be placed in
of Science Urban Studies. a news stand in a railway station, em-
The Master of Architecture, Urban bedding the possibility of a rewarding
Design employs a programme of detour amongst all the routines... the
design-based research that brings architect crafts an invitation to think
together the latest theoretical re- and act differently,” says Mark Wigley
search on the spatial structure of the the dean of GSAPP.
urban environment in conjunction GSAPP offers Master of Architec-
with the built form. ture, Master of Advanced Architectural
Design, Master of Architecture and
Speciality: Urban Design, Master of Historic Pres-
Urban design ervation, Certificate in Conservation of
Featured course: Historic Buildings among others.
Master of Architecture, Urban Design
Head of department: Speciality:
Professor Iain Borden, the Director of Restoration and conservation
the Bartlett School of Architecture Featured courses:
Master of Science, Historic Preservation
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Head of Department:
NEW YORK, USA Mark Wigley, Dean of the
The Graduate School of Architecture, School of Architecture
Preserving and Planning (GSAPP)
of Columbia University has offered MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF
a number of specialised architecture TECHNOLOGY, BOSTON, USA
programmes since it opened in 1881. MIT’s School of Architecture + Plan-
All programmes stress the need for ning (SA+P) is recognised as a top
analysing and understanding histori- school of architecture and design in the
cal trends in architecture in order to USA; pushing boundaries in the built
move forward with new ideas. The environment through its graduate and
school’s preservation programme, postgraduate courses.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 023


FEATURE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
TOP ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITIES

GOOD DESIGN RESULTS FROM A COMBINATION OF


A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURE, AN ETHICAL
ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIETY AND RESPECT FOR
THE CREATIVE SKILLS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A
SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH’S DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

There are many masters programmes University of Sharjah and is committed George Katodrytis, Associate Professor,
available at MIT, including the Master of to ensuring that graduates have the skills Director of Scholarship and Outreach
Architecture and the Master of Science in and design philosophy to make significant
Architecture Studies; which includes courses contributions to the Gulf region within a WASEDA UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
Architecture and Urbanism, Building Stud- broader global context. Waseda boasts the oldest Architecture De-
ies, Design and Computation and the Aga “Good design results from a combina- partment of all the private universities in
Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture. tion of a deep understanding of culture, an Japan, and each year the Waseda alumni
The programme was established in ethical engagement in society and respect contribute to the talent within large design
1978 at both MIT and Harvard University for the creative skills needed to establish firms such as Nikken Sekei, NTT Facilities
and the course is recognised as being at a sustainable built environment,” states and the Ishimoto Design Office.
the forefront of urbanism in the Islamic SA+D within its design philosophy. Through a variety of postgraduate pro-
world. The course is dedicated to the study The Master of Urban Planning is an grammes, Waseda deals with the relation-
of Islamic architecture, urbanism, visual interdisciplinary course that is rooted in ship between architecture, urban design
culture and conservation. architecture, engineering, public health, and engineering, providing specialised
law and social sciences, enabling urban courses that enable architects to reach
Speciality: planners to combine design, analytical and expertise in seismic design, vibration engi-
Islamic Architecture communication skills to manage a sustain- neering, seismology/wind engineering and
Featured course: able development. advanced disaster prevention planning,
The Aga Khan Programme for The MUP seeks to empower students among many other specialisations.
Islamic Architecture with the application of multidisciplinary
Head of department: knowledge in the field of architecture and Speciality:
Nasser Rabbat, Aga Khan Professor urban planning. Seismic architecture and engineering
of Islamic Architecture, MIT Featured course:
Speciality: Postgraduate studies in
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Urban planning seismology/wind engineering
OF SHARJAH, UAE Featured course: Head of department:
The School of Architecture and Design Master of Urban Planning Shigeru Satoh, Professor of
(SA+D) forms part of the American University representative: Urban Design and Planning

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www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 025
ARCHITECT PROFILE
FRANZ KOOK

ROOM FOR
THOUGHT

DESIGN MASTERS LIKE NORMAN


FOSTER AND PHILIPPE STARCK
HAVE KEPT DURAVIT AT THE PEAK
OF BATHROOM DESIGN. LAUREN
HILLS TALKS TO FRANZ KOOK,
CEO OF DURAVIT, TO EXPLORE THE
ARCHITECTURE OF BATHROOMS
www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 027
ARCHITECT PROFILE
FRANZ KOOK

Product designers pro-


duce several iterations
before their designs see
the manufacturing floor

Duravit is one of the first sani- a bathroom should be considered at the


tary ware companies to collaborate architectural stage too.
with architects. Can you tell me In great buildings, the bathroom
about these collaborations? design is not accidental; architects are in
Kook: We first collaborated with Philippe collaboration with interior designers and
Starck 15 years ago, however the collabora- clients will think about the best possible
tion started before that as it always takes solution for the bathroom.
about two years to fully develop a product.
We started first with the design of Starck 1, What should architects keep in
then Starck 2 and 3. From there we moved mind when designing a bathroom?
“Is it design, or is it architecture”, to Starck X, which was more expensive Kook: Looking at commercial projects
people asked when they saw the bathroom and of even higher quality. like hotels, for example, the design of a
series by Norman Foster. So faultless in With Norman Foster we have one bathroom is a key factor that customers are
its functionality that the combination series, which we extended last year. looking for. The bathroom can enhance the
of ceramics and metal finishing was not Foster had an idea for a washbasin that style and architecture of a building; people
commonplace, but was rather, extraordi- he wanted to implement in one of his pay far more attention to good bathroom
nary. Foster’s design was inspired by the own projects, so we collaborated with design than they did 20 years ago.
humble archetype of two cupped hands him to create the design, and as it was so
scooping water; two adjacent circles define well received we made it available to the What value does good bath-
the geometry of the whole range. public. When Norman Foster sketches room design add to the end user?
Duravit has embraced their ‘living his architectural concept for his custom- Kook: I think that people might have lost
bathroom’ philosophy since it began ers he also draws the bathroom; and his money through speculation over the last
creating sanitary ware in 1842, creat- clients will often follow his design ideas. year, so they are thinking about what is
ing bathroom products that are driven, truly valuable; thinking about what can
not only by function and quality, but by Is it important for architects enhance their lives. We are convinced that
design. With bathrooms emerging as an to consider fittings in a bathroom the bathroom plays an important role in
Duravit collabo- important living space for relaxation and before they design a space? a person’s lifestyle. It is more than just
rates will several revitalisation, a well designed bathroom Kook: While the interior designer is a cleaning room; it is not only for taking
of the world’s top is a valuable asset, and often a showpiece predominantly involved when the bath- a shower, it is a room for relaxation and
designers within a development. room space is discussed, the design of enjoying your personal space. It is the last

028 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


ARCHITECT PROFILE
FRANZ KOOK

room before you go to the bedroom and one trend out there as there are many
the first room you enter when you start ideas and products available for differ-
your day; it is a very important space. ent settings. When I started working in
this profession it was not usual to have a
Do you think that architects and series of sanitary ware; we would design
developers consider the bathroom individual units and the customers would
as an important space? combine the elements themselves.
Kook: I do think that they recognise that What we have developed is a range of
the bathroom is an important living space, different design styles to complement any
but often they might be restricted because development; a series gives the develop-
of a client’s budget or the space con- ers one design language. For example our
straints. But architects are most definitely new PuraVida range is curved and femi-
concerned with designing a good shape for nine, and before this Duravit has devel-
the bathroom, giving enough space for a oped many strong, rectangular minimal-
shower and bath, a nice wash basin area ist shapes; for example, our rectangular
with a mirror and cabinet. However, there design of Vero still is very successful. The
can be limitations; if an apartment is only designs of Starck 1, 2 and 3 moved away Early concept designs
100 metres2 you have to be clever with from the rectangular shapes. for a prefabricated
how you utilise the space. bathroom
In the competitive market what
Do architects communicate with do you think your company offers
Duravit with regards to their bath- to architects and developers?
room design intent? Kook: Our strength at Duravit, which Duravit products have been
Kook: Yes, if you look at our guest list for appeals to architects, is that we are not just specified for the Burj Dubai, can
the Duravit Design Days, we have many selling bathrooms, we are selling design. you tell me more about this?
architects from all over the world coming The architect or interior designer wants to Kook: The architects have specified
to view our latest products and to discuss have a good bathroom that will enhance products from the Starck 1 series pre-
the latest trends. For Duravit Design Days the design, but often they don’t have a dominantly, with a special focus on the so
2009 I have spoken with architects from deep knowledge of the bathroom. We have called “barrel”, a vanity unit designed for
Scandinavia, Tunisia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, so many different series and different op- Duravit by Philippe Starck. We have deliv-
the UK and Belgium. tions that the architect can specify some- ered more than 1,000 barrels to Dubai, as
Architects are interested in collabora- thing that will complement a project. well as almost 4,000 WCs and bidets and
tion and they profit from the discussions Every design series has its own more than 1,600 baths and whirlpools.
as they can see what designs are available philosophy and personality, so you can
and how they can be installed in there create a certain identity and theme in How has collaboration with
own projects. Duravit has had great line with what an architect desires. We architects benefited Duravit?
success working with different architects have strong competition, but we have Kook: We profit from the contact with
who will specify products for their proj- an advantage because of our ‘designed’ architects; we discuss their needs. Some
ects, or even develop their own range as concepts and the fact that we can offer products are developed after a specific
Norman Foster and Philippe Starck did. full solutions for bathroom - ceramics, requirement from an architect. When you
bathtubs and fittings - so we can give one talk about bowls, that is the wash basins
How has bathroom design design language to a developer. and the plate, and they can be cylindrical
changed in the last 20 years? or conic and we have several forms. These
Kook: Bathroom design is more liberal What do you see as the future designs first came about with of the archi-
today; you cannot say that there is just of bathroom design? tecture for hotels, as it suited the structure,
Kook: The bathroom, as an increasingly and we developed them accordingly for
Bathroom designers important living space, will move towards other projects.
require as much creative greater use of technology. Electron- Architects might want to have a dif-
inspiration as architects ics, light and sound, electronic pictures ferent approach to the bathroom design
and engineers and cleaning systems will advance the of their project, and we try to listen and
bathrooms. The technological advance- come up with the best possible solu-
ment will need to be incorporated into the tion; it is a win-win situation because we
design; the bathroom needs to look good are pushed to create innovative designs
and function well. and the end product is something that
complements the architecture.
Is water conservation an impor- Duravit was one of the first bathroom
tant element of bathroom design? companies to collaborate with design-
Kook: Yes. Especially in the Middle ers; We have collaborated with Sieger
East, where water is expensive and it goes Design, Norman Foster, Philippe Starck,
through a long process to get clean. On the Phoenix Design, Michael Graves, Mas-
other hand, people are willing to invest in simo Iosa Ghini, James Irvine, Frank
water when it helps to revitalise the body. Huster, Jochen Schmiddem, EOOS,
You mustn’t use water when it is unneces- Andreas Struppler and Herbert Schultes.
sary, but with a water-saving shower you We profit greatly from this collaboration.
can use less water and still feel refreshed. Absolutely!

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 029


STUDENT UNION
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

STUDENT UNION
CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
AND THE GULF’S ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS WITH POTENTIAL
The following projects are two of coastline, city, desert or mountains) and sion. Pr0gress recently evolved out of a
many done by graduate students from were asked to develop alternative design public forum for emerging voices and cul-
Princeton University, New Jersey in 2007. strategies challenging the classical model tural dialogue, and has since determined
The studio was hosted in Dubai by archi- of over-arching zoning in Dubai. the need for an independent research
tecture firm dxb.lab and taught by Jesse Assisting students like these to share institute and platform aiming to support
Reiser, who designed the O14 Tower cur- their fantastic concepts with the public cross-cultural education in the gulf region
rently under construction in Business Bay. in Dubai is part of the mission of the and compliment the intellectual discourse
Under the title “Islands” the students pr0gress initiative, a newly-founded edu- with a new range of activities. For more
were asked to chose from 5 potential cational project in the Emirates striving to info please contact Adina Hempel and
geographical sites in Dubai (offshore, create content for exhibition and discus- Richard Wagner (info@pr0gress.com).

DESIGNER: GIANCARLO VALLE


PROJECT: F-1 URBANISM
A DENSELY SETTLED, SELF-CONTAINED BUILDING-
CITY HYBRID. ACCOMMODATING MEGA-SCALE
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES & VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTOMOBILE RACING, THE PROJECT IS A ‘VERTI-
CAL MONACO’.

030 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


STUDENT UNION
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

H IG H TID E (0.00m)

LO W TID E (-4.00m)

GREEN SPACE

DIVE AREA

PRT TRA N SI T H UB

DESIGNER: WENDY FOK


PROJECT: ECO-LUX DUBAI
VILLA + DIVE RESORT
WAVE TRAPPING ARTIFICIAL REEF + SALT
WATER DESALINATION INTEGRATED SUS-
TAINABLE COMMUNITY.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 031


ARCHITECTURE UNDER REVIEW
PARALLELISM OF TIME

THE PARALLELISM OF TIME


FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S DREAM COMES TRUE
1/
The interior of Gehry’s
Bilbao Guggenheim
(right) is almost a carbon
copy of Wright’s in NYC
(left)

Frank Lloyd Wright intended his housed inside hollow cantilevered beams. The folklore surrounding classic sky-
Mile High Illinois skyscraper to be To reach the building’s upper floors, Wright scrapers that never saw completion tells us
the focal point of Broadacre City—a proposed atomic-powered elevators that much about what motivates both architects
theoretical city he began planning in the could carry 100 people per trip. and their clients. These tales beg the ques-
1920s. While a one-mile-high skyscraper Wright believed that it would have been tion, what is it about working in the tall
might have seemed fantastically out of place technically possible to construct such a building genre that compels architects to
in Wright’s era, The Illinois skyscraper proj- building even at the time it was proposed. produce such interesting work?
ect was an exploration of horizontal space At the time, the tallest skyscraper in the My hypothesis is this: Perhaps that which
because, as he put it, some cities are simply world was New York’s Empire State Build- motivates architects to go taller and taller is
“incorrigible” and Broadacre could use a tall ing, which stood at less than a quarter of a fantastic wish to be free of gravity’s limita-
building to act as a cultural and social hub, the proposed height for The Illinois. It tions and to build something that inspires
1/
which would address some of the sprawl is- probably would have been possible to erect clients, investors and other architects as it
sues associated with growing urban spaces. a self-supporting steel structure of the seems to soar into the sky. Another, albeit
The foundation of Wright’s building was required height, but, of course, steel comes more down-to-earth theory, is an appeal to
a massive column, shaped like an inverted with a host of strength-to-weight challenges rationality: Perhaps architects design tall
tripod, sunk deeply into the ground. This that arise when building structures of such buildings simply to create cities that make
supported a slender, tapering tower with great heights. logical use of available land.
cantilevered floors. In keeping with his Not surprisingly, Dubai’s Burj Dubai If The Illinois had been built in Chicago
belief that architecture ought to be organic, clearly resembles the original design of 50 years ago, would SOM still have had to
Wright likened this system to a tree trunk Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘The Illinois’—the blaze new trails in terms of technology in
with branches. only difference being is that The Illinois construction, MEP works, HVAC and even
He planned to use gold-tinted metal on was designed 50 years earlier. Architecture window cleaning mechanisms—all of which
the facade to highlight angular surfaces critics always cite a handful of stories of were designed and tailored specifically for
along balconies and parapets and specified unbuilt skyscrapers as the best of the style this tower—in the Burj Dubai?
Plexiglas for window glazing. Inside the and, in doing so, completely neglect the vast Fifty years ago, would Frank Lloyd
building, mechanical systems were to be majority of completed projects. Wright be faced with the same challenges

www.constructionweekonline.comt | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 033


ARCHITECTURE UNDER REVIEW
PARALLELISM OF TIME

Frank Lloyd Wright’s


1950s design for ‘The
Illinois’ has clearly been
mimicked in SOM’s Burj
Dubai (middle)

that existed for SOM in its quest for the ship between iconography and financial
world’s tallest tower? Would his solutions feasibility: Those with money, build high.
have differed significantly? Would they A similar situation occurred when the
have differed at all? wealthy Guggenheim Foundation hired
From its inception, The Illinois was Frank Gehry to design a museum for
designed to stand 1,609 meters (5,280 ft) the architectural playground of Bilbao,
and aimed to provide solutions to the ever- Spain. While their exterior forms differed
sprawling city of Chicago. Had it been built, somewhat, the interior architecture of Gug-
The Illinois would have incorporated 528 genheim Bilbao was designed to be almost
stories and a gross area of 18.46 million ft² a carbon copy of that of the Solomon R.
(1.71 million m²/171 hectares). Guggenheim museum in New York City.
Wright’s is arguably the most famous This is not a criticism of the buildings,
of the visionary buildings that never came but instead a celebration of the designer’s
to fruition. All of them aimed at address- aim and the relationship between himself NOT SURPRISINGLY, DUBAI’S BURJ
ing the increasing urban sprawl occurring and his building. For great architects, that
in cities throughout the world. Before relationship has never been a commercial DUBAI CLEARLY RESEMBLES THE
mile-high towers projects were launched in one, but instead a relationship built on a
Kuwait, KSA and Dubai, the very concept mastery of art, design, building and style. ORIGINAL DESIGN OF FRANK LLOYD
was never considered financially viable. With regard to any of these relationships,
But now, however, as Burj Dubai and considering that for over 60 years his WRIGHT’S ‘THE ILLINOIS’—THE
becomes simply a symbol of luxury with work has been recreated, regurgitated and
little concern for reason or the challenges downright copied, Frank Lloyd Wright ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING IS THAT
of urban sprawl, it is the project that has proved it then as he continues to prove it
come to most closely resemble Frank Lloyd today with the inspiration he provides to THE ILLINOIS WAS DESIGNED 50
Wright’s concept of a vertical city. It pro- contemporary students and architects, he is
vides yet another example of the relation- still the master. YEARS EARLIER.

034 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


THE SKETCHBOOK
VAUXHALL SKY GARDENS

VAUXHALL SKY GARDENS


Architect: Amin Taha, Sarah Griffiths and Richard Cheesman
Practice: Amin Taha Architects
Location: London
Status: On-site
Completion: 2012

036 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


THE SKETCHBOOK
VAUXHALL SKY GARDENS

THE AIM OF THE PROPOSAL IS TO


DYNAMICALLY ENHANCE THE LOCAL
ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVING BOTH THE
VISUAL APPEARANCE OF THE SITE AS WELL
AS PROVIDE A RANGE OF BENEFITS FOR THE
EXISTING AND DEVELOPING COMMUNITY
THROUGH A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH.
OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY
THROUGH DESIGN WERE CONSIDERED
AND ESTABLISHED THROUGH CAREFULLY
LOCATED AND ARTICULATED SKY GARDENS
AND ROOF AREAS.
SARAH GRIFFITHS, DIRECTOR, AMIN TAHA ARCHITECTS

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE


DLE EAST ARCHITECT 037
CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

Golden Beach will be a


gathering point for visitors
from Fujairah and Sharjah

GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY Some travel to escape life, oth- architect’s design and vision that ulti-
BURT HILL’S BEACH RESORT ers to invigorate it and still others mately create the inspiring, eye-opening

IN FUJAIRAH AIMS TO UNITE travel to simply experience a life


they never knew existed. But a truly
experience for which travellers yearn.

EXPATS AND NATIONALS IN transformative trip has the power to do all


three. When Burt Hill set out to design an
VISION: LOOKING TO THE PAST TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE
A SEARCH FOR TRANQUILITY exclusive resort development in Fujairah,
UAE, on a coastal site where the Hajar
For Golden Beach to deliver a ‘world apart’
to its guests, it took a critical analysis of
Mountains and Indian Ocean meet, it was the existing culture, but also, an analysis of
Words: John Kim, AIA
not without challenges. But in the case of the world the way it once was in Fujairah.
Images: Mohammed Zannouneh Golden Beach Resort, Burt Hill found that The first thing the Burt Hill design team
the opportunity to create a truly trans- examined in shaping the future of the
formative experience far outmatched the resort was in fact the history of the region.
cultural challenges of the region. The team learned that the most common
A resort development differs from other and oldest profession in an emirate that
projects because, by its very nature, it is boasts more than 90km of coastline was, not
designed to deliver an escape; a ‘world surprisingly, fishing. But in Fujairah, fishing
apart’. The design challenges that an was historically much more than just busi-
architect faces when taking on a resort ness; it was a social foundation that shaped
project are also a world apart from those the emirate. Thus, the Burt Hill vision
encountered in more typical projects. The emerged from studying old fishing villages
features of a vacation site that distinguish where a sense of intimacy was created by in-
it as an escape from the real world make corporating narrow alleyways and closely set
the architect’s role invaluable—it is the buildings to bring it down to human scale.

038 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

In studying these fishing villages, Burt Draft after draft of con-


Hill learned that the density of the build- cept sketches allowed
ings and the low building height allowed Burt Hill to design the
residents to sense the gradual movement right combination of
low-density and contex-
in space from narrow passageways to
tual architecture
larger piazzas. Above all, it inspired a
sense of discovery within the space. This
sense of discovery would be a key ele-
ment in creating a resort that was truly
transformational.
In addition to studying Fujairah’s fish-
ing tradition, the Burt Hill design team
took a deeper look at the city and its land
formation. The city is a composition of
several mountain chains and a dramatic
coastline along the Arabian Sea. This blend
was the inspiration behind designing a
cascading or ‘stepped’ building rather
than building a Dubai-like high-rise tower,
which had the potential to disrupt the
city’s natural context. The cascaded terrac-
es resemble the stepping of the mountains
at the background of the site and create a
link between the soaring mountain chain
and the beach front.
Accordingly, the vision began to take
form with the idea of a stepping fishing
village. By stepping, we were able to use

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 039


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CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

different dimensions and different levels


to help break the banal rhythm of repeti- The modern interior de-
tive buildings. While it was important for sign perfectly contrast
the vernacular architec-
the design to meld well with the context
ture of the exterior
of the site, it was equally important that it
provide an inspiring experience for end us-
ers. The differing levels of terraces provide
intimacy and privacy to guests who desire
panoramic views and serenity in the midst
of the ocean and mountains.
By designing the resort in a village-like
cluster, we were able to establish a strong
relationship between the traditional
character of the fishing villages that once
dominated the region and the contempo-
rary living that accommodates our present
living style.

VISION: MODERN, YET VERNACULAR


In articulating the vision for this project,
it was essential that Burt Hill not only
look to the past to see what was built, but
also to see how it was built in terms of the
architectural elements used in the facade
design. This level of analysis would allow
the team to truly convey the vernacular
architecture of UAE.
While this is one aspect that architects
and developers often ignore in resort
design, in the case of Golden Beach, it
seemed counterproductive to disrupt the
natural beauty of the surrounding context.
With a goal of preserving this beauty, we
embraced the vernacular style of tradi-

THE CITY IS A COMPOSITION OF SEVERAL MOUNTAIN CHAINS AND A DRAMATIC


COASTLINE ALONG THE ARABIAN SEA. THIS BLEND WAS THE INSPIRATION
BEHIND DESIGNING A CASCADING OR ‘STEPPED’ BUILDING RATHER THAN
BUILDING A DUBAI-LIKE HIGH-RISE TOWER, WHICH HAD COULD DISRUPT THE
CITY’S NATURAL CONTEXT.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 041


CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

In its design, Burt Hill had


to bear in mind the very
different lifestyles and
traditions of residents of
Sharjah versus those of
Fujairah residents

tion to the emirate and we infused it with still using wood to represent the lattice
modern features so as to bring lavishness work, as well as keeping its original func-
into the interior space. tion as a shading device.
While aiming to strike a balance be-
tween modern and vernacular design, the CHALLENGES: DESIGNING FOR DIF-
modern aspects of the design concentrate FERENT LIFESTYLES
on the type of local materials used, con- Resort design is unique in that the needs
verting exterior design elements such as of the local population must be met as well
pergolas, niches and archways into a sim- as those of the hundreds of nationalities
pler edition that is more representative of that will inevitably visit the resort. In the
Fujairah’s vernacular. On the other hand, case of Golden Beach, there was an added
for the interiors, luxurious and contem- challenge in that the nationals are divided
porary elements that are more commonly into two very different groups: residents of
associated with modern design—including Fujairah and residents of Sharjah.
the use of marble, chandeliers and stylistic In Fujairah, for example, the local
frosted glass for most of the handrails— residents enjoy a very private lifestyle.
would be more appropriate. Natives of Fujairah are oriented towards
The design must retain the essence of large families and are committed to family
Fujairah’s traditions, yet it should deliver life from an early age. Hence, they prefer
a contemporary feel that maintains a dis- to spend the weekends with a larger group
tinct character. For instance, we simplified of relatives rather than with friends. In
and ‘modernized’ the traditional screens, addition, Burt Hill had to consider that the

042 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

emirate of Fujairah is almost dissected by


Khor Fakkan, which geographically sur-
rounds Fujairah and is part of the Emirate
of Sharjah, which strictly prohibits the
consumption of alcohol.
While cultural differences certainly
played a role in its design, the common
thread of creating an oasis in Golden BY DESIGNING THE RESORT IN A VILLAGE-LIKE CLUSTER, WE
Beach, unified the groups and allowed Burt WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
Hill to create a seamless design despite
having practically two separate resorts to
THE TRADITIONAL CHARACTER OF THE FISHING VILLAGES THAT
accommodate the local population. ONCE DOMINATED THE REGION AND THE CONTEMPORARY
Burt Hill designed alcohol-free, ser- LIVING THAT ACCOMMODATES OUR PRESENT LIVING STYLE.
viced hotel apartments—including large
dining rooms, several bedrooms and bath-
rooms, kitchenettes and living rooms—on
one end of the resort. These apartments
are designed to be a ‘home away from
home’, for nationals who enjoy relaxing,
cooking and socialising with other family
The cascading design
members away from everyday life. of Golden Beach was
The ‘Fujairah nationals’ section of the inspired by the nearby
resort needed to also cater to the expatri- Hajjar Mountains
ates, so from a design standpoint, this
meant understanding the dichotomy of
locals and expats. While locals are often
seeking a new fashionable lifestyle that
maintains some of the old traditional
character of the region, expatriate life can
often seem short-term, fast-paced and
stressed out.
In summary, Burt Hill’s solution was to
divide the resort into two sections, one to
meet the diverse demands of nationals and
residents, and the other section to cater

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 043


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CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

to UAE tourists travelling to Fujairah.


This design incorporates hotel suites that All rooms have either an
resemble a typical hotel, which will serve oceanview or a view of
as a place of respite. the Hajjar Mountains

OPPORTUNITY: ENHANCING LIVES


THROUGH CONSCIENTIOUS DESIGN
With any project, architects have the
opportunity to enhance the lives of the
people that will live, learn or work within
the structure, but with resort design there
is a limited opportunity to deliver that
‘world apart’ experience.
The hotel location is considered one of
the most essential locations in the district
of Faqait. It is edged by quiet farmlands,
stunning mountain chains and a pictur-
esque coastline. The hotel entrance, on the
other hand, is located directly on a main
street. This unique positioning provided
an opportunity to use design to create a
barrier between the noisy street and the
calm beach and to ensure that all guests
experience the restorative pleasures of the
site’s location.
Moreover, most of the rooms have an
ocean view, yet some of them also incorpo-
rate a view of the adjacent farmlands and
distant Hajar Mountains. When designing
a resort, one must always consider all the
elements that surround the site and work
with them in the design to extend their
value to the hotel room and beyond. THE ‘FUJAIRAH NATIONALS’ SECTION OF THE RESORT NEEDED TO ALSO
In an effort to beckon guests to what
CATER TO THE EXPATRIATES, SO FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT, THIS MEANT
is, to most people, the main attraction at
Golden Beach, the Burt Hill team designed UNDERSTANDING THE DICHOTOMY OF LOCALS AND EXPATS. WHILE LOCALS ARE
a diving centre on the beach to encourage OFTEN SEEKING A NEW FASHIONABLE LIFESTYLE THAT MAINTAINS SOME OF THE
OLD TRADITIONAL CHARACTER OF THE REGION, EXPATRIATE LIFE CAN OFTEN
SEEM SHORT-TERM, FAST-PACED AND STRESSED OUT.

Golden Beach’s location


is considered one of the
most essential in Faqait

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 045


CASE STUDY
GOLDEN BEACH

Burt Hill saw Golden


Beach as an opportunity
to enhance people’s lives
through its design

use of what will become the site’s world-


renowned coral reefs and bio-diversity.

MARKET: ON THE BRINK OF A BOOM


Development in Fujairah is in its infancy
but is expected to explode in the next
few years. Several new developments are
occurring along the coast, which is about
50km from Fujairah City. Golden Beach is
located within the ‘developing market’ area
and should benefit from the newly devel-
oping infrastructure in the area as well. THE MOST RECENT POPULATION DATA INDICATES THAT
The most recent population data FUJAIRAH ATTRACTS ABOUT 214,000 TOURISTS EACH YEAR
indicates that Fujairah attracts about
214,000 tourists each year and has an
AND HAS AN ADDITIONAL 120,000 RESIDENTS FROM WHICH
additional 120,000 residents from which TO DRAW INTEREST....RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 11 NEW
to draw interest. The Burt Hill design team HOTELS—3,300 ROOMS IN TOTAL—ARE PLANNED TO ENTER
worked closely with Economics Research
Associates (ERA) to better understand the
THE [FUJAIRAH] MARKET BY 2011.
market for this type of development. Its
research showed that 11 new hotels—3,300
rooms in total—are planned to enter the
market by 2011. While there is a lack of
existing infrastructure, it is a harbinger of
what lies ahead for a location that has been
called one of the “Jewels of Arabia”.

046 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


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FEATURE
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS

Solar power is one re-


source in which the Gulf
is not lacking

LIVING IN A
GLASS HOUSE Architecture is about creating WHO’S MAKING THE DECISION?
EXAMINING WHO, WHAT, space. Whether its space to live, work
or play, architects design structures to be
Richard Wagner, architect at dxb lab and
former vice president of the Architecture
WHY AND HOW MUCH OF experienced. To remove the experiential
element from a structure is to render it a
Association of the UAE (aaUAE), describes
an ideal scenario. “In an ideal nutshell, the
GLASS IN ARCHITECTURE sculpture rather than a piece of architec-
ture. Few materials are as directly respon-
architect specifies the type of glass, the en-
gineer verifies that choice, the contractor
Words: Jeff Roberts sible for influencing the way in which users builds it, and the developer sells a quality
experience a structure than the glass used project as desired by the clients.”
in its facade. Whether its intent is form It doesn’t take an astrophysicist to know
or function – and especially if it’s being that in Gulf architecture, things don’t often
combined with cutting-edge technology work that way. In a region where quality
– the versatility of glass is unparalleled. can quickly be supplanted by quantity,
But none of this is new information. architects often struggle with contractors
There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that and value engineers convincing clients that
says: “You want your horse to look good, using a less advanced product will have
but you also don’t want him to have to eat little influence on how the building looks
grass.” In an architectural context, this or performs.
simply means that a pretty building may Thom Bohlen, (AIA, NCARB) chief
look nice, but a building that functions technical officer at the Middle East Centre
efficiently is equally important. for Sustainable Development (MECSD),
While state-of-the-art materials, understands the importance of consulting
including glass, may be more expensive with qualified professionals when consid-
initially, contractors, developers and value ering glass.
engineers would do well to approve those “Architects normally specify glazing for
higher glass budgets, especially if they their buildings, but typically they get input
want a building that considers the comfort from structural engineers, glazing contrac-
of its users. tors, glazing suppliers and, of course,
ARCHITECT caught up with building from the green building consultant,” says
professionals around the world to talk Bohlen. “The appropriateness of the U-
about the importance of using the ‘right’ values of the system, transmittance factors
glass for the right project in the Gulf. and shading coefficients can all greatly

048 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


FEATURE
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS

Germany has set the


standard throughout
Europe in harnessing
solar energy

IN AN IDEAL NUTSHELL, THE


ARCHITECT SPECIFIES THE TYPE
OF GLASS, THE ENGINEER VERIFIES
THAT CHOICE, THE CONTRACTOR
BUILDS IT, AND THE DEVELOPER
SELLS A QUALITY PROJECT AS
DESIRED BY THE CLIENTS.
RICHARD WAGNER

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and help protect your furniture and floor
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a button. Somfy’s internal blinds come in
several styles including: aluminium/wood-
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blind, fabric Roman blind, nets or curtains.
For the full range of products/services,
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SCHÜCO
Schüco’s fully integrated PV systems turn
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efficiency tank for use in the home. For the
full range of products/services, check out
www.schueco.com. affect energy consumption in buildings.” James Law, chairman and founder of
All too often, however, developers or Hong Kong-based James Law Cybertec-
SCHEUTEN contractors in the Gulf decide on a type ture International (JLCI).
By applying advanced coating technology, of glass or facade system depending on Having designed several projects for the
Scheuten can now develop and produce budget or preference of origin. Specialty Middle East and India – and employing a
coatings which combine ample light engineers are consulted only in the most highly futuristic brand of architecture that
penetration with effective solar control. complex scenarios and architects are left melds the form and function of a build-
Scheuten Glass offers a combination of voiceless in the great debate about money. ing with cutting-edge technology – using
solar and efficient heat reflecting properties glass that does what it promises is crucial
with Isolide Brilliant glazing, representing HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ‘RIGHT’ for JLCI. “Using the wrong glass can have
the latest in technology in this area. Every GLASS FOR THE RIGHT PROJECT? disastrous outcomes, including making the
combination of Isolide Brilliant possesses Matching the glass system with the style building inefficient and unpleasant as well
a U-value equal to that of the superior of the building and the context in which as using unnecessary levels of energy to
Low-E categories. Isolide Brilliant affords it sits is extremely important. The quality keep occupants cool,” adds Law.
architects almost unlimited possibilities of the glass, in terms of structural/physi- Because glass can range from fully
for designing transparent facades without cal/thermal properties, is paramount to transparent to fully opaque or reflective,
making concessions to interior climate achieving a building that looks and func- and can be specified in virtually any tint
control. The colour of this insulating glass tions properly. or colour, aesthetics is less of an initial
product appears neutral from the outside. “Especially in hot regions like the Gulf, concern than function. As Kareem Negm,
For the full range of products and services, the energy performance and comfort levels LEED AP and architect at Dar Al-Han-
check out www.scheuten.com. of a building clothed in glass are totally dasah (Shair and Partners), points out,
dominated by the choice of glass,” explains ‘function’ in the Middle East means more

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 049


FEATURE
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS

Japan is one of the larg-


est consumers of solar
glass solutions. Image:
Scheuten

than just energy-efficiency.


Of course, double glazed, low-U glass
should be specified externally to reduce
solar gain but because of religious and
cultural privacy issues, residential projects
will almost always opt for fully reflective
or very dark tints, regardless of efficiency
ESPECIALLY IN HOT REGIONS LIKE THE GULF, THE ENERGY
levels of the glass. Internally, however,
aesthetics take priority.
PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT LEVELS OF A BUILDING
“Fritted glass for shower enclosures can CLOTHED IN GLASS ARE TOTALLY DOMINATED BY THE
be used in hotel room to deliver light and
maintain privacy,” explains Negm. “For CHOICE OF GLASS.
commercial applications, sandblasted JAMES LAW
logos and engravings enhance branding
and corporate identity.” “This allows for many loopholes during the are harsher; they require materials that
Wagner agrees that the choice of glass is construction process and ultimately can function at higher levels and, therefore, re-
important where aesthetics are concerned, cause buyers and operators horrendous quire careful consideration during design
but given the architectural trend of using long-term running costs.” and specification.
massive curtain walling in the UAE, the Chad Oppenheim, founder and principal
environmental and climatological aspects IS GLASS A LIABILITY IN of Miami-based Oppenheim Architecture +
of glass cannot be ignored and the building GULF ARCHITECTURE? Design, often says: “Building glass refrig-
standards need to follow suit. In the more moderate climates of Europe, erators in the desert doesn’t make a lot of
“Standards for thermal insulation of North America and parts of Asia, glass can sense.” His logic is doubly poignant given
building envelopes – which includes glass be an extremely versatile material that can his experience working in a solar-heavy
– are far too tolerant given the harsh sum- simultaneously addresses efficiency and climates and the number of projects OA+D
mer climate we endure,” explains Wagner. design challenges. But, climates in the Gulf has completed in Miami.

050 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


FEATURE
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS

Central Station in Berlin


displays solar glass solu-
tions by Scheuten

So, the obvious question remains, is which in return has hampered construc-
SAINT-GOBAIN glass a liability in the Gulf? The architects, tion of avant-garde designs.... At the same
Be it thermal insulation, acoustics, safety/security, self-cleaning or engineers and LEED APs interviewed for time we have to consider the environmen-
solar control, Saint-Gobain Glass has an extensive range of high this article suggest it just might be. tal aspect of shipping tonnes of products
performance solutions for the construction market. Products directly “I think any material can be a ‘liability’ if halfway around the globe, which adds
related to solar control include: Planitherm Total, Planitherm 45, used improperly or unwisely, or where all another great liability,” adds Wagner.
Cool-Lite, Bioclean Cool-Lite and Priva-Lite. For a complete list of considerations in the use of that material
products and services, check out www.saint-gobain-glass.com. are not considered,” says Bohlen. “Well if THE FINAL WORD
you look at it from an environmental point It seems clear that the key to using glass
EnergyGlass of view then yes. We’re creating glass box- correctly and responsibly lies in the ability
Specialists in building integrated photovoltaics (BiPV), EnergyGlass es that are heat magnets. They look nice of architects, contractors, developers and
uses poly vinyl butyral (PVB) for its PV modules. PVB is typically but often trap the heat inside and thus cost engineers to be collectively mindful of its
used for layering the safety glass in curtain walls, glazing for roofs, a lot of money to cool. This cooling process climatic challenges and specify the product
parapets/balconies, shading windows, greenhouses and noise bar- harms the environment in a tremendous in conscientious ways.
riers. EnergyGlass products have been researched, developed and way,” agrees Negm. “Just like any where else, glass can be
supported by the Universities of Milan and Turin. For a complete list Wagner takes the argument a step a versatile material in the Middle East,
of products and services, check out www.energyglass.eu. further to suggest that the ‘liability’ aspect but it must be used in conjunction with
of glass doesn’t rest wholly with the mate- the correct application and specification
ROMAG rial itself. “There is always an element of to meet the specific requirements of the
Romag is a UK-based manufacturer of specialist transparent com- liability in glass, no matter where you are region,” Bohlen insists. “The [challenges]
posites to the security, renewable energy, architectural and specialist located,” he explains. include high heat and humidity, blowing
transportation markets. Romag’s key areas of activity are the supply “The reason that there appears to be sand particulates and plenty of solar gain.
of PV solar panels and glass and glazing products to the renewable a lack of versatility in this market can be Anytime you can avoid the sun’s rays from
energy, architectural, safety/security and transportation markets. For largely attributed to the fact that the local directly striking the glass you have gone a
a complete list of products and services, check out www.romag. manufacturing industry has not developed long way towards making the facade and
a diverse and feasible enough repertoire, interior more efficient.”

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 051


SPOTLIGHT
DRAW LINK GROUP

SERVICE PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT


ON ARCHITECTURE
Daousser Chennoufi
Chairman
Draw Link Group
Have you worked on anything our What are the benefits of work-
readers would recognize? ing for an organisation like Draw
Draw Link is busy working on several Link that provides services to so
projects – some of which are still under many sectors?
construction – but once finished, they will No matter which service we’re providing,
be easily recognisable for the originality of we start with the original concept. Then we
their concept. Some examples include: the materialise it in architecture and execute
Bab B’Har hotel resort in Fujairah – which all the construction and MEP works. Our
won an architectural award from Cityscape final step is to finish the interior and en-
– Boutique Hotel Maison D’Hotel in sure the quality of the final product.
Jumeirah and a small boutique hotel in We can also provide our clients with
Deira. marketing consultation, as we obviously
know the strong points of the project. In
What inspires you in your work? some cases, we arrange an opening event
My inspiration comes from the experience to monitor first reactions to our project.
of living life and travelling. Architecture We’re also trained to deal with a large
is constantly evolving and boundaries are network of suppliers and contractors.
always being pushed so there is no limit to In the case of Draw Link Group, it’s
our creative potential. much easier when you have all the capa-
bilities in-house. Because we all work to-
Do you feel that there is a lack of gether as a team and all of our competen-
context throughout some Middle cies are interrelated, it makes the work less
Eastern cities? complicated and improves overall quality.
Throughout the Middle East, there are In an industry full of challenges, con-
very few projects with concept, mostly due necting skill sets helps you learn from dif-
to the construction boom and shortened ferent fields and increase your professional
timelines. In my opinion, Dubai is the capacity. Our biggest advantage is that we
only city that has context in its organiza- can offer our clients a complete range of
tion. Dubai is an exemplar of the ‘modern’ services. For every project, we don’t just
Middle Eastern city. A lot of other cities offer a simple drawing or a consultation,
lack concept in their development. we offer a complete concept.

ARCHITECTURE IS CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING AND BOUNDARIES ARE
ALWAYS BEING PUSHED SO THERE IS NO
LIMIT TO OUR CREATIVE POTENTIAL.

052 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


SPOTLIGHT
DRAW LINK GROUP

THE BEST INTERIORS ARE THOSE THAT MAKE


PEOPLE FEEL GOOD. PERHAPS THEY COME IN
THE FORM OF AN OLD COFFEE SHOP IN TUNIS OR
AN APARTMENT IN PARIS.

ON INTERIOR DESIGN
Salma Aloulu & Fahda Barrak
Senior Interior Designers
Draw Link Group
What inspires you in your work? a comprehensive service provider
Our main inspiration comes from nature like the Draw Link Group?
and history, we also draw from that which The work we do in our teams allows us to
we see or learn or know. Everything we exchange thoughts and share experiences
see and experience has the potential to – ultimately it helps all of us do our jobs
inspire us. And, the best way to derive new better. As architects and designers, we can
inspirations is by travelling. switch from working with design teams to
architecture teams quite seamlessly. At the
Have you worked on anything our end of the day, we all work very closely; it
readers would recognize? is a very creative atmosphere.
For example, we did Mosque Abu Manara
in Jumeirah as well as series of local res- Do you think the economic slow-
taurants – one of which won a Commercial down with create fewer projects
Interior Design award. We’re also doing and thus, better quality?
the JAL Hotel in Dubai and several luxury The slowdown will allow us to provide bet-
villas around the city. ter service to our clients and spend more
time elaborating concepts. While other re-
With the tight timelines, how gions are seeing slowdowns, in the Middle
sophisticated is interior design in East, it simply allows us to work at normal
the ME? Are you always able to do speed and achieve the best quality. So the
your best work? slowdown might actually be beneficial for
Here is the challenge: doing your best the market and the client.
despite such a timeline; working fast and
reaching perfection. We always do every- What is your favourite interior that
thing to protect and define the concept. We you didn’t design?
treat every project as the biggest and most The best interiors are those that make
important. Above all, the most important people feel good. Perhaps they come in
element is to ensure the integrity of the the form of an old coffee shop in Tunis
concept and the quality of the project. or an apartment in Paris. Projects like
these might be done without professional
Are there benefits to working so designers but with a lot of human intel-
closely with project managers, ligence. In projects likes these, there is
graphic designers and architects at poetry and sophistication.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 03.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 053


SHOWCASE
SERVICE PROVIDERS

aterman
NORR WATERMAN INTERNATIONAL
A multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers The Waterman Group is a multi-disciplinary engi-
and consultants, Norr has built an expansive client neering and environmental consultancy, delivering
base since 1938, and is trusted throughout the globe small and large projects around the world. Over the
to deliver creative, integrated building solutions. course of half a century, Waterman’s successfully
Norr design, deliver and manage strategic and engineered projects and ingenious design solutions
complex solutions, ensuring that the right combina- have been based on providing practical and cost-
tion of the firm’s resources is applied to solve the effective solutions to clients. Waterman’s regional
demands of each project. Norr’s regional offices are offices are in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

+971.4330.4400 +971.4351.7077
www.noor.com www.waterman-int.com

KEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS HALCROW


Founded in 1964, KEO delivers world-class profes- Halcrow specialises in the provision of planning,
sional design and management services. KEO offers design and management services for infrastructure
award winning architectural design, progressive development worldwide. With interests in transpor-
infrastructure engineering and highly ranked tation, water, maritime and property, the company
project and construction management. At over 1600 is undertaking commissions in over 70 countries
professionals worldwide, KEO is one of the largest from a network of global offices. In the Middle East,
AEP/PMCM firms and have consistently ranked Halcrow provides transport, water, property, de-
in ENR in the top 200 International Design Firms, velopment, environmental and energy consultancy
as well as Top 20 International PM rankings for services across a geographic region extending from

+965.461.6000 +44.1793.816253
www.keoic.com www.noor-international.com

MOTT MACDONALD BEYONDESIGNS INC.


From energy, buildings, transport, water and the BeyonDesigns Inc, a Dubai relocated enterprise, is a
environment to health and education, industry and premier polyurethane manufacturer of architectural
communications, Mott MacDonald has experi- features, bringing to life, a unique blend of artistic beauty
ence in civil, structural, mechanical and electrical coupled with technical excellence. Established in 2004,
engineering disciplines, with a number of staff it offers to its clients, an assortment of embellishments,
considered to be authorities in their fields. patterning the essence of coral stone using state-of-the-art
Transforming ideas into reality is our forte, and molding technology. The company carries with it, several
the holistic approach to engineering consultancy is years of extensive experience from Canada.
rooted in the full range of skills covering all stages of
the development cycle.

+971.2443.4608 +971.4886.1322
www.mottmac.co.ae www.beyondesigns.com

054
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SHOWCASE
CLASSIFIEDS

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ARCHITECTURE
COMPARE & CONTRAST

BATTLE OF
OF...
...
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUMS

SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM MUSEUM BILBAO
Location: New York City, USA Location: Bilbao, Spain
Type of building: Museum of modern art Type of building: Museum of modern art
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright Architect: Frank Gehry
Design style: Modernist Design style: De-constructivist, expressionist modern
Construction system: Concrete Construction system: Steel frame, titanium sheathing
Inspiration: Inspiration:
Overlooking Central Park, New York’s only natural respite, Wright drew The radically sculptured, organic curves of the building have been designed
inspiration from nature and wished to create a building evocative of the to appear random, and Gehry has expressed that “the randomness of the
plasticity of the organic form in contrast the built environment of New York. curves are designed to catch the light.”
Construction timeline: 1956 to 1959 Construction timeline: 1997

Fact: Fact:
Wright was against Solomon R. Guggenheim’s choice of location for the The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao can be seen in the opening sequence
museum, believing that New York was overbuilt and lacking architectural of the 1999 James Bond film, The World is not Enough, where Bond
merit. “I can think of several more desirable places in the world to build his steals money from a corrupt Swiss banker affiliated with the villain
great museum… but we will have to try New York,” Wright wrote in 1949. Renard’s terrorist network.

056 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 03.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com


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