You are on page 1of 84

NOVEMBER 2011 / VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 11

An ITP Business Publication

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

FEATURE

Uncovering the latest


trends in regional
education
design

Exploring the many


benefits of Building
Information
Modelling

ROUGH
DIAMOND
Sheikh
Zayed
Desert
Learning
Centre takes
shape in Al Ain

What keeps us
moving.
The TWIN elevator system at ThyssenKrupps
headquarters building Dreischeibenhaus in Dusseldorf
(Germany):2 cabs, 1 shaft, 0 crowds. | Accept no Limits.

NOVEMBER | CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2011 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 11


4

FRONT

Top stories in the world


of architecture including
Foster + Partners Kuwait
airport and a Dubai-esque
ski slope in Sweden

14

THE BIG PICTURE

Dubais Grosvenor House


towers are at their best when
the lights come on

22

OPINION
Hisham Youssef asserts that
clients should understand
and support architects

34

INTERVIEW

Murat Tabanlioglu describes


the latest projects to emerge
from his Turkish rms
intrepid portfolio

48

FEATURE
MEA explores the latest
trends and challenges when
designing schools for the
Middle East region

76

CULTURE
Cool products, clever ideas,
and some of the latest gadgets
in the design world

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

16

ANALYSIS
Speakers at the World
Architecture Congress call
for site specic design

24

COVER STORY
On site at the SZ Desert
Learning Centre, which is
taking shape in Al Ain

40

INSIGHT
Discovering the everexpanding possibilities
of Building Information
Modelling software

58

CASE STUDIES
Maysan Residences by dwp,
MZ Architects Lagos design
and LEED Gold-rated Mirdif
City Centre

80

THE LAST WORD


Muhannad Sh. Assam,
managing director for BEAD
Architects & Designers

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

Realgestalt, Berlin

Lasting growth is a question of ongoing renewal


rather than the resources available.
FSB is a global pioneer with its cross-range Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to ISO 14025
for Public Project and electronic hardware and for barrier-free handle systems.
www.fsb.de/ISO14025

www.fsb.de/en

Its in your hands.

FRONT | NOVEMBER

Pearls for the Sheikh


Zayed Desert Learning
Centre (page 24)

FOSTER REVEALS DESIGN


FOR KUWAIT AIRPORT
UK architecture giant unveils designs for major airport redevelopment

1,200M
Foster + Partners has unveiled its
design for Kuwait International
Airport, a major hub with a yearly
capacity of 13 million passengers.
The rms passenger terminal
design comprises three symmetrical wings of departure gates, each
extending 1,200 metres from a
25-metre-high central space.
Sustainable measures, such as
roof-mounted photovoltaic panels,

The new terminal


will handle 13m
per year.

LENGTH OF EACH
driving the project are
will help the building
DEPARTURE
equally impressive.
become the worlds
GATE WING
The canopy extends to
rst terminal to
shade a large entrance plaza
achieve LEED Gold.
and is supported by tapering
Mouzhan Majidi, chief
concrete columns which are said to
executive of Foster + Partners, combe inspired by the traditional dhow
mented: The scale of the airport
sailing boats.
shows Kuwaits great foresight in
The terminal is located to enable
recognising the benets of strategic
future expansion to accommodate up
investment in future infrastructo 50 million passengers a year.
ture. The environmental ambitions

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

NOVEMBER | FRONT

New schools
planned in Abu
u
Dhabis Future
Schools plan

Length of boulevard in
Nigerias Eko Atlantic
City (page 62)

(page 48)

D b i
Sweden to trump Ski Dubai
with 700m indoor slope
Plans have been revealed for a 700m
indoor ski slope in Sweden which will
surpass the 400m Ski Dubai.
Located outside Stockholm, the
70,000m2 Skipark 360 has been
designed by Berg Arkitektkontor, the
local branch of CF Moller Architects.

Sweden has experienced low snowfall.

The resort will also contain a


3.5km cross-country skiing tunnel,
a biathlon area, ice hockey and gure
skating rinks, and a snow park for
snowboarders.
Skipark 360 is a reaction to
reduced snowfall in Sweden, which is
threatening the skiing industry.
Construction is due to start in 2013
or 2014 and will be completed within
two years.
Although there are around 30
indoor slopes around the world, with
several in Europe, the most famous is
arguably Ski Dubai, located in Mall of
the Emirates.

DESIGNMENA.COM
This months top stories on the online home
of Middle East Architect
Winners for 2011 Commercial Interior Design Awards announced
25 essential iPad apps for interior design
students
In Pictures: Commercial Interior Design
Awards winners
Only 10% of ME construction professionals
using BIM, says expert
Head for Heights

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Turkish tower lauded by RIBA


A 21-storey residential tower in Istanbul, designed by Turkish architecture
rm Tabanlioglu, was among the 13
winners of the RIBA International
Awards 2011.
The project, called Loft Gardens,
was described by the RIBA judges
as an extreme demonstration of
elegance and restraint within a subtly
modied typology.
Another Middle East building to
be recognised was Foster + Partners
Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, a
centrepiece of the zero-carbon city.
Inaugurated in 2005, the RIBA International Awards honour outstanding buildings outside the UK.

BNKR Arquitectura has designed an earthscraper to get around the height restriction
in the historic centre of Mexico City. The
inverted pyramid contains a central void to
feed light to the underground storeys.

DATASTREAM
AEDAS MIDDLE EAST - PROJECTS BY REGION

6%
18%

KSA

QATAR

29%

47%
ABU DHABI

DUBAI

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

FRONT | NOVEMBER

60 SECOND INTERVIEW

PEOPLE

Norman Foster pays


tribute to Steve Jobs

Stuart Rough takes the hot seat.

New chairman for


Broadway Malyan
UK-based rm Broadway Malyan has appointed director Stuart Rough as chairman
and added new staff to its Shanghai office.
Rough has led award-winning retail and
workplace projects in China, Southeast
Asia and Europe, including the BASF, Sony
and Roche headquarter buildings.
He said: As part of the practices senior
management team I will focus on developing the global reach of our 15-strong network of bases from So Paulo to Shanghai,
enhancing the unrivalled diversity of our
500+ sector experts, increasing our distinctive client focus, with 80% of 2010 income
from repeat business, and widening our
portfolio of world-class projects.
The move will see director Melvin Davis,
who has come to the end of his tenure as
chairman, relocate to the practices Shanghai office from 2012.

The energy efficiency of a


supertall building is
superior to the
equivalent
number of lowrise buildings.
Adrian Smith, cofounder of AS+GG,
justies his wellknown specialism in
cloud-piercing
structures

Norman Foster paid tribute to Apples


Steve Jobs, who died last month, citing him
as an inspiration and role model.
Foster + Partners is working for Apple
on its new campus in Cupertino, California
(pictured). Completion is slated for 2015.
In a statement, Foster said: We were
greatly privileged to know Steve as a person, as a friend and in every way so much
more than a client. Steve was an inspiration
and a role model.
He encouraged us to develop new ways
of looking at design to reect his unique
ability to weave backwards and forwards
between brand strategy and the minutiae of
the tiniest of internal ttings.
For him no detail was small in its signicance and he would be simultaneously
questioning the headlines of our project
together whilst he delved into its ne print.
Foster continued: He was the ultimate
perfectionist and demanded of himself as
he demanded of others. We are better as individuals and certainly wiser as architects
through the experience of the last two years
and more of working for him...he was one of
the truly great designers and mentors.

DR HANAN M. TALEB,
FACULTY MEMBER,
BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN
DUBAI (BUID)
Why is it important to have
enducation on sustainability?
Education for sustainability has
become an essential tool for
achieving sustainable development and has been adopted in a
number of countries throughout
the world.
What role can universities play?
They need to equip higher
education graduates, who
are likely to occupy
future management
and leadership
roles, with knowledge and skill
sets that help
them in making
informed-decisions.
Which universities
offer courses on
sustainable architecture?
I conducted a survey a few
months ago and it was shocking
to nd a lack of courses devoted
to sustainable architecture, with
the exception of the Masters
course on Sustainable Design
of Built Environment from BUiD.
However, other universities have
launched sustainability curricula, such as KAUST and King
Saud University in Saudi Arabia,
and the UAEs Masdar Institute
of Science and Technology,
United Arab Emirates University
and the University of Sharjah.

Foster designed the new Apple campus.

The competition
in Qatar is huge,
and that has driven
down some of the
actual commercial
attractiveness
of it.
Eamonn
Kerr, MD,
Sweett
Group

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

It has been an incredible


achievement to turn a small
desert city state
into a global
tourism brand.
We are going
to see Dubai
become more
mature.
Simon Crispe, Atkins
commercial
director

Cultural center - Nouma (New Caledonia - Pacific Ocean) Architect : Renzo Piano

CONSTRUCT DIFFERENTLY. IN WOOD.


E

uropean leader in glued laminated


timber and wood constructions, MATHIS

proposes innovative, economical and ecological


solutions for all your projects. MATHIS designs,
manufactures and installs performing systems
for innovative projects in wood all around the
world. MATHIS has based its reputation on high
performances and innovation.

Swimming pool - Paris.

Basel airport - Switzerland.

Soccer Arena - Laval, Canada.

Documentation
on request

MATHIS Middle East - PO Box 25775 - Duba - U.A.E Mobile : +971 50 673 50645 / +33 6 65 37 96 29 E-mail : a.dolleans@mathis.eu

FRONT | NOVEMBER

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT


1

1
ABU DHABI

2
QATAR

3
DUBAI

UAE Pavilion on Saadiyat


nears completion

Construction starts on
$1.65bn Doha Festival City

Nature-focused Al Barari
completes phase one villas

Abu Dhabis dune-like UAE Pavilion,


designed by Foster + Partners, will
be completed in time to host an art
event in mid November. The pavilion
has been relocated to Saadiyat island
after hosting the UAEs national
exhibition at the World Expo 2010 in
Shanghai. Reconstructed by TDIC
and commissioned by the National
Media Council, the structure will
now act as a cultural venue.

Construction work has started on the


QR6bn ($1.65bn) Doha Festival City
retail destination which is slated for
completion in the fourth quarter of
2014. IKEA, part of the Al-Futtaim
Group, will be developed under the
rst phase of construction and the
32,000m2 store is set for completion
in Q4 2012, with the remaining elements of Doha Festival City due for
delivery two years later.

Al Barari, a low-density development


in Dubai that embraces nature, has
announced the completion of its 189
phase one villas. Around 80% of Al
Bararis land is dedicated to open
green space, making it the regions
lowest density development. The
project contains 14 kilometres of
naturally ltered lakes, freshwater
streams, cascades and waterways and
six botanical themed gardens.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

TECHNICAL MIDDLE EAST | ADVERTISMENT FEATURE

Strong year for


Technal Middle East
Technal Middle East (TME) reports strong
performance this year, having achieved good
results and on targets for the nancial year in the
rst half of 2011.
The Bahrain-based company, which is the
regional office for Technal, a leading international
architectural aluminium systems supplier,
continues to build on the strength of the French
brand that was created more than 50 years ago.
Over the past year, TME has redoubled efforts
to achieve its sales targets and despite the
global credit crunch, has continued to invest in
reinforcing its organisation, its logistics facilities,
and its support teams in the region.
Despite the global economic downturn over

Technal is a leading supplier of architectural aluminium.

the past couple of years, TME is enjoying another


good year in 2011, says Hesham Kameshki,

certications for a number of its engineered

centre (R&D) is further enhancing this high-tech

marketing and business development manager

solutions, including a blast-proof aluminium

product with additional innovative features and

of TME. This is thanks to our constant efforts

faade and window applications from a specialist

versatile design concepts, according to Kameshki.

to provide the most suitable cost-effective

UK-based blast testing facility centre. One such

engineering solutions at competitive prices.

blast-proof application that was developed to

some 33 years ago as the rst international

TMEs efforts in the region are backed by

full security requirements has been supplied

architectural aluminium system to be introduced

the constant drive for innovation by its parent

and installed on a landmark institutional project

in the region. It has been active in the Gulf

company in France, which continues to develop

in Kuwait and will be followed by another such

since 1978 serving all GCC markets from the

products that anticipate future market needs and

project in Bahrain.

Bahrain headquarters, with regional offices in

trends, to meet various architectural aluminium

Also tested at and certied by one of the most

Technal brand entered the Gulf markets

Dubai (UAE) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), a strong

requirements in both residential and commercial

renowned test centres in the region is another

network of metal builders commonly known

buildings construction.

specialised development to its Gode MX system

as aluminium fabricators, dedicated technical

for a re-rated aluminium faade application

and sales teams and a logistics team with central

systems with cutting-edge designs for casement

designed to enhance safety in all commercial and

distribution warehouse located in Bahrain. From

windows and doors as well as a new concept

residential buildings. The system has already been

this central warehouse, TME delivers its products

for sliders, both with thermal insulation options.

supplied to the housing complex project for male

to all the GCC countries (described as local

These include Lumal sliders and patio-doors;

and female students for Qatar Foundation.

markets) and Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran,

Technal has developed a range of high-tech

Solal casement windows and entrance doors;

Another major success for the company was

Libya and Egypt (as export markets).

Notal, a versatile range of casement and

having its new-concept unitised faade system

suspended sliding shutters used for the external

supplied and installed in some landmarks across

capitalise on our achievements and sustain our

building envelope; and Sunal aluminium sun

the region, including the United Tower, which is

business growth.

shading systems.

currently the tallest tower in Jeddah.

We have a long-

These new concept products aim to

The United Tower is a striking project because

Kameshki concludes: We will continue to

term commitment

revolutionise the architectural aluminium

of its 100% glass elevations, where no aluminium

to our customers

segment. They offer global and ideal solutions

proles are externally visible. For the project,

and markets and

that are cost effective and ensure high

we have developed a custom-designed unitised

are condent that

performance, Kameshki says.

faade system with a unique glass replacement

our efforts will earn

feature, he says.

rich dividends in all

In addition, at the end of 2010 and early this


year, TME successfully tested and acquired

Technals brand research and development

markets.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

FRONT | NOVEMBER

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT


2

1
CHINA

2
CHINA

3
SOUTH KOREA

SOM to redevelop 2km


Nanjing waterfront

Beijings tallest building


breaks ground

Cinema boasts worlds


largest cantilevered roof

SOM has won a competition for a


large scale redevelopment of Nanjings Yangtze riverfront, a forgotten
two-kilometre stretch in the historic
Chinese city. The development, by
Beijing-based MCC Real Estate
Co. LTD, is located between a river
levee and the old city wall. Phase One
will revitalise the Dama Road and
Tianbaoli area and establish a new
framework of urban blocks.

A groundbreaking ceremony took


place for Beijings tallest building, the
510m China Zun developed by CITIC
Group. The 108-story tower will
dwarf the nearby China World Trade
Center Tower 3, a 330-meter-tall
building that is currently the tallest in
Beijing. Inspired by Zun, an ancient
Chinese wine vessel, the tower will
serve as both an office building and a
tourist destination.

A newly opened cinema complex in


Busan, South Korea, contains the
largest cantilevered roof in the world.
The roof of the building has a free
span of 85 metres and a surface of
60 x 120 metres. Designed by Coop
Himmelb(l)au and Wolf D. Prix, the
complex contains 60,000m2 of performance, event, food and administrative spaces and has a capacity of up
to 6,800 visitors.

10

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

The future of individual architecture


starts with SCHOTT today
SCHOTT is one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of high-quality architectural glass.
Our products provide protection against noise, heat and fire alike. Together
with our clients we develop individual solutions that match the demands
of tomorrows buildings on five continents and in between.
To find out more about our forward-looking innovations,
visit www.schott.com/architecture

e
ativ
cor
e
D

ss
g la

Fib
lig er op
hti
ng tic a
sol nd
L
uti
on ED
s

lass

eg

ti-r

An

tiv
flec

Fir

e-r

esi

sta

nt

gla

zin

Sol
a

UAE Sales Ofce:


SCHOTT Middle East FZE
PO Box 17480, Jebel Ali Free Zone,
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 (0)4887--2571
Fax: +971 (0)4887--2578
info.middleeast@schott.com
www.schott.com/middleeast

r ar
chi
te

ctu

re

FRONT | NOVEMBER

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT


4

4
MALAYSIA

5
UNITED KINGDOM

6
CHINA

Broadway Malyan delivers


Media Village plan

Southend pier development receives green light

German rm bags China


nancial centre

The concept master plan for GCD


Media Village in Medini, Malaysia,
has been delivered by Broadway
Malyan. The scheme will support the
new Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia
Studios, a US$130 million lm and
television production facility project
which is expected to create over
3,000 jobs. The architect recently
completed the concept masterplan for
the wider Medini project.

Planning permission has been granted for a striking cultural centre at the
end of the UKs historic Southend
Pier, the worlds longest pleasure pier
at 2,158m. The 364m2 centre was
designed by Scandinavian rm White
Arkitekter and UK-based Sprunt
and features a wave-shaped roof built
from triangular panels. The building
includes an artists studio and a caf
and dining area.

German architecture rm Gerkan,


Marg and Partners (gmp) has been
commissioned to design a ten-tower
complex for a nancial centre in Nanjing, China. Located on a 80,000m2
site, the towers have an above ground
oor space of 500,000m2. The
masses are arranged in an outer ring
of seven 120 to 200 metre high towers
and an inner ring of three 130 to 150
metre high buildings.

12

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | NOVEMBER

14

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

NOVEMBER | FRONT

THE BIG PICTURE

Grosvenor House, Dubai


This night shot in Dubai Marina,
taken by ITP staff photographer
Lester Ali, captures the Grosvenor
House towers at their very best. The
twin tower complex contains a hotel,
which was nished in 2005, and a
newly-completed residential building that opened earlier this year. Ali
remarked that architectural photographers should focus on the best or
most interesting feature of a building.
In the case of Grosvenor House, the
most intriguing facet is most certainly
the striking blue lights that sandwich
each tower.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

15

NEWS ANALYSIS | ARCHITECTURE CONGRESS

GEARED TO
THE GULF
ANALYSIS

Speakers at World Architecture Congress call for site-specic design

16

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

ARCHITECTURE CONGRESS | NEWS ANALYSIS

his years Cityscape


Global in Dubai was notable for a markedly lower
attendance than previous
editions, and this was reected in the
conference hall. However, the twoday forum still managed to attract a
small number of vociferous professionals that were keen to keep their
ngers on the pulse.
One of the events highlights was the
afternoon of the 28th September,
which featured presentations and
discussions led by experts on Dubai
and Qatar.
The rst speaker was Rashad
Bukhash, director of Architectural
Heritage Department, Dubai Municipality, who talked about the emirates
architecture in a presentation entitled
Dubai: Evaluating the citys current
architectural situation.
Bukhash commented: I think
Dubai went a little bit too fast and
hundreds of towers went up on Sheikh
Zayed Road and in the Marina. From
2004 to 2008 I was director of the
Projects Department and I was going
crazy. At one point I remember we
had more than 300 projects, just for
the Municipality.
Some good buildings emerged
between 2000 and 2008, like the
Emirates Towers, but we also got a lot
of glass towers that dont have much
relation to the climate or the identity
of the area.
Bukhash added that the situation
has improved in the wake of the nancial crisis. The economic problems
in 2008 slowed the process down and
I think that was a good thing for the
architecture of the whole Gulf.
He continued: Architects need
several months to study and analyse

the architecture rather than coming


up with the design in a week. Now architects can sit down, think about the
project and come up with something
suitable to the place.
According to Bukhash, the Municipality seeks buildings that preserves
the identity of Dubai and is in harmony with the climate of the region.
Bukhash believes that the Al Maha
Desert Resort and the Madinat

Jumeirah are quality contemporary


interpretations of the vernacular, but
added that the latter has too many
wind towers.
Following Bukhashs presentation,
Tim Makower, partner for architecture rm Allies and Morrison, gave a
talk on Qatar: Escalating expansion
and beyond 2022. Makowers rm
is behind the upcoming US$5.5bn
Musheireb scheme. He stated:

Allies & Morrison


is working on the
35 ha Musheireb
project in Qatar
(bottom right).

Some good buildings emerged between 2000 and 2008, like the
Emirates Towers, but we also got a lot of glass towers that dont
have much relation to the climate or the identity of the area.
Rashad Bukhash, director of Architectural Heritage Department, Dubai Municipality

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

17

NEWS ANALYSIS | ARCHITECTURE


BUILDING TALL CONGRESS

Thyssenkrupp AG headquarters, Essen

Many of Dubais
towers are not
tailored to the
regional climate.

=DEHHO+DOO6WDQG4

225

21 24 November 2011

Great Architecture,
3HUIHFW)LUH3URWHFWLRQ
Architectural masterpieces deserve
the best fire protection with fire and
smoke-tight doors made by Hrmann.
Available in steel and aluminium,
T30/60/90 with a consistent design with
matching doors. Flush-fitting STS steel
doors are also ideal for architectural
solutions of the highest quality.
Flush-fitting
STS steel doors

Doors for Home and Industry

For more information, please contact:

Hrmann Middle East

3KRQH)D[ZZZKRUPDQQDH

18

SKYSCRAPERS IN
DUBAI (EMPORIS)

Qatar needs a sense of belonging. We


are speeding up history. It is a natural
process that happened in the 19th century.
But it is very dangerous if there is no acknowledgment of human character.
Makower added: Qatar needs to create the appropriate infrastructure for 2022. I think that the event is a great catalyst and
motivator, but its not what its all about.
Honestly I hope it isnt escalating expansion - I hope there is a
very measured expansion within the available resources.
According to Makower, the challenges include reducing pollution and the use of carbon fuels and water while acknowledging the
distinct facets of the country.
He continued: If our work is not rooted [in the locale] then it may
not stand the test of time, whether thats pre or post 2022.
Makower praised the ambition of the countrys upcoming metro
system. There is an extraordinary metro project underway in Qatar
which is most impressive. The Dubai Metro is a splendid achievement but the ambition of the Qatar system is at a wider level - it
involves linking the causeway to Bahrain.
The presentations by Makower and Bukhash were closed by conference chairman Dr John Alexander Smith, Professor of Architecture and Interior Design, American University in Dubai.
Which proposals are uniquely belonging to Qatar or Dubai? This
is a serious question. If you cannot nd the solution and persuade
your clients then youre actually failing, concluded Smith.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

NIEMANN Decorative Furniture Panels - Mirror Gloss Finishes - Real Leather Covered MDF Boards
Special Decors and Woodgrains. Exclusively at 4K Building Materials . Ask for your free samples

Dubai Office
Business Village B
Office 506, Port Saeed
Deira, Dubai, U.A.E.
P.O. Box 113085
Tel: +971 55 6578373

Doha Office
Gate 185, Street 3
Industrial Area
Doha, Qatar
P.O. Box 5187
Tel: +974 44604104

COMMENT | EDITORS LETTER

CULTURE CLUB
EDITORS LETTER

Its not all doom and gloom for UAE museums

GOT A
COMMENT?
If you have any
comments to
make on this
months issue,
please e-mail
oliver.
ephgrave
@itp.com

or me, the recent news


about the delays to the
museums on Saadiyat island are disappointing to
say the least. Like many expats, one
of the things I miss about my home
country is the plethora of cultural institutions, and I am eagerly awaiting
the likes of Frank Gehrys Guggenheim and Jean Nouvels Louvre.
Although not cancelled, the agship projects will be delayed beyond
their 2013-14 completion dates,
according to a statement from the
developer Tourism Development and
Investment Company (TDIC).
The developer did not give a new
date for completion, but said this
necessary review will only have a

moderate impact on the delivery


time line of the museums.
More positively, the UAE has two
landmark cultural projects that are
much closer to delivery.
The rst is Foster + Partners
UAE Pavilion, which is also located
on Saadiyat island. The glowing
sand dune-like building featured at
the 2010 Shanghai Expo has been
reconstructed in time to host this
months Abu Dhabi Art show.
Reconstructed under the instruction of TDIC, the building is the
developers rst project to achieve a
Two Pearl Rating for Estidama.
The second cultural project is
the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning
Centre in Al Ain, a scheme that I

The Desert
Learning Centre
in Al Ain is due
for completion
in 2012.

I have no doubt that the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning


centre will be one of the Emirates architectural treasures
when it opens next year.

20

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

visited as part of this months cover


story. While I was expecting a modest pavilion in the sand, I was blown
away by the scale of the project and
its monumental concrete form.
Designed by Austrian rm
CAP, the building twists out of the
surrounding desert like a giant
mushroom, with a spiraling circulation route thats not unlike Frank
Lloyd Wrights classic Guggenheim
museum in New York.
Not only is it a stunning piece of
architectural sculpture, it is a lesson
in sustainability. The complex is one
of the pilot projects for Estidama and
is the only building in the emirate
to achieve a Five Pearl rating in the
design stage.
This rating was attained through
its careful orientation, water saving
techniques, and use of solar heating
and photovoltaics.
I have no doubt that the building
will be one of the Emirates architectural treasures when it opens next
year, and will be a major attraction
for the sleepy town of Al Ain.
However, the success of the
project as a cultural venue will rely
on the quality of its contents. As a
tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, the
project is a cross between a museum
and a science centre and will contain
exhibits on the UAEs wildlife and
cultural life.
Yet the mere fact that a stunning
building is taking shape in the desert
means that its not all doom and
gloom for museums and cultural
projects in the UAE.

*HEHULW0RQROLWK

3LHFHRI
DUW

*HEHULW0RQROLWKFRPELQHVSURYHQTXDOLW\ZLWKSXUHGHVLJQ7KHFLVWHUQLVFOHYHUO\FRQFHDOHGEHKLQGJODVV
FUHDWLQJDVPRRWKVWUHDPOLQHGDQGDWWUDFWLYHRYHUDOOORRN7KHLQQRYDWLYH*HEHULW0RQROLWKFDQEHXVHG
LQFRPELQDWLRQZLWKDOOVWDQGDUG:&FHUDPLFXQLWV1RWRQO\GRHVLWVWDQGRXWZLWKLWVSXULVWDHVWKHWLFDQGKLJK
IXQFWLRQDOLW\EXWLWVGHVLJQKDVDOVRZRQQXPHURXVDZDUGVDOORYHUWKHZRUOG)LQGRXWPRUHDERXW*HEHULW
0RQROLWKDW ZZZJHEHULWDH

COMMENT | HISHAM YOUSSEF

HELPING
HAND
OPINION

Clients need to trust and support architects

Hisham Youssef
AIA, is project
director at
Gensler and a
founding board
member of
the American
Institute of
Architects Middle
East Chapter.

rchitects are the ring


masters of the design
arena. They are professionally trained to make
a clients vision a reality.
They listen, they lead, they create,
coordinate and ultimately ensure a
dream is realised. And eventually, a
projects success is evaluated based
on the architects ability to deliver
a well executed project that reects
the clients primary vision.
An architects ability to execute,
however, is dependent on several factors. We all know that architects are
expected to deliver on time and on
budget, so I will not dwell on these
obvious basics.
However, there are other factors
that are often overlooked, or not
given sufficient importance, which
are equally crucial for a successful
project execution.
The rst of these is a clear client
brief. Often a client is not clear on
what they want and hence the architect does not have a clear direction
for its work. This leads to misunderstandings, dissatisfaction and in
some circumstances, legal action.
Another crucial factor is the tight
coordination of consultant deliverables. Coordination is about bringing
together the different trades and

Great buildings, such as SOMs Rolex


Tower, are driven by savvy clients.

pieces of the project. This can fail


with a change in project direction
by the client at advanced stages, or
unreasonably tight deadlines.
The less sophisticated the market,
the more this is likely to happen. Its
worth noting that the Middle East
region is slowly maturing in this regard, by comparison to other emerging and rapidly developing regions,
most notably China and India.

We all know that the best projects have


strong clients who understand the role of
an architect and provide support.

22

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

Thirdly, Id like to highlight the


need for architect control. Where
work is being executed away from
the design architects base of practice, an associate design team is often
brought on board.
This team may not share the same
understanding or vision of the design
architect, which may often lead to
compromises in the realisation of
the design. However, an educated
client, who believes in the mission
of the design architect, can set the
project direction by ensuring that the
architect remains the leader of the
project execution.
Last but not least is the manner
of project execution. Contractors,
driven primarily by cost, may not
have the best interest of the project
at heart.
A smart client who heeds his
architects advice would go a long
way to stay the course of the design
and vision of the project. With larger
and more complex projects being
executed, this is often not such an
easy and clear cut task.
So where do we go from here?
Theres no simple answer. As the
leaders and professional advisers, we
must remain true to our oath and the
mission we set out on.
We all know that the best projects
have strong clients who understand
the role of an architect, and provide
the necessary support and leadership
to ensure the successful realisation
of their vision. This is not only the
case in the Middle East; this is universal throught the world.

Dubai Airport, UAE

Engineer of your creative vision


Armstrongs Atelier team of multi-talented, versatile experts experienced in pioneering
ceiling and wall solutions is committed to providing intelligent, efcient, cost-effective
tailored solutions to meet revolutionary, state-of-the art interior project designs.
Discover the newly-launched Armstrong Atelier team, as well as a dynamic new Atelier
website.
www.armstrong-atelier.eu

To decode this ashcode,


you need to download
MOBILETAG application
on your smartphone app store.

Founders Federal Credit Union, US

COVER STORY | DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

WALK ON THE

e
d
i
s
d
l
wi

The twisting form of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning


Centre has started to take shape in the Al Ain Wildlife Park &
Resort. Oliver Ephgrave visits the site

24

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

DESERT LEARNING CENTRE | COVER STORY

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

25

COVER STORY | DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

urrently best known for


its abundance of roundabouts, the sleepy UAE
town of Al Ain will soon
be synonymous with a stunning piece
of sustainable architecture. As well
as being the rst building to achieve a
ve pearl rating at the design phase of
Estidama, the monumental structure
certainly exudes the elusive wow factor, even as a construction site.
Located in the middle of the vast Al
Ain Wildlife Park & Resort (AWPR),
the building seems to grow out of the
ground like a giant mushroom. This
effect will be accentuated further
once the grey concrete is fully concealed by the sand-coloured cladding,
which is made up of diamond-shaped
marble panels. The structure in now
complete, although delivery is not
expected until August 2012.
A cross between a museum and a
science centre, the scheme is a tribute
to the late Sheikh Zayed and will
contain interactive displays about the
UAEs wildlife and culture. While
some the digital renderings suggest a
modest pavilion in the sand, the project is truly grand in scale with a huge
29.4m cantilever over the entrance
and a vast centrepiece volume.
Concept and detailed design was
provided by Austrian rm Chalabi
Architect & Partners. The architects
circulation strategy features
a shallow ramp spiralling
around a central space
akin to Frank Lloyd
Wrights GuggenENERGY GENERATED
heim in New York.
BY THE PVS
The route wont
PER YEAR
feel like a slope - its a
continuous journey full
of exhibits. The journey
culminated in a great view of the
upcoming safari park and the Jebel
Hafeet mountain, adds Bassam Al
Otaibi, director project management
at AWPR.
The visitor route also spirals
down around a funnel-like inverted
courtyard space which will be lled

236MWH
The structure
of the Sheikh
Zayed Desert
Centre is now
complete.

26

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

DESERT LEARNING CENTRE | COVER STORY

with water to evoke the tradition falaj


irrigation. This system is used extensively in Al Ain. The water will also
reect off the walls, says Al Otaibi.
Structurally, the cantilever proved
to be a one of the projects biggest
challenges, according to Al Otaibi.
Its a triangular cantilever - we call it
a mushroom type. It takes the weight
of three storeys above, and this was a
challenge, he says.
Despite its heavyweight construction, the building is lled
with light thanks to large openings
and diamond-shaped windows. Al
Obtaibi adds: One of the Estidama
requirements is lots of windows to
maximise on daylight. They also give
the building its architectural shape.
We will use double glazing to reduce
heat loss.
Acquiring ve pearls with Estidama is no mean feat. The centre is
one of the pilot projects for Estidama

and its one of the most sustainable


projects in the whole country, says
Humaid Al-Hammadi, associate
planner for the Abu Dhabi Urban
Planning Council (UPC), who was
also present on the site tour.
Accordingly the building will
contain a wealth of energy saving

measures to cut consumption by


40%. The roof is covered in photovoltaics which will generate 236MWh
a year and shave 17% off the energy
usage. A 1100m2 solar farm generates
hot water for a Korean-built absorption chiller - a rst for the UAE - that
requires no additional power.

Photovoltaics
are mounted on
the roof of the
centre.

Woven Wire Fabric


Projects include multi-story wire mesh draperies for hotels, auditoriums, and casinos; curved dividers for visual merchandising;
window treatments for private homes; safety & blast mitigation screening; sculptural forms for urban gardens;
decorative interior/exterior wall coverings; solar shading for buildings and parking garages;
aviary screening for animal habitats, and appealing see-through barriers for commercial security.
Whatever the application, let us help you realize your creative vision.

e-mail draperysales@cascadecoil.com I USA T+ 1.971.224.2188 I web www.cascadecoil.com

www.designmena.com | 06.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

27

COVER STORY | DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

The design,
by CAP, is
notable for its
diamond-shaped
openings.

1,100M2

and local materials


TOTAL AREA OF THE
include vacuum
were
used wherever
SOLAR FARM
toilets - as used in
possible, such as marble
aeroplanes - as well as
from Oman. Sea transporhigh efficiency applitation is used for all non-UAE
ances. Rainwater is collected in
materials. A sophisticated waste
underground tanks while grey water
management system requires that all
recycling will save 12m3 per day.
waste is segregated.
Trees and plants are irrigated using
The buildings impressive list
treated seawater.
of features includes a 200-seat
Materials were chosen in line with
auditorium, an educational library,
Estidama, such as renewable wood,
and a cafeteria with an open terrace
overlooking the safari park. From
this view you cant see any signs of the
centre is one of the pilot projects for Estidama and its the city. It is surrounded by the local
of the most sustainable projects in the whole country ghaf trees - we are manually watering
them so they appear as green and lush
Humaid Al-Hammadi, associate planner Abu Dhabi UPC as possible. The roof steps down to
an area that can be used for special
Al Obtaibi explains that LED lights
are used for their energy efficiency
while all lights are controlled by a
BMS system. Other measures include
an earth heat exchanger that reduces
the ground air temperature by 10 degrees and cold water cooling coils that
are embedded in the concrete slabs.
Water savings are also a crucial
consideration for Estidama and
several techniques are utilised. These

The
one

28

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

FOAMGLAS Insulation

Tapered roof

(for all at roofs and terraces)

Just a few yards from the national soccer stadium, the Arzanah Sports Medical Center is prominently
located within a new mixed-use community in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The project set out to design
a sustainable building which responded to this very public site while balancing the need for a
calming, healing environment and a facility organized to provide an integrated multi-disciplinary
healthcare facility to serve the community and region. The new LEED Gold designed, 78-bed medical
centre will form part of the US$6 billion Arzanah development near Zayed Stadium on Abu Dhabi
Island. As thermal insulation the consultant came to the decision to use FOAMGLAS cellular glass
insulation for the roof and some wall application. FOAMGLAS is produced by Pittsburgh Corning
and is free of any harmful blowing agent. Its well known for its extreme durability and highest
resistance to any kind of moisture. Due to the 66 % recycling content and use of only renewable
energy in its production FOAMGLAS gets the highest credits in all environmental ratings and is
supported with LEED and Estidama credits. The high compressive strength without creeping and
deforming makes it the perfect solution especially in roof areas with garden and terraces.

7
4
3

Arzanah Medical Complex, Abu Dhabi

Client Mubadala Development Company


Consultant HDP Overseas Limited, HDR
Location Abu Dhabi, UAE
Under construction nishing December 2011

Build-up
1 Concrete roof deck
2 Primer coat
3 FOAMGLAS TAPERED slabs
(160 ~ 240 mm), laid in hot
bitumen

4 Two layers of bituminous


waterproong membranes
5 Separating / protective layer
6 Gravel
7 Paving

Highest durability and ecology provides best sustainablilty.


Web: www.foamglas.ae Email: info@foamglas.ae Dubai ofce Tel: +9714 434 7140 Doha ofce Tel: +974 465 5360

FEATURE | DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

One of the Estidama


requirements is lots of
windows to maximise
on daylight. They also
give the building its
architectural shape.
Bassam Al Otaibi, director
project management at
AWPR.

events. All in all, Im convinced that


this project will be one of the UAEs
landmark buildings when completed, added Al Obtaibi.
UPCs Humaid Al-Hammadi
agrees: Many people are waiting
for this project to be nished. Its the
subject of national pride. The UPC
Estidama team is very proud of the
building and we always refer to it in
our presentations. Its a crucial part
of the 2030 plan to make Abu Dhabi a
sustainable city.
Al-Hammadi adds that the UPC
Estidama team has
been intimately
involved with the
design soon after
the pilot programme
was initiated. He
NUMBER OF SEATS IN
continues: We were
THE CENTRES
regularly consulted
AUDITORIUM
and held workshop sessions with key members
of the design team to ensure
a seamless design rating application and assessment process. The
involvement of the Estidama team
from the conceptual development review process proved to be invaluable
in agreeing sustainable pathways.
By achieving the highest Pearl
Rating, Al-Hammadi believes that

200

The lower levels


will contain
pools of water
(right).

30

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 06.11 | www.designmena.com

FEATURE | DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre will be the catalyst


for all upcoming sustainabilitydriven projects.
It will prove incredibly relevant to our region given that the
Estidama Pearl Rating System
is a programme tailor-made to
tackle the needs of the region
from the environmental, economic, cultural and social
perspectives, he concludes.

BUILDING CREDITS
Client

Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort

Architect

Chalabi Architect & Partners

Main contractor

ED Zublin AG

MEP works

IC Consulenten

Architectural Energy
Corporation (AEC)

Commissioning and Estidama review


services

AldrichPears Associates

Concept, detailed design and construction


administration (interpretive elements)

A terrace
(below) boasts
a sweeping view
of Jebel Hafeet.

32

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

INTERVIEW | MURAT TABANLIOGLU

34

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

MURAT TABANLIOGLU | INTERVIEW

DESIGN
THE INTERVIEW

With new projects in Libya, Kazakhstan and Equatorial Guinea, Tabanlioglu is a


Middle East firm that likes to work outside of its comfort zone

he portfolio of Tabanlioglu is perhaps atypical


for a Middle East rm.
Instead of the usual
splattering of schemes in the oil rich
Gulf states, the projects are primarily
located in the rms native country
of Turkey and a handful of unusual and perhaps daunting - destinations
such as Tripoli, Astana and Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea.
Despite the lack of built projects in
the Gulf, the rm has not been short
of attention due to a very successful
year in the regional awards. In 2010,
Tabanlioglu won Architect of the Year
at the Middle East Architect Awards,
while its Tripoli Congress Centre was
lauded at the Cityscape Awards.
At this years Cityscape Awards in
September, the rm was shortlisted
for the Asmacati Shopping & Meeting
Point in Izmir, Turkey and the Sipopo
Congress Center in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Middle East Architect caught up
with Murat Tabanlioglu the day after

the awards were announced, and


it seemed that the co-founder and
partner was disappointed not to have
picked up a prize. He started by passionately describing the merits of the
Izmir project.
Its an open air retail scheme thats
not in a typical shopping box. It has
the same shops as you nd in many
places, but the environment is different. The roof protects against the sun
and rain, but it allows in breezes and
you can see the sea and the mountains. This is a project for the site - it
merges the inside with the outside.
The second project that was up
for a Cityscape award was a convention centre for the African country
of Equatorial Guinea. Located in the
capital city of Malabo, the conference
centre was completed in time for the
African Union Summit in June 2011
a meeting of 53 leaders from across
the continent.
The design features a glass box
clad with a tactile aluminium shading system that is inspired by the

surrounding woodland. Tabanlioglu


comments that constructing in Equatorial Guinea was not easy. We had
to bring all the necessary materials
from Turkey by ship or plane. It was
a different experience and we had to
work closely with the contractors.
According to Tabanlioglu, the
challenges were compounded by the
clients short timeframe of seven
months in order to host the summit. He continues: The president of
Equatorial Guinea liked our Tripoli
Congress Centre and wanted something similar. We decided to make it
more African. Its very important to
relate a building to the site.
The rms Tripoli project has so
far remained unscathed during the
recent turmoil in Libya. Perhaps
surprisingly, Tabanlioglu observed
the emergence of a structured planning system under Gaddis regime.
When we built the project in Tripoli
I saw a very organised system that
wasnt there many years ago. Libya
had very good planning offices that

When we built the project in Tripoli I saw a very organised


system that wasnt there many years ago. Libya had very
good planning offices that have similarities to Europe.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

35

INTERVIEW | MURAT TABANLIOGLU

have similarities to Europe. I hope


they stay with the same system.
Another unusual market that Tabanlioglu has tapped into is Kazakhstan. In conjunction with Foster +
Partners, the rm worked on the 77m
high pyramid, the Palace of Peace
and Reconciliation in Astana. More
recently, in June 2011, the practice
completed the Astana Arena.
Tabanlioglu comments: The client
requested a football stadium. However, Kazakhstan does not have many
big football games so we suggested
to make the stadium into a multipurpose arena that can be used for other
functions such as large gatherings,
concerts and other sporting events.
Its not a typical football stadium. We
added a roof because the citys climate
is extreme - it can be plus 40 in the
summer and minus 40 in winter. In
one night it can change 15 degrees.
In addition to those projects
penned by the Turkish rm, Astana contains many other grandiose
schemes such as BIGs National Library of Astana and the deconstructivist Kazakhstan Central Concert
Hall. Tabanlioglu compares the citys
penchant for showcase projects to
Dubai, and adds: Astana is a very
modern city, but like Dubai, its not a
typical city. The population of Astana
is around one million. Its the capital,
but its not on the sea. If you dont
have business, theres no reason to be
in Astana.
When it comes to Dubai itself, the
company is working on the concept
for a new project, although Tabanlioglu is unable to disclose the details.
He refers back to North Africa:
Egypt and Libya are very different
markets to Dubai and Qatar. The Gulf
has more showcase projects.

The countries in North Africa


have had their problems but they are
now more democratic. This will be
reected in the architecture - there
will be more projects for the people.
Tabanlioglu also believes that his
home country is buoyant and adds:
Turkey is a good market - it is plays
the role of a bridge between Europe
and Asia. Istanbul and other cities
remain very stable.
He pointed out that the country is
in the running for the 2020 Olympics.
It could be good for the city, he says.
Barcelona is an example of how city
can change for the better. The planning didnt stop after the Olympics.
Yet he also notes the danger of
white elephant buildings. Often the

stadia and facilities are used for a few


weeks and then left empty as they do
not think about the future. The same
is in London - they are making this
huge Olympics Village.
Regarding Qatars hosting of the
2022 World Cup, he remarks: Every
architect and construction rm wants
to be in Qatar right now. Qatar has
many stadium plans for the World
Cup, but these projects are for the
moment, not for the future.
Cairo has 15 million people and
there is more of a need for better
buildings. In Qatar you can build a
very nice, shiny building but what will
happen afterwards? I think it is more
important to build in the countries
that need real architecture.

For the African project we had to bring all the materials


from Turkey by ship or plane. It was a different experience
and we had to work closely with the contractors.

36

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

Murat
Tabanlioglu is
co-founder and
partner of the
Turkish rm.

Ian Lawson

MURAT TABANLIOGLU | INTERVIEW

PORTFOLIO:
Murat Tabanilioglu

TRIPOLI CONGRESS CENTER


Tripoli, Libya (completed)
Surrounded by woodland, the rectangular two-storey block
is nested in a metal envelope that opens up to the external
landscape with a wide portico that denes the main entrance.
ASTANA ARENA
Astana, Kazakhstan (completed)
Intended to be a symbol of the new capital of Kazakhstan, the
Astana Arenas retractable roof can be closed in the harsh
winter to protect the players and spectators.

www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

37

INTERVIEW | MURAT TABANLIOGLU

SIPOPO CONGRESS CENTER

ASMAATI SHOPPING AND MEETING POINT

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (completed)

Izmir, Turkey (completed)

Situated next to the ocean and surrounded by trees, the

Located in the largest city of the Aegean Coast of Turkey, the

Sipopo Congress Center is nested in a semi-transparent metal

semi-open shopping facility is designed to t the al fresco

envelope which protects from the interiors from the harsh rays

lifestyle of Izmir. The roof features a semi-covered space

yet allows in the optimum amount of daylight.

created by a metal mesh that is inspired by leaves and ivy.

38

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11 .11 | www.designmena.com

FEATURE | BIM

MODEL OF PROGRESS
MEA discovers the ever-expanding possibilities of Building Information Modelling

40

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

BIM | FEATURE

n the age of pods, pads and


tweets, its hardly surprising
that the technology boom has
spread to the world of architecture. The addition of a Building Information Modelling (BIM) category
to this years Middle East Architect
Awards is indicative of the impact
of Revit by Autodesk, Graphisofts
ArchiCAD and other BIM software.
The award went to NAGA Architects
and Engineers, whose Dubai office
fully embraced BIM in 2008.
NAGA was lauded for its work
on the Sawari Residences project, a

large-scale housing scheme on the


shores of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia,
close to Bahrain. The judges noted
that the project demonstrated a fully
integrated use of BIM throughout all
design phases and disciplines.
Dr Ahmed Elkady, associate director, adds: Weve been using software
for a long time but three years ago we
decided to switch to Revit. There are
so many advantages.
Diyane Koseoglu, Middle East
sales manager for specialist consultant BIMES, elaborates on the
fundamental benets of the software.
The manufacturing industry has a
waste factor of 26% while the ratio in
the construction industry is 57%, according to McGraw Hill. BIM allows

users to follow the automotive industry by creating a prototype on your


computer before doing it for real on
the site - you can see all the problematic areas in advance and solve them
earlier, before they incur a cost.
She added that there is a common
misconception on the role of BIM.
Most people think that you just
use BIM to understand your design
better and make 3D drawings for presentations, but this is not true. Your
model should be smart and contain
construction information. Previously,
architects used to create 3D models
for presentation purposes. With BIM,
you can dene the materials you are
using, such as brick and glass, as well
as the U-values for energy analysis
and project management information
such as completion dates. All of this
information can be extracted from
the model.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

41

FEATURE | BIM

BIM was used


throughout all
design stages of
NAGAs Sawari
Residences,
KSA.

25%

RATIO OF MIDDLE
EAST INDUSTRY
THAT USES BIM

Once you have


created the model, all
of the drawings will be
generated automatically and
you can create sections and elevations. It really minimises the amount
of manual drafting work. And if you
make a design change, it will be updated on all the documentation.
Koseoglu states that BIM aids
the coordination between different
disciplines, such as architecture,
structures and MEP. In many
companies, the different departments
have their own sets of drawings for
the same project, and its quite likely
that they dont match. In BIM you
can have all the parts on the same
model, with different lters to view
the different disciplines. You can ask
the software to detect collisions - if
a pipe is going through a structural
wall then it will notify you. Its very
easy for a human eye to miss details,
and a typical project may have 3,000
clashes. If you discover these clashes

on site then you will suffer extra costs


and project delays.
She adds that the technology is
constantly being improved, with
many recent innovations. Now there
is a shell tool to create freeform
designs - it can be used for modelling
a building in which its difficult to
dene what is a wall, a slab or a roof.
Another recent improvement is a
system called a BIM server, which
helps to counter the issue of large
les sizes. Koseoglu continues: With
the old technology , the synchronisa-

We see a lot of people that have BIM tools but they are not
actually using them extensively and extracting information.
BIM goes a lot further than just doing a 3D building.
Daniel Pinheiro, general manager BIMES ME

42

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

tion of the les involved carrying the


whole project from one computer
to the main server, then back to the
computer. The problem with BIM
is that the le sizes are huge. When
consultants are busy then they will
not synchronise every day - it will
be a weekly process. This means the
design changes were not be seen by
the other team members.
Graphisoft recently developed
Delta Server to overcome this problem. This server is intelligent enough
to see a project by element, not as a
le. When you make a change - for
instance you add new chairs - it only
carries the relevant information, so
it reduces the data transfer size from
100MB to 10-20KB. The whole process has become much faster.
Koseoglu also points out the recent
development of a free app which al-

FEATURE | BIM

lows users to import a simplied BIM


model onto an iPad or iPhone. There
was a huge demand for such a device
and everybody is blown away. Now
people are going round the site checking everything with their phones.
According to a 2010 Middle East
BIM Report, by buildingSMART, the
percentage of construction professionals using BIM was found to be
49% in the USA, 36% in Western
Europe and 25% in the Middle East.
Yet Daniel Pinheiro, general manager
BIMES ME, believes that 10% is a
more realistic gure for the region.
He adds that even fewer are properly
utilising the 3D software.
We see a lot of people that
have BIM tools, such as Revit and
ArchiCAD, but they are not actually
using them extensively and extracting
information. They might use them for
the conceptual design and then carry
on with the traditional 2D process.
BIM goes a lot further than just doing
a 3D building, he comments.
The UAE is the most advanced
GCC nation in terms of BIM awareness, according to Koseoglu. In the
UAE, there arent many people that

NAGA Architects
made the switch
to BIM in 2008.

The switch to BIM is


very hard - companies
have to be committed.
Most engineers and
architects are not
trained in BIM and it
is a challenge to train
everyone.
Dr Ahmed Elkady, associate
director, NAGA Architects
and Engineers

44

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

BIM | FEATURE

Many companies want to


avoid this - they dont
know if the engineer
will continue working
with them for the
PERCENTAGE OF USA
next ve years. They
INDUSTRY THAT
cant feel the return in
USES BIM
investment.
NAGAs Elkady concedes
that the migration is not plain sailing. The switch to BIM is very hard
- companies have to be committed.
Most engineers and architects are not
trained in BIM and it is a challenge
to train everyone. The norm is AutoCAD - people dont want to change.
Yet he insists that the move was the
a great decision to go for BIM. It was
correct decision and adds: We use
difficult, due to the lack of expertise,
BIM throughout the whole design
but it was an investment. Our manprocess. We are trying to push it to
agement felt that the future is BIM
the limit and were discovering new
and I believe thats the case. We had
things all the time.
to put the obstacles aside. We now
Majid Hamid Saleh, senior strucconsider ourselves to be a pioneer of
tural engineer, NAGA, agrees: It was
BIM in this region.

49%

THE ASI GROUP...

Advantages
of BIM include
improved
coordination
between
disciplines.

BIM
Your Single Source Solution
^

are unaware of BIM, but when you


go to places like Kuwait, Qatar and
Oman its still a secret, she says.
When asked about the reason for
the slow uptake of BIM in the region,
Pinheiro replies: In the Middle East,
the lack of BIM skills is an issue, as
is the large scale of the projects. The
software is not really conducive to
big project les and people become
frustrated with the tools.
Koseoglu agrees: In this region,
the main issue is the availability of
skilled users. For instance, if youre
searching for an engineer with BIM
knowledge then you wont receive
many CVs, and you will struggle to
nd any experts.
A big obstacle for Gulf companies
is the investment in BIM training.
Koseoglu explains: Many individuals come from regions where BIM is
not common. Companies that want to
implement BIM have to train people.

Partitions

Accessories

Lockers

Stainless steel, solid plastic, powder


coated steel, phenolic, color-thru
phenolic and plastic laminate partitions.

Superior design and the most extensive


range of products in the industry
hallmarks of our washroom accessories.

The best-engineered lockers and


shelving in the industry.

ADVERT
Your single source solution for Washroom
Accessories, Toilet Partitions, Lockers and
other storage products worldwide.

T: +971 4 330 7771


F: +971 4 330 7177

asigroup.us

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

45

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE | PHILIPS

Case study
Aramex, Dubai
Location
Philips Lighting

Aramex, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai


Customized TMX204 with occupancy sensor,
Smartform TBS460 with LuxSense, Fugato Compact with PLR lamp

Background

solutions for thisproject, entitled A LEED Gold

Aramex is a leading global provider of

Certied. The challenge was to provide a simple

comprehensive logistics and transport

yet smart lighting solution that would meet

solutions, with over 29 years of experience

the application requirements and consume

delivering customized solution across more

40% less energy than that stipulated by the

than 54 countries and 307 locations. Apart

ASHRAE standards. The project also required

from investing in education and youth

luminaire-based stand-alone lighting controls for

empowerment, entrepreneurship, community

occupancy detection in the warehouse area and

develop ment, sports and emergency

daylight optimization in the offices.

relief, Aramex continuously focuses on the


environment. Therefore Aramex has adopted

The solution

sustainable business practices as an integral

The key to the solution lay in an intelligent

part of its business model. Because logistics

selection and customization of standard

and transportation has a huge environmental

luminaires, which would not only match the

impact, the company is com mitted to

projects stringent energy requirements but

decreasing its carbon footprint, optimizing

also satisfy the application parameters. For the

power consumption, and raising awareness

lighting controls Philips customized the standard

among other activities. LEED certication has

TMX204 luminaire with an occupancy sensor

played an important role in helping them to

in the warehouse area to provide the ideal

achieve this, especially in warehouses. Aramex

scenario: light when and where it is needed. The

understands the importance of warehousing

Smartform TBS460 luminaires in

within the wider supply chain, and the

the office spaces were factory tted with

environmental footprint of those facilities. So

Luxsense controllers, which save energy

the company has invested in cutting-edge green

by automatically regulating the luminaire in

technology to ensure that customers storage

accordance with the level of daylight available.

requirements and inventory management needs


are met while at the same time ensuring that its

Benefits

carbon footprint is minimized.

Hussein Wehbe, Country Manager for Dubai &


Northern Emirates of Aramex, is delighted with

The challenge

this energy-efficient lighting solution supplied

Driven by the desire to achieve the above

by Philips, which included smart integration of

objectives, Aramex wanted to make its key

daylight and occupancy control. Sustainable

Dubai Logistics City facility more energy

business practices form an integral part of

efficient in order to meet the LEED criteria.

Aramexs business model and daily operations.

Lighting therefore became a key element in

With its pedigree in developing energy-efficient

the process. As a company renowned for its

products, Philips was the natural choice to

energy-efficient solutions, Philips emerged

supply the lighting solution for our key Dubai

as the ideal partner to provide the lighting

Logistics City facility.

46

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

PHILIPS | ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Help your city save costs


and the environment.
(City of Lyon, France)

By simply refurbishing the Guillotires bridge with Philips CitySoul


luminaires including CosmoPolis lamps and gear, the city of Lyon saved
more than 50% energy and reduced their CO 2 emissions. So, choosing
responsible lighting has never been easier. Its a simple switch.

www.designmena.com | 10.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

47

FEATURE | EDUCATION DESIGN

BUILT FOR
With a number of big budget
facilities springing up across
the Gulf, MEA explores the
latest trends in school design

48

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

Light
for Liveable
Cities

A sustainable city will increasingly use a few well-chosen landmarks to


represent the city view. Lighting such icons is an integral responsibility, so that they
compete in terms of design and not brightness in the urban nocturnal scene. Discover
more scenarios for sustainable city lighting at: www.we-ef.com/en/liveablecities

FLC280 Projector
Sky Tower
Auckland (NZ)
Architect: Craig Craig Moller Architects

SCIENTECHNIC
Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Tel + 971 2 650 78 35
Fax +971 2 671 89 87
www.scientechnic.com

SCIENTECHNIC
Dubai (UAE)
Tel + 971 4 266 60 00
Fax +971 4 266 61 76
www.scientechnic.com

FEATURE | EDUCATION DESIGN

The oasis in Al
Bateen School.

as well as Doha College, which has


shortlisted ve top UK based rms
including Broadway Malyan. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia, with its huge and
growing population, has pledged to
build a whopping 10,000 schools.
According to the CEO of Sammon Group, a specialist education
consultant and contractor behind
ve ADEC schools, the quality of the
UAEs education buildings have taken
a huge leap forward.
Micael Sammon comments: The
vision of ADEC is world class and

its Future Schools programme is


fantastic. It is producing phenomenal
buildings designed by the likes of
Broadway Malyan and Dewan Architects & Engineers.
Sammon reels off an enviable list
of features in the Abu Dhabi West
School. The facility is designed by
Broadway Malyan and I think its
quite astonishing.
It contains 45 classrooms, four
art rooms, four science labs, a library
and a 500-seat auditorium. It also has
300 solar panels that help to power

Schools can be operational challenges, but this the case in a


lot of buildings with different uses, such as hospitals.
Ammar Al Assam, executive director, Dewan

50

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

the school. The project has achieved


a Three Pearl Rating with Estidama
and its a real success story for the
Middle East region.
Broadway Malyan has designed
a further six ADEC schools that are
due to open this academic year. The
schools account for a total of 7,000
student places and 120,000m2 of new
oor space.
Director Ian Apsley remarks: The
completion of the schools marks a key
milestone for education in the region.
They create a new breed of spatial

The Ofce Exhibition


Show something new

Take the opportunity to show something new at


The Ofce Exhibition . Youll nd thousands of
architects, designers and project managers visiting
the show to nd the latest in design, innovation
and best practice.

Book your stand now


Contact Tim Wilson, Project Manager
t: +971 4 438 0355
e: timwilson@dmgevents.com

15 - 17 May 2012
Dubai World Trade Centre
theofceexhibition.com

Organised by

Co-located with

Knowledge partner

FEATURE | EDUCATION DESIGN

and learning environments in Abu


Dhabis schools and blend international best design practice with
contemporary sustainable principles,
and the result is testament to the
practices successful approach to
integrated place-making in the wider
Middle East region.
Breakout spaces are a key consideration in a school project, according
to Sammon. Children have to be
stimulated and people in the West
dont always realise that. In this
climate, outdoor spaces can prove to
be a challenge.
Sammon describes how Abu
Dhabi West School contains an eco
court with an inventive living wall
- essentially a vertical garden that is
attached to the structure. Children
can also help in the upkeep of plants
in a meshed cone in the centre
of the courtyard space.
Al Bateen Secondary
School, designed by
Dewan for Aldar AcadCLASSROOMS
emies, also contains a
IN ABU DHABI
stunning al-fresco breakWEST SCHOOL
out area which is dubbed
the oasis.
Ammar Al Assam, executive director, Dewan, says: The oasis is an
educational courtyard that is meant
to be the source of rejuvenation for
the school in a desert. Its internal features help to make the learning area
more interactive and experimental.
It has low benches, bean bags as
well as IT wireless and multimedia.
Its not a classroom environment,
but a place where you can learn. The
teaching environment is important.
The breakout area has bean bags and
is used for storytelling.
Sammon notes that the climate can
limit the type of outdoor space that is
provided. Its challenging to provide
the outdoor classroom environment
in a hot climate like GCC. Its even
harder for those schools that dont
have government funding.
For those without huge budgets,

52

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

EDUCATION DESIGN | FEATURE

Abu Dhabi West


School (far left
and bottom); Al
Bateen School
(left).

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

53

FEATURE | EDUCATION DESIGN

Sammon Group has devised an


ing. In the West, there is a drive for
affordable smart school that can
an extensive use of light, and in places
be built anywhere in the world.Samlike the UK you need solar gain. Over
mon adds: Not everyone can spend
here, we have to protect against it.
AED150m on a school so we have deYou cant have kids sitting in the sun.
veloped the Sammon Smart School,
Dewans Al Assam adds that colour
which is IT compatible and low cost.
choice is extremely important and
We can provide a 16 classroom school
that a tremendous amount of work
in 18 weeks, anywhere in the world.
and studies have gone into explorHe cites Saudi Arabia
ing the impact of colour in
as one market in need
schools. Sammon adds
of low-cost options.
that the trend in the
We have started to
West is to use bright
build three protocolours.
STUDENT SPACES BY
BROADWAY
type schools in Saudi
Al Assam states
MALYAN FOR ADEC
Arabia. Its following
that security needs
Abu Dhabis lead and has
attention, especially
moved education to the front
when younger children
of its priorities, but it needs expertise.
are involved, and Al
The country has committed to build
Bateen School contains barriers and
10,0000 schools.
systems to determine the adults that
According to Sammon, one of the
are admitted.
key challenges in school design is
He also points out that traffic is a
allowing the right amount of daylight- challenge in any school project dur-

ing opening and closing time. In the


case of Al Bateen School, there are
multiple entrances for the different
age groups so that the streets are not
overloaded with cars.
He adds that the segregation
between the different age groups can
present difficulties. Schools can be
operational challenges, but this the
case in a lot of buildings with different
uses, such as hospitals.
Sammon notes that segregation
is more extreme in the Middle East,
particularly Saudi Arabia, with the
required separation of genders.
Globally, there is now an appetite
for architects to design school projects, according to Sammon. Theres
a real opportunity for architects,
he comments. Nobody will ask an
architect to build a school project and
then not pay them. Schools are commissioned by good clients which are
often visionary.

ADVERT
WPC protects primeval forests. Our first objective was to develop the
technology to create a composite wood superior to natural wood in order
to combat the thoughtless lumbering of forest trees.

www.einwood.com
54

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

w w w. n a h a r. a e

EDUCATION DESIGN | FEATURE

Theres a real
opportunity for
architects. Nobody
will ask an architect to
build a school project
and then not pay them.
They are commissioned
by good clients which
are often visionary.
Micael Sammon, CEO of
Sammon Group

Aside from the nancial draw,


Sammon states that school design is
no longer viewed as boring by architecture rms and that he is no longer
a closet school builder.
We now have some of the best
architects in the world designing
schools. It wasnt the case at all
before. Previously they might have a
school or two hidden in their portfolio. Now architects are proud to show
their achievements in education.
A recent example of quality school
design is the UKs Evelyn Grace
Academy, by Iraq-born Zaha Hadid.
Last month, the Brixton school won
the 2011 RIBA Stirling Prize.
Sammon cites the GEMs World
Academy in Dubai as a great example
of school design in the region. It has a
very futuristic approach and its a fantastic effort for future generations.
He concludes that, when it comes
to education design, function is far
more important than form.
Creating a spaceship-like building
is one thing but its better to build
one that ts the function. We need
to focus on that rather than just the
architecture, and also make sure it is
future proofed.

Al Bateen
School (top);
Abu Dhabi West
School (left and
bottom).

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

55

Allegro Larvik photo: Morten Rakke

IDCEC Education Seminar


Natural Stone: Marble & Granite

We would like to get your attention for our Education Seminar Natural
Stone: Marble & Granite which will be organized and leaded through our
LUNDHS Middle East, Dubai Branch Office and which is an approved
Education course through the Marble Institute of America.

The presentation is certied through the MARBLE INSTITUTE


of America and is certied for an APPROVED COURSE for
ARCHITECT CONTINUING EDUCATION.
The Seminar will be held through trained and certied speakers.

Because of the big interest we have decided to arrange the seminar


during the same time of the Cityscape Global 2011 in Dubai.

To Register please fax to 00971 4 3256259

For this exclusive Seminar, there are only selected Architects &
Companies invited which are working on main and targeted projects in
the GCC-Region.

Day:

[ ] Wednesday,
[ ] Thursday,

28. September 2011, Dubai, UAE


29. September 2011, Dubai, UAE

Time: [ ] 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.


[ ] 3:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m.

The participation for these companies is free of cost.


The Seminar will be held in the Dubai International Convention and
Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE. Participants to this seminar will receive a
registration confirmation and a location map.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any kind of reason under the
below shown contact details. We are looking forward to welcome you to
our Exclusive Education Seminar.

[ ] we are interested to have the offered Education Seminar


Natural Stone: Marble & Granite for our Employees in our
Office. Please contact our office under the attached letter
showing our contact details to fix date and timing:
Company:
Phone:

Topics for the Seminar:

Homepage:

Introduction Stone I
What is Stone?, Natural Stone types, Quarrying, Fabrication and Finishes

Certicate

Introduction Stone II
Testing & Properties, Applications, Introduction Stone, Reference Materials
Introduction LUNDHS
About the Company, Production, Areas of use fro Granite, Reference
GCC Material Variation, Types of Surface

LUNDHS Middle East Branch


Att: Hani Hankir
Project Development Manager
Middle East

Airport Free Zone


Building: 4 EA
Office: 530
DUBA I, UAE

After successful participation on the Seminar part:


Introduction Stone I, from Marble Institute of America
Introduction Stone II, from Marble Institute of America
you will receive a certificate for
continuing your education.

MOB ILE N O.: 00971 50 4574281


FAX NO.:
00971 4 3256259

INSTITUTE OF MAYSAN
DIPLOMATIC
STUDIES | CASE STUDY
RESIDENCES

CASE STUDY | MAYSAN RESIDENCES

MAYSAN
RESIDENCES
Architect: dwp
Location: Abu Dhabi

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT

58/68
58

Currently in the design development phase, Maysan Residences is


a pair of striking residential tower
buildings in the Al Najmat district
of Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. The
towers contain a total of 337 units
and have an expected completion
date of 2013. Designed by dwp
for developed Aabar, the
project aims to achieve
a 2 Pearl Rating with
Estidama. The roof
TOTAL NUMBER
structure contains solar
OF APARTMENT
technology while the
UNITS
tower forms are devised to
minimise heat gain.

337

THE SITE
Occupying a total area of 152m by
50m between the Reem and Canal
Boulevards, the two towers are
located next to a large public park.
The orientation from southeast to
northwest provided the architects
with an opportunity to create an
attractive street frontage towards
the marina.
The upper tower levels overlook
the canal and Marina Bay, while the
lower levels look towards the public
parkland and proposed waterway.
Each unit offers a different view due
to the amorphous and irregular form
of the towers.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.desig


www.designmena.com

59

www.designmena.com | 10.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

70/74
THE WORK
398%
%

TARGET NET FLO


FLOOR
OOR
AREA RATIO
O

DOHA TWIN
TOWERS
Archite
Architect:
GHD Global Pty
Ltd
Location:
Lusail, Qatar

PROJECT UPDATE

AINO MINA

2M

METRES2

Architect:
Aedas
Location:
Kandahar,
Afghanistan

TOTAL AREA OF
AEDAS SCHEME

INSTITUTE OF
DIPLOMATIC
STUDIES
Architect:
Henning
Larsen/ Buro
Happold
Location:
Riyadh, KSA

200,000
METRES2
TOTAL SURFACE AREA
OF THE ROOF

70

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

FERRARI
WORLD ABU
DHABI
Architect:
Benoy
Location: Yas
Island, Abu
Dhabi

This two million m2 community scheme, which


h won both the
Residential Project and Sustainable Project of the Year at the
Middle East Architect Awards, will
provide over 2000 homes. Situated
in Kandahar, the site gently slopes
and has a backdrop of mountains. A
wide central park runs through the
masterplan and links the retail area
at the southern end with the Friday
mosque at the northern end.

Winner of Institutional & Cultural


Project of the Year, this scheme
will provide Saudis Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) with a
new 46,000m2 building to house
facilities for the Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Consular Affairs
Department. Located in Riyadh the
building contains an auditorium,
lecture halls, library, classrooms,
offices, a large hall for visa applicants
and office space.

Winner of the Hospitality & Leisure


Project of the Year, Ferrari World
Abu Dhabi is the worlds largest indoor theme park. Designed by Benoy
for Aldar Properties, the project features over 20 rides and attractions
including the worlds fastest rollercoaster. The total surface area of
the colossal red roof is 200,000m2,
while the perimeter of the building
is 2,200m2. The highest point of the
structure is 45 metres.

DUBIOTECH
RESEARCH
LABORATORY
Architect:
HDR
Location:
Dubai

185
METRES

EXPECTED HEIGHT OF
THE RENAISSANCE
TOWER

290,000
METRES2
TOTAL AREA OF
OFFICE SPACE

72

RENAISSANCE
TOWER
Architect:
FXFOWLE
Location:
Istanbul, Turkey

SOWWAH
SQUARE
Architect:
Goettsch
Partners
Location:
Abu Dhabi

This billowing twin tower project in


Qatar was designed by GHD Global
and is designed to meet the clients
target net oor area ratio of 398%.
Overall water consumption will be
reduced by 40% though the use of
native plantation, water reducing
xtures, storm water re-use and
grey water treatment strategies. The
building also aims to produce 5% of
its energy from renewable sources,
such as photovoltaics.

This US$25m complex was the


rst research facility to be completed in DuBiotech, a huge freezone
dedicated to the life science industry.
Architect HDR was also responsible
for the masterplan, as well as a headquarters building which is under
construction. A common requirement for DuBiotech facilities is the
achievement of LEED certication;
the research laboratory received
Silver status at the end of 2010.

Designed by New York-based architecture rm FXFOWLE, Renaissance Tower is the headquarters


for a construction and development
company in Istanbul. With sustainability well and truly on the agenda,
the tower has an ambitious target of
LEED Platinum - the highest rank
in the international rating system.
Standing at 185 metres, Renaissance
Tower will be the tallest building on
the Asian side of Istanbul.

Pitching for LEED Silver status,


Sowwah Square will provide the
new headquarters for the Abu Dhabi
Securities Exchange and comprises
four office towers overlooking
water. The complex contains over
290,000m2 of office space and integrates two levels of retail and two
parking structures. The centerpiece
of the developments rst phase is
the business centre, which includes a
22,670m2 stock exchange building.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

LIKE
WANT
NEED

LIKE WANT NEED | CULTURE

CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED

THE
WORK

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

CASE
STUDIES

LIGHTING
QUADA CHAIR
Jeremy Cole
The classical beauty of the ower
from the orchid family, the Cymbidium,
is captured in a contemporary style
that pushes the capabilities of bone
china to its limits. In the latest Jeremy
Cole collection, the artisan explored
the relationship between ceramics
and light, and started to understand
and work with bone china. designs are
inspired by the ora of New Zealand.

CULTURE

BATHROOM
KOHLER NUMI
Kohler
This space-age toilet, which is
WaterSense and CALGreen-certied,
will up the ante for sophisticated living
with its minimalist, futuristic design.
Its impressive list of high-tech features
include an interactive LCD touch screen
interface, intuitive auto-open and -close
lid, music system, heated seat, foot
warmer, deoderiser, bidet, as well as dual
ush technology.

FURNITURE
BACHAG CHAIR
Joongho Choi
In an explosion o
off colo
colours,
colou
lours, Korean
lours
designed
designer Joongho Choi has
hass d
de
desig
desi
eesigned
sig
the Bachag Chair made from wood
ood
od
d
which
and aluminum,
a
which can be carried
like a handbag.
over
ver ones shoulder
shou
According
ding to Choi
Choi,, it was meant
to create a mix and match style of
furniture and fashion. He said he
wanted to show contrasting images of
different expressi
differ
ons. It was designed
expressions.
to be structurally
structura sound, user-friendly
and be comfortable.
comfortable.

76/78
76

BOOK
AFTER TASTE
Kent Kleinman, Joanna Merwood-Salisbury
and Lois Weinthal
While taste is subjective in
architecture and interior design, the book
by Kleinman, Merwood-Salisbury and
Weinthal brings together new theories
and emerging critical practices in the eld
of interior design. It investigates taste, a
concept that was important during the
formation of the discipline of design in the
eighteenth century, that was rejected by
architects in the early twentieth century.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

APP
PRODUCT SELECTOR
InterfaceFLOR
Carpet tile rm InterfaceFLOR has
released an iPad app specically for the
EMEAI region, where users can search
its entire product portfolio of carpet
tiles or browse by colour, category or
latest products. Users can view high
quality tile images, product details, and
visualise room sets through the gallery
and oor designer tool. Additional
features include a media function to
access videos, the ability to download
related documents, while tiles can be
added to the favourites tab to easily
order samples.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

77

CULTURE

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

57

INSTITUTE OF MAYSAN
DIPLOMATIC
STUDIES | CASE STUDY
RESIDENCES

MAYSAN
RESIDENCES
Architect: dwp
Location: Abu Dhabi

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT
Currently in the design development phase, Maysan Residences is
a pair of striking residential tower
buildings in the Al Najmat district
of Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. The
towers contain a total of 337 units
and have an expected completion
date of 2013. Designed by dwp
for developed Aabar, the
project aims to achieve
a 2 Pearl Rating with
Estidama. The roof
TOTAL NUMBER
structure contains solar
OF APARTMENT
technology while the
UNITS
tower forms are devised to
minimise heat gain.

337
58

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

CASE STUDY | MAYSAN RESIDENCES

THE SITE
Occupying a total area of 152m by
50m between the Reem and Canal
Boulevards, the two towers are
located next to a large public park.
The orientation from southeast to
northwest provided the architects
with an opportunity to create an
attractive street frontage towards
the marina.
The upper tower levels overlook
the canal and Marina Bay, while the
lower levels look towards the public
parkland and proposed waterway.
Each unit offers a different view due
to the amorphous and irregular form
of the towers.

www.designmena.com | 10.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

59

MAYSAN RESIDENCES | CASE STUDY

66,000M2
GROSS FLOOR
AREA OF MAYSAN
RESIDENCES

THE CONCEPT
The scheme - with its shaded roof
gardens sheltered by deep overhangs - draws inspiration from the
landscape of nearby Al Ain, which
contains green oases, dramatic rock
overhangs and mountain plateaus.
Floor plates are designed in two
typical congurations for each tower,
with ve slab pro le variations generating the desired facade effect. The
intermediate duplex oors contain
larger outdoor spaces to provide a
lush green effect.

THE DETAILS
By curving the cantilevered slab
edges and louver system, prevailing
breezes are guided past the building
volume. These features will assist
in reducing glare and solar heat gain
into the interior spaces and reduce
overall energy consumption.
Ancillary spaces are arranged
around the central core. The allow
the building services to run efciently throughout the tower while
maximising lighting and views in the
living rooms and bedrooms.

60

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

GEZE Middle East | Cayan Business Center | PO Box 17903, Tecom, Al Barsha | Dubai, U.A.E. | Tel: +971 4 4541434 | Fax: +971 4 4541474 | gezeme@ae.geze.com | www.geze.ae

SUPREME BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY
2011 - 2012

29th November, 2011


Emirates Palace Hotel
Abu Dhabi

Join us at an exclusive event that will open doors to


Synchronize Architecture & Construction Harmoniously.
GEZE Middle East invites you to the Supreme Building Technology 2011 - 2012 event, an interactive
evening that showcases our high quality German constructed product line ups.
GEZE is a German manufacturer with a prestigious heritage of innovative systems for door & window
technology. GEZE was founded in year 1863 and is a globally leading player in the building technology
with emphasis on distinctive design, premium quality, engineering solutions and best services for manual
& automatic door, window and safety systems.
This event is by invitation only. Reserve your place to this edifying event by registering today on
www.gezeme-events.com. or email s.syed@ae.geze.com to avail your invitation.

Door Technology | Automatic Door Systems | RWA and Ventilation Systems | Safety Technology | Glass Systems

BEWEGUNG MIT SYSTEM

BMW BRAND
ECO ATLANTIC
SHOWROOMS
CITY | CASE STUDY

EKO ATLANTIC CITY


Architect: MZ Architects
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT
This ambitious new city in Nigeria
responds to coastal erosion and
aims to relieve pressure on the congested city of Lagos, with a population of 15.5 million. Estimates of
urban use predict that Eko Atlantic
City will be home to a quarter of a
million people. Eko Atlantic Developers appointed MZ Architects
as the urban planner for the new
city. The Lebanon headquartered
rm - with offices in Abu Dhabi and
Qatar - will also be responsible for
architectural, engineering and construction management of a number
of towers in the scheme.

62

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

CASE STUDY | ECO ATLANTIC CITY

THE SITE
Eko Atlantic City is being constructed on reclaimed land just
off shore from Victoria Island.
The wall will protect the
coastline of Lagos,
particularly the areas
of Bar Beach on Victoria Island, which
CURRENT
was prone to ooding.
POPULATION
In August 2011, the
OF LAGOS
wall had reached around
2.5km in length and will
extend 8.5km when complete.
Sand is being dredged from the
ocean in order to raise the land level
of the lagoon.

15.5M

www.designmena.com | 06.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

63

ECO ATLANTIC CITY | CASE STUDY

THE CONCEPT
The urban developers wanted to
move away from the overcrowded
African city. Accordingly the
scheme envisions clean open spaces,
congestion-free roads and a modern
waterfront development. Each
district has been designed with distinct features, but all will contain
a mixture of residential, business,
commercial and leisure to avoid
neighbourhoods becoming lifeless
and empty at night.

THE DETAILS
A major feature of the Business District - the rst phase to be
developed - will be a central
boulevard stretching two
kilometres in length
with a width of around
60 metres. The
boulevard is inspired
LENGTH OF
by the worlds grand
CENTRAL
BOULEVARD
streets such as New
Yorks Fifth Avenue
and the Champs lyses in
Paris, France. Extensive transport
links from Lagos and Victoria
Island will bring around 150,000
people into work each day.

2KM

64

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

A problem in many African cities is


the unreliability of power. In contrast, the new city will have its own
integrated power system, which is
not reliant on erratic generators.
Each district will also be served by
modern drainage, sewage treatment
and water supply facilities.

SOWWAH
MIRDIF
CITY SQUARE
CENTRE | CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT
Runner up in the sustainable design category at last months Middle
East Architect Awards, Mirdif City
Centre is the rst LEED Gold mall
in the Middle East. The AED3bn
complex opened in March 2010 and
achieved its green certication in
May 2011. At the peak of construction, 22 cranes and 10,000 workers
were on site. Developed byMajid
Al Futtaim Properties, the project
features a GFA of 300,000m2, with
450 shops and parking for over 7,000
cars. Hyder was the lead consultant
and engineer of record, taking over
the concept design by RTKL.

66

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

Location: Dubai
Architect: Hyder Consulting/ RTKL
CASE STUDY

THE SITE
As the mall is designed to
engage with the community, the main elevation
faces Mirdif rather
than Emirates Road.
VALUE OF MIRDIF
A landscape piazza
CITY CENTRE
acts as a meeting point,
and entrances are well lit
with energy efficient lighting
to improve security. Environmental
management aspects of the site were
controlled by the contractors as part
of the LEED certication. Sand bags
were used to control dust, roads were
cleaned every day and netting was
put on excess sand.

AED3BN

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

67

MIRDIF CITY CENTRE | CASE STUDY

MIRDIF CITY
CENTRE

SOWWAH SQUARE | CASE STUDY

THE CONCEPT
RTKLs design specied a strong
use of natural light and sustainable
materials and around 20% of the
total energy consumption was saved
through design initiatives. Arabic
wind towers were used as feature
points at all corners of the building.
We selected materials with a
high recyclable content, sourced
from sustainable sources, and have
championed a market-leading 50%
of the construction waste not going to land ll, said Majid Al
Futtaim vice-president,
project management,
Jonathan Emery.

10,000
PEAK NUMBER
OF WORKERS
ON SITE

THE DETAILS
Solar efficient glass was specied
to minimise heat gain while the roof
features the use of high albedo paints
to reect sunlight. The project also
utilises non-potable water for irrigation, from Dubai Municipality, and
water efficient xtures.

According to Hyder, one of the


main challenges was the addition
of an extra storey to the building
halfway through construction, while
continuing with ongoing works. This
alteration was needed to accommodate a Fitness First gym and a
community centre.

68

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

THE
WORK
PROJECT UPDATE

AINO MINA

2M

METRES2

Architect:
Aedas
Location:
Kandahar,
Afghanistan

TOTAL AREA OF
AEDAS SCHEME

INSTITUTE OF
DIPLOMATIC
STUDIES
Architect:
Henning
Larsen/ Buro
Happold
Location:
Riyadh, KSA

200,000
METRES2
TOTAL SURFACE AREA
OF THE ROOF

70

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

FERRARI
WORLD ABU
DHABI
Architect:
Benoy
Location: Yas
Island, Abu
Dhabi

This two million m2 community scheme, which won both the


Residential Project and Sustainable Project of the Year at the
Middle East Architect Awards, will
provide over 2000 homes. Situated
in Kandahar, the site gently slopes
and has a backdrop of mountains. A
wide central park runs through the
masterplan and links the retail area
at the southern end with the Friday
mosque at the northern end.

Winner of Institutional & Cultural


Project of the Year, this scheme
will provide Saudis Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) with a
new 46,000m2 building to house
facilities for the Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Consular Affairs
Department. Located in Riyadh the
building contains an auditorium,
lecture halls, library, classrooms,
offices, a large hall for visa applicants
and office space.

Winner of the Hospitality & Leisure


Project of the Year, Ferrari World
Abu Dhabi is the worlds largest indoor theme park. Designed by Benoy
for Aldar Properties, the project features over 20 rides and attractions
including the worlds fastest rollercoaster. The total surface area of
the colossal red roof is 200,000m2,
while the perimeter of the building
is 2,200m2. The highest point of the
structure is 45 metres.

NLINE
O
R
E
T
S
I
REG
!
AND WIN
lease ll
in an iPad p
w
d
n
a
e
n
li
on
AD333
To register
on Code: IS
ti
o
m
ro
P
r
o
in the Visit

The largest and most comprehensive


exhibition and conference for security
and safety in the Middle East
t$PNNFSDJBM4FDVSJUZ*OGPSNBUJPO4FDVSJUZ t'JSF3FTDVF
t)PNFMBOE4FDVSJUZ1PMJDJOH
t4BGFUZ)FBMUI

+BOVBSZo 
%VCBJ*OUFSOBUJPOBM$POWFOUJPOBOE&YIJCJUJPO$FOUSF 
%VCBJ 6"&
Intersec 2012
t FYIJCJUPSTFYQFDUFE
t  WJTJUPSTFYQFDUFE
t )BMMT
t SE6"&*OUFSOBUJPOBM'JSF'JU$IBNQJPOTIJQT
t &YDJUJOH0VUEPPS%FNPOTUSBUJPOT $POGFSFODFT

www.intersecexpo.com

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

DOHA TWIN
TOWERS

398%

TARGET NET FLOOR


AREA RATIO

Architect:
GHD Global Pty
Ltd
Location:
Lusail, Qatar

DUBIOTECH
RESEARCH
LABORATORY
Architect:
HDR
Location:
Dubai

185
METRES

EXPECTED HEIGHT OF
THE RENAISSANCE
TOWER

290,000
METRES2
TOTAL AREA OF
OFFICE SPACE

72

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

RENAISSANCE
TOWER
Architect:
FXFOWLE
Location:
Istanbul, Turkey

SOWWAH
SQUARE
Architect:
Goettsch
Partners
Location:
Abu Dhabi

This billowing twin tower project in


Qatar was designed by GHD Global
and is designed to meet the clients
target net oor area ratio of 398%.
Overall water consumption will be
reduced by 40% though the use of
native plantation, water reducing
xtures, storm water re-use and
grey water treatment strategies. The
building also aims to produce 5% of
its energy from renewable sources,
such as photovoltaics.

This US$25m complex was the


rst research facility to be completed in DuBiotech, a huge freezone
dedicated to the life science industry.
Architect HDR was also responsible
for the masterplan, as well as a headquarters building which is under
construction. A common requirement for DuBiotech facilities is the
achievement of LEED certication;
the research laboratory received
Silver status at the end of 2010.

Designed by New York-based architecture rm FXFOWLE, Renaissance Tower is the headquarters


for a construction and development
company in Istanbul. With sustainability well and truly on the agenda,
the tower has an ambitious target of
LEED Platinum - the highest rank
in the international rating system.
Standing at 185 metres, Renaissance
Tower will be the tallest building on
the Asian side of Istanbul.

Pitching for LEED Silver status,


Sowwah Square will provide the
new headquarters for the Abu Dhabi
Securities Exchange and comprises
four office towers overlooking
water. The complex contains over
290,000m2 of office space and integrates two levels of retail and two
parking structures. The centerpiece
of the developments rst phase is
the business centre, which includes a
22,670m2 stock exchange building.

Scan the QR code with


your smart phone & register

THE MIDDLE EASTS ONLY COMPLETE EVENT


DEDICATED TO THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY
Be part of the regions most exciting new event of the year Middle East
Concrete! Brought to you by the Middle Easts largest building and construction
show, The Big 5. This 4 day event will be a global showcase of the most diverse
and innovative range of concrete products and services.
9,500 of those who attended The Big 5 in 2010 indicated an interest in concrete
WYVK\J[ZHUKZLY]PJLZ[OPZTLHUZHN\HYHU[LLKH\KPLUJLPUP[ZYZ[`LHY
Dont miss this opportunity to exhibit or sponsor at the regions most talked
about event of the year. To enquire further please contact:
Nathan Waugh on +971 (0) 4 438 0355 or nathanwaugh@dmgevents.com

21 24 November 2011
Dubai International Exhibition
& Convention Centre
www.middleeastconcrete.com/arc1

Silver Sponsors

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

TRA
HEADQUARTERS
Architect:
HDR
Location:
Dubai

AL FATTAN
HOUSE

31,000
METRES2
TOTAL FLOOR AREA
OF THE COMPLEX

Architect:
DSA Architects
International
Location:
Dubai

MUSEUM
OF BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
Architect:
FXFowle
Location:
King Abdullah
Financial
District,
Saudi Arabia

ONE & ONLY


THE PALM
Architect: DSA
International
Location:
Dubai

74

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

In December 2007, the UAEs


Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority (TRA) commissioned architect HDR to design its headquarters for both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The Dubai project is located in a
neighbourhood of low rise residential
and cultural buildings and is looking
to attain LEED Silver Rating. The
facility will be officially opened in
October 2011 while the Abu Dhabi
project will be completed next year.

Al Fattan House is the third building


by developer Al Fattan Properties in
Dubai Marina. The client wanted to
complement the existing Al Fattan
residential and hotel towers development with a commercial building
and chose architects DSA to design
the scheme. The striking project is a
prominent landmark, despite being
dwarfed by the glassy Al Fattan
towers and the soaring concrete
cityscape of Dubai Marina.

One of the stand-out buildings in the


King Abdullah Financial District,
the glistening Museum of Built Environment has been designed by New
York-based rm FXFowle. Due to
the fast-track construction schedule,
the architects are currently working
on detailed design, while site excavation is underway and completion
is slated for November 2012. The
museum will focus on education with
four sub-categories.

This ve star hotel on the furthest


frond of Dubais Palm Jumeirah was
picked up by DSA International in
2006, which opted to change most
of the original design. The hotel was
nally completed in 2010, and has
been operating at 85% capacity since
opening. The project has 100 rooms,
split between individual villas,
mansions and a manor house, and
overlooks the Royal Mirages other
beachfront hotel.

EXPECT BIG
THINGS THIS YEAR
AT THE BIG 5

Pre-register
& SAVE

AED 50!

Not only will the 2011 event be the largest construction event ever staged
in the Middle East, it will also include:
An additional 7 new product focused sectors
Showcase more than 30,000 new, sustainable and innovative products
More than 100+ free to attend product showcases & educational seminars
Dedicated sustainable products zone & world-class Green Build Congress
Commissioned report on New Technologies Utilised in the GCC Market

(Research value: $20,000)

21 24 November 2011
Dubai International Exhibition &
Convention Centre

www.thebig5.ae/arc4

Register free of charge online at www.thebig5.ae/arc4


Quote the promotion code arc4 when registering online

CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED

LIKE
WANT
NEED
CULTURE

FURNITURE
BACHAG CHAIR
Joongho Choi
In an explosion of colours, Korean
designer Joongho Choi has designed
the Bachag Chair made from wood
and aluminum, which can be carried
over ones shoulder like a handbag.
According to Choi, it was meant
to create a mix and match style of
furniture and fashion. He said he
wanted to show contrasting images of
different expressions. It was designed
to be structurally sound, user-friendly
and be comfortable.

76

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

BOOK
AFTER TASTE
Kent Kleinman, Joanna Merwood-Salisbury
and Lois Weinthal
While taste is subjective in
architecture and interior design, the book
by Kleinman, Merwood-Salisbury and
Weinthal brings together new theories
and emerging critical practices in the eld
of interior design. It investigates taste, a
concept that was important during the
formation of the discipline of design in the
eighteenth century, that was rejected by
architects in the early twentieth century.

LIKE WANT NEED | CULTURE

LIGHTING
CYMBIDIUM CHANDELIER
Jeremy Cole
The classical beauty of the ower
from the orchid family, the Cymbidium,
is captured in a contemporary style
that pushes the capabilities of bone
china to its limits. In the latest Jeremy
Cole collection, the artisan explored
the relationship between ceramics and
light, and started to understand and
work with bone china. His designs are
inspired by the ora of New Zealand.

BATHROOM
KOHLER NUMI
Kohler
This space-age toilet, which is
WaterSense and CALGreen-certied,
will up the ante for sophisticated living
with its minimalist, futuristic design.
Its impressive list of high-tech features
include an interactive LCD touch screen
interface, intuitive auto-open and -close
lid, music system, heated seat, foot
warmer, deoderiser, bidet, as well as dual
ush technology.

APP
PRODUCT SELECTOR
InterfaceFLOR
Carpet tile rm InterfaceFLOR has
released an iPad app specically for the
EMEAI region, where users can search
its entire product portfolio of carpet
tiles or browse by colour, category or
latest products. Users can view high
quality tile images, product details, and
visualise room sets through the gallery
and oor designer tool. Additional
features include a media function to
access videos, the ability to download
related documents, while tiles can be
added to the favourites tab to easily
order samples.

www.designmena.com | 11.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

77

Silver Sponsors

THE MOST INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON SHOWCASE OF


PLANT MACHINERY AND VEHICLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
PMV Live is the brand new event concept which offers a unique mix of products,
technology, machinery, live demonstrations for anyone involved in the Plant,
Machinery and Vehicles sector.
The outdoor arena will allow exhibitors to demonstrate the full capabilities
of their machinery and vehicles and give potential buyers the opportunity to
H[SHULHQFHWKHSURGXFWUVWKDQG

DRIVIN
NG AN IN
NDUSTR
RY
21-24 Novemb
ber 2011
Dubai Inte
ernational Exhibition
n&
Conventio
on Centre

www.pmvlive.c
com/arc
c1

PMV Live is the relaunch of The Big 5 PMV and will be co-located alongside
The Big 5, the Middle Easts largest international building and construction show.
Dont miss this opportunity to exhibit or sponsor at the regions most talked
about event of the year. To enquire further please contact:
Nathan Waugh on +971 (0) 4 438 0355 or nathanwaugh@dmgevents.com

Scan the QR code with


your smart phone & register

LAST WORD | MUHANNAD SH. ASSAM

Registered at Dubai Media City


PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00 971 4 444 3000
Fax: 00 971 4 444 3030
Web: www.itp.com
Offices in Dubai & London
ITP BUSINESS PUBLISHING
CEO Walid Akawi
Managing Director Neil Davies
Managing Director ITP Business Karam Awad
Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell
Editorial Director David Ingham
EDITORIAL
Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews
Editor Oliver Ephgrave
Tel: +971 4 444 3303 email: oliver.ephgrave@itp.com
Reporter Devina Divecha
Tel: +971 4 444 3502 email: devina.divecha@itp.com
ADVERTISING
Sales Director, Construction Group Yazan Rahman
Tel: +971 4 444 3351 email: yazan.rahman@itp.com
Sales Manager Luke Jones
Tel: +971 4 444 3715 email: luke.jones@itp.com
Business Development Manager, Saudi Arabia
Rabih Naderi
Tel: +966 1 2068697 email: rabih.naderi@itp.com
STUDIO

DESERT DESIGNS
THE LAST WORD

Muhannad Sh. Assam, managing director for Abu Dhabi


based BEAD Architects & Designers, discusses the
many opportunities in the Middle East

Group Art Editor Daniel Prescott


Art Editor Simon Cobon
Senior Designer Christopher Howlett
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chief Photographer Jovana Obradovic
Senior Photographers Isidora Bojovic, Efraim Evidor
Staff Photographers Lester Ali, George Dipin,
Juliet Dunne, Murrindie Frew, Lyubov Galushko,
Verko Ignjatovic, Shruti Jagdeesh, Stanislav Kuzmin,
Mosh Lafuente, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav
PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION
Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith
Deputy Production Manager Matthew Grant
Production Coordinator Nelly Pereira
Distribution Manager Karima Ashwell
Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami
CIRCULATION
Head of Database & Circulation Gaurav Gulati
MARKETING
Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell
Marketing Manager Annie Chinoy

BEAD is working on three very interesting projects at this time -

these include a ve-star hotel located in central Doha, a VVIP palace complex in
Saudi Arabia and a big hospitality and cultural district in Baghdad.

ITP DIGITAL
Director Peter Conmy
Internet Applications Manager Mohammed Affan
Web Designer Meghna Rao
ITP GROUP

In Abu Dhabi, the project I wish to see completed is Kaleidoscope Towers

within the Danet Abu Dhabi development. I am sure this project, once nished, will
be a landmark within the urban setting of East Abu Dhabi.

Chairman Andrew Neil


Managing Director Robert Serafin
Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies
Board of Directors K M Jamieson, Mike Bayman,
Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin
Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 444 3000

The most enjoyable aspect of working in the UAE

is the fact that we practice in a free and professional environment which enables
unlimited information sharing and wide exposure to the global world of design.
One of the biggest challenges in the Middle East is a moral obligation.

Certain images in this issue are available for purchase.


Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details
or visit www.itpimages.com
Printed by Emirates Printing Press L.L.C. Dubai
Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions
Audited by: BPA Worldwide
Average Qualified Circulation: 5,153
(January - June 2011)
Cover image SOM | Hedrich Blessing Nick Merrick

We need to respect the architecture as a profession, design with a conscience, and


realise projects which satisfy basic living requirements.

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or 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 readers particular circumstances.

The other main challenge is commercial and related to the economic crises.

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.

I think that the lack of sustainable ow of assignments has consequently forced


architects to commercialise the profession.
A building I admire is Bab Al Shams Resort in Dubai.

I believe the designer, GAJ, has demonstrated a great responsibility and respect for
the local architecture and environment.

80

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.11 | www.designmena.com

Published by and 2011 ITP Business


Publishing, a division of the ITP
Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the
B.V.I. under Company number 1402846.

You might also like