An ITP Business Publication
SEPTEMBER 2012 / VOLUME 06 / ISSUE 09
NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRA STRATEGIC AT A T EG EG IC I C INSIGHTS IN NS S IIG GH HT TS FOR FO F O R ARCHITECTS AR A RC CH H IT ITE ITEC EC C TS T IN THE GCC p2// FRONT Architectural roundtable sparks debate on Qatar
p16// ANALYSIS Should Middle East designers embrace media facades?
HOME PRIDE Goettsch Partners opens UAE base in the scheme it designed for Mubadala
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CASE STUDY STRIKING COMMERCIAL COMPLEX IN DOHA
CASE STUDY TABANLIOGLU’S NEW AIRPORT IN TURKEY SITE VISIT ALDAR’S EMIRATI HOUSING PROJECT
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SEPTEMBER | CONTENTS
SEPT 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 09 2
FRONT
Top stories in the world of architecture including a roundtable discussion on Qatar
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THE BIG PICTURE
Capturing the fishlike facades of Emirates Park Hotel & Towers
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PROJECTS A round up of the latest project news from MENA and the rest of the world
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ANALYSIS
24
COMMENT Buro Happold’s Andrew Kelly on why designers should think about security
Should Middle East designers embrace media facade technology?
28
INTERVIEW
36
SITE VISIT
Dewan prepares to deliver Al Bateen Park, Aldar’s huge Emirati housing project
Steven Nilles, partner in charge of Goettsch Partners’ new Abu Dhabi office
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CASE STUDIES
62
THE WORK
A detailed reference section covering all the best projects in the world
72 LAST WORD
Doha’s Jaidah Square, Midfield Terminal in Abu Dhabi and Rogers’ Neo Bankside
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CULTURE A snapshot of funky furniture, lighting and other accessories in the market
Nigel Eckersall, general manager of Tangram Qatar, on the road ahead
www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
2005
Formation of Goettsch Partners (page 28)
QATAR’S NEED FOR TALL BUILDINGS DEBATED Msheireb identified as key project ahead of skyscraper development
TOP STORY
A panel of
Qatar’s development challenges, including the need for tall towers, were debated at an architecture roundtable held by Construction Week Qatar. Nigel Eckersall, general manager from Tangram Qatar, commented: “Today it is seen that all leading cities must have a tall tower to be able to compete as an economic hub. “However, wouldn’t it be brave for Doha to buck the trend and aim for a vernacular and sustainable environment built around people’s needs?”
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architects and engineers were brought together by CW Qatar.
$5.5bn
VALUE OF MSHEIREB they will want to The US$5.5bn ensure sustainable mixed-use Msheireb development which scheme, under construcintegrates infrastructure and tion, was identified by the public realms.” experts as a key future project. Karim Benkirane, regional managGurminder Singh Sagoo, head of ing principal for Woods Bagot said: business development & marketing “People need to be proud of the city for WSP ME, said: “Msheireb is a they live in. Musheireb will be a tourclear example of a how to wow withist attraction, but West Bay won’t.” out going tall. It will be interesting He continued: “There are very few to see how Qatar evolves and if they nations in the world who can attest want the world’s tallest tower.” to trying to accomplish something as Eckersall replied: “I don’t think radical as Qatar.” they want [the tallest buildings],
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
SEPTEMBER | FRONT
69,000 Tonnes of steel in Midfield Terminal
100,000m2 Area of Aldar’s Al Bateen Park (page 36)
(page 54)
Project delays affect Atkins’ regional growth plans
DESIGNMENA.COM • Qatar 2022 architect to head Woods Bagot Sport • Best of the Burjs • Zaha Hadid designs Arum for Venice Biennale • Areen completes design work for Jeddah airport • Pictures: First look at Jeddah airport design
Burj Al Arab, Atkins’ Middle East icon.
the global performance was below expectations. “While the Group’s geographic and sector diversification continues to provide resilience, the outlook for the Group’s overall performance for the full year is slightly below previous expectations,” it added.
DATASTREAM GLOBAL TALL TOWERS
66
(DATA FROM CTBUH)
BUILDINGS OVER 150M
bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom penthouses. According to Tameer president Federico Tauber, the handing-over of units has commenced.
UK architect Dave Edwards conceived an energy-harvesting tower in London covered in algae. The conceptual mixed-use tower would produce its own energy and clean water. An outer ‘green wall’ of algae would absorb CO2 emissions and harvest bio-methane for heat and power.
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BUILDINGS OVER 300M
Tameer delivers super-tall tower in Dubai Marina Tameer’s 381m-high Elite Residence, the third tallest residential towers in the world, has been delivered in Dubai Marina. The 91-storey structure is amongst the world’s top 20 tallest buildings and is located in the same cluster as the Princess Tower, also by Tameer. Both towers were designed by UAE-based fi rm Eng Adnan Saffarini (EAS). Elite Residence is notable for its striking gold and white façade, latticed roof structure and mast. With a total of 696 apartments for 1,500 residences, the project provides a mixture of one and two
WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH
BUILDINGS OVER 200M
An interim management statement by Atkins for Q1 2012/13 revealed that project delays have affected the firm’s plans to grow in the region. However, the report predicted a headcount growth later this year. The statement read: “The Middle East has seen delays in projects coming to market, constraining our anticipated headcount growth, and reaching client agreement on various contract variations. “In addition, we continue to experience more onerous contract payment terms on some of our current government and infrastructure work.” The statement also conceded that
The 381m-high Elite Residences.
www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
PEOPLE
60 SECOND INTERVIEW
Gehry designs new Facebook HQ
Former Populous principal Dan Meis.
Stadium ace heads Woods Bagot Sport Dan Meis, a former senior principal with Populous and designer behind one of the stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, will lead a new global sports division of Woods Bagot. As global director of Woods Bagot Sport, Meis will expand his Los Angelesbased team to include design and technical experts in New York, London and Sydney. The new group will continue Meis’s current projects including the new NFL Stadium at Grand Crossing in Los Angeles and a 50,000-seat, multi-use venue for the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Meis is also leading conceptual design efforts for a new stadium for soccer club AS Roma in Rome, Italy, and Sports City Stadium in Doha, Qatar, for the 2022 World Cup in association with Aedas. In 2006, he was elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, recognising his contribution to advancing the practice of sports architecture.
Precast buildings have been built for very many years in a lot of Gulf states... Precast buildings 30 years on still as good as new.” BOB SCOTT, head of structural engineering at Atkins
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Star architect Frank Gehry has been commissioned to design an extension to the Facebook headquarters on the edge of San Francisco Bay, California. Located across the highway from current headquarters ‘Facebook East’, the huge 10-acre building breaks away from Gehry’s signature curvaceous creations. The design encourages a community-like atmosphere with a flexible open floor plan, a large roof garden and a lounge area filled with arcade machines. The social media giant will maintain its current campus and use an underground tunnel to connect the two areas. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2013. “When it’s completed, we hope it will provide a paradise workspace for the 3,400 engineers who will one day fill it,” a company statement said.
CLIVE NAYLOR, AREEN AVIATION
Areen was awarded interior design work on the new terminal at King Abdulalziz International Airport, Jeddah. How is the project progressing? Much of the design work has already been agreed, with final details progressing as the construction continues. Enabling works started on site in February 2011 - basic infrastructure and structural work is already well advanced with interior works due to commence in the main terminal later this year.
How do you feel about the overall design? Good design is all about passion and an obsession with detail. Every day we are refining the detailed imagery of the project using a very high degree of 3D computer modelling. This technology allows us to see the places we are creating from many viewpoints and ensure we control the user experience right through their journey. As a result we remain quietly confident that this airport experience will be unique, sometimes spectacular, sometimes quietly traditional and will really speak of Jeddah and its region to all its visitors.
Social media giant turns to veteran designer.
There is an estimation of about 500 buildings across the UAE that still have these low fire-resistant panels on the facades, and so that is a looming problem out there.” THOMAS BOHLEN, chief technical officer, MECSD
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
BIM was almost unheard of in the last decade; now it is here to stay, with more designers and contractors adopting it to identify building coordination issues.” DR SHERIF HASHEM, PM at KBR Project Management Consultants
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT 1
3
2
1 ABU DHABI
2 IRAN
3 AL AIN
University praised in infrastructure report
Winner announced for Tehran Stock Exchange
Stadium up for World Architecture Festival prize
A report by advisory firm KPMG named Abu Dhabi’s Paris Sorbonne University as one of 100 worldwide examples of innovative infrastructure projects. The university, completed by Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure in August 2010, made the second edition of KPMG’s Infrastructure 100 report. Covering 93,000m2, the project provides educational, recreational and residential facilities for 2,000 students.
Alejandro Aravena won a competition to design Tehran Stock Exchange in the capital of Iran. The international competition was chaired by Nader Tehrani, MIT Head of Architecture and principal at NADAAA, and the decision of the jury acts as a recommendation to the client. Aravena’s minimalist project includes areas for a stock exchange hall, an auditorium, bank representatives, training classes, a museum and a tea house.
UAE-based MZ Architects is shortlisted for its Al Ain Rock Stadium project under the Future Projects category at this year’s World Architecture Festival. The stadium is carved into the site’s volcanic rock with the pitch sunken into the sand. Future projects is one of three categories including completed buildings and landscape architecture. The World Architecture Festival runs from 3-5 October in Singapore.
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
2
3
1
1 DUBAI
2 AFGHANISTAN
3 JEDDAH
Infinity Tower reaches 90% completion
National museum of Afghanistan revealed
First look at Jeddah airport interiors by Areen
Infinity Tower, the eye-catching skyscraper in Dubai Marina which twists 90 degrees, is 90% complete, according to Montasser El Raie, senior resident engineer with Khatib and Alami, the project’s consultants. The Cayan Properties’ project, designed by architect SOM, had been set a deadline of 31 October several months ago and is still on course to reach that target, according to a report in MEP Middle East.
A new design proposal for the National Museum of Afghanistan has been created by architecture firm theeAe LTD to bring back the lost heritage of the country. With a built area covering 18,000m2, the concept of the scheme was influenced by the Afghanistan flower arch. Surrounded by nature, the proposal aims to highlight the natural environment of Afghanistan, including its open valley of mountains and bright sunlight.
Areen has revealed images of its interior design for the new terminal at King Abdulalziz International Airport, Jeddah (KAIA). Contractor SBG won the $7bn contract on design and build terms and awarded Areen the interior design and supply management contract. Much of the design work has already been agreed, with final details progressing as the construction continues. Enabling works started in February 2011.
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT 1
3
2
1 CHINA
2 SOUTH AFRICA
3 UK
BDP picks up trio of projects in China
RTKL mall uses distinctive aluminium facade
Heatherwick up for Royal Opera House redesign
BDP has announced three project wins in China including a university in Suzhou. Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University is a partnership between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University. BDP was appointed to masterplan a largescale campus to provide teaching, laboratory and research facilities, and design the humanity building, science building and training centre, and international exchange centre.
A mall extension project in South Africa, designed by RTKL, has been built with an unusual prepainted aluminium facade. The extension of Sandton City Shopping Mall in Johannesburg uses coil-coated aluminium sheet ff 2 by Novelis, in 2mm thickness, with a PVDF coating. To blend in with the surroundings, four copper colourings were selected. The coating on the back features an abrasion-resistant lacquer system.
The Royal Opera House of London has invited architects to compete in redesigning the entrances and public spaces of its Covent Garden building. Heatherwick Studio, which designed the UK Pavilion for Expo 2010, is involved in the competition. Other firms include Amanda Levite Architects, Stanton Williams, Jamie Fobert Architects, Caruso St John Architects and Witherford Watson Mann Architects.
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
4
5
3
6
4 SINGAPORE
5 CHINA
6 UK
UNStudio reveals Vshaped tower in Singapore
Guangzhou Opera House by Hadid picks up prize
Hadid denies blame for restricted Olympic views
Dutch firm UNStudio has revealed its striking design ‘V on Shenton’ in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. The two-towered project features a 23-storey office building, which remains in line with its neighbours, and a 53-storey residential block which stands out from the surrounding buildings. A third sky lobby in the residential section marks a change to the internal layout with a split core.
The spectacular Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid was honoured by Architectural Record as the standout public project in China. The 70,000m2 scheme was awarded ‘Best Public Project’ in the magazine’s Good Design Is Good Business China Awards 2012. Completed in 2010, the building was designed to host Chinese and Western operas, as well as being an open and accessible civic centre complex.
Meanwhile, Hadid has denied blame for restricted views of the diving events in the London 2012 Aquatics Centre. Around 600 tickets were sold to spectators aparently unaware of the restrictions. A statement from the architect said: “The brief for the building from LOCOG was to provide 5,000 spectator seats with uninterrupted views....The centre actually provides over 8,000 seats with uninterrupted views.”
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
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FRONT | SEPTEMBER
THE BIG PICTURE
FISHY FACADES Taken by Lester Ali, this image captures the fish gill facades of Emirates Park Hotel & Towers, which has taken shape in Dubai’s Business Bay.
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ANALYSIS | FACADE TECHNOLOGY
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
FACADE TECHNOLOGY | ANALYSIS
Is media facade technology catching on in the Middle East? Aidan Imanova investigates ANALYSIS
E
ver since the popularisation of billboards in the early 20th century, the advertisement has become an intrinsic part of any city, from Muscat to Moscow. With the development of media façades, a new wave of communication has emerged that is integrated with architecture. Yet are clients and designers in the Middle East region embracing this new technique of advertising?
“The media façade has generated huge interest in the region and has already proven to be very successful for the building owner,” says Gareth Reid, Middle East sales manager at Citiled, a company specialising in LED technology and video systems. The firm has worked on the King’s Road Tower media façade in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which has been operational for the past three years. Reid continues: “The success of a media façade systemis
www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
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ANALYSIS | FACADE TECHNOLOGY
American Eagle Flagship store, Times Square, NYC; Thomas Schielke
is determined by the level of integration you can achieve, both in terms of design and day-to-day building operations. Finding this balance is the challenge of any media façade.” Thomas Schielke, an architect and researcher of architectural lighting, remarks that media façades need to be adapted to the local environment. “The Islamic environment has a long tradition of non-figurative art. This could be an influencing factor for projects in a conservative environment,” he says. Ben van Berkel, co-founder and principal architect of Amsterdambased UNStudio, agrees: “Media facades need to have an integral local quality, so they need to be connected to local needs, local interests, and local policies. It is not so important where and how much we can use media façades in the future. The important issue is that it is integrated, that it is locally accepted within existing regulations so that it is not obstructing or causing any difficulties.” Crucially, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Hotel reserves its space as a billboard for branding, according to Schielke. “The building obtains vast media attention during the Formula 1 race which is crucial for a successful worldwide communication strategy. The amorphous roof structure with the dynamic luminous grid has almost become as relevant for the brand image of the hotel as the daytime appearance,” he says.Schielke observes that media facades have become beacons for advertising and branding with an agenda that goes beyond its
1,400M2 SIZE OF MEDIA
decorative function. many flagship stores in FACADE “In the last decade, metropolitan areas have many media façades started to use media facades emerged worldwide . What is to form their corporate visual apthe driving factor for this new trend? pearance. Branding is a driving factor Is it mainly technical advances with to install media facades today.” LED lighting and control technology Van Berkel is also familiar with or does a major cultural influence the trend of using media facades as exist? You can easily observe that a billboard. “Often the client will want a series of brands placed on the façade. They argue that it would be nice to have Louis Vuitton and all the high-end brand names displayed on it,” he says. “But I argue that it is much more preferable to approach the facade as a combination of different messages that you would like to communicate.” “That is the function of the media façade in my opinion; that you facilitate communication with a structure that is not so one dimensionally brand oriented, but instead creates a condiWe find quite a lot of sites where media façades reveal tion where the building becomes more like a museum and a commerthe impression of a decorated shed where a small screen cial centre at the same time.” has been added to a big façade, which is not closely UNStudio’s Galleria Centercity, a linked to the architectural design.” mall in Cheonan, South Korea, displays one of the largest media facades Thomas Schielke, architect and researcher of architectural lighting of its kind. It is made up of two layers of customised aluminum extrusion profiles on top of a back layer of alu-
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
ANALYSIS | FACADE TECHNOLOGY
UNStudio’s Galleria Centercity department store, Cheonan, South Korea. Photo: Kim Yong-Kwan.
minum cladding. The vertical profiles of the top layer are straight, but those of the back layer are angled. This results in the wave-like appearance, which changes with the viewpoint of the spectator. For Schielke, the main role of media facades is to echo or correlate with the overall function of the architecture. “We find quite a lot of sites where media facades reveal the impression of a decorated shed where a small screen has been added to a big façade, which is not closely linked to the architectural design. The proportion, form and content don’t cultivate a tight relationship with the building. A lack of authenticity occurs between the media façade and the building with regards to content and form,” he says. Reid remarks that Citiled tries to keep a close tie between the facade and architecture. He says: “Ideally we get involved during the design stage to ensure sensitivity to the building design and to adapt around the building use and its tenants.” If media facades work well in the entertainment and advertising
sector, should the next step involve the use of media facades as communication tools? Schielke says: “The change should not be reduced to the level of media replacing billboards with me1dia facades and keeping the advertisement. Excess advertisements annoy people. Take a look at Singapore; Orchard Road is a fascinating example where media facades have outplayed billboards due to their artistic dimension. A highclass aesthetic appearance is more favourable than a banal commercial broadcasting instrument for luxury shopping malls.” He continues: “The American Eagle Flagship store in New York’s Times Square symbolises an extreme example where the media façade covers the whole building with a highresolution screen and fashion videos by the brand are displayed on a large scale. The impression is more like watching TV on an urban scale. An architectural façade does not exist anymore. The LED screen dissolves the architecture.” Van
63%
BUILDING COVERAGE
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
Berkel also objects towards this form of TV façade. “They are only effective if they go beyond the TV screen, because if they are just large scale, high density screens then they don’t do their job well enough; they are simply a surface that is unrelated to the architecture or the organisation of the building that supports them. I think you need to think of new forms of representational tools, to represent how architecture, communication and media can interact,” he says. There are other issues regarding LED technology that leave question marks over media façades. Schielke explains that media façade technology is very young compared to traditional façades such as steel and glass. Reid adds: “Top quality LED lamps can now be operational for up to 60,000 to 100,000 hours before the lamps reach down to 50% brightness. Choosing the right LED lamp for either application is critical.” But even with top quality lamps, Schielke thinks that LED technology is still a challenge. “For a natural nocturnal image, many media façades are too bright and contain high colour contrasts and fast changes in their luminous patterns. This is a challenge for companies that would like to send out an ecological and natural image. They need to come up with wise adjustments regarding the content and technology.” “One approach, for example, is to include photovoltaic elements, like the GreenPIX media façade in Beijing, to avoid the argument of non-regenerative energy consumption. The brightness and lighting distribution of media facades can also contribute
COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER
FLYING HIGH EDITOR’S LETTER
How important is the design of an airport?
GOT A COMMENT? If you have any comments to make on this month’s issue, please e-mail oliver. ephgrave @itp.com
S
omething noticeable about this month’s issue is that we’ve covered a lot of airports. I have to admit that this was unintentional. We always try to feature the most interesting projects in the region, and it just so happened that three major airports in the Middle East emerged recently. One of these, Bodrum International Airport, by Turkish fi rm Tabanlioglu, has been completed. The architect’s specific aim was to create a holiday-like atmosphere, with high ceilings, optimum daylighting, minimal columns and quality materials. Although perhaps not as spectacular as some of Tabanlioglu’s other projects, namely its Tripoli Congress Centre in Libya, Bodrum airport certainly has the fi rm’s familiar touch of panache. The design of Jeddah’s new airport was also revealed last month. With interiors by Areen, the design has a decidedly Arabic flavour to it. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is moving forward with its huge Midfield Terminal by KPF, also featured as a case study this month. An airport that is certainly spectacular, and one that I have person-
Bodrum International Airport.
ally experienced, is Madrid-Barajas Terminal Four. Designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers, it’s the only airport I’ve visited and felt compelled to take photographs of the architecture. Just like Bodrum airport, the architect’s aim was to make passengers feel at ease. When I landed in 2008 in Madrid, I felt exactly that. I was in no hurry to leave the airport, merely content to admire the undulating wooden ceiling and the colourful tree-like pillars. My least favourite airport would have to be the one I’m most familiar
Although perhaps not as spectacular as some of Tabanlioglu’s other projects, namely its Tripoli Congress Centre in Libya, Bodrum airport certainly has the firm’s familiar touch of panache.
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with: London Heathrow. The more recent terminal buildings, such as Rogers’ Terminal Five, are slick if not jawdropping. Yet the size and sprawling nature of the airport is daunting and soul-destroying. Furthermore, the overall passenger experience is marred by the support facilities - confusing traffic systems, badly designed car parks and an overriding grim environment. Even if the best terminal in the world was built in Heathrow, you’d probably feel depressed as soon as you stepped outside. It would be too much to say that the design of an airport can make or break a trip, but it can certainly affect a passenger’s short term mood and fi rst impressions of a destination. This partly explains why the likes of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Jeddah are pouring vast sums of money into grand airport projects.
COMMENT | GEORGINA CHAKAR
BOUNDARY PUSHER OPINION The UAE’s construction boom led to the development of pioneering technologies Georgina Chakar is an Australian architect and a Master of Urban Planning. She works in Abu Dhabi
T
he fast and gigantic development of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the first decade of the new millennium made a positive impact not only on those directly involved, but on the entire world. An army of people were facing challenging projects and had access to innovative construction technologies, pioneering methods for creating manmade islands and equipment used for extraordinary building services. At the slowdown of the construction and development of the Middle East countries and the entire world, we are looking once again at the lessons learned and ask the question: “Is the UAE utilising and even exporting the experience it gained during the construction boom?” In this context the meaning of the word ‘experience’ does not refer to the Burj Khalifa as the first tallest
structure in history to include residential space. Neither does it refer to Capital Gate, a building in Abu Dhabi built to lean 18 degrees westwards more than four times that the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The pursuant analysis uses the above mentioned and many other projects to highlight the new technologies created to achieve the vision of the local leaders; technologies that the world would appreciate and use as a stepping stone to move forward. Burj Khalifa is certainly a success to start with. The world’s highest elevators are installed, situated inside a rod at the very top of the building. These elevators are the world’s fastest, created to travel 64 km/h or 18 m/sec. The highest vertical concrete pumping was invented and used for the making of Burj Khalifa, ejecting concrete up to 600m. Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is known for its pre-cambered core.
Is the UAE benefiting from its latest pioneering investments? I believe it certainly is, and the results will be visible in the years to come.”
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In addition, the engineers invented the buttressed core structural system; a core reinforced by three buttresses forming the ‘Y’ shape. Other pioneers in reclaiming land from the sea and creating eco-friendly environments were Dutch construction firms who were carrying out engineering work on the Palm Jumeirah. Their technology of churning out the bottom of the sea some 90 million cubic metres of sand is just a stepping stone to more advanced technologies in the future. The use of the pre-cambered core was not known to the world until this innovative construction technique was implemented in the Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi. 15,000 cubic metres of concrete, reinforced with 10,000 tonnes of steel were installed in the building core. What happened in the Emirates doesn’t just stay in the Emirates. The new standards set in construction and the new inventions in the technology, the new materials created, the lifestyle, the new developments introduced and the embellishment of the desert by the sophisticated landscaping and the recycled waters for irrigation are just the beginning of the new era in design and engineering. Is the UAE benefiting from its latest investments? I believe it certainly is, and the results will be visible in the years to come. Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular will remain the cradle of the inventions and the gate to sophisticated development in the construction industry in the new millennium.
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COMMENT | ANDREW KELLY
SAFE AND SOUND OPINION Should designers be thinking more about security? Andrew Kelly is an associate with Buro Happold Safe and Secure and is based in the Abu Dhabi offi ce
S
ociety is evolving at a great rate across the globe. The advance of social media, recent changes to established political regimes around the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the role of the masses in affecting step change, has been more evident in recent years. These advances and adjustments are causing rapid societal behaviour shifts which mean that many environments where we live, work and visit are now facing a different and more diverse set of threats to our wellbeing. Most of the recent regional unrest started in city environments and this, along with the increasing perception of external influences on society, has made the development of safe and secure urban ecosystems much
more challenging, sophisticated and important. It is apparent that gradually the focus of security is shifting from a narrow and isolated building or plot level approach into one that takes into account the wider space that surrounds the built environment. Emphasis is now given at district, city or even regional levels which can significantly enhance safety and security at an individual building level and lead to the realisation of huge cost and operational efficiencies. High profile national emergencies have also necessitated a fresh approach to safety and security. The need for security and emergency planning for catastrophes remains a primary interest. Natural disasters
Rapid growth in Middle East cities is creating security issues .
It is apparent that gradually the focus of security is shifting from a narrow and isolated building or plot level approach into one that takes in to account the wider space that surrounds the built environment.”
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such as tsunami, flooding, conflagration, stampede and pandemics are all very real, and only effective planning, training and management can minimise their impacts on the often fragile communities they devastate. It’s very easy for governments and authorities to become complacent especially when such threats happen so infrequently. Cities such as Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat and Riyadh are experiencing or planning rapid population growth over the next few decades, as their economies diversify away from petrochemicals to other activities such as tourism, manufacturing, research and development and finance. But this growth comes with its own security problems. This will require developments and buildings to consider crime prevention measures from the outset in order to reduce the impact on national reputation, the economy, and police resources. The development of safety and security solutions is largely based on human behaviour and interaction with the environment. This means that as designers we can make the greatest impacts when we work together with architects, urban planners and their teams in envisioning how their virtual environments should react and respond to these threats. An integrated approach to safety and security at the earliest stages of a project can reap huge aesthetic and financial benefits, reducing the impact and constraints on the built environment to give much more flexibility to designers and planners.
INTERVIEW | STEVEN NILLES
FINE FELLOW THE INTERVIEW
Steven Nilles, partner in charge of Goettsch Partners’ new Abu Dhabi office, tells Oliver Ephgrave about the company’s regional expansion and his recent elevation to the AIA College of Fellows
W
hen an architect rents space in a building they created, it’s a pretty good indication that they’re proud of their work. Given that Goettsch Partners has leased an office in Tower One of Sowwah Square, it’s safe to assume that the Chicago-headquartered firm is more than happy with its megascheme for Mubadala. Sitting in the fully-glazed corner of the seveth floor office, partner in charge Steven Nilles is clearly thrilled about the new location. “Not many architects can say they work in their own building. We knew there was an intangible benefit to being here,” he beams. “People really enjoy coming here and we like people visiting. So much goes into delivering a project like this; it was a labour of love.” Niles elaborates on his background and how he became an ar-
chitect. “I grew up in Barbara North Dakota and ever since childhood I was fascinated with art and design and construction. “At high school I had the opportunity to visit an architecture office. As soon as I walked in I saw that you get to draw and design. So I went to the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, for my architectural degree. He continues: “After that it was just non-stop. I moved to Chicago and got picked up by Helmut Jahn. I did commercial work in every major city in the US. When things slowed there we were active in Europe.” After 16 years with Helmut Jahn, with a focus on international work, Nilles yearned for work closer to home. The formation of Goettsch Partners came out of this desire, as Nilles explains. “We had an opportunity to join forces with Jim Goettsch who had been the number two guy at Helmut Jahn for many years. Goettsch
partners was set up. We now have 85 people in Chicago; a lot of those guys have been there for 25 to 30 years.” Around four years ago, Nilles moved to Abu Dhabi to deliver the Sowwah Square project, following in the footsteps of associate Matthew Berglund. Nilles continues: “Matthew was the first guy to come over full time. Then we were asked to do the construction documents and the construction administration.We had a longer term plan, so we decided to commit. We were one of the first tenants to sign a lease.” For architects with projects in the region, it is integral to have an office on the ground, according to Nilles. “You have got to live here to experience it, to sweat it, and really understand the value of shade and the scarcity of water. When you look at ecological design, it has a different meaning here. “Matthew and I started this job from day one and we are still here.
“You have got to live here to experience it, to sweat it, and really understand the value of shade and the scarcity of water.” Steven Nilles
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STEVEN NILLES | INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW | AUKETT FITZROY ROBINSON
Nilles moved to Abu Dhabi after associate Matthew Berglund (above right).
We want to make sure that no stone is left unturned. If you are not here, there is a chance that something in the drawings gets lost in translation.” Currently the office contains four full-time employees. Nilles adds: “There’s space for 12. We have a fiveyear lease commitment and we’re going to expand as the market dictates. “Things have slowed down here in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere but we still see opportunity; our firm is somewhat unique as we do big jobs but we’re managed like a small business. We give very personal attention to every one of our projects. There is a limit to how we will expand globally. “We’ve now got offices in Chicago, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai; in reality we will never exceed, nor will we want to, beyond 120 people.” This personal attention is reflected in the Sowwah Square scheme, according to Nilles. He adds: “You know how hot it is out there today. If you were to sit in a typical Abu Dhabi office in an all-glass corner you are going to bake. We have discharge air going through this cavity before it goes out of the building. The glass is as cool as a cucumber.
keep going in a good office with good daylighting.” Another facet of Sowwah Square is its green credentials. Nilles adds that the scheme is certified LEED Gold. There is no Estidama rating as the project began before the establishment of the system. “If this project was started again with the Estidama programme, there may be things that we do differently,” he remarks. “The Estidama programme is more fine tuned to the Middle East market - they did a good job on that. “A lot of thought went into these The water use has been given more column-free corners. Every other emphasis and rightly so.” office you see out there has a column When it comes to Goettsch Partnear the corner - what do you do with ners’ projects in the wider region, the space behind it?” Nilles reveals that the company is He adds that there is a lack of working on a commercial developquality office space in Abu Dhabi. “In ment for Al Halal Bank, on the same terms of our assessment of the market island as Sowwah Square, due to be here, there is very little of what we delivered in September 2013. consider Class A Plus, international Nilles adds: “We’re also doing a standard office space. This is in terms couple of large hospitality projects in of floor plate size, column-free lease Saudi including a 1,000-key Hilton in spaces, Category A finishes, and Riyadh. It was selected as Hilton’s deenvironmental improvements. sign of the year - they are very excited “We took everything that we know, about it and we are too. from projects all over the world, and “We’re pursuing other work in Abu applied it in this marketplace. There Dhabi, Bahrain and Doha. This is a are things here that we couldn’t afford great place for us to be. In Saudi we in a speculative development - even have been teaming up with Omrania the highest level of quality in the US. & Associates, an architectural and It’s been a great opportunity for us to engineering firm in Riyadh.” take advantage of this From Nilles’ perspective, the marketplace.” Middle East market has Nilles believes improved. He continues: that companies “The financial situation has should take a stabilised and the worst is ESTABLISHMENT OF closer look at the behind us. Even in markets GOETTSCH PARTNERS design of their that don’t have a net growth, offices. “It affects for commercial office space absenteeism and there is consolidation going, with productivity. You just mergers and acquisitions. There is
2005
“ I’m a throwback to the way that architects used to be - doing design, technical and construction. I don’t have a particular specialty.” Steven Nilles
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STEVEN NILLES | INTERVIEW
always a need for the best of the best in terms of products. It’s good to see that happening.” However, he notes that the Chinese market has recently overtaken the Middle East as a revenue generator for the company. “Five years ago, 50% of our revenues were coming out of the Middle East. Now 50% are coming out of China.” Nilles’ ever-expanding portfolio, spanning 30 years, has not gone unnoticed; earlier this year he was elevated to the American Institute of Architect’s elite College of Fellows . He remarks: “I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated - there is a select group within the AIA. It analyses your whole career’s body of work and it was nice to be a part of that group. “I have taken a different track than most architects. Other partners in the firm would be classified as pure design directors. I’m a throwback to the way that architects used to be - doing design, technical and construction. I don’t have a particular specialty but it was very encouraging that they assessed my overall body of work.” With a smile on his face, Nilles thinks back over the process. “It was a humbling experience - it forced you to go back and collect letters of reference from people you worked with 20 years ago and revisit the portfolio you were involved in. “We are always moving a mile a minute. I don’t really stay on top of what I’ve done - I’m very focused on the current situation and moving forward. It was a good lesson to look back, and also realise how many people have helped you as a design professional. “I don’t think architects spend enough time looking back at what they’ve done. It makes us realise that we’ve done a lot of pretty good stuff.”
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Natural Leather Bonded MDF Panels
Kitchen Door Fronts in Polygloss Magnolia U1379
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PORTFOLIO | STEVEN NILLES
W HILTON RIYADH A joint design effort of Goettsch Partners and Omrania & Associates, this complex in Riyadh for Hilton includes a 650-key hotel tower and serviced apartment tower with 250 units. It covers a total area of 111,000m2.
X SOWWAH SQUARE, ABU DHABI Developed by Mubadala, Sowwah Square is the quadruple-towered centrepiece of Abu Dhabi’s new commercial business district and headquarters for the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. T AL HALAL BANK HQ, ABU DHABI Due for completion in late 2013, this office development for Al Halal bank is located on the same island as Sowwah Square.
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LEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT 18th September 2012, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,Dubai
The Leaders in Construction Summit 2012 is the Middle East’s premier platform to discuss the most pressing issues facing the region’s contractors and developers. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n w e e k o n l i n e . c o m / c o n f e r e n c e s FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: CARLO MENEZES SPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER, CARLO.MENEZES@ITP.COM DIRECT: +971 4 444 3306 GSM: +971 56 798 1967
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Case study Ondrej Nepela Arena
Sport Hall Client: Ingsteel, s.r.o. Investor: Bratislava city Architect: Dušan Fischer and Team Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Building type:
Qbiss One took part at Ice Hockey World Championship Slovakian for the first time in world ice hockey history hosted the world’s best teams at the 75th IIHF World Championship. Bratislava and Košice with their new sport halls hosted all the matches. Trimo was part of this championship, as the Bratislava sport hall includes 4,000 m2 of the Qbiss One* facade system. The World Championship demanded a complete transformation.
A complete transformation Ondrej Nepela Arena was the central scene of the 2011 World Championship. The “granny” of the sport halls (it’s history goes back to 1940) was undergoing a thorough transformation to meet the demands of the championship. The main objective of the project was to increase the capacities of the spectator area, build a warmup hall, as well as increase safety and comfort by removing the support columns which were blocking direct views. The latest state-of-the-art timing and signalling technology has been installed and underground garage has been expanded by more than 760 new parking spaces. Trimo participated by supplying the new modular facade system Qbiss One, which was used on the outside envelope of the sport hall.
»Qbiss One was the best and the quickest solution«, said Milan Lavrincik, technical director at Ingsteel, developing holding company, one of the strongest in Slovakia.
The essence of a successful project lies in details For this project Trimo developed a prefabricated Qbiss One corner element, which connects two sides by an angle. The speciality of this solution is that there are two facades joining under angle of 18° with two different module widths by one corner element. * Qbiss One uses Colorcoat Prisma®
Trimo UK Ltd, UAE Branch office | Level 19, Monarch Office Tower | Office 1907 | One Sheikh Zayed Road | P.O Box 333840 | Dubai, UAE t: +971 4 7050401 | m: +971 505093153 | dubai@trimo.org.uk | www.qbiss.eu | www.trimo.org.uk
SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK
PARK LIFE Oliver Ephgrave visits Al Bateen Park, Aldar’s huge Emirati housing scheme which is nearing completion in the heart of Abu Dhabi
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AL BATEEN PARK | SITE VISIT
L
ess than three weeks before the fi rst handover, Aldar’s whitewashed Al Bateen Park housing scheme is teeming with activity. While hard-hatted construction workers patrol the 100,000m2 scheme in Abu Dhabi, a meaty stack of construction drawings is piling up on the desks in the site office of architect Dewan. “These are just the top priority drawings for today,” remarks Imad Sadiq, resident engineer for the UAE-based fi rm. “We have a busy few
weeks ahead of us - we’re currently on the presnagging stage; the contractor has to address our comments before we move onto snagging.” The huge residential project for Emirati nationals, in the affluent Al Bateen district, is divided into two parcels. The smaller plot, which covers 33,000m2 with nine blocks and 284 apartments, is due to be delivered at the end of August. Meanwhile, the larger plot, covering 66,000m2, is pencilled for delivery at the end of
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SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK
September. It contains three blocks of apartments as well as 75 villas. Ten of these are six-bed superluxury homes with their own private pools, while the remainder is made up of 25 four-bed townhouses and Wooden Arabic 40 four-bed villas. An unusual feature of the site, and panels enliven the white facades. the scheme itself, is that it surrounds
Al Bateen cemetery. According to scale; the project duration was just Sadiq, this proved to be a challenge 20 months. for the architects. “We are planting “It was on hold for many years, trees around the cemetery boundary. then Dewan was asked to start from It will be a curtain through which zero, but just adopt the initial conyou can’t see. It is a big challenge cept. We started design in 2010.” in dealing with the cemetery. More Sadiq explains that the main landscaping will be planted on it.” package is worth $538m, while the Yann Pennes, projects director, enabling package was $25m, both Dewan, adds: “We created a visual won by contractor Seidco. Dewan continuity and urban feel all around was appointed as lead consultant, the site, therefore the cemetery following conceptual work by Serremains private.” He explains that a endipity. The MEP consultant is Ian separate park adjoins the cemetery, Banham & Associates. which can be accessed by residents. Described as an ‘Arabesque’ Another challenge, style on Aldar’s website, Pennes according to Sadiq, elaborates on the aesthetics. “We tried to create a more is the client’s tight timeframe. He contemporary version of elaborates: “A Arab buildings. We used 2 big challenge is a new type of mashrabithe fast track ya screens and placed GROSS FLOOR AREA and the large them in different areas.”
120,000M
“Aldar launched the project seven months ago and sold it to locals. In certain sections they have sold every unit. It’s interesting to have such a project in the recession.” Imad Sadiq, resident engineer, Dewan
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SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK
Courtyards, playgrounds and swimming pools will take shape.
He continues: “There is a deeper skin to the buildings - they are more insulated and energy efficient. This was to create the traditional Arabian feel. We mixed the rendered walls with wooden elements, in the form of pergolas and screens, to enhance the appearance of the buildings.” In addition the mashrabiya panels, the villas contain stone cladding on the entrance facades to “give a private feel” according to Pennes. The flat roofs and clean white render lends the development an almost art deco quality. Aside from the Arabic panels, the apartment
blocks would not look out of place in the suburbs of London. However, the scheme with take on a decidedly Middle Eastern flavour once the landscaping is completed. Dewan was involved in the overall landscape design while other landscape services were provided by Badri and Bensouda and Citiscape. “The landscaping will be a traditional style, with palm trees, vines and turf,” adds Sidiq. He reveals that the 10 six-bed villas will have tailor-made back gardens,
$538m
MAIN CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE
Our design brief was to create a contemporary university that would rival the leading education infrastructure projects around the world.” Greg Howlett, director for Cox Architecture
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AL BATEEN PARK | SITE VISIT
with end-users able to choose the plantation. Pennes adds: “It will be a residential and family orientated landscape. The atmosphere will be very easy going; basic but quality. We arranged clusters of open space throughout, in both hard and soft landscaping, to break up urban fabric.” Other outdoor components include fountains and sculptures, sandstone pool decks, childrens’ play areas with tensile canopies and a tennis court in the larger plot. The scheme also contains two separate retail areas, with a coffee shop/restaurant that is open to the general public. Access control will ensure the public can’t enter the residential area. There is also a boundary wall between the two plots, even though the scheme is viewed as one community, according to Sadiq.
When it comes to the design of the interiors, Pennes admits that the style is uncomplicated. “It’s a straightforward approach which harmonises with the modern Arabian feel. It’s an international style with open spaces and kitchens.” Pennes’ description seems apt as the tour move inside an apartment block. The spaces are clean-lined and functional, with no extensive elaboration. Naturally the top floor penthouses enjoy the best views over Abu Dhabi and the surrounding cemetery and parkland. In a 2010 Aldar press release, chief commercial officer, Mohammed al Mubarak, said: “This is going to be a great place to live that signals just how strong the underlying market for residential developments is in the heart of Abu Dhabi.” Indeed, al Mubarak’s statement is backed up by a strong demand in the
“There is a deeper skin to the buildings - they are more insulated and energy efficient. This was to create the traditional Arabian feel. We mixed the rendered plaster with wooden elements, in the form of pergolas and screens.” Yann Pennes, projects director, Dewan
The site was teeming with workers at the time of visit.
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SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK
are designed to evoke a traditional Arabian feel.
scheme. “Aldar launched the project seven months ago and sold it to locals. In certain sections they have sold every unit. It’s interesting to have such a project in the recession,” adds Sidiq. One of the key reasons for its popularity is its central location. Situated between Khaleej al Arabi and Sultan bin Zayed streets, a stone’s throw from the centre of town, it’s close to the impressive Al Bateen Secondary School, also developed by Aldar and designed by Dewan. Pennes adds: “We hope it will be a different type of offering in the city, with mid-rise luxury apartments and freestanding villas. It’s a quality of life that you would find outside the centre of the city.” Another notable aspect of the scheme is its sustainable credentials. Pennes reveals that the project is
gunning for a Pearl rating, but is complying with the 1 Pearl mandatory requirements for ‘Community’. He adds: “Energy savings are achieved through the envelope insulation, solar hot water system and energy efficient appliances. Water
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savings are achieved through landscape specification/irrigation and sanitary fittings flow rate controls. “It’s one of the fi rst residential projects to go for Estidama, so it was a learning curve at every stage of design and construction.”
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SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK
AL BATEEN PARK Technical drawings supplied by Dewan
SITE PLAN Enveloping the Al Bateen cemetery in the middle, the development is slit into two plots. The smaller one on the left, covering 33,000m2, is due to be delivered at the end of August. Meanwhile, the larger plot, covering 66,000m2, is pencilled for delivery at the end of September. It contains three blocks of apartments as well as 75 villas and townhouses.
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AL BATEEN PARK | SITE VISIT
ELEVATION - APARTMENT BLOCKS These elevations depict the five storey apartment blocks with basement parking spaces. Balconies, pergolas and mashrabiya panels reflect the Arabic feel to the development. The top floor penthouses enjoy sweeping views over the parkland and the city skyline.
ELEVATION - VILLAS The site contains 75 villas, all conrained in the largest plot which is due for delivery at the end of September. The materials are similar to the apartment blocks, although stone cladding is also used in the entrance sections.
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JAIDAH SQUARE | CASE STUDY
JAIDAH SQUARE Designers: Woods Bagot, MZ & Partners and United Designers Location: Doha, Qatar CASE STUDY
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CASE STUDY | JAIDAH SQUARE
THE PROJECT Built for Jaidah Group, this seven-storey commercial office building broke ground in 2009 and is now nearly complete. The initial concept was given to Woods Bagot to create an ‘inversion of the ordinary’. After the team created the building’s primary plan, MZ & Partners further cultivated the building’s aesthetic as consultant of record. United Designers of London completed the detailed architectural design for the colour of the glass, the showroom facades and the fit out in the communal areas. Naqsh panels and geometric patterns were modernised and used as a motif in the building and landscaping. White Young managed all aspects of the project’s development.
THE SITE Located in downtown Doha, Jaidah Square is situated on Airport Road, and acts as a centre for local and international businesses. Jaidah Square is the largest commercial office nearest to the New Doha International Airport. The property has 662 parking bays spread over three basement levels. Housed in the centre of the atrium are eight passenger lifts, one VIP and one service lifts. On either side of the atrium are two 2,300m2 showrooms, both with 1,300m2 mezzanine levels with each of the subsequent floors being 4,000m2.
70,000M2 TOTAL CONSTRUCTIBLE AREA
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JAIDAH SQUARE | CASE STUDY
THE CONCEPT Creative director for United Designers Ian Bayliss said: “We hope to have created a luxurious space that will be a completely new concept in office design for Doha and a fi rst for the city.” Energy efficient features include high density roof insulation, waterless urinals and high efficiency chillers on the roof. All the lighting in communal areas is set to 30%, with the rest on a lighting control module. NUMBER OF LIFTS 50% of the offices have been taken and the building will be officially opened later this year.
10
THE DETAILS Commenting on the details, Nicholas Young, building manager for Jaidah Group, said: “The ceiling height in the atrium is eight metres and it still remains cool. This is primarily thanks to the glass. Most offices usually toughen the glass inside and out. We’ve laminated the outside and then toughened the inside. “If you just laminate without toughening it is very dangerous if it breaks as you get the shards. It really does offer a really efficient solar solution. From the outside it’s almost black where as from the inside it appears to be clear.”
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DISASTER PREVENTION AND EDUCATIONAIRPORT CENTRE | CASE STUDY BODRUM INTERNATIONAL
BODRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Architect: Tabanlioglu Location: Bodrum, Turkey CASE STUDY
THE PROJECT Bodrum International Airport, designed by Turkish architecture fi rm Tabanlioglu, was completed in June this year, with a construction timeframe of 15 months. It is located in the Aegean coastal city of Bodrum in the south of Turkey, a historic port and major tourist destination. The 455,000m2 building consists of two main structures, an ‘air side’ of transparent glass and steel linear 2 scaffold which connects to the planes and a ‘land side’ terminal AREA OF THE FACILITY building. Primary elements are organised to provide easy circulation for passengers within the terminal.
455,000M
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CASE STUDY | BODRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
15 MONTHS CONSTRUCTION
THE DETAILS
TIMEFRAME
Tabanlioglu’s aim was to create a holiday-like atmosphere rather than a monotonous experience. The terminal is designed to put passengers at ease with the use of high ceilings, optimum daylighting through the sides and roof, and a minimal amount of columns. Accessing the terminal via glass bridges, passengers pass over a green landscape arranged with banana and olive trees and daphnia. The various areas of the facade contain opaque, screen printed or sheer glass and local natural stone, while local black marble is used on the floor.
www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
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MIDFIELD TERMINAL | CASE STUDY
THE PROJECT
69,000 TONNES OF STEEL
54
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
Earlier this summer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and the joint venture of TAV, CCC, and Arabtec signed an $2.9bn contract for the construction of the Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. With ground works already underway, the opening of the airport is planned in 2017. The scheme is the centrepiece of ADAC’s multibillion-dollar investment programme which will provide a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, and duty-free shops and restaurants for up to 50 million passengers a year.
CASE STUDY | MIDFIELD TERMINAL
MIDFIELD TERMINAL Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates Location: Abu Dhabi CASE STUDY
THE SITE Midfield Terminal is located between Abu Dhabi International Airport’s two runways, which gives the terminal its name. This location allows for the quickest possible journey from runway to stand. The complex will include 20,00025,000m2 of retail and F&B outlets, set around an 8,400m2 indoor park, with Mediterranean plants and features at its centre and desert landscapes at the edge. Associated support buildings take up an additional 800,000m2, and will include access to 16-20 aircraft parking stands dedicated to cargo.
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MIDFIELD TERMINAL | CASE STUDY
THE CONCEPT The X-shape of the plan enables the terminal to house 49 gates. Passenger facilities and duty-free retail will include high-end commercial facilities covering more than 18,000m2, with over 27,500m2 of airline hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum. As the largest terminal in Abu Dhabi, the central space will be able to hold three full-sized football pitches. With a height of 52m, the departure hall creates an openness that allows for a smooth and strong connectivity between outdoor landscaping and indoor civic space.
THE DETAILS The new terminal is designed to achieve a minimum Two Pearl Rating in Estidama. High-performance and angled glass facades will limit heat entering the building, improving the efficiency of the air condi-
tioning while providing day lighting for interior spaces. Solid cladding has also been integrated in the design, further reducing the impact of the sun. It will be constructed using approximately 69,000
tonnes of steel, more than 680,000 cubic metres of concrete, nearly 500,000m2 of steel and glass cladding, 135,000 tonnes of rebar, 360,000m2 of suspended ceilings and around 325,000m2 of natural stone ooring.
52M
HEIGHT OF DEPARTURE HALL
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
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CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
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NEO BANKSIDE | CASE STUDY
NEO BANKSIDE Designers: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Location: London, UK CASE STUDY
THE CONCEPT The brief was to design a modern landmark providing a high quality residential element within a vibrant mixed-use scheme. The conďŹ guration of the buildings fronting onto Southwark Street creates a new marker for the area, helping to signal the main approach to Tate Modern. Five individual buildings step in height in response to the neighbouring properties while the arrangement encourages public permeability through the site, further enhanced by retail units.
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CASE STUDY | NEO BANKSIDE
THE PROJECT Picking up two International Property Awards in 2011, Neo Bankside was designed by Richard Rogersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ rm, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The development contains a range of six to 24 storey buildings with 229 residential units and a total residential provision of 28,600m 2 . Situated in the Bankside area of London, the scheme forms a linking between Southwark, the Thames and the Tate Modern. Apartments vary from studios to four bedrooms as well as STOREYS penthouses. Retail units are situated TALLEST OF THE FIVE at ground level with an additional area BUILDINGS in the basement.
24
THE SITE Bankside is one of the oldest parts of Southwark. The area has recently seen change and regeneration, encouraged by developments such as Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge. Neo Banskide occupies a complex, irregular space between Southwark, Sumner and Holland Streets, with a mix of buildings ranging from the large volumes and heights of Tate Modern and an office development to a series of adjacent historic twostorey almshouses.
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NEO BANKSIDE | CASE STUDY
THE DETAILS
28,600M
‘Winter gardens’ - in2 ternally glazed balconies - are featured on the TOTAL RESIDENTIAL north and south ends PROVISION of each of the buildings. External glass lifts provide river views and remove the need for internal structural walls, creating highly flexible internal spaces for the development. The views from in and out of the apartments are controlled by a cladding system with the use of timber louvered screens set between layers of a double glazed façade. As well as softening the aesthetic of the façade, the screens also function as solar shades for the apartments, reducing solar heat gain.
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PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK
THE WORK PROJECT UPDATE
MASDAR INSTITUTE
86,138M2 AREA OF PHASE 1B
Lead consultant: RW Armstrong Designer: Foster + Partners Location: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
DISASTER PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CENTRE Architect: Dinkoff Architects and Engineers Location: Istanbul, Turkey
SERPENTINE GALLERY PAVILION
12
NUMBER OF SUPPORTING COLUMNS
62
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
Designers: Herzog & de Meuron with Ai Weiwei Location: London
The Masdar Institute is the fi rst development in Abu Dhabi’s eco-driven Masdar City. It is being developed in phases, with a total planned area of 343,740m2. Construction of the six buildings in Phase 1A commenced in 2007 and was completed in September 2010. Expansion of the existing campus under Phase 1B started in January last year, and is scheduled for completion in Q3 2012, covering 86,138m2.
This disaster prevention centre in Istanbul draws inspiration from ancient cave dwellings. A conference hall and planetarium are each situated at opposite ends of the facility. The conference hall is flanked by an exhibition hall, orientation stage and children’s section, while the planetarium is surrounded by the 4D-video display room, fi re fighting training room and rainstorm simulation section.
Every year since 2000, a different architect has been responsible for creating the Serpentine Gallery’s Summer pavilion for Kensington Gardens, London. The 2012 edition, on display until October 14, features a collaboration between Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. This year’s designers went for an archaeological approach, with excavation revealing the traces of previous pavilions.
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PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK
AL HITMI COMPLEX FRASER SUITES
84
NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS
Location: Doha, Qatar Architect: Norr Group Consultants
ALABDULKARIM TOWER Architect: Dewan Architects & Engineers Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
DONGDAEMUN DESIGN PLAZA AND PARK
50,000
DOUBLE-CURVED EXTERIOR PANELS
Location: Seoul, South Korea Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects and Samoo Architects & Engineers
PARK HYATT ABU DHABI
306
NUMBER OF ROOMS AND SUITES
64
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
Architect: Perkins Eastman Location: Abu Dhabi
Completed in April 2012, the new residential section is the fi nal piece of the jigsaw for Doha’s distinctive Al Hitmi complex, designed by Norr Group Consultants. With a built up area of 27,743m2, the 15-storey tower accommodates a total of 84 units and sits behind the older seven-storey office section. Selective glazing all around provides the living rooms and bedrooms with ample natural light and views of the Corniche.
Dewan has been awarded a contract to design and supervise the construction of a 150m-tall tower in Dammam, KSA. Designed for building material supplier Al-Abdulkarim Holding, the 35-floor structure will contain a total built-up area of 54,846m2. Notable for a dramatically tilting section, the tower is set to open in 2014. Its façade and tilting volumes will create distinctive office spaces on every floor.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza project (DDPP) is a major cultural facility under construction in Seoul. The main client is the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which chose a consortium comprising Zaha Hadid Architects and local fi rm Samoo Architects & Engineers. The 85,000m2 scheme will establish a learning resource for designers and members of the public, with a museum, library and educational facilities.
The fi rst hotel project completed on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, as well as the fi rst Park Hyatt-branded property in the UAE capital, the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas opened its doors in November 2011. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the 306-key 45,000m2 resort is oriented towards the sea, with private villas that line a boardwalk and private beach. The energy-efficient design meets LEED Certified standards.
PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK
WATER DISCUS HOTEL Designer: Deep Ocean Technology Location: Various, including Dubai
TITANIC BELFAST
3,000
ALUMINIUM SHARDS IN THE FACADE
Lead consultant: Todd Architects Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
THE GALLERIES
18M
HEIGHT OF LOBBY SPACES
Architect: Burt Hill Location: Downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai
THE VERTICAL OASIS Architect: Aaron Marriott and Clarissa Wenborn, University of Nottingham Location: Abu Dhabi
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This daring concept for an underwater hotel was conceived by Polish company Deep Ocean Technology (DOT). Drydocks World, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World, signed a deal to become the exclusive main contractor for the hotel concept in the Middle East. Named Water Discus Hotel, the design envisages an ‘ultimate leisure facility’ with a structure that is partly above water and the rest submerged underneath.
This $140m cultural scheme is a strikingly modern homage to the Titanic, located on the site where the ill-fated ship was designed and built. It is the world’s largest ever Titanic-themed visitor attraction and Northern Ireland’s largest tourism project. The building contains nine galleries documenting the Titanic, as well as the maritime history of the city, and a 1,000-seat banqueting suite.
As the flagship project for UAE developer Limitless, the Galleries is a mixed-use scheme in Downtown Jebel Ali containing Grade-A office space, housing and retail space. Since last month, all four towers in the Galleries Offices Buildings are now open, with 70% of the 800,000m2 space already leased. Certified LEED Silver, it consists of two groups of four buildings, separated by a landscaped plaza.
This eco tower for Abu Dhabi was designed as part of a master’s course at the University of Nottingham’s architecture department. The project, called the Vertical Oasis, was created by students Aaron Marriott and Clarissa Wenborn. As suggested by the name, the project aimed to recreate the oasis in the sky, for a site on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, adjacent to the ADIA Tower. It features a series of stacked villages shaded by an outer perforated facade.
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NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONALS IN THE GCC
THE FIRST AND ONLY MIDDLE EAST PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONALS
Sectors covered by Manufacturing Executive Middle East include Motor industry FMCG Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Power and Energy Oil and Gas Construction AUJA N: Ho w the
Joining ITP Business Publishing’s vast stable of construction and energy magazines, Manufacturing Executive Middle East is the first title in the region to address the thriving manufacturing sector, from the primary industry providers smelting aluminium and milling steel, to the SMEs carrying out assembly and finishing work locally.
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Manufacturing Executive Middle East is a must read for professionals from the manufacturing industry across the GCC. It covers all aspects of the industry and keeps its readers up to date with the latest news and trends in the region. It includes in-depth interviews, features and special reports as well as a project focus section that gives full details on upcoming events across the Gulf.
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CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED
LIKE WANT NEED CULTURE
WALL COVERINGS METROPOLIS Claesson Koivisto Rune Swedish architecture and design studio, Claesson Koivisto Rune knit together this urban textile, Metropolis, inspired by its many travelling trips across the globe. Putting together maps of visited cities, the team chose the parts that most appealed to them, later clearing all details except for buildings and streets, reduced to classic black and white. The selected parts of each city were then fused with the other to make a giant city map, a seemingly eternal metropolis. The cities in the textile include Berlin, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo, Prague, Paris, Stockholm and Athens.
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BOOK BALTHAZAR KORAB AB ARCHITECT OF PHOTOGRAPHY John Comazzi Based on the mid-century modernist architecture photographer Balthazar Korab, this illustrated biography by John Comazzi is the fi rst book to be solely dedicated to his life and work. The book includes a portfolio of over 200 images from Korab’s professionally commissioned works, including close examination of Saarinen’s TWA Terminal at J.F.K Airport as well as the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana. Other famous architect’s works include Mies van der Rohe’s S.R. Crown Hall and Le Corbusier’s Carpenter Centre for the Visual Arts at Harvard University.
CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED
ACCESSORIES LITTLE PALM Khalid Shafar The Little Palm stool was created by Khalid Shafar, an Emirati interior designer whose works are generally influenced by the Middle Easte. Little Palm is not only an object of culture and heritage of the UAE, but also a sentimental relic of Khalid’s childhood; a tribute to a tree around which the designer’s father would tell him stories. The palm tree’s ‘trunk’ is made from ash wood with a metal base and traditional hand-woven mats made from dyed palm leaves. Shafar’s Palm collection is now available in Dubai at the D.tails store in DIFC.
OUTDOOR FURNISHING YODA Kenneth Cobonpue The outdoor furniture designed by Kenneth Cobonpue is part of the YODA collection, offering easy chairs, barstools and side chairs as well as couch designs. Made from rattan, a specific type of palm tree that is similar to bamboo in both appearance and texture, the collection adds personality by its unusual look of natural wilderness. The chairs come in both bright and neutral colours, combining a natural and playful design.
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR THE REGIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY
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FUTURE PROOFING THE LAST WORD
Nigel Eckersall, general manager of Tangram Qatar, on the road ahead for the Gulf state Tangram has invested heavily into opening up our local office in Qatar.
The reward of working on visionary projects makes it worth the effort. New York, London and Sydney became the cities they are through international involvement and the sharing of international expertise.
If Doha wants to play level with the other great cities it must have external influence, but it should be through the local office network if possible.
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 Executive Nada Al Alami CIRCULATION Head of Database & Circulation Gaurav Gulati MARKETING Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell Marketing Manager Michelle Meyrick ITP DIGITAL Director Peter Conmy Internet Applications Manager Mohammed Affan Web Designer Meghna Rao ITP GROUP 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 need to deliver at a fast-track pace with very highly organised projects
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requires people with a long history of working in Qatar and in the GCC.
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I fear that if Qatar opens up to too many new companies, we do run the risk of having fi rms with no experience of working in the region.
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Quality of design is different to build quality. We are all effectively part of Qatar’s future, but how do we ensure that we can better service the country’s development?
I feel that Qatar has attracted some of the best design companies and project management companies in the world. The build quality is the bit we have to get to grips with; how do we increase it?
Audited by: BPA Worldwide Average Qualified Circulation 5,132 (July – Dec 2011) Cover image Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi (Photo: Lester Ali) 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 reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.
We need to speak with the stakeholders and make sure the majority of the population can use the metro and the railway network like in London, Melbourne or Sydney, even in the heat.
If we can get that to work it will be a success; if we don’t we will absolutely fail.
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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com
Published by and © 2012 ITP Business Publishing, a division of the ITP Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company number 1402846.
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