Middle East Architect

An ITP Business Publication

APRIL 2012 / VOLUME 6 / ISSUE 04

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

HEAVENLY DESIGN The UAE’s first first que contemporary mosque

ANALYSIS Are big-name foreign architects right for Beirut’s reconstruction?

FEATURE The Middle East’s most highly acclaimed residential towers

CASE STUDY HOK’s futurist Marina Mall receives the go-ahead in Qatar

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APRIL | CONTENTS

APRIL 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 04 2

FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture including Emaar’s arts district

12 THE BIG PICTURE Dubai’s two most famous buildings captured side by side in a stunning shot

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

14 ANALYSIS

22

OPINION Georgina Chakar asks whether the Cultural District will connect Abu Dhabi

Should the reconstruction of Beirut be placed in the hands of foreign ‘starchitects’?

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FEATURE

34

COVER STORY Discovering the UAE’s fi rst contemporary mosque on Palm Jumeirah

MEA looks at some of the region’s most highly acclaimed residential towers

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CASE STUDIES

62

THE WORK

A detailed reference section covering all the projects from recent months

72 LAST WORD

AK Design’s Xerox HQ, HOK’s Marina Mall and a Kuwait cultural centre

68

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

Shawn Basler, Perkins Eastman, on protecting the past and the future

www.designmena.com | 04.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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FRONT | APRIL

49M

Height of the e n minaret on e Dubai’s Spine Mosque (p34))

EMAAR TO BUILD OPERA AND ARTS DISTRICT New cultural district will be built in proximity to the Burj Khalifa

A plan to build a new cultural district near the Burj Khalifa has been announced by real estate giant Emaar Properties.

The project, which includes an art museum and galleries, will be known as the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District.

Two new ‘art hotels’ are also planned for the district, along with other leisure facilities and studios.

Design and architectural plans for the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District are being final-

2

50

ART GALLERIES IN DUBAI

The project will be known as the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District.

ised, and work is expected to commence soon. The architect for the project has not yet been named by the developer.

Mohammed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar, said: “The focus of the Dubai Modern Art and Opera House District is to stimulate the city’s cultural and artistic milieu.” He added it would provide the infrastructure for “arts and culture to thrive.”

Dubai currently has 50 art galleries and hosts events such as Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

Emaar said that the new district will stand out as a “design masterpiece”, with plazas, high streets, shaded colonnades, courtyards, alleyways and waterfront promenades.

Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, is constructing a huge cultural complex on Saadiyat Island, hosting branches of the Louvre, the Guggenheim, and Zayed National Museum.

The past few years has seen a cultural boom in the Gulf region, with the Royal Opera House in Oman, opening in October 2011.

APRIL | FRONT

5

5,193M

2

QSAS rating targeted by Lusail’s Marina Mall (p54)

Gross floor area of Xerox HQ in Dubai (p50)

China’s largest architecture architec firm opens Abu Dhabi office

DESIGNMENA.COM • Top 5: Middle East residential towers • La Chance to showcase 10 international designers

Shanghai Xian Dai, China’s largest architecture practice by revenue, has opened a branch in Abu Dhabi.

It has partnered with the Bin Abbood Group to achieve business diversification and to bid for projects in the region, according to Gulf News.

Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai.

Shanghai Xian Dai achieved an annual revenue of $600m and employs more than 4,000 professionals.

The state-owned company has a presence in more than 20 countries with 60% of its order book stemming from China.

It has designed nearly 200 skyscrapers over 200m high, in addition to 180 five-star hotels.

The firm was behind the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai (pictured), formerly the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Centre, which was completed in 2010 and seats 18,000 people.

UAE’s Dewan expands into India with two new practices Dewan Architects & Engineers, based in the UAE, announced it will open offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, India.

Dewan is currently setting up its office in India’s capital city – expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2012 – with a second office to be open soon afterwards in Mumbai.

The firm will jointly operate in the Indian market with entrepreneur Manoj Prasad.

It is also close to signing two other major contracts, expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2012, that are said to ensure “a permanent presence in India”.

• Middle East shoppers demand better malls says architect • First pool and spa show to take place in United Arab Emirates • Dewan to open two offices in India • Arabian Nightmare

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Design studio JDS has entered a competition to design Bike City in Chongming, which consists of a bike museum, a visitor centre and a multipurpose hall. As the project centrepiece, the bike museum will function as a double helix and bikes can be ridden on the exterior.

DATASTREAM ATKINS MIDDLE EAST - REVENUE BY SECTOR

42%

Al Assam (left) and Prasad.

Mohamed Al Assam, founder, chairman and managing director, Dewan, said: “These are exciting times.

The global downturn in real estate has had limited impact in India.

Positive reports indicating significant growth in these sectors means we are optimistic about the future.”

BUILDINGS

17%

18%

RAIL

OTHER

10% ROADS

13%

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

www.designmena.com | 04.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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FRONT | APRIL

PEOPLE

60 SECOND INTERVIEW

Wang Shu wins Pritzker prize

Jay Kline will act as regional manager.

Leo A Daly sets up KSA office US-based firm Leo A Daly has opened an office in Riyadh, which will be led by regional manager Jay Kline.

Kline will lead the office in close collaboration with Ross Ensor, the firm’s corporate international director, to build prospective and existing client relationships, identify job opportunities, and coordinate the firm’s projects in the country.

Since joining Leo A Daly in 2008, Kline has primarily focused on federal projects.

His responsibilities included managing clients, developing pursuit strategies, overseeing proposal writing processes and preparing project interviews.

The opening of the Riyadh office marks the eighth international location for Leo A Daly, which also has offices in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Hong Kong, Benghazi, Libya, Istanbul, Turkey, Moscow, and Tripoli.

The majority j y of companies p perceive the c change to green as a nuisance, b but they must adapt in the long-term long-term, or perish.”

Talik Chalabi, coprincipal CAP, architect of SZ Desert Learning Lea Centre Ce

4

ALBERT SPEER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALBERT SPEER AND PARTNER GMBH

Wang Shu has become the fi rst Chinese architect to be awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize.

The 49-year-old founded his Amateur Architecture Studio firm in Huangzhou with his wife, Lu Wenyu, in 1997.

In 2012, Shu was among eight Chinese architects to take part in the Alessi (Un) Forbidden City metaproject premiered at the Beijing Design Week 2011.

“The fact that an architect from China has been selected by the jury, represents a significant step in acknowledging the role that China will play in the development of architectural ideals,” said Thomas Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation.

The formal Pritzker ceremony will be held on May 25 in Beijing.

Where are the main opport nities in Qatar?

There is no doubt that a massive urban growth will have a strong impacts on the real estate market and from this trend project management companies, engineers, architects and mpanies p willl construction companies benefit. Furthermore more o w we o expect numerouss ope portunities in the g, field of managing, planning and constructing the transportation infrastructure.

Who is best placed to take advantage of them?

Firms with a proven ven n track r k record in the Middle East, ddle dle E East t par para ticularly in Qatar are expected to take advantage of these trends. However, international highly qualified firms not on site already might benefit if they team-up with local and regional know-how.

What are the risks?

Qatar has to target growth rates that are compatible with its capacity for real economy expansion.

Shu founded Amateur Architecture Studio.

The World Cup will bring a credibility, focus foc and exposure to the region that will eclipse the building Dubai and boom of Du Abu Dhabi.”

Dan Meis, se senior principal, princ

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

Populous P

Qatari authorities will need rate a massively to orchestrate ance intricate dance of diggers,, uck and cement truck residents.”

Geoffrey Batzel, zel, ning and director, planning pment, urban development, KEO

FRONT | APRIL

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT 2

3

1

1 TURKEY

2 ABU DHABI

3 BAHRAIN

Twin tower mega scheme underway

SOM unveils Medical City

Pearl Roundabout may be rebuilt

A $650m mixed-use scheme featuring two 46-storey high towers, designed by Broadway Malyan, is underway in Seyrantepe, Turkey. Launched by Turkish developer Eroğlu Property at MIPIM in Cannes, the 525,000m2 scheme will feature residential and office towers, a five-star hotel, shopping centre and public piazza. Detailed designed will be completed in mid-2012, with work underway on site.

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Plans have been unveiled for the new 838-bed Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, designed by SOM. The complex is a joint venture with ICME and Tilke and will replace the existing Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. It will combine a general hospital with a level-one trauma centre and women’s and pediatric hospitals. According to SOM, the complex will feel like a bustling campus, with vibrant public spaces and a sense of community.

Construction will start in 2013.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

The area surrounding the demolished Pearl Roundabout may be incorporated into a planned new retail and business development. Councillors in Manama hope to include the district surrounding the former landmark, which was a focal point of Arab Spring protests, into a proposed $530.5m overhaul of Manama Central Market. A study is set to be completed by the end of 2013, with work beginning the following year.

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FRONT | APRIL

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT 3

1

2

1 SAUDI ARABIA

2 QATAR

3 DUBAI

Chief says Haramain rail project on track

Lusail’s Marina Mall gets green light

SOM’s Infinity Tower set for October finish

The Haramain High Speed Rail project, which will link Makkah, Jeddah, Rabigh and Madinah, is progressing well according to Saudi Railway Organization president Abdul Aziz Al-Hokail. Speaking from Dammam, Al-Hokail said that the project is on schedule and that contractors have been told to appoint more workers, deploy more equipment and increase working hours to complete the project on time.

HOK has been granted planning approval from Lusail Municipality for its Marina Mall design on the east coast of Qatar. The design is said to be inspired by natural forms created when water and land meet. Five interconnected retail ‘islands’ link the mall to a body of water that runs through the centre of the scheme.

The mall includes a hypermarket, cinemas, restaurants with terraces and spa facilities.

Cayan, the developer of the Infinity Tower in Dubai Marina, has set an October 12th deadline for completion of the project, designed by US giant SOM . According to Faris Al Qaysi, Project Manager for Infinity Tower contractor Arabtec, the project is currently 80% complete. The remaining work involves interior finishing, testing and commissioning electrical and mechanical services, and work on the façade.

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | APRIL

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

1

2

3

1 INDONESIA

2 MEXICO

3 FRANCE

National Museum set for major revamp

Holey building wins best restaurant design

Foster + Partners to transform old port in Marseille

Jakata-based Aboday won a competition to revamp the ailing National Museum of Indonesia, which is housed in a Dutch colonial building from 1862. Currently the museum is suffering from poor visitor numbers, despite its large collection. The architect introduced new activities, shaded by a canopy, including a bookshop, store, exhibition hall and F&B outlets. The revamp will also create an extra 10,000m2 of exhibition space.

A restaurant in Mexico City with a striking holey facade was among the 13 winners of the 2011 ArchDaily Building of the Year awards. The Tori Tori restaurant by Rojkind Arquitectos and Esrawe Studio utilises a handcrafted facade composed of two layers of self-supporting steel plates.

Other winners included The Crystal in Denmark by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Bilbao Arena in Spain by ACXT.

Work has started on a scheme by Michel Desvigne and Foster + Partners to reinvigorate Marseille’s World Heritage-listed Vieux Port. The project will reclaim the quaysides as a civic space, with new informal venues for performances and events and a semi-pedestrianised public realm.

The transformation of the port is one of a series of projects to be completed in time for the city’s inauguration as European Capital of Culture in 2013.

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | APRIL

THE BIG PICTURE

Double Burj Staff photographer Lester Ali has managed to capture Dubai’s two best known buildings side by side. Atkins’ Burj Al Arab (right) was the standout Dubai icon until the 828m Burj Khalifa stole its crown in 2010.

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ANALYSIS | BEIRUT

STARS IN THEIR EYES ANALYSIS

Should the regeneration of Beirut be placed in the hands of big-name foreign architects? Oliver Ephgrave investigates

D

ubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar are well known for their penchant for ‘starchitects’, perhaps best epitomised by the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. Yet the same appetite for big-name designers can be seen further north in the Mediterranean city of Beirut. The continuing regeneration of the city centre, fol-

14

lowing the civil war from 1975-1990, has seen developers turn to the some of the most famous architects in the business.

For starters, Foster + Partners has celebrated the start of construction on 3 Beirut, a residential and retail scheme within the masterplan by Solidere, the government-backed company tasked with the regenera-

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

tion of the city centre. One of the largest completed projects in the centre is Beirut Souks, now the city’s biggest shopping district, designed by Spanish master Raphael Moneo.

Meanwhile, Solidere is behind a glamorous waterfront district, masterplanned by Steven Holl Architects, which saw the launch of Zaitunay Bay section in June 2011. The city centre

BEIRUT | ANALYSIS

will also see a department store

by Zaha Hadid, an office and retail complex by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and an apartment tower by Herzog and de Meuron.

Another foreign architecture firm to win work in Beirut is Allies and Morrison. The UK-based practice is behind District//S, a residential and retail scheme developed by Estates SAL on a plot bought from Solidere.

Alfredo Caraballo, director, reveals the status of the project: “The design is still being developed. We handed the schematic design to the local architect, R&K Architects and Consultant Engineers, and they are now doing an archaeological survey.

After this the enabling works will start. We are hoping that they don’t discover anything important. It will

take around four years to build, but excavations are taking much longer than expected.”

Commenting on the current design climate, he remarks: “The city is experiencing a creative boom - a lot of exciting things are happening. There are so many big name architects that are doing stuff. Beirut is a crossroads of East and West, with Arab, European, Ottoman, Roman influences.

There are so many layers of history, which you can see in the faces of different people.”

He believes that Solidere has helped to transform the centre of the city for the better. “All the developments that Solidere are doing are interesting. I think that Solidere has done a terrific job with the regeneration by mixing different types of architecture.

“Some buildings are have been completed rebuilt to what they were before. With Raphael Moneo’s souk they took the floorplan and made a new building, on the traces of the old, while District//S is completely new.

The clock tower roundabout in Beirut’s reconstructed centre.

I think that Solidere has done a terrific job with the regeneration by mixing different types of architecture.”

Alfredo Caraballo, director, Allies and Morrison

www.designmena.com | 04.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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ANALYSIS | BEIRUT

Foster + Partners’ 3 Beirut (top) and Allies & Morrison’s District//S.

Solidere has been quite successful in its selection of architects.”

However, Elie Abs, managing partner for local firm Accent Design Group is less positive about the impact of the scheme. He remarks: “We all thought Solidere would reactivate the public space but we ended up with a lack of public and an excess of private space. It’s like a membership club that is accessed by credit cards.

“I don’t think that [beautifying the

centre] is the priority. When you are landing on the plane you can tell the areas that need to be developed.

The basics are not there. Zoning and regulation need to be fi xed. People are being kicked out.”

He is also sceptical about the use of foreign architects. “I’m not sure about the idea of bringing in big foreign architects. It takes a lot of time to understand how we are operating in Beirut. Developers are using this

Even without these big names, Beirut is always going to be interesting for architecture. There are many local architects that have a lot to offer.”

Elie Abs, managing partner for local firm Accent Design Group

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

strategy for marketing. Most of the buildings they are doing are residential, not museums or airports. What we need now is more urban quality versus architecture. I don’t think a building alone will solve problems.

What we need is inventions on a larger scale than objects.”

Abs states that many local firms are being overshadowed by the famous international firms. “Even without these big names, Beirut is always going to be interesting for architecture.

There are many local architects that have a lot to offer,” he says.

Caraballo agrees that there are many talented local firms. “For me, what is more interesting than the big names is the young Lebanese practices that have good work, such as

BEIRUT | ANALYSIS

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He believes that Allies and Morrison’s District//S project manages to reect the local culture. “We are proud of the project - our client and the local architect feel that it is very Lebanese. We didn’t want to do anything pastiche or kitsch and we paid a lot of attention to the historical context. It’s about understanding the Lebanese architecture. It’s very different here - the buildings are very tight together in response to the climate. It is similar to places like Naples. “We wanted to do a project that is part of the city with a sense of scale, rather than concentrating on every detail. There will be a market square, looking a local references. “Beirut and Lebanon feels more European than other places in the Middle East - it has a Mediterranean culture which involves a use of outdoor space. The ats in District//S have enormous balconies, like outdoor rooms, for parties and dinner,â€? he adds.

Meanwhile, Accent Design Group has designed a high rise tower, Beirut Observatory, which picked up this year’s WAN Residential Award in the unbuilt category. Abs says the tower, located on the periphery of the reconstructed centre, plays on the hybrid nature of

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ANALYSIS | BEIRUT

Accent Design Group’s Beirut Observatory (right), and the reconstructed centre (below).

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the city. He continues: “Beirut has a fragmented identity, that is the context we are operating in. The building celebrates diversity versus unity. It’s our first project of such a large scale in Beirut.

“We have tried to challenge the Beirut high-rise typology. There’s a contrast between the stacked glass boxes and the solid block on the back.

The boxes create a dynamic relation with the highway and increase social interaction between tenants. The client has approved the design concept - I think it is just a matter of time before it goes ahead.”

Regarding future opportunities, Caraballo comments: “Office buildings will be a big thing, we know this from conversations with our clients.

The high end office market is undersupplied, because companies are coming into the city due to the boom.

It is difficult to find high-end offices with big floor plates.

He continues: “Also Lebanon has huge tourist potential, so hospitality is important. But the main opportunity is in residential, in all price categories. The middle class has a huge demand, and there is development potential on the surrounding

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

hills. The centre is high-end due to the land values.”

Caraballo also points out the lack of public space, but adds that the waterfront district will help to address this need. “Beirut has very few public spaces such as piazzas, it’s very dense.

However, the waterfront will have a huge park facing the sea. It will offer a new skyline and public space.”

Caraballo reveals that Allies and Morrison is currently working on a 100m tower for Estates SAL within the waterfront area.

However, Abs is cynical about the nature of the waterfront district.

“The scenery is like Dubai - there are contradictions everywhere. They are projecting a beautiful, lavish image with boats. You wake up after a few seconds when you are at the traffic lights. We are not against regeneration, but it’s more important to focus on other areas rather than having expensive toys.”

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COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

FILLING THE VOID EDITOR’S LETTER

Dubai needs the opera and arts district

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

J

ust before going to press, we were greeted with the news that Emaar will build an opera and arts district in Downtown Dubai.

It’s the biggest project announced in the emirate since the fi nancial crisis, and certainly one to make headlines internationally.

At the moment, detailed information on the project is pretty limited.

Mohammed Alabar, chairman of Emaar, said in a statement: “The design and architectural elements... are now being fi nalised and work will commence shortly.”

So far, the architect has not been named. This is often the case with Emaar projects; while many developers in the Gulf use famous architects

as a marketing tool, the UAE giant tends to brand projects with its own stamp, rather than letting an individual take the limelight.

Alabar added that the district will “stimulate the city’s cultural and artistic milieu... the entire infrastructure for arts and culture to thrive.”

With Oman completing the Royal Opera House Muscat and Abu Dhabi recently confi rming its museums and gallery projects, Dubai may have felt a bit overshadowed.

Granted, the emirate contains several small galleries tucked away in areas such as Al Quoz, but there isn’t a major arts institution to galvanise the scene, provide a beacon for tourists, and really make a statement that Dubai is advancing the arts.

Dubtus.

The design seems slick and shiny, unlike Oman’s more traditional opera house in Muscat, but not as strikingly futuristic as Zaha Hadid’s effort.”

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

Dubai did have plans for a cultural centre by Zaha Hadid that would have made a statement in spectacular fashion. The futuristic alien-like form would have contained an auditorium for 2,500 people, a 5000m2 art gallery, an 800-seat playhouse, a performing arts school and a hotel.

Emaar’s scheme is effectively a replacement for Hadid’s unrealised project. From the limited renderings the design seems slick and shiny, unlike Oman’s more traditional opera house, but not as strikingly futuristic as Hadid’s effort.

It’s not clear whether the renderings depict a nearly fi nalised design, or an ‘impression’ that will see major alterations. Historically there have been several modern opera houses that have captured the world’s imagination. The best known example, of course, is in Sydney, but we shouldn’t forget Snohetta’s stunning Oslo project and Santiago Calatrava’s bulbous Valencia Opera House.

From the rendering alone, it is difficult to tell whether Dubai’s will exude the same kind of panache.

Nevertheless, the announcement is certainly positive news in several different ways. It is a healthy sign on the state of the Dubai economy, it is addressing a tremendous void and it will potentially spawn a new architectural landmark.

Let’s hope that project is well conceived and executed, and there is enough demand from Dubai’s citizens and tourists to make it a thriving hub for arts and culture.

COMMENT | GEORGINA CHAKAR

GLOBAL VILLAGE OPINION Will the Cultural District bring Abu Dhabi closer to the rest of the world?

Georgina Chakar is an Australian architect and a Master of Urban Planning. She works in Abu Dhabi.

A

bu Dhabi is set to offer the world a very sophisticated cultural epicenter of museums, galleries and much more. The mega development of Saadiyat Island is planned to become the home of the largest Guggenheim museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and a Performing Art Centre, designed by many of the world’s top architects.

How will the district be absorbed by the world? Think back fifty five years, when the construction of one of the greatest architectural works of the 20th century commenced: the Sydney Opera House. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and

erected on former waste fields and a manmade extension of the Bennelong Peninsula, it is supported by 588 concrete piers injected 25m below the sea level.

Built on a man-made extension of the natural land, the Saadiyat Island Cultural District did not reinvent the wheel, but learned from the technological success of the Sydney Opera House and bravely spread its wings over the Gulf waters. With the projects now reconfirmed by Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council, the Cultural District is facing numerous challenges.

While the neighbouring emirate of Dubai is benefiting from wellestablished tourist magnets, such as Burj Khalifa, the Cultural District is

Foster + Partners Zayed National Museum.

Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District did not reinvent the wheel, but learned from the technological success of the Sydney Opera House and bravely spread its wings over the Gulf waters.”

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

yet to catch up with its much delayed schedule for completion. Previously scheduled for completion in 2012, the Louvre may open its doors in 2015 and be the first of the district’s projects to welcome visitors.

However, as much as time management is one of the crucial components for the success of any project, the first three museums in the Cultural District may benefit from their delayed schedule. The time needed for this development to be used to its full potential may be determined by the forthcoming remodeling of Arab economies and culture, which will contribute to the wider Middle East prosperity.

Wider economic and social climates are extremely important for the success of a development such as Saadiyat Island. Questions such as ‘Who are the target audience/ visitors to a place like this? and ‘Will the islands and the buildings sustain the inevitable erosion and climate change?’ are some which will pose more challenges for the creators of the three museums.

Undoubtedly similar questions were asked a half a century ago when the Sydney Opera House was built, and more recently when IM Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art was constructed in Doha, in a place that is lacking a developed urban fabric. As much as the developers work on answering the vital questions regarding the development of the three grandiose museums, time is yet another factor that will bring the right answers.

COMMENT | HISHAM YOUSSEF

NEW FORMS OPINION

Should all mosques follow the traditional style?

Hisham Youssef AIA is an architect, and a founding board member of the American Institute of Architects’ Middle East Chapter.

W

hy does a mosque need to look like a mosque? It doesn’t. There need not be an ‘Islamic’ style stamp on mosque, or regional, architecture.

Historically, but more importantly regionionally, mosques have often taken the shape of the stereotypically recognised styles, those with clearly recognisable domes and minarets, as with the medieval Fatimid style seen in the Jumeirah Mosque, or the other commonly known style in Turkey developed by Sinan.

Just because a building is a mosque, or any other typology, it need not look like the original.

Buildings and styles have historically

developed in a region around the construction methodologies familiar to the artisans of the time.

The Grand mosque in Xi’an, China, or the Great Mosque in Djenne, Mali, in West Africa bear no resemblance whatsoever to any mosque in the Middle East, or to each other for that matter. In fact, the mosque in Xi’an, built during the Ming Dynasty, resembles more a Buddhist pagoda than a mosque, and the one in Djenne is a large mud brick structure.

This is only as far as the style is concerned. A close inspection of the plan of the Xi’an mosque and there is no mistake that in fact it is laid out functionally as a mosque.

The Abdul Rahman Siddik Mosque, or ‘Spine Mosque’, on Palm Jumeirah.

In today’s world where construction methodologies and materials are not limited by any regional constraints, mosque design can take on any shape or form.”

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So should a mosque look like a mosque? Only in so far as it functions like one. Traditionally perhaps one has become more accustomed to the so called ‘Islamic’ style, but the mosques in Xi’an and Djenne are in fact no less Islamic than any one in the Arab world.

In today’s world where construction methodologies and materials are not limited by any regional constraints, mosque design can take on any shape or form. While aesthetics may be subjective and directed by a client, the plan of the mosque is the only criteria that needs to follow certain functional requirements.

We are seeing some departure from these stereotypical ‘Islamic’ regional designs with some proposals in various countries in the region, including the Abdul Rahman Siddik Mosque on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah just before the tunnel entrance. Its modernist and ‘futuristic’ design is a fresh take on the possibilities that lie ahead; the innovative use of materials such as glass and metal, simple massing with minimal decoration, and a reinterpretation of the minaret and dome design.

It is time to define an Islamic style that embodies the essence and functionality of a building type rather than replicating the past in a nostalgic way. Mosque design is perhaps a more symbolic and representative building type. If such a potentially controversial typology can survive the test of modern interpretation, so can a new design emerge for the Middle East region.

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FEATURE | TOP RESIDENTIAL TOWERS

THE HIGH LIFE MEA looks at five of the most highly acclaimed residential towers in the region

LOFT GARDENS ARCHITECT: Tabanlioglu

LOCATION: Istanbul, Turkey Turkish firm Tabanlioglu designed a 21-storey residential tower in Istanbul, which was among the 13 winners of the RIBA International Awards 2011. Loft Gardens was described by judges as “an extreme demonstration of elegance and restraint within a subtly modified typology”. High-rise garden patios are inserted into the façade as a counterpoint to the protruding bay windows and deepen the play of solid and void.

Plan and section are organised to create a range of apartment types - some horizontal, based around patios, and others vertical with double-height spaces. The interior has an industrial loft aesthetic with exposed services and structure and a use of concrete, steel and timber.

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TOP RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTAIL TOWERS | FEATURE

www.designmena.com | 04.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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FEATURE | TOP RESIDENTIAL TOWERS

MAYSAN RESIDENCES ARCHITECT: dwp

LOCATION: Abu Dhabi This tower by dwp was the top ranking residential high-rise project at last year’s Middle East Architect Awards, receiving the runner-up prize at in the Residential category. A member of the jury proclaimed the project as “one of the most exciting tower designs ever.” The twin tower complex, for developer Aabar, contains a total of 337 apartments in the Al Najmat district of Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Five slab profile variations generate the chiselled façade effect, with shaded roof gardens sheltered by deep overhangs.

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FEATURE | TOP RESIDENTIAL TOWERS

FLAME TOWERS ARCHITECT: HOK

LOCATION: Baku, Azerbaijan Nearing completion in Baku is a sculptural three-tower complex, named the Flame Towers due to its fire-inspired design.

Created by US giant HOK, the tallest tower in the scheme is purely residential, while the other two house office and a Fairmont hotel. A podium, which bridges the three towers at ground level, contains high-end retail and leisure facilities. At 192m in height, the residential tower will be one of the tallest buildings in Azerbaijan and contains 130 luxury apartments over 39 floors. At the top of each tower, the curve of the structure inverts to form a ‘flick’. The construction of the flicks involved the use of 30m high structures of conventional steel welded box and architecturally exposed steel sections.

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TOP RESIDENTIAL TOWERS | FEATURE

BEIRUT OBSERVATORY ARCHITECT: Accent Design Group LOCATION: Beirut Accent Design Group’s Beirut Observatory picked up this year’s WAN Residential Award in the unbuilt category, beating entries from Italy, China, Estonia, Canada, Sweden and Norway.

Located in the centre of the Lebanese capital, the tower is composed of a smoothly rising stack of glazed-unit apartments.

The panel of seven judges was impressed by the opposition between the front and back façades, the double height spaces in the middle of the tower and the cantilevered balconies. Louvers protect from excessive eastern and western exposure while adding privacy and providing an opportunity for a vertical ‘green’ screen that acts as a unifying element on the façade.

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FEATURE | TOP RESIDENTIAL TOWERS

THE INDEX

ARCHITECT: Foster + Partners LOCATION: Dubai A distinctive landmark in the shadows of Burj Khalifa, Foster + Partners’ The Index was judged the best new high-rise building in the Middle East and Africa by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

The 80-storey tower, developed

by Union Properties, combines 520 luxury apartments with 25 floors of office space and the different functions are separated by a spectacular double-height, glazed sky lobby. One of The Index’s most celebrates attributes is its response to the desert sun. Unusually off set against the urban grid, the east to west orientation reduces solar gain, as the building’s core mass absorbs heat and reduces its reliance on mechanical ventilation. A system of sunshades shelters the interiors on the exposed south elevation. The tower is crowned with 12 luxurious duplex and triplex penthouse apartments with knock-out views over Dubai.

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Oliver E Oli Ephgrave h visits the UAE’s first contemporary mosque on Palm Jumeirah

COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

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SPINE MOSQUE | COVER STORY

L

ocated next to the tunnel for the guargantuan Atlantis hotel, the Spine Mosque on Palm Jumeirah is the polar opposite of Dubai’s famous leisure resort.

Rather than mimicking Atlantis’ overwhelming exuberance, Jordanbased firm Yaghmour Architects has designed a building that exudes simplicity, elegance and calm. Indeed the clean-lined cubist form represents the first contemporary mosque in the UAE, a far cry from the traditionalist designs of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai.

Standing outside the entrance, Raed Yaghmour, managing director, explains how the project came about. “We were asked by Nakheel to develop an iconic mosque on Palm Jumeirah. It was the first mosque built by Nakheel. It’s a different concept for mosques as it is modern.

We thought outside of the box.”

Raed adds that the benefactor was Dawalet Siddik, who honoured her father Abdulrahman. “The official name is Abdulrahman Siddik Mosque, although we sometimes refer to it as the Spine Mosque. Nakheel shared the burden with the benefactor by providing the land and half the cost of the mosque. The total budget was AED22m, excluding the land cost, and it took around two years to construct.”

Farouk Yaghmour, principal in charge, who personally oversaw the design development of the building, remarks: TOTAL BUDGET “Nakheel called us OF THE SPINE and said there was a do a different approach MOSQUE limited competition to and transform the design the Spine Mosque typology.” but we didn’t know much.

He continues: “The Spine We have previous mosque experiMosque was one of the first chances ence in Jordan but mosques are not to go for a different approach. We necessarily our speciality. In the wanted to use bold, contemporary beginning we started with traditional materials and we were very careful designs. With this project we tried to in our selection of materials and how

AED22M

they were put together. The rough wall contrasts with the glass.”

The Spine Mosque was won after Yaghmour worked with Nakheel in 2008 on an unrealised mosque in Port Rashid. “Our first mosque design for Nakheel went to the extreme of contemporary,” adds Farouk. “We designed different alternatives with a

www.designmena.com | 04.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

The mosque features a clean and simple design.

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COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

The mosque features a distinctive facade with stone and glass.

36

very pure glass skin. Symbolically we included the dome and the minaret in the Spine Mosque. There was no dome in the Port Rashid Mosque.”

Externally, the dominant features of the Spine Mosque are the two traditional elements - the dome and a 49m-high minaret.

Yet what makes the mosque really stand out is the treatment of the facade that faces the Qibla in Makkah; with its layers of rough stone and patterned glass, it appears that the building’s skin has been sliced.

Raed comments: “The glass has a double skin all the way to the ground with an insert of aluminium sheet.

Glass panels measure 2.5m by 2.5m and each unit contains four panels, so a unit measures 5m by 5m.

A layer of stone emphasises the area for the Imam - the person that leads worship in the mosque.

“We wanted it to be as natural as possible so every pieced was sized.

We had a hard time putting it together as it was like a jigsaw puzzle. There is a concrete structure behind and then it was glued on top.”

As well as containing a rough wall, the majority of the building is clad in a smooth beige stone. Raed reveals that the rough and smooth portions are the same Omani marble. The smooth portion is also comprised of different sized blocks and this irregularity

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

lends a handmade quality rather than a harsh uniform aesthetic.

At 49m high, the minaret soars over the surrounding area. Raed remarks that the placement of the minaret was moved following a reduction in the plot size. “With the

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COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

The minaret was originally designed to contain an elevator.

minaret we did not have much land to work with. The plot was reduced so we had to place the minaret in a different position. The crescent on the minaret lights up at night to signify the evening call to prayer. It can be seen from a long distance.”

He adds that the initial plan included an elevator to access a viewing gallery at the top of the minaret. “The viewing gallery would have been a good thing for people to come and see.

It would have meant that the building would be used not just for prayer.

Now the minaret is just a monument connecting the mosque,” he remarks.

Farouk adds: “The client was hesitant about the elevator. Now I wish I had insisted. It would have been good for everyone.”

Certainly, the exhausting climb to the top reveals a stunning view over the Palm, a rare vantage point over the endless rows of fronds and villas. Raed adds that the view of the HEIGHT OF THE mosque from Atlantis MINARET is equally spectacular.

He also reveals that the initial plans featured a clinic and shopping centre that “would have been in keeping with the mosque design.”

The main entrance to the mosque is situated next to a large paved area.

Up close, the cubist geometries recall IM Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art. Unfortunately a fire escape ladder mars the clean rhythm of the facade.

“The fire department insisted on putting the ladder there. We wanted to place it at the back,” says Raed, understandably frustrated.

The complex also contains a separate entrance for the Imam, as well as a permanent residence for the Imam and the Muezzin - the person that leads the call to prayer. “These are all requirements,” adds Raed. The paving functions as an external prayer area, for overspill on busy times such as Fridays. “Each individual stone is

49M

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SPINE MOSQUE | COVER STORY

Yaghmour Architects designed every detail within the mosque.

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COVER STORY | PALM JUMEIRAH MOSQUE

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aligned with Makkah and is the right dimension for a prayer mat,” adds Raed.

Just like the exterior, the interior of the mosque is clean and calm, while the same patterns on the glass facade are visible on the wooden door and the window grilles. Raed remarks: “The pattern is inspired by plants - images of humans and animals are forbidden in Islam.”

The prayer area can accommodate 800 people, while 200 ladies can fit into the mezzanine level, concealed by a mashrabiya screen.

“The ladies have to have visual and hearing contact with the Imam.

The mezzanine concept is not common in the Gulf region - usually the women are accommodated on the side,” Raed remarks.

He adds that mosque designers face the dual challenges of adapting to the constraints of the site, as well as aligning the building to facing the Qibla in Makkah.

Regarding the rectangular space of the space he remarks: “The designers of mosques prefer more width than length to accommodate the worshippers.”

The mezzanine concept is not common for mosques in the Gulf region.”

Raed Yaghmour

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SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR THE REGION’S ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY

TUESDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2012 The 5th annual Middle East Architect Awards are an opportunity for the industry to come together for one night to toast exceptional performance in architecture, engineering & design.

NOMINATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST 2012 Gold Sponsor

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For sponsorship enquiries please contact: Yazan Rahman Sales Director, Construction Group Tel: +971 4 444 3351 Email: yazan.rahman@itp.com Luke Jones Sales Manager, Middle East Architect Tel: +971 4 444 3713 Email: luke.jones@itp.com For nomination enquiries please contact: Oliver Ephgrave Editor Tel: +971 4 444 3303 Email: oliver.ephgrave@itp.com For table bookings and further information please contact: Michelle Meyrick Events Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3328 Email: michelle.meyrick@itp.com

To submit your nominations, or for more information, please visit:

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COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

The crescent on the minaret lights up at night to signify the call to prayer.

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SPINE MOSQUE | COVER STORY

Unlike many mosques, the interior is devoid of Islamic text, aside from the Shahada (the Muslim declaration) inscribed above the entrance. Indirect light filters in from the 20m-high dome, as well as through the facade with the stone and glass skin. “The spiritual character is apparent in the indirect natural light infiltrated in the facade,” adds Farouk.

The spirituality is enhanced by the stripped-down approach . “It’s completely different to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

We wanted to keep things simple.

The simplicity is in keeping with the teachings of Islam,” says Raed.

He explains that all building services, aside from contracting, were undertaken by Yaghmour. “No other consultant was used. We did everything - structures, MEP, interiors.

We took care of every detail, we designed everything inside and out, even the shelves for the Qurans, the mashrabiya for the ladies and the shelves for the shoes by the entrance.”

According to Raed, the mosque is very busy on a Friday and during Ramadan. “The initial design was for 1,500 people and there was more

I’m sure that this building will start a movement of contemporary mosques in the UAE and the Gulf region.”

Farouk Yaghmour

provision for parking,” he comments.

Regarding the changes, Farouk says: “I’m satisfied with it. The main concept is still there, with the spiritual character and indirect filtered light.”

Raed says that initially the mosque raised eyebrows due to the break from the tradition approach. “At the start, the concept was difficult for people to accept. However, the Ministry of Religious Affairs likes it now.”

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COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

Spine Mosque is Nakheel’s fi rst completed mosque project.

44

Farouk adds that the support of Nakheel was crucial. “Now people visit it and it has made a story and a statement. We have a movement for contemporary mosques in Jordan.

I’m sure this mosque will start a movement in the UAE and the Gulf.”

He points out that modern mosques are cheaper than traditional ones. “There is nothing wrong with the traditional approach but they very costly. Contemporary is easier to manufacture. Traditional requires highly skilled labour, which is getting less and less.”

Farouk also believes that modern mosques are more “honest”. He continues: “It is not just change for the sake of change. It tells a story for the next generation. If we keep copying previous times then we will not know who built what. It is more honest to express your generation and be in keeping with the times.”

The intricate dome reaches a height of 20m.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com

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COVER STORY | SPINE MOSQUE

SPINE MOSQUE

Technical drawings supplied by Yaghmour Architects

FLOOR PLAN This plan depicts the ground oor of the mosque, including the large rectangular prayer hall. The minaret is detached from the rest of the complex, which contains the permanent residences for the Imam and Muezzin, as well as courtyards and external prayer areas.

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SPINE MOSQUE | COVER STORY

SECTION This section cuts through the central prayer hall, which can accommodate 800 worshippers. It also reveals the staircase leading to the mezzanine for female worshippers, as well as the rooftop.

ELEVATION The multi-layered facade is clearly visible in this elevation, with its alternating layers of glass, rough stone and smooth stone. The facade signiďŹ es the direction of the Qibla in Makkah, which informs the alignment of the mosque.

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XEROX EMIRATES HQ | CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY | XEROX EMIRATES HQ

XEROX EMIRATES HQ XEROX EMIRATES HQ

Architects: AK Design/ Adel Almojil Consulting Engineers Location: Dubai CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT

50/60 50

Designed by UAE-based companies AK Design and Adel Almojil Consulting Engineers, this cleanlined complex serves as a showcase for the Xerox brand in the Middle East. Completed in late 2011, the building contains a customer showroom, offices, workshops, support centres and training facilities.

2 Cellular offices are incorporated in the GROSS FLOOR AREA southern facade with glazed screens allowing light and views into the open plan offices behind.

5,193M

THE CONCEPT The floor plan was conceived as A4 and A3 intersecting sheets of paper, with each ‘sheet’ corresponding to the two main axis of the site.

According to AK Design, the finished project is a “contemporary utilitarian building” with black and white interlocking forms.

The bright white finish was chosen as a reminder of the paper inXerox copier machines and the single red stripe is reminiscent of the red Xerox logo. Circular columns were used to denote the A4 space, while square columns appear in the A3 portion of the building.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 04.12 | www.designmena.com www.des

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CASE STUDIES

412M M

TOTAL HEIGHT T OF THE TOWER R

PROJECT UPDATE

ETIHAD TOWERS

US$1BN TOTAL VALUE OF PROJECT

Architect: Design by Innovation (DBI) Location: Abu Dhabi

AMAF HEADQUARTER BUILDING Architect: Lacasa Location: Dubai

JAMESON HOUSE

33,000M2 TOTAL GROSS AREA

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Architect: Foster + Partners Location: Vancouver, Canada

Completed ompleted in November 2011, 2011 this mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi comprises five towers, plus an interconnecting podium, developed by Sheikh Suroor Projects Department (SSPD). It includes the 585-key Jumeirah Etihad Towers Hotel. The project contains three residential buildings, housing 885 apartments, a commercial office tower, a shopping mall, restaurants and cafes and the UAE’s largest banqueting hall.

Lacasa won first prize in a competition design for the headquarters of Islamic foundation, Awqaf & Minority Affairs Foundation (AMAF).

Accordingly the design language of the, so far, unrealised project uses Islamic patterns and motifs. Symbolism was used in the materials and their relation to the masses to reflect the entity. Functioning as an office complex, the building provide flexible spaces to the tenant’s request.

Jameson House is a new 35-storey mixed-use tower in the Canadian city of Vancouver and includes the first residential development to be completed by Foster + Partners in North America. Finished at the end of last year, the building is already almost fully occupied, according to the architect. The development comprises 11 storeys of offices and shops, topped by 23 storeys of apartments.

AL HAMRA TTOWER Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

SARAYA BANDAR JISSAH Architect: GAJ Location: Oman

SIDRA VILLAGE

1,165

Architect: Allies & Morrison Location: Doha, Qatar

NUMBER OF FLATS IN THE VILLAGE

AL MIZHAR VILLA

7M

COST OF THE VILLA

Architect: AK Design Location: Dubai

Designed by US giant Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), Al Hamra Tower is a sculpted concrete skyscraper in Kuwait, valued at US$950m. The commercial complex contains offices, a health club, rooftop restaurant and a high-end shopping mall with an IMAX cinema complex and food court. Standing at 412m, it claims numerous heightbased records such as tallest building in Kuwait, tallest ‘sculptural’ tower and tallest stone-clad structure.

Designed by GAJ, Saraya Bandar Jissah is a luxury resort and community nestled within a sheltered bay where mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. Residential units and recreational facilities are located within the valleys while two luxury hotels sit adjacent to the beach. With views of a lagoon system, wadis and mountains, the housing units are oriented to follow the contours and minimise impact on the landscape.

This walled community on the outskirts of Doha will provide 1,165 flats for the nursing staff of the new Sidra hospital, as part of the Education City development. The scheme will contain a small mosque, community and leisure facilities, restaurants and cafes. Developed by Mazaya for enduser Qatar Foundation, Sidra Village is integrated within the existing street pattern.

Designed by UAE based AK Design, Al Mizhar Villa is a contemporary play on the traditional courtyard houses of the Gulf region. The constraints of the long, narrow site led to the form of two ‘living tubes’ sliding past each other to create a central landscaped courtyard. The northern tube contains family-oriented functions while the bedrooms are housed in the southern tube.

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LIKE WANT NEED CULTURE

BATHROOM MY NATURE Villeroy & Boch

FURNISHING REVERB CHAIR Marzorati Ronchetti

With natural materials and gentle shades of colour, the My Nature bathroom collection by Villeroy & Boch uses highquality ceramic from Mettlach and vividly grained indigenous chestnut. The eyecatcher in the collection is the generously proportioned bathtub, available in three variations. It rests on a solid chestnut plinth – alternatively in white matt. The toilet delivers a flush action with 4.5 litres of water while the patented seat cover in chestnut veneer provides a natural look.

Designed by Brodie Neill and made

by Marzorati Ronchetti, this chair will go on display at the Milan Furniture Fair, April 16-22. It has been produced in a limited edition of 20 pieces for the Patrick Brillet Gallery. The design is based on a geometric vortex, a system made with steel rods that form a rhomboidal grid with openings of different sizes.

LIKE WANT NEED | CULTURE

CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED

THE WORK

THE WORK

THE WORK | PROJECT UPDATE

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

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APP ARCHITECT MAP Mark Schumann BOOK URBAN COMPOSITION Mark Childs

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Each chapter in Urban Compositions contains design queries followed by a discussion, illustrations, and references for further research. This accessible primer on urban design provides guidelines for designing buildings or plans for large cities or small towns. It showcases projects across the United States and internationally, in metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Seattle and London, and small communities such as Marfa, Texas.

LIGHTING SEAM TWO Mark Holmes Designed by Mark Holmes, the body of the light is decidedly sculptural with its clear shape and accurate folds. The casing consists of two identical components made of folded sheet aluminium. The surface is powder-coated and available in a range of colours. Incandescent lamps (maximum 100w) can be used. A diffuser set above the bulb ensures an even spread of light.

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This free iPhone app created by UAE-based Mark Schumann, director at Davis Langdon/AECOM, is already up for an award seven months after launch. It enables architects, engineers, designers, contractors, graduates and manufacturers to connect with each other. Users can view maps which others have tagged at their locations, check out the latest tweets of members of the community and view podcasts.

Through the use of Twitter, Google Maps, podcasts or augmented reality, the app allows users to connect, learn and share.

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CULTURE

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XEROX EMIRATES HQ | CASE STUDY

XEROX EMIRATES HQ XEROX EMIRATES HQ

Architects: AK Design/ Adel Almojil Consulting Engineers Location: Dubai CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Designed by UAE-based companies AK Design and Adel Almojil Consulting Engineers, this cleanlined complex serves as a showcase for the Xerox brand in the Middle East. Completed in late 2011, the building contains a customer showroom, offices, workshops, support centres and training facilities.

2 Cellular offices are incorporated in the GROSS FLOOR AREA southern facade with glazed screens allowing light and views into the open plan offices behind.

5,193M

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CASE STUDY | XEROX EMIRATES HQ

THE CONCEPT The floor plan was conceived as A4 and A3 intersecting sheets of paper, with each ‘sheet’ corresponding to the two main axis of the site.

According to AK Design, the fi nished project is a “contemporary utilitarian building” with black and white interlocking forms.

The bright white fi nish was chosen as a reminder of the paper inXerox copier machines and the single red stripe is reminiscent of the red Xerox logo. Circular columns were used to denote the A4 space, while square columns appear in the A3 portion of the building.

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XEROX EMIRATES HQ | CASE STUDY

THE DETAILS Simple, clean materials were chosen, with white render and slate cladding and a grey tone for the glazing and frames. Sealed white sandstone and grey concrete paviours were chosen for the exterior paving and stairs. Frameless glass or

white painted aluminium adorn the building’s balustrades.

Sun shading is provided by louvers on stairwells. In the double height, glazed showroom XEROX EMIRATES HQ to the south, sun shading fi lm is used which also

acts as advertising for the Xerox band. The white render for the majority of external cladding provides additional solar reflectivity. The structure was designed to be as visible as possible.

400HA TOTAL AREA OF IMPZ

THE SITE Located in Dubai’s International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), the building occupies a corner plot at the main entrance to the 400 ha freezone. The flat desert plot, without notable views and local points of interest, enabled the design to be created on a relatively blank canvas.

Knowing that the surrounding area would remain undeveloped for some time, the building was planned for social self sufficiency, with several break out spaces, seating, staff rooms and a generous balcony for the office to enjoy in winter.

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MARINA MALL | CASE STUDY

MARINA MALL Architect: HOK Location: Lusail, Qatar CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Designed by HOK, this futuristic retail complex for Qatar's mammoth Lusail development contains five interconnected retail ‘islands’. Smaller pods will house additional retail, exhibition and entertainment space.

The three-level mall will include a hypermarket in the basement, as well as cinemas, restaurants and spa facilities. It is aiming for QSAS 5, the top ranking in Qatar’s green building index. The project was recently granted planning approval.

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CASE STUDY | MARINA MALL

THE SITE Barry Hughes, vice president HOK London, describes the site: “It's a rectangular plot next to a manmade marina and at the moment there's not a tremendous amount of context. We drew TOTAL GLA OF water in to link it to the THE MALL marina. It's a sculptural object that can hold its own while other projects evolve around it. We wanted to create something fantastic.”

60,000M 2

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MARINA MALL | CASE STUDY

THE CONCEPT Hughes continues: “We have termed it as a ‘supernatural’ building - a combination of natural and futuristic. It's like being in a giant Henry Moore sculpture. However, the form is not completely arbitrary. It follows the conventional mall layout which has been proven commercially.”

One the main challenges for the architect is realising the complex AREA OF LUSAIL shapes within the cliDEVELOPMENT ent's budget. “We are working with an unusual structure with lots of cantilevered beams,” adds Hughes.

3,700HA

THE DETAILS Hughes states that the building is sculpted to allow the right amount of sunlight. He continues: “The shape reduces solar gain which lowers the mechanical load and makes a more efficient building. This will help with the QSAS rating. All of the systems need to be heavily integrated and the structural model is constantly being updated. The roof is treated as a fifth facade because the nearby hotel needs a beautiful view. We designed the roof to read as one unit.

The original design was entirely composed of polycarbonate panels but we realised that some areas don't need them.”

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KUWAIT CULTURAL CENTRE | CASE STUDY

KUWAIT CULTURAL CENTRE Architect: BDP Location: Sabah Al-Ahmad City, Kuwait CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Europe-based BDP has been appointed by the Public Authority of Housing Welfare (PAHW) to design a landmark cultural centre in Sabah Al Ahmad, a new city for 2,500 people in the Kuwaiti desert.

According to the architect, the centre will offer an “inspirational home for a wide range of cultural activities” and includes a gallery, museum, theatre, screening room, conference centre, as well as a children’s theatre.

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CASE STUDY | KUWAIT CULTURAL CENTRE

A sunken garden space, termed the ‘cultural oasis’, is accessed via deeply shaded ravines through the main plinth. Shielded from the heat, the oasis contains 4,000m2 of water-fi lled public meeting, exhibition and leisure space, a number of pavilions containing ESTIMATED restaurants and retail POPULATION OF and a possible 100-seat SABAH AL-AHMAD planetarium. The billowCITY ing forms pay homage to the Arabian dhow sailing boat.

2,500

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KUWAIT CULTURAL CENTRE | CASE STUDY

THE CONCEPT Project director Richard McDowell said: “A key driver for us is the desire to create a new centre with a sense of place, a timeless edifice that acts as a focal point for the new city of Sabah Al Ahmad but that also fulfils the role of a spiritual heart space in the city.” A latticework patterned roof structure is supported on tree-like 2 timber columns which spring from the base of AREA OF INTERNAL the oasis floor. The colCULTURAL OASIS umns support ‘lily pads’ of varying sizes which to help shade the spaces below in the vein of traditional Bedouin tents.

4,000M

THE DETAILS The central garden will be sheltered from the prevailing hot winds and sand storms by a plateaux. Ventilation towers situated at the edges of the site will harness wind and provide preconditioned fresh air to the central space and buildings via a ventilation earth tube strategy.

Evaporative cooling towers will utilise recycled and treated grey water from the buildings. An ‘intelligent’ canopy in the central garden will provide shade and harness solar energy when integrated with photovoltaics. The thermal mass offered by a heavyweight building envelope will help to absorb heat during the day.

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Under the patronage of Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry

29 - 31 MAY 2012 JEDDAH CENTRE FOR FORUMS AND EVENTS KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

www.indexksa.com

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is welcoming INDEX for the first time The MENA region’s largest interiors and design exhibition is coming to Jeddah in May 2012! View the best international furniture, textiles, lighting, kitchen & bathroom and outdoor design products under one roof over 3 days.

INDEX Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2012 will be an unrivalled showcase of international design excellence for the Kingdom’s interior designers, architects, fit out contractors, consultants and developers from the interior design industry community who are working on the country’s most prestigious projects.

Register to visit now at www.indexksa.com

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PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

THE WORK PROJECT UPDATE

ETIHAD TOWERS

US$1BN TOTAL VALUE OF PROJECT

Architect: Design by Innovation (DBI) Location: Abu Dhabi

AMAF HEADQUARTER BUILDING Architect: Lacasa Location: Dubai

JAMESON HOUSE

33,000M2 TOTAL GROSS AREA

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Architect: Foster + Partners Location: Vancouver, Canada

Completed in November 2011, this mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi comprises five towers, plus an interconnecting podium, developed by Sheikh Suroor Projects Department (SSPD). It includes the 585-key Jumeirah Etihad Towers Hotel. The project contains three residential buildings, housing 885 apartments, a commercial office tower, a shopping mall, restaurants and cafes and the UAE’s largest banqueting hall.

Lacasa won fi rst prize in a competition design for the headquarters of Islamic foundation, Awqaf & Minority Affairs Foundation (AMAF).

Accordingly the design language of the, so far, unrealised project uses Islamic patterns and motifs. Symbolism was used in the materials and their relation to the masses to reflect the entity. Functioning as an office complex, the building provide flexible spaces to the tenant’s request.

Jameson House is a new 35-storey mixed-use tower in the Canadian city of Vancouver and includes the fi rst residential development to be completed by Foster + Partners in North America. Finished at the end of last year, the building is already almost fully occupied, according to the architect. The development comprises 11 storeys of offices and shops, topped by 23 storeys of apartments.

412M

TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE TOWER

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

SARAYA BANDAR JISSAH Architect: GAJ Location: Oman

SIDRA VILLAGE

1,165

Architect: Allies & Morrison Location: Doha, Qatar

NUMBER OF FLATS IN THE VILLAGE

AL MIZHAR VILLA

7M

COST OF THE VILLA

Architect: AK Design Location: Dubai

Designed by US giant Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), Al Hamra Tower is a sculpted concrete skyscraper in Kuwait, valued at US$950m. The commercial complex contains offices, a health club, rooftop restaurant and a high-end shopping mall with an IMAX cinema complex and food court. Standing at 412m, it claims numerous heightbased records such as tallest building in Kuwait, tallest ‘sculptural’ tower and tallest stone-clad structure.

Designed by GAJ, Saraya Bandar Jissah is a luxury resort and community nestled within a sheltered bay where mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. Residential units and recreational facilities are located within the valleys while two luxury hotels sit adjacent to the beach. With views of a lagoon system, wadis and mountains, the housing units are oriented to follow the contours and minimise impact on the landscape.

This walled community on the outskirts of Doha will provide 1,165 flats for the nursing staff of the new Sidra hospital, as part of the Education City development. The scheme will contain a small mosque, community and leisure facilities, restaurants and cafes. Developed by Mazaya for enduser Qatar Foundation, Sidra Village is integrated within the existing street pattern.

Designed by UAE based AK Design, Al Mizhar Villa is a contemporary play on the traditional courtyard houses of the Gulf region. The constraints of the long, narrow site led to the form of two ‘living tubes’ sliding past each other to create a central landscaped courtyard. The northern tube contains family-oriented functions while the bedrooms are housed in the southern tube.

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THE WORK | PROJECT UPDATE

AL HAMRA TOWER

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

TOZEUR RESORT Architect: GAJ Location: Tozeur, Tunisia

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH

3,900M2

AREA OF EXTERIOR COPPER PANELS

Architect: Ennead Architects Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

AL SHAQAB EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY

8,000

SPECTATOR CAPACITY OF THE ARENA

Architect: Leigh & Orange Location: Education City, Qatar

THE VERTICAL MEDINA Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Location: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Runner-up in the Hospitality & Leisure category at the 2011 Middle East Architect Awards, this boutique 63-key resort in Tunisia comprises a destination spa, a banqueting and conference centre and a cultural village. Other facilities include local craft studios, retail outlets, restaurants, nightclubs as well as an Arabian Nights outdoor dining experience and an outdoor amphitheatre.

This scheme, which opened in November 2011, provides a home for the Natural History Museum of Utah, as well as housing research facilities for undergraduates and graduates at the University of Utah. The building was designed by Todd Schliemann of New York-based Ennead Architects.

He was supported by Ennead partner Don Weinreich in association with David Brems and John Branson of Salt Lake City’s GSBS.

One of the largest show horse facilities in the world, this equestrian complex covers a total area of 800,000m2. Centred around a 350m long performance arena with a double facing grandstand, it also caters for the training and breeding of Arabian horses. Officially completed in September 2011, it is being continually expanded. Leigh & Orange provided master planning, architectural design, interior design.

The Vertical Medina is a mixed-use scheme in Saudi Arabia. It uses the traditional Arab medina city form – with its interlocking alleyways and courtyards — to create a ‘vertical network’ with residential, office and retail components. Clad in limestone from local sources, the project is slated for completion in late 2012.

The top six floors has a total area of 18,000m2 and the lower seven floors has a total area of 21,000m2.

PROJECT UPDATE | THE WORK

THE URBAN CROSSING

2

24,678M TOTAL AREA OF THE SITE

Architect: Aedas Location: Shanghai, China

MAYSAN RESIDENCES

337

TOTAL NUMBER OF APARTMENT UNITS

Architect: DWP Location: Abu Dhabi

EKO ATLANTIC CITY Architect: MZ Architects Location: Lagos, Nigeria

MIRDIF CITY CENTRE Architect: Hyder Consulting/ RTKL Location: Dubai

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Aedas’ “boutique urban” project in Shanghai provides office and retail components, as well as a gallery, conference centre and a water promenade plaza. It is conceived to be a landmark hub with a strong civic presence and a vibrant mix of commercial and public elements. The Urban Crossing is also capable of hosting multiple major events.

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 with an expected completion date of 2013. Designed by dwp, the project aims to achieve a 2 Pearl Rating with Estidama. The roof structure contains solar energy technology while the tower forms are devised to minimise the exposure to excessive heat gain.

This ambitious new city in Nigeria responds to coastal erosion and aims to relieve pressure on the congested city of Lagos, which is currently inhabited by 15.5 million people.

Estimates of urban use predict Eko Atlantic City will be home to a quarter of a million people when complete. MZ Architects is the urban planner for the new city and will also be responsible for a number of towers in the scheme.

The fi rst LEED Gold accredited retail outlet in the Middle East, the AED3 billion Mirdif City Centre opened in March 2010 and achieved its green certification in May 2011. At the peak of construction, 22 cranes and 10,000 workers were on site. Mirdif City Centre is developed by mall specialist Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Mirdif City Centre features a gross floor area of 300,000m2, with 450 shops and parking for over 7,000 cars.

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CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED

LIKE WANT NEED CULTURE

BATHROOM MY NATURE Villeroy & Boch With natural materials and gentle shades of colour, the My Nature bathroom collection by Villeroy & Boch uses highquality ceramic from Mettlach and vividly grained indigenous chestnut. The eyecatcher in the collection is the generously proportioned bathtub, available in three variations. It rests on a solid chestnut plinth – alternatively in white matt. The toilet delivers a ush action with 4.5 litres of water while the patented seat cover in chestnut veneer provides a natural look.

BOOK URBAN COMPOSITION Mark Childs Each chapter in Urban Compositions contains design queries followed by a discussion, illustrations, and references for further research. This accessible primer on urban design provides guidelines for designing buildings or plans for large cities or small towns. It showcases projects across the United States and internationally, in metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Seattle and London, and small communities such as Marfa, Texas.

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CULTURE | LIKE WANT NEED

FURNISHING FANTASIA The One The One’s unisex spring style fuses funky home fashion with Oriental elegance by combining a colour palette of black, red, yellow and turquoise with painted woods, hammered metal and lacquered materials. It features a soothing Chinese-inspired navy blue, white and turquoise wallpaper, with an eclectic turquoise painted wood cabinet with a sleek black wood dining table and contemporary chairs upholstered in bright yellow velvety fabric.

FURNISHING SLEEPBOX Caspar Lohner SleepBox aims to provide a place of comfort within airports, offices or other semi-public spaces. The solid, smooth and uniform shell is made of HI-MACS, and contains a leather covered mattress. Architect Caspar Lohner was in charge, with help from students from the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich.

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LAST WORD | SHAWN BASLER

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 Group Art Editor Daniel Prescott Christopher Howlett Christopher Howlett PHOTOGRAPHY

KEEPING TRADITIONS THE LAST WORD

Shawn Basler, principal at Perkins Eastman on preserving the past and protecting the future

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

It’s no coincidence that the first significant building developed in Oman is the Royal Opera House Muscat.

What better way for a country to make a statement on preserving culture and heritage, and also celebrating it as an integral part of its future growth.

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

With the dust finally settling from the economic crisis and Arab Spring, other countries should take note.

I believe the next wave of development in the Middle East will be focused on projects that cultivate heritage and preserve tradition.

It is good to see that Abu Dhabi quickly realised that when they briefly put the museum developments on hold, and now have resumed again.

There are many opportunities that exist in almost every country, some of which our fi rm has been involved.

In the UAE, the Dubai Customs and Ports are creating three Fishing harbours in Jumeirah.

They celebrate the history of an active and vital industry, while creating a new cultural attraction.

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 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 5,132 (July – Dec 2011) Cover image Spine Mosque, Palm Jumeirah 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.

The redevelopment of the Corniche and Al Doha Park in Doha will create an urban icon.

It will connect the sea to the historic village as well as the new developments.

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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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