AQUA Waterfront Housing Complex Located in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi
Farah Alshami
How can the city of Abu Dhabi accommodate a sustainable housing that is suitable for its context?
Project Description A Waterfront Housing Complex that will transform an industrial, commercial, and historical waterfront , and anchor historical practices. Creating unified society that achieve a self-sufficienct cycle, through living and working in the same space and practicing UAE’s traditional activities, lifestyle, and culture.
Objectives +
= Participatory Community
Live
Work
01
Creating a socially engaged community
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03 Considering the social aspects of the chosen site.
Before Museums
02
After Real living spaces
Creating real spaces to practice cultural activities
04 Intergrating cultural and industrial aspects through living and working in the same space.
Chosen Site The project’s location is in mina Zayed in Abu Dhabi, right next to the dhows harbour where the lanshes settle. This zone is highly known for its rich historical transition, as well as its traditional manufacture of gargoor nets as its identified mostly in this region in particular.
Context Typology Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision supported the opportunity of mid density housing, with enough retail and commercial space to serve local demand only. High residential density in the city is shifted towards the northeast and that’s to encycle the water edge.
Site Photo Montage
Derived from Context The project aims to define the traditional clustering of housing and translate neighborhoods of Emirati villages. To reflect on the dwellings of the Arab Emirates and formulate a modern paradigm for the modern century. Imitating the traditional sails, which gives an opportunity to transformation a conventional solid land to a floating existence in harmony with the sea. The proposed concept is derived from the fishing tool: Gargoor, its ephemeral nature influenced many design ideas.
Concrete
How did the fishing tool Gargoor inspire an architectural approach?
Circulation tube
Screen
Shading Device
Double Skin
Outdoor Furniture
Green House
Design Concept The sea waves movement with the wind direction inspired a major water canal idea, that could create a floating effect to resemble the UAE’s sea culture. Letting the environment and the contextual data design the project.
Form Derivation - morphology
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Vertical Circulation Study The core is spread around through the building, to maximize the experience of circulation and engage users to communicate with each other when circulating in the building. Elevators Staircases
Vertical Landmark Massing Exploration
Landscape Parti
04 Minor Canals
01Fishing Grounds
03 Promenade
02 Amphitheater
05 Outdoor Cinema
4 25 m 0 0 2
m
Site Plan
Med-Density 580 people Total site area 55,494 m2
A
D
D
B
B
C
C
A
Ground floor Plan
Ground floor plan (House of Pearls Zone)
Ground floor plan
(House of Artisans Zone)
First floor plan
(House of Pearls Zone)
First floor plan
(House of Artisans Zone)
A
D
D
B
B C
C
4th Floor plan
A 0
10
50
100
A
Basement Plan
B
B
Units - Modules types
A
Total amount of units is 140
01 Studio
02 One Bedroom
03 Two Bedrooms
Section A-A
Section B-B
0
5
10
15
20
Section C-C
Section D-D Perforated roof structural analysis and fixation system
Aluminum Sheet
Glazing
Steel Rod Diagonal Steel beam Structural Steel beam Aluminum Sheet
Western South Elevation
Eastern South Elevation
Northen West Elevation
Eastern North Elevation
Pedestrian bridge structural analysis Recyled plastic panels
Interlocking diagonal spiral steel structure
Structural steel ribs Metal bracing
Arched trusses slab structure RCC V columns Nodes
Semi helix arch vehicle bridge
Semi helix arched beam
High strength steel cables
pre-cast concrete slab segments keyed together and post tensioned, formed a cambered structure that is topped with a pre-cast concrete plank road deck.
Thick RCC columns
Diagrid Curtain Wall Raised Floor
Diagrid Node
Suspended Ceiling
Diagonal Bracing Member
Structural Beam Fire Damper Horizontal bracing ring (major floor beam)
Triangular Glass Panel
Farah Alshami