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Ihab Nayal ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO
CV Nationality
British
Date of Birth
February 27th, 1973
Education
Rhode Island School of Design, RI - USA
Skills
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) 1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) 1995 Over 19 years of professional experience in architectural design ranging from mixed-use, commercial, residential, retail, and especially hospitality. Commanding skills in layout planning and problem solving, with strong design skills in both contemporary & themed design. Powerful freehand drawing skills. Self motivated, thorough, & hardworking.
3 Experience LACASA Architectural Consultants – Dubai, UAE 2006 – Present
TNQ Architects & Engineers – Dubai, UAE 2005 - 2006
Principal Designer
Senior Architect
• Responsible for leading & managing the Head Office concept team. • Meeting clients, analyzing project design brief, & attending design progress meetings. • Responsible for full concept & schematic design of firm’s prioritized projects. • Coordination with the Design Development team for maintaining project design integrity. • Overviewing concept design production deadlines & quality standards. • Administration of the Concept Department ISO protocols & standards.
Samples of Projects Dubai Wharf (Cultural Village - Dubai, for Dubai Properties I BUA: 600’000 m2 Primary School (Warqaa 4 - Dubai), for SRS I BUA: 27’000 m2 Sea Horse Island (The Dubai World - Dubai), for Opulence Holding I BUA: 23’000 m2 AMAF Headquarters (Al Garhood - Dubai), for AMAF I BUA: 115’000 m2 Palm Jumeirah Tower (Palm Jebel Ali – Dubai), for Stallion Properties I BUA: 46’000 m2 Deyaar Enclave Residences (IMPZ – Dubai), for Deyaar I BUA: 418’000 m2 Jumeirah Hills Mixed Use Project (Jumeirah – Dubai), for Sama Dubai I BUA: 525’000 m2 Private Residence (Khawaneej - Dubai), for Mr. Nasser Al Hai I BUA: 2’100 m2 The Palace Residences (Amman – Jordan), for LACASA Jordan I BUA: 8’400 m2 Kharbash Tower (Trade Centre – Dubai), for Al Kharbash Inv I BUA: 200’000 m2 Residential Building (Danat AD - Abu-Dhabi), for Bloom Investments I BUA: 29’000 m2
• Responsible for leading & managing the concept design team. • Responsible for the full concept designs & schemes. • Distributing tasks to team members & development of team skills. • Overviewing concept design production deadlines & quality standards. • Overseeing the design progress in the Design Development stage.
Samples of Projects Nahda Tower (Nahda – Sharjah) - Buhaira National Insurance I BUA: 130’500 m2 Hotel & Office Tower (Khan Dst - Sharjah) – Private Developer I BUA: 59’000 m2 Residential Tower (Majaz – Sharjah) – Private Developer I BUA: 88’000 m2
Majid Al Futtaim Investments - Dubai, UAE 2002 - 2005
Senior Architect • Concept designer for MAF Chairman’s private developments new business developments. Interior designer for MAF’s selected retail and hospitality assets.
Samples of Projects MAF Headquarters Building I BUA: 15’500 m2 Abi-Hail Mosque I BUA: 1’500 m2 Magic Planet Entertainment Centre – Ajman (Interior Design) I Area: 700 m2 Sofitel Hotel Lobby (Interior Design) I Area: 300 m2 DCC Amenity Block (Interior Design) I Area: 450 m2
CV (Contd) Experience (contd) DAR Consult – Dubai, UAE 1998 - 2002
John R. Harris & Partners - Dubai, UAE 1996 - 1998
Design Architect (1998 – 1999)
Design Architect
• Cad development of working drawings of various projects. • Concept designer for a variety of projects including the Lulu Hypermarket & a cinema complex.
Resident Architect (1999-2002) • Responsible for the architectural supervision, quality standards, & safety. • Coordination between architectural and various disciplines on site & review of shopdrawings.
Samples of Projects Office Building (Dubai Internet City) – Oracle Corporation Holiday Inn Hotel (Currently Movenpick, Oud Meitha – Dubai) Office Building (Oud Meitha – Dubai) - Mr. Bel Obaida Villa Complex (Rashideya – Dubai) - Union Properties
• Responsible for conceptual designs of various projects & interiors. • Free hand drawings presentations, including London Head Office submissions. • Project management & coordination between various multi disciplines on site. • Architectural site supervision & implementation of quality standards and safety.
Samples of Projects Mixed Use Tower (Maktoum St. – Dubai) - Union Properties Hediard Café (Wafi Centre) - Wafi Shopping Mall Centre Hyatt Regency Ballroom Refurbishment (Shandagha – Dubai) - Hyatt Regency SH. Mohammad Guard Housing (Zabeel – Dubai) - Engineering Office
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Internships
Machado & Silvetti – Boston, USA 1995 Constructed a bass wooden site model for the Princeton University master plan project
Achievements
2014 Nominated as top 4 ‘Principal Architect of the Year (2014)’ - M.E. Architects Awards 2014
Rhode Island School of Design – RI, USA 1993 Freehand Drawing Teacher Assistant, Sophomore Architecture Class
Software
Dubai Wharf design: Special Gratitude from Master Developer for Design Excellence 2008 Sea Horse Island: Special Gratitude from Master Developer for Design Excellence
REVIT, SKETCHUP, ACAD, PHOTOSHOP, & Mircrosoft Office Publications
Competitions
Work sampled as one of the top 10 firms of UAE
AMAF HQ Bldg Competition - Dubai, UAE First Prize
Architect M.E. - Mar 2012 (V6, Issue 3)
Bloom Office Bldg Competition - Abu Dhabi, UAE First Prize
Interview & publication of AMAF design Emirates Home - Mar 2004 (V6, Issue 3) Interview & publication of interior design (Front Cover)
Al Sunut Mixed Used Bldg - Khartoum, Sudan First Prize Emirates Islamic Bank HQ - Dubai, UAE First Prize
Emirates Projects - Aug 2014 (Issue 78)
Languages
English (Excellent), Arabic (Excellent), Japanese (Basic)
Publications
Martial Arts (Kendo/Iaido/Karate [2nd deg black belt]), Drawing, Motorsports, & Photography
INDEX 8
C OMMERCIAL 10 AMAF Headquarter
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RESIDEN T I A L 26 JV Residential Tower
14 GV 11 Office
30 Palace Residence
20 Fashion House
34 Danat Abu Dhabi
38 Seahorse Island
42 Nasser Al Hai Residence
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MIXED USE
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48 Dubai Wharf
HOSPITALITY 66 Waldorf Astoria Hotel
54 MAG Group Competition
72 58 Jawan Materplan
EDUCATION 74 Primary School
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COMMERCIAL 10 AMAF Headquarter 14 GV 11 Office 20 Fashion House
AMAF Headquarter Location: Garhoud, Dubai, UAE Client: AMAF Plot Area (sqm):16030 BUA (sqm): 111,185 Floors: 3B+G+10 Year: 2014 Status: Concept Proposal The AMAF Headquarter Building design was conceived as a response to interpretation of AMAF’s vision in several aspects. In terms of image, the response of the design language was a choice of sharp, edgy, and expanding lines. The design was approached in a contemporary massing and language melting with Islamic patterns in a state of harmony and unity. The shard-like type of the form provides a unique and high-tech envelope with cantilevering & angled masses which further stress a highly contemporary approach to the design.
COMMERCIAL
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AMAF Headquarter
COMMERCIAL
On a conceptual level, symbolism was used in the materials and their relation to the masses to evoke a spiritual relevance to the function of the AMAF entity. The stone masses were symbolically conceived as the human part of us that is made from this Earth, and which attaches him to the Earthly life (Dunia). The glass masses, respectively, were conceived to symbolize the spiritual side of the human being, and his potential attachment to the afterlife (Aakhira). The overall massing of the building is a story of the dynamic forces that occur in us humans in our defiance of our attachment to Earth, and how a nurtured and strong spirit can alter how we function and perceive our Dunia. Therefore glass sprouts out dynamically out from the stone masses, opening and morphing the shells.
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GV 11 Office Location: DIFC, Dubai, UAE Client: DIFC Plot Area (sqm): 2780 BUA (sqm): 29,255 Floors: 3B+G+2P+RET+8 Year: 2015 Status: Construction The client’s design brief for the concept design of plot GV02 (Bldg GV11) has been compiled from the following resources: • The original RFP (Where applicable & does not conflict with sources below) • Progress meetings (Discussions & Instructions after the RFP) • Initial Concept Presentation (Feedback received on February 17th, 2015)
COMMERCIAL
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GV 11 Office
COMMERCIAL
Basic Project Requirements & Usage: • Project Name: GV11 • Plot Number: GV02 (located at the North edge of the Gate Village District of DIFC) • Plot Area: 2’777m2 • Allowed GFA: 166’000 ft2 (15’422m2) However GFA may slightly exceed if suits the design • Allowed Height Limit (Original): 42.5m DMD (Grade Level +2.5m DMD) • Setbacks: Facing GV04 (34.4m), All other boundaries (0 - to be confirmed with TECOM) • Allowed number of floors: 3B+3P+C+11 • Targeted number of floors: 3B+3P+C+8 • Floor Usage: 3B (Parking), P1 (parking &services), P2 (parking), P3 (hypocaust service level) Concourse (F&B, Office Lobby), 1st(Business Centre), 2nd-7th (Office Space), 8th (Restaurant) • Floor Naming as per DIFC: 5B + Hypocaust + Concourse + 8 (B2 is Grade Level) • Levels: Grade Level (+2.5m DMD), Concourse Level (11.5m DMD - to be verified)
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GV 11 Office
COMMERCIAL
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Fashion House Location: 8th Gate, Damascus, Syria Client: EMAAR Syria Plot Area (sqm): 9935 BUA (sqm): 44,700 Floors: 2B+G+6 Year: 2012 Status: Construction The Fashion House building design was conceived in response to the client’s brief and site analysis in several aspects. In terms of the urban setting, the symbolic axis of the masterplan was addressed by creating the main building entrance directly on the axis, and marked in the elevation as a focal point. The secondary axis was marked also by a flank of two symbolic columns that roughly mark this axis. As for the design language, a postmodern expression of bold masses and rhythmic bays, infused with a contemporary expression of details, materials, and architectural screens. The screens function as both screening the glazing, while also acting as an effective screening of the sun rays from the East and West sides of the back elevation. As for the direct South area of the back façade, a more solid treatment was used in the design, doubling also a visual variation in the façade design.
COMMERCIAL
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In terms of massing, a subtle but effective design decision was implemented to enhance the overall form, by creating a different floor plate for the office floor (located at the last level), while expressing this floor plate change in the architectural features of the roof level. This allowed for maintaining overall large floor plates and high efficiency for the Net Carpet Areas. The important target of 80% for the overall GF and upper floor was achieved in spite of the exhibition hall and allowing for 2.6m wide corridors on the fashion retail floors, along with achieving 510 parking spaces including the visitor’s parking on the Ground Floor.
Fashion House
COMMERCIAL
In terms of massing, a subtle but effective design decision was implemented to enhance the overall form, by creating a different floor plate for the office floor (located at the last level), while expressing this floor plate change in the architectural features of the roof level. This allowed for maintaining overall large floor plates and high efficiency for the Net Carpet Areas. The important target of 80% for the overall GF and upper floor was achieved in spite of the exhibition hall and allowing for 2.6m wide corridors on the fashion retail floors, along with achieving 510 parking spaces including the visitor’s parking on the Ground Floor. The plot shape which is concentric around the roundabout was utilized to express a large portion of the screen to define the unique usage and function of the building.
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RESIDENTIAL 26 30 34 38 42
JV Residential Tower Palace Residence Danat Abu Dhabi Seahorse Island Nasser Al Hai Residence
JV Residential Tower Location: Jumeirah Village, Dubai, UAE Client: Emad Jaber Plot Area (sqm): 4430 BUA (sqm): 26,600 Floors: G+3P+28 Year: 2014 Status: Concept Proposal
The plot for the project is located in the Town Centre district of Jumeriah Village development. Located on a curved frontage, it forms one of the ‘gateway’ buildings of the district. The client had a certain vision of the architectural language as consisting of an array of repetitive floors extending all the way to the top, and that the curtain wall would be somewhat limited in use.
RESIDENTIAL
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JV Residential Tower
Addressing the overall criteria of the project, the approach to the design quickly took on an abstraction of the terrain-like buildings of Yemen, in which blocks on buildings are infused with each other and with the mountains that host them. Thus, intersecting and overlapping masses arrange themselves to the curved plot, each with its own slightly different orientation. The design of the top of the masses stress their belonging to the same ‘species’, though each has a slight variation expressing a sort of individual personality. The highest feature, an extension of the core, rises higher than all and evokes a beacon-like impression, which is further highlighted by the way it is intended to be lit at night. The overall arrangement of heights keeps faithful to the impression of the mountainous terrain that was intended in the concept.
RESIDENTIAL
A random pattern was used for the fenestration, as to give an overall impression of a solid mass, as opposed to a wall with conventional punched windows. While functional for the apartments, balconies are carefully placed at the corners of the masses in order to keep the emphasis on the massing.
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Palace Residence Location: Zahran, Amman, Jordan Client: Jordan Properties Plot Area (sqm): 3435 BUA (sqm): 9,140 Floors: B+G+3 Year: 2009 Status: Completed
The plot of the project is located in the city of Amman in Jordan, in a district classified by the municipality as ‘heritage’ type, and in which an existing villa occupies it. This complication meant that in order to get municipality approval to re-utilize the plot, the design had to be convincing in that it would add more to the urban context than the previous structure.
RESIDENTIAL
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Coincidently, the client of the project, aiming to develop a super-luxury residential development, wished for using heavy ornament the design as a way of meeting the cultural expectations of the area. However, from the designer point of view, there was a strong wish to infuse the design approach with contemporary motifs in order for the building. After numerous proposals of a postmodern approach, it was excitedly agreed with the client to go for a ‘refurbished’ approach, in which a heavily ornamented classical design (and thus conveniently historical) would be infused with pure contemporary elements such as spider fitted glazing, balustrades, light fittings, canopies, etc. The historical part of the approach was foreseen as convenient in that it both avoided the post-modern approach
Palace Residence
RESIDENTIAL
The top floor is symbolically ‘wrapped’ with tinted glass stressing further the impression of ‘preservation’ while also adding more room for an interesting play between classical and contemporary architecture. In terms of planning, the courtyard was essential from the initial phases of the planning, both in terms of functional utilization of the plot, and also for creating luxurious entry to the building. The designer’s design motifs for the covered walkways were combined with the careful planning of the landscape architect to create the courtyard as both an arrival point and also as a space to be enjoyed by the residents of the development.
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Danet Abu Dhabi Location: Danat AD, Abu Dhabi, UAE Client: Bloom Properties Plot Area (sqm): 2050 BUA (sqm): 28,700 Floors: 4B+G+17 Year: 2009 Status: Completed For the Danet Abu Dhabi project, there was no guiding brief for the design language. However, there was excessive allowed GFA relative to the allowed height, and the creation of enough massing to break down the bulk would have caused the unfulfilling of the allowed construction area. The approach of to the design was therefore to create a strong element that would negate this issue.
RESIDENTIAL
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Danet Abu Dhabi
The shell or carcass idea was introduced for this purpose, and acted as a ‘skeletal’ element that contrasts itself from the rest of the ‘fluid’ glass mass: Starting from podium, as a symbolic canopy supported with a feature V-column, it extends to the west façade. It curves and wraps it completely, with only open slits just to allow glazing and balconies on that façade, and thus protecting the building from harsh West sun. The shell continues on and curves at the top of the building and drops downwards again seemingly slitting through the rest of the glass mass. The glass massing, or the ‘fluid’ part of the organism, is adorned with a checkered pattern of vertical louvers, which create a reconciliation balance between the harsh contrast of the white skeletal cladding and the rest extent of the green glass.
RESIDENTIAL
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Seahorse Island Location: The World Islands, Dubai, UAE Client: Opulence Holdings Plot Area (sqm): 75480 BUA (sqm): 29,200 Floors: G+2 Year: 2008 Status: Concept Proposal The island design was approached with two major aspects in mind, functionality in terms of investment return, and iconic in an aspect that would make it well known for its design approach. The client’s brief was to accommodate a beach for every house, and therefore the shape of the island was explored to maximize plots facing the water. Upon the process of functional development, the idea of a seahorse became slowly came into vision, as its form suited so well the idea, and its flexible movements created an opportunity to explore different possibilities that suit the particular plot of the island.
RESIDENTIAL
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Seahorse Island
RESIDENTIAL
The seahorse idea also became an intrinsic part of the development for its association with the sea, and for the poetic aspect of this particular sea animal. In the attached submission, we have shown how even the landscaping has been treated in a way that suggests the skeletal aspects of the organism in a way that is simultaneously so practical for creating privacy between the plots.
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Nasser Al Hai Residence Location: Al Khawaneej, Dubai, UAE Client: Nasser Adulaziz Al Hai Plot Area (sqm): 1395 BUA (sqm): 2,195 Floors: B+G+1 Year: 2008 Status: Concept Proposal The design for this private residence, located in the Khawaneej district, was approached with the intention of creating a bold contemporary statement. Working closely with the client from the very initial concept, the house was conceived as a semi-circular spine, intersected by a form that contrasts in axis and expression, and is highlighted with a bold cantilever. The semi-circular form in envisaged to be cladded in an off-white and smooth finished pre-cast concrete finish, and houses all of the main functions of the house. The cantilevering object, on the other hand, is the masterbedroom, and is expressed as the focal design piece that gives the client a command of the landscaped front garden.
RESIDENTIAL
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Nasser Al Hai Residence
RESIDENTIAL
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MIXED USE 48 54 58
Dubai Wharf MAG Group Competition Jawan Masterplan
Dubai Wharf Location: Cultural Village, Dubai, UAE Client: Dubai Properties Plot Area (sqm): 28700 BUA (sqm): 220,600 Floors: 3B+G+88 Year: 2014 Status: Construction The project had been originally designed by a third party several years back, the architecture of which was based on local heritage style and theme, typical of the Cultural Village style. It consisted of several clusters of 6 story residential buildings, seated above a podium of two levels of retail. The project was then put on hold with the sub-structure partially constructed. With the project now revived, the client’s brief called for the new appointed architects to completely redesign the development’s architectural language and internal layouts, but keeping the structural layouts and framework intact.
MIXED USE
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Dubai Wharf
MIXED USE
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In the initial studies for this re-design, the designer used the strategy of infusing classical architectural language with minimalistic contemporary elements and thus generate a feel of a ‘refurbishment’ style. In due course however, this was replaced with the approach of creating a unique abstract language that in its essence was purely contemporary, yet was molded within proportional parameters that would generate an abstract cultural atmosphere. Local Arabesque elements such the Wind Towers, Mashrabiyyas, massing, fenestration, and even colors were thus all re-interpreted and abstracted to the point that they retained the cultural atmosphere without having referred to the actual motives or patterns.
Dubai Wharf
Wind towers are symbolized in the vertical nodal and solid masses that highlight building cores and important development corners. The Mashrabiyyas are implied with contemporary brown metal lattice patterns and visually imply the softness of timber, animating the retail shop fronts of the podium level as well as the vertical slit openings of the tower features.
The designer was mindful from the start to create a undulation in the skyline of the development that is still reminiscent of the Arabesque local architecture. This intention in the massing was integrated with the strategy to develop varying architectural facades that would animate the project.
MIXED USE
This palette of facade types was sensitively designed within certain architectural proportions, and composed together in each of the of the building to create’ an abstract impression of several buildings adjoined at different periods of time’. In spite of the variety of these facade treatments, an overall philosophy is shared by all which focuses on a dynamic randomness in its composition, and by doing so all elements act in synergy of producing an overall contemporary language while each maintaining their own unique identity. A combination of beige stone, off-white textured paint, and brown aluminum are proposed as the palette of materials. The elegance and texture of stone is seen essential to create a sense of permanency and luxury, while the textured off white paint creates the contrast needed between the different masses and as a material also balancing the cost of the construction. The brown aluminum is a visual substitution of timber, which is considered as essential to add a sense of softness to the palette.
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MAG Group Competition Location: Marina, Dubai, UAE Client: MAG Properties Plot Area (sqm): 9670 BUA (sqm): 82,800 Floors: B+G+M+6P+44 Year: 2013 Status: Concept Proposal Without doubt, the site stands out as a unique location as it enjoys commanding panoramic views, and strategically acts as pedestrian passageway for commuters of the new Sofouh Tramway. With that said, the view towards the marina nevertheless does stand out as a focal and prime view for the site. The architect’s impulse, therefore, was to study the possibility of gaining a command of the marina view by placing the footprint of the tower at the North East corner of the plot, where a gap in the urban fabric provides this vision pocket.
MIXED USE
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MAG Group Competition
With the limitation of the footprint size at that location, in addition to other commercial aspects considered, it was quickly decided that the approach of two tall towers was more commercially and functionally viable than going with a single mega-tall tower. The second tower was placed as further away as the setback allows, and then rotated to align with the plot shape for two main reasons: -Functional planning at the basement level -Providing a dynamic relation between the two towers by having a more complex visual relationship The architectural language of the towers was inspired by the clients brief to avoid non-functional forms, to utilize more stone and avoid extensive glazing, and finally for the architecture to entail extensive detailing. The architect’s choice of language was a modernized and abstract art-deco style, in which the viewer simultaneously reads the building as both modern and simultaneously rooted with culture and historical context, and all expressed in a non-compromising vertical burst. Both the form and its detailing are carefully studied in their design geometric breakdown, yet an overall hierarchy is always maintained throughout the building design, providing the viewer with a comfort in exploring its different aspects and detailing.
MIXED USE
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Jawan Master Plan Location: Jawan St, Doha, Qatar Client: Private Engineering Office Plot Area (sqm): 245000 BUA (sqm): 834,600 Floors: B+G+8 Year: 2012 Status: Concept Proposal The Sheikh Jawaan Street masterplan was conceived in response to the client brief to address the need for a new dynamic masterplan that interacts with the future mega park, and add to the street’s existing significance. The project was studied and analyzed in terms of context & urban relationship, massing, zoning, and vehicular & pedestrian circulation. The plot location described in the brief text is 143,000m2, where as in the brief diagram it spans all the way from Al Sadd sreet up to Al Rayyan Street, with a width of around 190m. This amounts to around 239’000m2, and it was this latter size of the plot that was referred to for the development of the project, as in our view it reflected more closely the intent of the client.
MIXED USE
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Jawan Master Plan
MIXED USE
The masterplan proposed is a dialogue between the two distinct faces of the project: the plots to face the future mega park on the West, and the plots facing the Sheikh Jawaan Street on the East. It was an intention from the start to create a fluid urban interaction with the mega park with an undulating form of plots, whereas facing the Jawaan Street the idea of ‘stretching’ the urban fabric of the existing buildings was conceived. Even the existing streets are stretched into the new masterplan as access points and dropoff routes, opening visual corridors and possibilities of future street intersections and interactions with the new plot.
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Jawan Master Plan
Though the buildings can be sold individually, the entire masterplan is conceived as a mega project raised on a podium level, bonding the whole development with a fluid network of pedestrian friendly spaces and shaded walkways, creating a platform that can have a more commanding view of the park. Arcaded retail units occupy the ground level facing the street, where as the majority of the mezzanine level, which serves the podium level, is intended as retail units and cafĂŠs serving the development and also inviting the public from the neighboring districts. The Ground floor beyond the retail is to be a full level of parking serving the development and the retail visitors, with additional basement parking underneath the office district.
MIXED USE
In terms of zoning, a 5 Star hotel occupies the central part of the development. The location was also chosen given the currently vacant plot development across the street, and the intention is that a portion of that plot is maintained as a small plaza, from which a pedestrian bridge connects with the podium level of the hotel. A serviced apartments building is intended towards the South of the hotel, while the complete Southern portion of the plot is envisaged as an office district. This district occupies a second business type hotel, and also an Auto-Mall. Residential buildings with Islamic patterned screens, on supposed plots of 45m wide, occupy most of the street frontage on either side of the hotel, with additional curvilinear residential buildings facing the mega park. The mosque occupies the North point of the project, adjacent to a grand pedestrian access point to the podium.
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HOSPITALITY 66
Waldorf Astoria
Waldorf Astoria Location: West Bay, Doha, Qatar Client: Buzair Group Plot Area (sqm): 4260 BUA (sqm): 90,100 Floors: 3B+G+M+43 Year: 2012 Status: Construction One of the largest challenges of the high-profile 43 storey WA project, was the compact nature of the plot, and creating all the intricate circulation desired (and avoiding all the cross-contamination undesired) by the client & WA team, within this restriction. Moreover, the plot, comprised of two parcels, allowed for only one of them to house all the direct functions and programs of the hotel, while the other (originally allowed as a parking extension), was sought after by the client to be utilized as a grand ballroom, and accessed from the hotel parcel. The planning had to be function in such a way that if the approval of the ballroom was rejected at any advanced stage of the project, the hotel layout would still function properly.
H O S P I TA L I T Y
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Waldorf Astoria
H O S P I TA L I T Y
The compact parcel meant that very careful planning was required to work out the vehicular circulation of drop off/valet on one hand, and on the other hand the core (literally the nucleus of the tower) was designed in such a way to allow for the numerous variations of accessibility on the different floors and functions of the hotel. A cross-like flexible pattern was utilized to address this, in which some of the services would shift where required to order to create circulation (either resident or BOH) in any direction required for a certain floor.
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Waldorf Astoria
An equally challenge of the project was achieving the architectural language desired by the client. Though part of the language brief was clear, in that it had to resemble the high rise buildings of New York City, the rest was not. The dilemma was that though there was a very particular language desired, there was equally very little reference or brief to express that wish. Numerous proposals were created, ranging from French Classism, to Art Deco, to Neo-Art Deco, to Post-modernism. Finally, the approved design was a somewhat eclectic reconciliation of all styles: The base resembling the original WA NY, the main tower as a Neo-Art Deco, the top part Post Modern, and the capping hat as a reinterpretation of the Fresh mansard roofs.
H O S P I TA L I T Y
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EDUCATION 74
Primary School
Primary School Location: Al Warqa’a, Dubai, UAE Client: The School Of Research Science Plot Area (sqm): 23440 BUA (sqm): 28,975 Floors: G+3 Year: 2015 Status: Tender Stage Intended as a primary school intended for children from Kindergarten up to grade 3 only, the client of the SRS School had several grand and playful ideas of what the school should look like, and a unique vision of how the different functions of the school related to each: The first point of the brief for the language was that it should look like a playful ‘castle’. The second, for reasons of evoking pride of historical & Islamic heritage, was that the school should resemble in particular the Alhambra Palace. The third was it should be colorful and almost Disney-like. The forth that it had to visually connect to the school’s existing secondary school across the plot.
E D U C AT I O N
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Primary School
E D U C AT I O N
From the designer’s point of view, there was for obvious reasons, the strong intention to keep a somewhat academic appearance to the project – to still resemble a school. With this in mind, all these themes of the brief had to be abstracted to a level that avoids a kitsch look, but still satisfy the brief.
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Primary School
E D U C AT I O N
The approach to the castle-like language was first approach in terms of planning, studying the usually jagged and adjoined planning arrangement of castles. With this approach, multiple geometric forms were juxtaposed, and at contrasting angles, to create various masses that evoke the sense of historic castles. In terms of playfulness, the faรงade was treated as giant abstract (and color restrained) building blocks, but ornamented with colorful mullions.
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Primary School
A main drum massing acts as the focal point of the project, and houses a double height reception area and above it a 600 person auditorium/open thrust theatre. All the other masses of the building are positioned in a way to look as if sprung from the main drum and trailing away.
E D U C AT I O N
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Dubai, Mob: (+971 55) 700 9804 Email: ihab.nayal@gmail.com