Field Trips

Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Sharjah study trip

BSc Architectural Design Technology

In February 2018, the Architectural Design Technology students set off to the United Arab Emirates for a one week study trip organised by their programme leader, Dr. Heba Elsharkawy. The study trip was an eye-opening experience to the students as it facilitated visits to many significant case studies in the UAE that demonstrated the diverse technologies and design approaches adopted in such a hot and arid climate.

The students visited DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority), the largest sustainable governmental building in the world to have achieved LEED platinum certification for design and construction. The building manager presented the sustainability aspects of the building and accompanied the students to a guided tour of the project.

Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, has been another destination for the group to appreciate the advanced building technology implemented in such a mega building. They were also able to visit one of the top viewing platforms and see a lot of Dubai’s districts and buildings from above. Atkins also hosted the group at their offices for a tour and a presentation of their newest major project, Dubai Creek Harbour, an iconic waterfront development with its tower of 928-meter high to be completed by 2020. This was followed by a visit to the construction site and tours of one of the residential towers under construction where the group visited pent houses. Zaha Hadid Architect’s Bee’ah Building in Sharjah still under construction was also visited by the group with engineers onsite explaining the impressive steel framed structure with insitu exposed concrete central dome. The group then visited their counterparts at the American University in Sharjah where they spent time with architecture students who presented their design projects.

The subsequent visit was to Abu Dhabi where the group met with Foster and Partners architects at Masdar City, the first sustainable city in the world. The architects guided the group throughout the city demonstrating the incredible contemporary vernacular design approaches embedded within the masterplan and the various buildings, from residential, to offices, to sports centre and commercial. This visit was followed by a tour of The Souk, Abu Dhabi’s Central Market, designed by Foster and Partners. The design provided a modern version atmosphere of the traditional souk combining shops, courtyards, alleys, and food courts

The new Louvre museum, designed by Jean Nouvel, was another major destination in the trip with its unique and responsive design of its 23 gallery spaces covered by a 180-metre diameter dome. The final destination in Abu Dhabi was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque where the group had an unforgettable experience in one of the largest and most impressive mosques in the world.