Architect Nov 11 Volume 5

7/27/2019 Architect Nov 11 Volume 5

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

NOVEMBER 2011 / VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 11An ITP Business Publication

INSIGHT

Uncovering the latest

trends in regional

education

design

FEATURE

Exploring the many

benef its of Bu ilding

Information

Modelling

ROUGH

DIAMOND SheikhZayedDesert

Learning

Centre takesshape in Al Ain


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The TWIN elevator system at ThyssenKrupps

headquarters building Dreischeibenhaus in Dusseldorf(Germany):2 cabs, 1 shaft, 0 crowds. | Accept no Limits.

What keeps us

moving.


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1

NOVEMBER| CONTENTS

www.designmena.com| 11.11| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

4FRONT

Top stories in the world

of architecture including

Foster + Partners Kuwait

airport and a Dubai-esque

ski slope in Sweden

8

14THE BIG PICTURE

Dubais Grosvenor House

towers are at their best when

the lights come on

16ANALYSISSpeakers at the World

Architecture Congress cal l

for site specific design

22OPINION

Hisham Youssef asserts that

clients should understand

and support architects

24COVER STORYOn site at the SZ Desert

Learning Centre, which is

taking shape in Al Ain

34INTERVIEW

58CASE STUDIESMaysan Residences by dwp,

MZ Architects Lagos design

and LEED Gold-rated Mirdif

City Centre

76CULTURE

Cool products, clever ideas,

and some of the latest gadgets

in the design world

80THE LAST WORDMuhannad Sh. Assam,

managing director for BEAD

Architects & Desig ners

40INSIGHTDiscovering the ever-

expanding possibilities

of Building Information

Modelling software

48

Murat Tabanlioglu describes

the latest projects to emerge

from his Turkish firms

intrepid portfolio

FEATUREMEA explores the latest

trends and challenges when

designing schools for the

Middle East region

PROJECTSA round up of the latest

project news from MENA

and the rest of the world

NOVEMBER 2011 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 11


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FSB is a global pioneer with its cross-range Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to ISO 14025

for Public Project and electronic hardware and for barrier-free handle systems.

www.fsb.de/ISO14025

Lasting growth is a question of ongoing renewal

rather than the resources available.

Realgestalt,Berlin


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Its in your hands.

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e/en


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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 11.11| www.designmena.com

FRONT| NOVEMBER

4

FOSTER REVEALS DESIGNFOR KUWAIT AIRPORTUK architecture giant unveils designs for major airport redevelopment

Foster + Partners has unveiled its

design for Kuwait International

Air port, a major hub with a yearly

capacity of 13 million passengers.

The firms passenger terminal

design comprises three symmetri-

cal wings of departure gates, each

extending 1,200 metres from a

25-metre-high central space.

Sustainable measures, such as

roof-mounted photovoltaic panels,

will help the building

become the worlds

first terminal to

achieve LEED Gold.

Mouzhan Majidi, chief

executive of Foster + Partners, com-

mented: The scale of the airport

shows Kuwaits great foresight in

recognising the benefits of strategic

investment in future infrastruc-

ture. The environmental ambitions

The new terminal

will handle 13m

per year.

driving the project are

equally impressive.

The canopy extends to

shade a large entrance plaza

and is supported by tapering

concrete columns which are said to

be inspired by the traditional dhow

sailing boats.

The terminal is located to enable

future expansion to accommodate up

to 50 million passengers a year.

1,200MLENGTH OF EACHDEPARTURE

GATE WING

Pearls for the Sheikh

Zayed Desert Learning

Centre(page 24)


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NOVEMBER| FRONT

www.designmena.com| 11.11| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 5

This months top stories on the online home

of Middle East Architect

Winners for 2011 Commercial Interior De-

sign Awards announced

25 essential iPad apps for interior design

students

In Pictures: Commercial Interior Design

Awards winners

Only 10% of ME construction professionals

using BIM, says expert

Head for Heights

Plans have been revealed for a 700m

indoor ski slope in Sweden which will

surpass the 400m Ski Dubai.

Located outside Stockholm, the

70,000m2 Skipark 360 has been

designed by Berg Arkitektkontor, the

local branch of CF Moller Architects.

A 21-storey residential tower in Istan-

bul, designed by Turkish architecture

firm Tabanlioglu, was among the 13

winners of the RIBA International

Awards 2011.

The project, called Loft Gardens,

was described by the RIBA judges

as an extreme demonstration of

elegance and restraint within a subtly

modified t ypology.

Another Middle East building to

be recognised was Foster + Partners

Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, a

centrepiece of the zero-carbon city.

Inaugurated in 2005, the RIBA In-

ternational Awards honour outstand-

ing buildings outside the UK.

Turkish tower lauded by RIBA

Sweden to trump Ski Dubai

with 700m indoor slopeThe resort will also contain a

3.5km cross-country skiing tunnel,

a biathlon area, ice hockey and figure

skating rinks, and a snow park for

snowboarders.

Skipark 360 is a reaction to

reduced snowfall in Sweden, which is

threatening the skiing industry.

Construction is due to start in 2013

or 2014 and will be completed within

two years.

Although there are around 30

indoor slopes around the world, with

several in Europe, the most famous is

arguably Ski Dubai, located in Mall of

the Emirates.

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

BNKR Arquitectura has designed an earth-

scraper to get around the height restriction

in the historic centre of Mexico City. The

inverted pyramid contains a central void to

feed light to the underground storeys.

Length of boulevard in

Nigerias Eko Atlantic

City(page 62)

New schools

planned in Abu

Dhabis Future

Schools plan(page 48)

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

AEDAS MIDDLE EAST - PROJECTS BY REGION

Sweden has experienced low snowfall.

47%ABU DHABI

29%DUBAI

18%QATAR

6%KSA


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FRONT| NOVEMBER

6

The energy ef ciency o asupertall building is

superior to theequivalentnumber o low-rise buildings.Adrian Smith, co-

ounder o AS+GG,

justifies his well-

known specialism in

cloud-piercing

structures

UK-based firm Broadway Malyan has ap-

pointed director Stuart Rough as chairman

and added new staf to its Shanghai o ce.

Rough has led award-winning retail and

workplace projects in China, Southeast

Asia and Europe, including the BASF, Sony

and Roche headquarter buildings.

He said: As part o the practices senior

management team I will ocus on develop-

ing the global reach o our 15-strong net-

work o bases rom So Paulo to Shanghai,

enhancing the unrivalled diversity o our

500+ sector experts, increasing our distinc-

tive client ocus, with 80% o 2010 income

rom repeat business, and widening our

portolio o world-class projects.

The move will see director Melvin Davis,

who has come to the end o his tenure as

chairman, relocate to the practices Shang-

hai o ce rom 2012.

PEOPLE

New chairman forBroadway Malyan

Norman Foster paystribute to Steve Jobs

It has been an incredibleachievement to turn a small

desert city state

into a global

tourism brand.

We are going

to see Dubai

become more

mature.Simon Crispe, Atkins

commercial

director

The competitionin Qatar is huge,and that has drivendown some o theactual commercialattractivenesso it.Eamonn

Kerr, MD,

Sweett

Group

Stuart Rough takes the hot seat.

Foster designed the new Apple campus.

60 SECOND INTERVIEW

DR HANAN M. TALEB,

FACULTY MEMBER,

BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN

DUBAI (BUID)

Why is it important to have

enducation on sustainability?

Education for sustainability has

become an essential tool for

achieving sustainable develop-

ment and has been adopted in a

number of countries throughout

the world.

What role can universities play?

They need to equip higher

education graduates, who

are likely to occupy

future management

and leadership

roles, with knowl-edge and skill

sets that help

them in making

informed-deci-

sions.

Which universities

ofer courses on

sustainable architecture?

I conducted a survey a few

months ago and it was shocking

to find a lack of courses devoted

to sustainable architecture, withthe exception of the Masters

course on Sustainable Design

of Built Environment from BUiD.

However, other universities have

launched sustainability cur-

ricula, such as KAUST and King

Saud University in Saudi Arabia,

and the UAEs Masdar Institute

of Science and Technology,

United Arab Emirates University

and the University of Sharjah.

Norman Foster paid tribute to Apples

Steve Jobs, who died last month, citing him

as an inspiration and role model.

Foster + Partners is working or Apple

on its new campus in Cupertino, Caliornia

(pictured). Completion is slated or 2015.

In a statement, Foster said: We were

greatly privileged to know Steve as a per-

son, as a riend a nd in every way so much

more than a client. Steve was an inspiration

and a role model.

He encouraged us to develop new ways

o looking at design to reflect his u nique

ability to weave backwards and orwards

between brand strategy and the minutiae o

the tiniest o internal fittings.

For him no detail was small in its sig-

nificance and he would be simultaneously

questioning the headlines o our project

together whilst he delved into its fine print.

Foster continued: He was the ultimate

perectionist and demanded o himsel as

he demanded o others. We are better as in-

dividuals and certainly wiser as architects

through the experience o the last two years

and more o working or him...he was one o

the truly g reat designers and mentors.


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10/84


FRONT| NOVEMBER

8

3

DUBAI

Nature-focused Al Barari

completes phase one villas

Al Barari, a low-density development

in Dubai that embraces nature, has

announced the completion of its 189

phase one villas. Around 80% of Al

Bararis land is dedicated to open

green space, making it the regions

lowest density development. The

project contains 14 kilometres of

naturally filtered lakes, freshwater

streams, cascades and waterways and

six botanical themed gardens.

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

2

QATAR

Construction starts on

$1.65bn Doha Festival City

Construction work has started on the

QR6bn ($1.65bn) Doha Festival City

retail destination which is slated for

completion in the fourth quarter of

2014. IK EA, part of the Al-Futtaim

Group, will be developed under the

first phase of construction and the

32,000m2 store is set for completion

in Q4 2012, with the remaining ele-

ments of Doha Festival City due for

delivery two years later.

1

ABU DHABI

UAE Pavilion on Saadiyat

nears completion

Abu Dhabis dune-like UAE Pavilion,

designed by Foster + Partners, will

be completed in time to host an art

event in mid November. The pavilion

has been relocated to Saadiyat island

after hosting the UAEs national

exhibition at the World Expo 2010 in

Shanghai. Reconstructed by TDIC

and commissioned by the National

Media Council, the structure will

now act as a cultural venue.

1

2 3


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TECHNICAL MIDDLE EAST| ADVERTISMENT FEATURE


Technal Middle East (TME) repor ts strong

perormance this year, having achieved good

results and on targets or the financial year in the

first hal o 2011.

The Bahrain-based company, which is the

regional of ce or Technal, a leading international

architectural aluminium systems supplier,

continues to build on the strength o the French

brand that was created more than 50 years ago.

Over the past year, TME has redoubled eorts

to achieve its sales targets and despi te the

global credit crunch, has continued to invest in

reinorcing its organisation, its logistics acilities,

and its support teams in the region.

Despite the global economic downturn over

the past couple o years, TME is enjoying another

good year in 2011, says Hesham Kameshki,

marketing and business development manager

o TME. This is thanks to our constant eorts

to provide the most suit able cost-eect ive

engineering solutions at competitive prices.

TMEs eorts in the region are backed by

the constant dr ive or innovation by its parent

company in France, which continues to develop

products that anticipate uture market needs and

trends, to meet various architec tural aluminium

requirements in both residential and commercial

buildings construction.

Technal has developed a range o high-tech

systems with cut ting-edge designs or casement

windows and doors as well as a new concept

or sliders, both with thermal insulation options.

These include Lumal sliders and patio-doors;

Solal casement windows and entrance doors;

Notal, a versatile range o casement and

suspended sliding shutters used or the external

building envelope; and Sunal aluminium sun

shading systems.

These new concept products aim to

revolutionise the architectural aluminium

segment. They oer global and ideal solutions

that are cost eective and ensure high

perormance, Kameshki says.

In addition, at the end o 2010 and early this

year, TME successully tested and acquired

Strong year or

Technal Middle East

certifications or a number o its engineered

solutions, including a blast-proo aluminium

aade and window applications rom a specialist

UK-based blast testing acility centre. One such

blast-proo application that was developed to

ulfil security requirements has been supplied

and installed on a landmark institutional project

in Kuwait and will be ollowed by another such

project in Bahrain.

Also tested at and certified by one o the most

renowned test centres in the region is another

specialised development to its Gode MX system

or a fire-rated aluminium aade application

designed to enhance saety in all commercial and

residential buildings. The system has already been

supplied to the housing complex project or male

and emale students or Qatar Foundation.

Another major success or the company was

having its new-concept unitised aade system

supplied and installed in some landmarks across

the region, including the United Tower, which is

currently the tallest tower in Jeddah.

The United Tower is a striking project because

o its 100% glass elevations, where no aluminium

profiles are externally visible. For the project,

we have developed a custom-designed unitised

aade system with a unique glass replacement

eature, he says.

Technals brand research and development

centre (R&D) is urther enhancing this high-tech

product with additional innovative eatures and

versatile design concepts, according to Kameshki.

Technal brand entered the Gul markets

some 33 years ago as the first international

architectural aluminium system to be introduced

in the region. It has been active in the Gul

since 1978 serving all GCC markets rom the

Bahra in headquarters, wi th regional of ces in

Dubai (UAE) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), a strong

network o metal builders commonly known

as aluminium abricators, dedicated technical

and sales teams and a logistics team with central

distribution warehouse located in Bahrain. From

this central warehouse, TME delivers its product s

to all the GCC countries (described as local

markets) and Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran,

Libya and Egypt (as export markets).

Kameshki concludes: We will continue to

capitalise on our achievements and sustain our

business growth.

We have a long-

term commitment

to our customers

and markets and

are confident that

our eorts will earn

rich dividends in all

markets.

Technal is a leading supplier of architectural aluminium.


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FRONT| NOVEMBER

10

1

CHINA

SOM to redevelop 2km

Nanjing waterfront

SOM has won a competition or a

large scale redevelopment o Nan-

jings Yangtze riverront, a orgotten

two-kilometre stretch in the historic

Chinese city. The development, by

Beijing-based MCC Real Estate

Co. LTD, is located between a river

levee and the old city wall. Phase One

will revita lise the Dama Road and

Tianbaoli area and establish a new

ramework o urban blocks.

3

SOUTH KOREA

Cinema boasts worlds

largest cantilevered roof

A newly opened cinema complex in

Busan, South Korea, contains the

largest cantilevered roo in the world.

The roo o the building has a ree

span o 85 metres and a surace o

60 x 120 metres. Desig ned by Coop

Himmelb(l)au and Wol D. Prix, the

complex contains 60,000m2 o per-

ormance, event, ood and adminis-

trative spaces and has a capacity o up

to 6,800 visitors.

2

CHINA

Beijings tallest building

breaks ground

A groundbreaking ceremony took

place or Beijings tallest building, the

510m China Zun developed by CITIC

Group. The 108-story tower will

dwar the nearby China World Trade

Center Tower 3, a 330-meter-tall

building that is currently the tallest in

Beijing. Inspired by Zun, an ancient

Chinese wine vessel, the tower will

serve as both an of ce building and a

tourist destination.

1

2

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

3


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FRONT| NOVEMBER

12

5

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

4

MALAYSIA

Broadway Malyan delivers

Media Village plan

The concept master plan for GCD

Media Village in Medini, Malaysia,

has been delivered by Broadway

Malyan. The scheme will support the

new Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia

Studios, a US$130 million film and

television production facility project

which is expected to create over

3,000 jobs. The architect recently

completed the concept masterplan for

the wider Medini project.

6

CHINA

German firm bags China

financial centre

German architecture firm Gerkan,

Marg and Partners (gmp) has been

commissioned to design a ten-tower

complex for a financial centre in Nan-

jing, China. Located on a 80,000m2

site, the towers have an above ground

floor space of 500,000m2. The

masses are arranged in an outer ring

of seven 120 to 200 metre hig h towers

and an inner ring of three 130 to 150

metre high buildings.

5

UNITED KINGDOM

Southend pier develop-

ment receives green light

Planning permission has been grant-

ed for a striking cultural centre at the

end of the UKs historic Southend

Pier, the worlds longest pleasure pier

at 2,158m. The 364m2 centre was

designed by Scandinavian firm White

Arkitek ter and UK-based Sprunt

and features a wave-shaped roof built

from triangular panels. The building

includes an artists studio and a caf

and dining area.

4

6


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FRONT| NOVEMBER

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 11.11| www.designmena.com14


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NOVEMBER| FRONT

15www.designmena.com| 11.11| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE BIG PICTURE

Grosvenor House, Dubai

This night shot in Dubai Marina,

taken by ITP staf photographer

Lester Ali, captures the Grosvenor

House towers at their very best. The

twin tower complex contains a hotel,

which was finished in 2005, and a

newly-completed residential build-

ing that opened earlier this year. Ali

remarked that architectural photog-

raphers should ocus on the best or

most interesting eature o a building.

In the case o Grosvenor House, the

most intriguing acet is most certainly

the striking blue lights that sandwich

each tower.


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NEWS ANALYSIS| ARCHITECTURE CONGRESS

ANALYSIS

GEARED TOTHE GULFSpeakers at World Architecture Congress call for site-specific design


19/84


ARCHITECTURE CONGRESS| NEWS ANALYSIS

This years Cityscape

Global in Dubai was no-

table for a markedly lower

attendance than previous

editions, and this was reflected in the

conference hall. However, the two-

day forum still managed to attract a

small number of vociferous profes-

sionals that were keen to keep their

fingers on the pulse.

One of the events highlights was the

afternoon of the 28th September,

which featured presentations and

discussions led by experts on Dubai

and Qatar.

The first speaker was Rashad

Bukhash, director of Architectural

Heritage Department, Dubai Munici-

pality, who talked about the emirates

architecture in a presentation entitled

Dubai: Evaluating the city s current

architectural situation.

Bukhash commented: I think

Dubai went a little bit too fast and

hundreds of towers went up on Sheikh

Zayed Road and in the Marina. From

2004 to 2008 I was director of the

Projects Department and I was going

crazy. At one point I remember we

had more than 300 projects, just for

the Municipality.

Some good buildings emerged

between 2000 and 2008, like the

Emirates Towers, but we also got a lot

of glass towers that dont have much

relation to the climate or the identity

of the area.

Bukhash added that the situation

has improved in the wake of the finan-

cial crisis. T he economic problems

in 2008 slowed the process down a nd

I think that was a good th ing for the

architecture of the whole Gulf.

He continued: Architects need

several months to study a nd analyse

the architecture rather than coming

up with the design in a week. Now ar-

chitects can sit down, thin k about the

project and come up with something

suitable to the place.

According to Bukhash, the Munici-

pality seeks buildings that preserves

the identity of Dubai and is in har-

mony with the climate of the region.

Bukhash believes that the Al Maha

Desert Resort and the Madinat

Jumeirah are quality contemporary

interpretations of the vernacular, but

added that the latter has too ma ny

wind towers.

Following Bukhashs presentation,

Tim Makower, partner for architec-

ture firm A llies and Morrison, gave a

talk on Qatar: Escalating expansion

and beyond 2022. Makowers firm

is behind the upcoming US$5.5bn

Musheireb scheme. He stated:

Allies & Morrison

is working on the

35 ha Musheireb

project in Qatar

(bottom right).

Some good buildings emerged between 2000 and 2008, like the

Emirates Towers, but we also got a lot of glass towers that dont

have much relation to the climate or the identity of the area.

Rashad Bukhash, director of Architectural Heritage Department, Dubai Municipality


20/84


NEWS ANALYSIS| BUILDING TALLNEWS ANALYSIS| ARCHITECTURE CONGRESS

Qatar needs a sense of belonging. We

are speeding up history. It is a natural

process that happened in the 19th century.

But it is very da ngerous if there is no acknowl-

edgment of human character.

Makower added: Qatar needs to create the appropriate infra-

structure for 2022. I think that the event is a great catalyst and

motivator, but its not what its all about.

Honestly I hope it isnt escalating expansion - I hope there is a

very measured expansion within the available resources.

According to Makower, the challenges include reducing pollu-

tion and the use of carbon fuels and water while acknowledging the

distinct facets of the country.

He continued: If our work is not rooted [in the locale] then it may

not stand the test of time, whether thats pre or post 2022.

Makower praised the ambition of the countrys upcoming metro

system. There is an extraordinary metro project underway in Qatar

which is most impressive. The Dubai Metro is a splendid achieve-

ment but the ambition of the Qatar system is at a wider level - it

involves linking the causeway to Bahrain.

The presentations by Makower and Bukhash were closed by con-

ference chairman Dr John Alexander Smith, Professor of Architec-

ture and Interior Design, American University in Dubai.

Which proposals are uniquely belonging to Qatar or Dubai? This

is a serious question. If you cannot find the solution and persuade

your clients then youre actually failing, concluded Smith.

Many of Dubais

towers are not

tailored to the

regional climate.

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COMMENT| EDITORS LETTER

20

For me, the recent news

about the delays to the

museums on Saadiyat is-

land are disappointing to

say the least. Like many expats, one

of the things I miss about my home

country is the plethora of cultural in-

stitutions, and I am eagerly awaiting

the likes of Frank Geh rys Guggen-

heim and Jea n Nouvels Louvre.

Althoug h not cancelled , the flag-

ship projects will be delayed beyond

their 2013-14 completion dates,

according to a statement from the

developer Tourism Development and

Investment Company (TDIC).

The developer did not give a new

date for completion, but said this

necessary review wi ll only have a

I have no doubt that the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning

centre will be one of the Emirates architectural treasures

when it opens next year.

EDITORS LETTER

moderate impact on the delivery

time line of the museums.

More positively, the UAE has two

landmark cultural projects that are

much closer to delivery.

The first is Foster + Partners

UAE Pavilion, which is a lso located

on Saadiyat island. The glowing

sand dune-like building featured at

the 2010 Shanghai Expo has been

reconstructed in time to host this

months Abu Dhabi Art show.

Reconstructed under the instruc-

tion of TDIC, the building is the

developers first project to achieve a

Two Pearl Rating for Estidama.

The second cultural project is

the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning

Centre in Al A in, a scheme that I

CULTURE CLUBvisited as par t of this months cover

story. While I was expecti ng a mod-

est pavilion in the sand, I was blown

away by the scale of the project and

its monumental concrete form.

Designed by Austrian firm

CAP, the building twists out of the

surrounding desert like a giant

mushroom, with a spiraling ci rcula-

tion route thats not unlike Fran k

Lloyd Wrights classic Guggenheim

museum in New York.

Not only is it a stunni ng piece of

architectural sculpture, it is a lesson

in sustai nability. The complex is one

of the pilot projects for Estidama and

is the only building in the emirate

to achieve a Five Pearl rating in the

design stage.

This rating was attained through

its careful orientation, water saving

techniques, and use of solar heating

and photovoltaics.

I have no doubt that the building

wil l be one of the Em irates a rchitec -

tural treasures when it opens next

year, and will be a major attraction

for the sleepy town of Al Ain .

However, the success of the

project as a cultural venue wi ll rely

on the quality of its contents. As a

tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, the

project is a cross between a museum

and a science centre and will contain

exhibits on the UAEs wildlife and

cultural life.

Yet the mere fact that a stu nni ng

buildi ng is ta king shape in the desert

means that its not all doom and

gloom for museums and cultural

projects in the UAE.

Its not all doom and gloom for UAE museums

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

months issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

The Desert

Learning Centre

in Al Ain is due

for completion

in 2012.


23/84

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24/84


COMMENT| HISHAM YOUSSEF

22

We all know that the best projects have

strong clients who understand the role of

an architect and provide support.

OPINION

Clients need to trust and support architects

HELPING

HANDHisham Youssef

AIA, is project

director at

Gensler and a

founding board

member of

the American

Institute of

Architects Middle

East Chapter.

Great buildings, such as SOMs Rolex

Tower, are driven by savvy clients.

Architects are the ring

masters o the design

arena. They are proes-

sionally trained to make

a clients vision a reality.

They listen, they lead, they create,

coordinate and ultimately ensure a

dream is realised. And eventually, a

projects success is evaluated based

on the architects ability to deliver

a well executed project that reflects

the clients primary vision.

An architects ability to execute,

however, is dependent on several ac-

tors. We all know that architects are

expected to deliver on time and on

budget, so I will not dwell on these

obvious basics.

However, there are other actors

that are oten overlooked, or not

given suf cient importance, which

are equally crucial or a successul

project execution.

The first o these is a clear client

brie. Oten a client is not clear on

what they want and hence the archi-

tect does not have a clear direction

or its work. This leads to misun-

derstandings, dissatisaction and in

some circumstances, legal action.

Another crucial actor is the tight

coordination o consultant deliver-

ables. Coordination is about bringing

together the dierent trades and

pieces o the project. This can ail

with a change in project direction

by the client at advanced stages, or

unreasonably tight deadlines.

The less sophisticated the market,

the more this is likely to happen. Its

worth noting that the Middle East

region is slowly maturing in this re-

gard, by comparison to other emerg-

ing and rapidly developing regions,

most notably China and India.

Thirdly, Id like to highlight the

need or architect control. Where

work is being executed away rom

the design architects base o prac-

tice, an associate design team is oten

brought on board.

This team may not share the same

understanding or vision o the design

architect, which may oten lead to

compromises in the realisation o

the design. However, an educated

client, who believes in the mission

o the design architect, can set the

project direction by ensuring that the

architect remains the leader o the

project execution.

Last but not least is the manner

o project execution. Contractors,

driven primarily by cost, may not

have the best interest o the project

at heart.

A smart client who heeds his

architects advice would go a long

way to stay the course o the design

and vision o the project. With larger

and more complex projects being

executed, this is oten not such an

easy and clear cut task.

So where do we go rom here?

Theres no simple answer. As the

leaders and proessional advisers, we

must remain true to our oath and the

mission we set out on.

We all know that the best projects

have strong clients who understand

the role o an architect, and provide

the necessary support and leadership

to ensure the successul realisation

o their vision. This is not only the

case in the Middle East; this is uni-

versal throught the world.


25/84

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24

COVER STORY| DESERT LEARNING CENTRE


The twisting form of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning

Centre has started to take shape in the Al Ain Wildlife Park &

Resort. Oliver Ephgrave visits the site

wildsideWALK ON THE


27/84

25

DESERT LEARNING CENTRE| COVER STORY



28/84


Currently best known or

its abundance o round-

abouts, the sleepy UAE

town o Al Ain will soon

be synonymous with a stunning piece

o sustainable architecture. As well

as being the first building to achieve a

five pearl rating at the design phase o

Estidama, the monumental structure

certainly exudes the elusive wow ac-

tor, even as a construction site.

Located in the middle o the vast Al

Ain Wildlie Park & Resort (AWPR),

the building seems to grow out o the

ground like a giant mushroom. This

efect will be accentuated urther

once the grey concrete is ully con-

cealed by the sand-coloured cladding,

which is made up o diamond-shaped

marble panels. The structure in now

complete, although delivery is not

expected until August 2012.

A cross between a museum and a

science centre, the scheme is a tribute

to the late Sheikh Zayed and will

contain interactive displays about the

UAEs wildlie and culture. While

some the digital renderings suggest a

modest pavilion in the sand, the proj-

ect is truly grand in scale with a huge

29.4m cantilever over the entrance

and a vast centrepiece volume.

Concept and detailed design was

provided by Austrian firm Chalabi

Architect & Partners. The architects

circulation strategy eatures

a shallow ramp spiralling

around a central space

akin to Frank Lloyd

Wrights Guggen-

heim in New York.

The route wont

eel like a slope - its a

continuous journey ull

o exhibits. The journey

culminated in a great view o the

upcoming saari park and the Jebel

Haeet mountain, adds Bassam Al

Otaibi, director project management

at AWPR.

The visitor route also spirals

down around a unnel-like inverted

courtyard space which will be filled

236MWHENERGY GENERATED

BY THE PVS

PER YEAR


The structure

of the Sheikh

Zayed Desert

Centre is now

complete.


29/84

27

with water to evoke the tradition alaj

irrigation. This system is used exten-

sively in Al Ain. The water will also

reflect of the walls, says Al Otaibi.

Structurally, the cantilever proved

to be a one o the projects biggest

challenges, according to Al Otaibi.

Its a triangular cantilever - we call it

a mushroom type. It takes the weight

o three storeys above, and this was a

challenge, he says.

Despite its heavyweight con-

struction, the building is filled

with light thank s to large openings

and diamond-shaped windows. Al

Obtaibi adds: One o the Estidama

requirements is lots o windows to

maximise on daylight. They also give

the building its architectural shape.

We will use double glazing to reduce

heat loss.

Acquiring five pearls with Esti-

dama is no mean eat. The centre is

one o the pilot projects or Estidama


and its one o the most sustainable

projects in the whole country, says

Humaid Al-Hammadi, associate

planner or the Abu Dhabi Urban

Planning Council (UPC), who was

also present on the site tour.

Accordingly the building will

contain a wealth o energy saving

DESERT LEARNING CENTRE| COVER STORY

measures to cut consumption by

40%. The roo is covered in photovol-

taics which will generate 236MWh

a year and shave 17% of the energy

usage. A 1100m2 solar arm generates

hot water or a Korean-built absorp-

tion chiller - a first or the UAE - that

requires no additional power.

Photovoltaics

are mounted on

the roof of the

centre.

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include vacuum

toilets - as used in

aeroplanes - as well as

high ef ciency appli-

ances. Rainwater is collected in

underground tanks while grey water

recycling will save 12m3 per day.

Trees and plants are irrigated using

treated seawater.

Materials were chosen in line with

Estidama, such as renewable wood,

Al Obtaibi explains that LED lights

are used or their energ y ef ciency

while all lights are controlled by a

BMS system. Other measures include

an earth heat exchanger that reduces

the ground air temperature by 10 de-

grees and cold water cooling coils that

are embedded in the concrete slabs.

Water savings are also a crucial

consideration or Estidama and

several techniques are utilised. These

The centre is one of the pilot projects for Estidama and its

one of the most sustainable projects in the whole country

Humaid Al-Hammadi, associate planner Abu Dhabi UPC

1,100M2TOTAL AREA OF THE

SOLAR FARM

The design,

by CAP, is

notable for its

diamond-shaped

openings.


and local materials

were used wherever

possible, such as marble

rom Oman. Sea tran spor-

tation is used or all non-UAE

materials. A sophisticated waste

management system requires that all

waste is segregated.

The buildings impressive list

o eatures includes a 200-seat

auditorium, an educational library,

and a caeteria with an open terrace

overlooking the saari park. From

this view you cant see any signs o the

the city. It is surrounded by the local

gha trees - we are manually watering

them so they appear as green and lush

as possible. The roo steps down to

an area that can be used or special


31/84

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Just a few yards from the national soccer stadium, the Arzanah Sports Medical Center is prominentlylocated within a new mixed-use community in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The project set out to designa sustainable building which responded to this very public site while balancing the need for acalming, healing environment and a facility organized to provide an integrated multi-disciplinaryhealthcare facility to serve the community and region. The new LEED Gold designed, 78-bed medicalcentre will form part of the US$6 billion Arzanah development near Zayed Stadium on Abu Dhabi

Island. As thermal insulation the consultant came to the decision to use FOAMGLAS cellular glassinsulation for the roof and some wall application. FOAMGLAS is produced by Pittsburgh Corningand is free of any harmful blowing agent. Its well known for its extreme durability and highestresistance to any kind of moisture. Due to the 66 % recycling content and use of only renewableenergy in its production FOAMGLAS gets the highest credits in all environmental ratings and issupported with LEED and Estidama credits. The high compressive strength without creeping anddeforming makes it the perfect solution especially in roof areas with garden and terraces.

Tapered roof (for all flat roofs and terraces)

FOAMGLAS Insulation

Arzanah Medical Complex, Abu Dhabi

Client Mubadala Development CompanyConsultant HDP Overseas Limited, HDRLocation Abu Dhabi, UAEUnder construction finishing December 2011

Build-up1 Concrete roof deck2 Primer coat3 FOAMGLAS TAPERED slabs

(160 ~ 240 mm), laid in hotbitumen

4 Two layers of bituminouswaterproofing membranes

5 Separating / protective layer6 Gravel7 Paving

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32/84


One of the Estidama

requirements is lots of

windows to maximise

on daylight. They also

give the building its

architectural shape.

Bassam Al Otaibi, director

project management at

AWPR.

FEATURE| DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

events. All in all, Im convinced that

this project will be one of the UAEs

landmark buildings when complet-

ed, added Al Obtaibi.

UPCs Humaid Al-Hammadi

agrees: Many people are waiting

for this project to be finished. Its the

subject of national pride. The UPC

Estidama team is very proud of the

building and we always refer to it in

our presentations. Its a crucial part

of the 2030 plan to make Abu Dhabi a

sustainable city.

Al-Hammad i adds that t he UPC

Estidama team has

been int imately

involved with the

design soon after

the pilot programme

was in itiated. He

continues: We were

regularly consulted

and held workshop ses-

sions with key members

of the design team to ensure

a seamless design rating applica-

tion and assessment process. The

involvement of the Estidama tea m

from the conceptual development re-

view process proved to be inva luable

in agreeing susta inable pathways.

By achieving the highest Pearl

Rating, A l-Hammadi believes that

200NUMBER OF SEATS IN

THE CENTRES

AUDITORIUM

The lower levels

will contain

pools of water

(right).


33/84


34/84


FEATURE| DESERT LEARNING CENTRE

Client Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort

Architect Chalabi Architect & Partners

Main contractor ED Zublin AG

MEP works IC Consulenten

Architectural Energy

Corporation (AEC)

Commissioning and Estidama review

services

AldrichPears AssociatesConcept, detailed design and construction

administration (interpretive elements)

BUILDING CREDITS

A terrace

(below) boasts

a sweeping view

of Jebel Hafeet.

the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learn-

ing Centre will be the catalyst

for all upcoming sustainability-

driven projects.

It will prove incredibly rel-

evant to our region given that the

Estidama Pearl Rating System

is a programme ta ilor-made to

tackle the needs of the region

from the environmental, eco-

nomic, cultural and social

perspectives, he concludes.


35/84


36/84


INTERVIEW| MURAT TABANLIOGLU


37/84


MURAT TABANLIOGLU| INTERVIEW

When we built the project in Tripoli I saw a very organised

system that wasnt there many years ago. Libya had very

good planning of ces that have similarities to Europe.

The portolio o Tabanlio-

glu is perhaps atypical

or a Middle East firm.

Instead o the usual

splattering o schemes in the oil rich

Gul states, the projects are primarily

located in the firms native country

o Turkey and a handul o unusual -

and perhaps daunting - destinations

such as Tripoli, Astana and Malabo,

Equatorial Guinea.

Despite the lack o built projects in

the Gul, the firm has not been short

o attention due to a very successul

year in the regional awards. In 2010,

Tabanlioglu won Architect o the Year

at the Middle East Architect Awards,

while its Tripoli Congress Centre was

lauded at the Cityscape Awards.

At this years Cityscape Awards in

September, the firm was shortlisted

or the Asmacati Shopping & Meeting

Point in Izmir, Turkey and the Sipopo

Congress Center in Malabo, Equato-

rial Guinea.

Middle East Architect caught up

with Murat Tabanlioglu the day ater

the awards were announced, and

it seemed that the co-ounder and

partner was disappointed not to have

picked up a prize. He started by pas-

sionately describing the merits o the

Izmir project.

Its an open air retail scheme thats

not in a typical shopping box. It has

the same shops as you find in many

places, but the environment is difer-

ent. The roo protects against the sun

and rain, but it allows in breezes and

you can see the sea and the moun-

tains. This is a project or the site - it

merges the inside with the outside.

The second project that was up

or a Cityscape award was a conven-

tion centre or the Arican country

o Equatorial Guinea. Located in the

capital city o Malabo, the conerence

centre was completed in time or the

Ar ican Union Summit in June 2011

a meeting o 53 leaders rom across

the continent.

The design eatures a glass box

clad with a tactile aluminium shad-

ing system that is inspired by the

surrounding woodland. Tabanlioglu

comments that constructing in Equa-

torial Guinea was not easy. We had

to bring all the necessary materials

rom Turkey by ship or plane. It was

a diferent experience and we had to

work closely with the contractors.

According to Tabanlioglu, the

challenges were compounded by the

clients short timerame o seven

months in order to host the sum-

mit. He continues: The president o

Equatorial Guinea liked our Tripoli

Congress Centre and wanted some-

thing similar. We decided to make it

more Arican. Its very important to

relate a building to the site.

The fir ms Tripoli project has so

ar remained unscathed during the

recent turmoil in Libya. Perhaps

surprisingly, Tabanlioglu observed

the emergence o a structured plan-

ning system under Gaddifis regime.

When we built the project in Tripoli

I saw a very organised system that

wasnt there many years ago. Libya

had very good planning o ces that

DESIGNTHE INTERVIEW

With new projects in Libya, Kazakhstan and Equatorial Guinea, Tabanlioglu is a

Middle East firm that likes to work outside of its comfort zone


38/84

36


have similarities to Europe. I hope

they stay with the same system.

Another unusual market that Ta-

banlioglu has tapped into is Kazakh-

stan. In conjunction with Foster +

Partners, the fi rm worked on the 77m

high pyramid, the Palace o Peace

and Reconciliation in Astana. More

recently, in June 2011, the practice

completed the Astana Arena.

Tabanlioglu comments: The client

requested a ootball stadium. How-

ever, Kazakhstan does not have many

big ootball games so we suggested

to make the stadium into a multipur-

pose arena that can be used or other

unctions such as large gatherings,

concerts and other sporting events.

Its not a typical ootball stadium. We

added a roo because the city s climate

is extreme - it can be plus 40 in the

summer and minus 40 in w inter. In

one night it can change 15 deg rees.

In addition to those projects

penned by the Turkish firm, As-

tana contains many other grandiose

schemes such as BIGs National Li-

brary o Astana and the deconstruc-

tivist Kazakhstan Central Concert

Hall. Tabanlioglu compares the citys

penchant or showcase projects to

Dubai, and adds: Astana is a very

modern city, but like Dubai, it s not a

typical city. The population o Astana

is around one million. Its the capital,

but its not on the sea. I you dont

have business, theres no reason to be

in Astana.

When it comes to Dubai itsel, the

company is working on the concept

or a new project, a lthough Tabanlio-

glu is unable to disclose the details.

He reers back to North A rica:

Egypt and Libya are very diferent

markets to Dubai and Qatar. The Gul

has more showcase projects.

The countries in North Arica

have had their problems but they are

now more democratic. This w ill be

reflected in the architecture - there

will be more projects or the people.

Tabanlioglu also believes that his

home country is buoyant and adds:

Turkey is a good market - it is plays

the role o a bridge between Europe

and Asia. Istanbul a nd other cities

remain very stable.

He pointed out that the country is

in the runni ng or the 2020 Olympics.

It could be good or the city, he says.

Barcelona is an example o how city

can change or the better. The plan-

ning didnt stop ater the Olympics.

Yet he also notes the danger o

white elephant buildings. Oten the

stadia and acilities are used or a ew

weeks and then let empty as they do

not think about the uture. The same

is in London - they are making this

huge Olympics Village.

Regarding Qatars hosting o the

2022 World Cup, he remarks: Every

architect and construction firm wants

to be in Qata r right now. Qatar has

many stadium plans or the World

Cup, but these projects are or the

moment, not or the uture.

Cairo has 15 million people and

there is more o a need or better

buildings. In Qatar you can build a

very nice, shiny building but what will

happen aterwards? I think it is more

important to build in the countries

that need real architecture.


For the Arican project we had to bring all the materials

rom Turkey by ship or plane. It was a diferent experience

and we had to work closely with the contractors.

Murat

Tabanlioglu is

co-founder and

partner of the

Turkish firm.


39/84

ASTANA ARENA

Astana, Kazakhstan (completed)

Intended to be a symbol of the new capital of Kazakhstan, the

Astana Arenas retractable roof can be closed in the harsh

winter to protect the players and spectators.

TRIPOLI CONGRESS CENTER

Tripoli, Libya (completed)

Surrounded by woodland, the rectangular two-storey block

is nested in a metal envelope that opens up to the external

landscape with a wide portico that defines the main entrance.

www.constructionweekonline.com| 11.11| MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 37

MURAT TABANLIOGLU| INTERVIEW

IanLawson

PORTFOLIO:

Murat Tabanilioglu


40/84


MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT| 11 .11| www.designmena.com38

ASMAATI SHOPPING AND MEETING POINT

Izmir, Turkey (completed)

Located in the largest city of the Aegean Coast of Turkey, the

semi-open shopping facil ity is designed to fit the al fresco

lifestyle of Izmir. The roof features a semi-covered space

created by a metal mesh that is inspired by leaves and ivy.

SIPOPO CONGRESS CENTER

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (completed)

Situated next to the ocean and surrounded by trees, the

Sipopo Congress Center is nested in a semi-transparent metal

envelope which protects from the interiors from the harsh rays

yet allows in the optimum amount of daylight.


41/84


42/84


FEATURE| BIM

MEA discovers the ever-expanding possibilities of Building Information Modelling

MODEL OF PROGRESS


43/84


BIM| FEATURE

I

n the age o pods, pads a nd

tweets, its hardly surprising

that the technology boom has

spread to the world o architec-

ture. The addition o a Building In-

ormation Modelling (BIM) category

to this years Middle East Architect

Awards is indicative o the impact

o Revit by Autodesk, Graphisots

ArchiCAD and other BIM sotware.

The award went to NAGA Architects

and Engineer s, whose Dubai of ce

ully embraced BIM in 2008.

NAGA was lauded or its work

on the Sawari Residences project, a

large-scale housing scheme on the

shores o Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia,

close to Bahrain. The judges noted

that the project demonstrated a ully

integrated use o BIM throughout all

design phases and disciplines.

Dr Ahmed Elkady, associate direc-

tor, adds: Weve been using sot ware

or a long time but three years ago we

decided to switch to Revit. There are

so many advantages.

Diyane Koseoglu, Middle East

sales manager or specialist con-

sultant BIMES, elaborates on the

undamental benefits o the sotware.

The manuacturing industry has a

waste actor o 26% while the ratio in

the construction industry is 57%, ac-

cording to McGraw Hill. BIM allows

users to ollow the automotive indus-

try by creating a prototype on your

computer beore doing it or real on

the site - you can see all the problem-

atic areas in advance and solve them

earlier, beore they incur a cost.

She added that there is a common

misconception on the role o BIM.

Most people think that you just

use BIM to understand your design

better and make 3D drawings or pre-

sentations, but this is not true. Your

model should be smart and contain

construction inormation. Previously,

architects used to create 3D models

or presentation purposes. With BIM,

you can define the materials you are

using, such as brick and glass, as well

as the U-values or energy analysis

and project management inormation

such as completion dates. All o this

inormation can be extracted rom

the model.


44/84


We see a lot of people that have BIM tools but they are not

actually using them extensively and extracting information.

BIM goes a lot further than just doing a 3D building.

Daniel Pinheiro, general manager BIMES ME

FEATURE| BIM

Once you have

created the model, all

o the drawings will be

generated automatically and

you can create sections and eleva-

tions. It really minimises the amount

o manual drating work. And i you

make a design change, it will be up-

dated on all the documentation.

Koseoglu states that BIM aids

the coordination between diferent

disciplines, such as architecture,

structures and MEP. In many

companies, the diferent departments

have their own sets o drawings or

the same project, and its quite likely

that they dont match. I n BIM you

can have all the parts on the same

model, with diferent filters to view

the diferent disciplines. You can ask

the sotware to detect collisions - i

a pipe is going through a structural

wall then it will noti y you. Its very

easy or a human eye to miss details,

and a typical project may have 3,000

clashes. I you discover these clashes

on site then you will sufer extra costs

and project delays.

She adds that the technology is

constantly being improved, with

many recent innovations. Now there

is a shell tool to create reeorm

designs - it can be used or modelling

a building in which it s di cult to

define what is a wall, a slab or a roo.

Another recent improvement is a

system called a BIM server, which

helps to counter the issue o large

files sizes. Koseoglu continues: With

the old technology , the synchronisa-

tion o the files involved carrying the

whole project rom one computer

to the main server, then back to the

computer. The problem with BIM

is that the file sizes are huge. When

consultants are busy then they will

not synchronise every day - it will

be a weekly process. This means the

design changes were not be seen by

the other team members.

Graphisot recently developed

Delta Server to overcome this prob-

lem. This server is intelligent enough

to see a project by element, not as a

file. When you make a change - or

instance you add new chairs - it only

carries the relevant inormation, so

it reduces the data transer size rom

100MB to 10-20KB. The whole pro-

cess has become much aster.

Koseoglu also points out the recent

development o a ree app which al-

BIM was used

throughout all

design stages of

NAGAs Sawari

Residences,

KSA.

25%RATIO OF MIDDLEEAST INDUSTRY

THAT USES BIM


45/84


46/84


The switch to BIM is

very hard - companies

have to be committed.

Most engineers andarchitects are not

trained in BIM and it

is a challenge to train

everyone.Dr Ahmed Elkady, associate

director, NAGA Architects

and Engineers

FEATURE| BIM

lows users to import a simplified BIM

model onto an iPad or iPhone. There

was a huge demand for such a device

and everybody is blown away. Now

people are going round the site check-

ing everything with their phones.

According to a 2010 Middle East

BIM Report, by buildingSMART, the

percentage of construction profes-

sionals using BIM was found to be

49% in the USA, 36% in Western

Europe and 25% in the Middle East.

Yet Daniel Pinheiro, general manager

BIMES ME, believes that 10% is a

more realistic figure for the region.

He adds that even fewer are properly

utilising the 3D software.

We see a lot of people that

have BIM tools, such as Revit and

ArchiCAD, but they are not actually

using them extensively and extracting

information. They might use them for

the conceptual design and then carry

on with the traditional 2D process.

BIM goes a lot further than just doing

a 3D building, he comments.

The UAE is the most advanced

GCC nation in terms of BIM aware-

ness, according to Koseoglu. In the

UAE, there arent many people that

NAGA Architects

made the switch

to BIM in 2008.


47/84


Advantages

of BIM include

improved

coordination

between

disciplines.

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BIM| FEATURE

are unaware o BIM, but when you

go to places like Kuwait, Qatar and

Oman its still a secret, she says.

When asked about the reason or

the slow uptake o BIM in the region,

Pinheiro replies: In the Middle East,

the lack o BIM skills is an issue, as

is the large scale o the projects. The

sotware is not really conducive to

big project files and people become

rustrated w ith the tools.

Koseoglu agrees: In this region,

the main issue is the availability o

skilled users. For instance, i youre

searching or an engineer with BIM

knowledge then you wont receive

many CVs, and you will struggle to

find any experts.

A big obstacle or Gul companies

is the investment in BIM training.

Koseoglu explains: Many individu-

als come rom regions where BIM is

not common. Companies that want to

implement BIM have to train people.

Many companies want to

avoid this - they dont

know i the engineer

will continue working

with them or the

next five years. They

cant eel the return in

investment.

NAGAs Elkady concedes

that the migration is not plain sail-

ing. The switch to BIM is very hard

- companies have to be committed.

Most engineers and architects are not

trained in BIM and it is a challenge

to train everyone. The norm is Auto-

CAD - people dont want to change.

Yet he insists that the move was the

correct decision and adds: We use

BIM throughout the whole design

process. We are trying to push it to

the limit a nd were discovering new

things all the time.

Majid Hamid Saleh, senior struc-

tural engineer, NAGA, agrees: It was

a great decision to go or BIM. It was

dif cult, due to the lack o expertise,

but it was an investment. Our man-

agement elt that the uture is BIM

and I believe thats the case. We had

to put the obstacles aside. We now

consider ourselves to be a pioneer o

BIM in this region.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE| PHILIPS

46

Aramex, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai

Customized TMX204 with occupancy sensor,

Smartorm TBS460 with LuxSense, Fugato Compact with PLR lamp

Location

Philips Lighting

Case study

Aramex, Dubai

BackgroundAramex is a leading global provider o

comprehensive logistics and transport

solutions, with over 29 years o experience

delivering customized solution across more

than 54 countr ies and 307 locations . Apar t

rom investing in education and youth

empowerment, entrepreneurship, community

develop ment, sports and emergency

relie, Aramex continuously ocuses on the

environment. Thereore Aramex has adopted

sustainable business practices as an integral

part o its business model. Because logistics

and transportation has a huge environmental

impact, the company is com mitted to

decreasing its carbon ootprint, optimizing

power consumption, and raising awareness

among other activities. LEED certification has

played an important role in helping them to

achieve this, especially in warehouses. Aramex

understands the importance o warehousing

within the wider supply chain, and the

environmental ootprint o those acilities. So

the company has invested in cut ting-edge green

technology to ensure that customers s torage

requirements and inventory management needs

are met while at the same time ensuring that its

carbon ootprint is minimized.

The challengeDriven by the desire to achieve the above

objectives, Aramex wanted to make its key

Dubai Logistics City acility more energy

ef cient in order to meet the LEED criter ia.

Lighting thereore became a key element in

the process. As a company renowned or its

energy-ef cient solutions, Philips emerged

as the ideal partner to provide the lighting

solutions or thisproject, ent itled A LEED Gold

Certified. The challenge was to provide a simple

yet smart lighting solution that would meet

the appl ication requirements and consume

40% less energy than that stipulated by the

ASHRAE standards. The project also required

luminaire-based stand-alone lighting controls or

occupancy detection in the warehouse area and

daylight optimization in the of ces.

The solutionThe key to the solution lay in an intelligent

selection and customization o standard

luminaires, which would not only match the

projects stringent energy requirements but

also satisy the application parameters. For the

lighting controls Philips customized the standard

TMX204 luminaire with an occupancy sensor

in the warehouse area to provide the ideal

scenario: light when and where it is needed. The

Smartorm TBS460 luminaires in

the of ce spaces were actory fitted with

Luxsense controllers, which save energy

by automatically regulating the luminaire in

accordance with the level o daylight available.

BeneitsHussein Wehbe, Country Manager or Dubai &

Northern Emirates o Aramex, is delighted with

this energy-ef cient lighting solution supplied

by Philips, which included smart integration o

daylight and occupancy control. Sustainable

business practices orm an integral part o

Aramexs business model and daily operations.

With i ts ped igree in develop ing energy-ef cient

products, Philips was the natural choice to

supply the lighting solution or our key Dubai

Logistics City acilit y.


49/84

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50/84


FEATURE| EDUCATION DESIGN

With a number of big budget

facilities springing up across

the Gulf, MEA explores the

latest trends in school design

BUILT FOR


51/84

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52/84



as well as Doha College, which has

shortlisted five top UK based firms

including Broadway Malyan. Mean-

while Saudi Arabia, w ith its huge and

growing population, has pledged to

build a whopping 10,000 schools.

According to the CEO o Sam-

mon Group, a specialist education

consultant and contractor behind

five ADEC schools, the quality o the

UAEs education buildings have taken

a huge leap orward.

Micael Sammon comments: The

vision o ADEC is world class and

its Future Schools programme is

antastic. It is producing phenomenal

buildings designed by the likes o

Broadway Malyan and Dewan Archi-

tects & Engineers.

Sammon reels of an enviable list

o eatures in the Abu Dhabi West

School. The acility is designed by

Broadway Malyan and I think its

quite astonishing.

It contains 45 classrooms, our

art rooms, our science labs, a library

and a 500-seat auditorium. It also has

300 solar panels that help to power

the school. The project has achieved

a Three Pearl Rating with Estidama

and its a real success story or the

Middle East region.

Broadway Malyan has designed

a urther six ADEC schools that are

due to open this academic year. The

schools account or a total o 7,000

student places and 120,000m2 o new

floor space.

Director Ian Apsley remarks: The

completion o the schools marks a key

milestone or education in the region.

They create a new breed o spatial

Schools can be operational challenges, but this the case in a

lot o buildings with diferent uses, such as hospitals.

Ammar Al Assam, executive director, Dewan

The oasis in Al

Bateen School.


53/84

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54/84



52

and learning environments in Abu

Dhabis schools and blend inter-

national best design practice with

contemporary sustainable principles,

and the result is testament to the

practices successful approach to

integrated place-making in the wider

Middle East region.

Breakout spaces are a key consid-

eration in a school project, according

to Sammon. Children have to be

stimulated and people in the West

dont always realise that. In this

climate, outdoor spaces can prove to

be a challenge.

Sammon describes how Abu

Dhabi West School contains an eco

court with a n inventive living wall

- essentially a vertical garden that is

attached to the structure. Children

can also help in the upkeep of plants

in a meshed cone in the centre

of the courtyard space.

Al Bateen Secondar y

School, designed by

Dewan for Aldar Acad-

emies, also contains a

stunning al-fresco break-

out area which is dubbed

the oasis.

Ammar Al Assa m, executive direc-

tor, Dewan, says: The oasis is an

educational courtyard that is meant

to be the sou rce of rejuvenation for

the school in a desert. Its internal fea-

tures help to make the learning area

more interactive and experimental.

It has low benches, bean bags as

well as IT wireless and multimedia.

Its not a classroom environment,

but a place where you can learn. The

teaching environment is important.

The breakout area has bean bags and

is used for storytelling.

Sammon notes that the climate can

limit the type of outdoor space that is

provided. Its challenging to provide

the outdoor classroom environment

in a hot climate like GCC. Its even

harder for those schools that dont

have government funding.

For those without huge budgets,

CLASSROOMS

IN ABU DHABI

WEST SCHOOL


55/84

EDUCATION DESIGN| FEATURE


Abu Dhabi West

School (far left

and bottom); Al

Bateen School

(left).


56/84



54

Sammon Group has devised an

afordable smart school that can

be built anywhere in the world.Sam-

mon adds: Not everyone can spend

AED150m on a school so we have de-

veloped the Sammon Smart School,

which is IT compatible and low cost.

We can provide a 16 classroom school

in 18 weeks, anywhere in the world.

He cites Saudi Arabia

as one market in need

o low-cost options.

We have started to

build three proto-

type schools in Saudi

Arabia. Its ollowing

Abu Dhabis lead and has

moved education to the ront

o its priorities, but it needs expertise.

The country has committed to build

10,0000 schools.

According to Sammon, one o the

key challenges in school design is

allowing the right amount o daylight-

ing. In the West, there is a drive or

an extensive use o light, and in places

like the UK you need solar gain. Over

here, we have to protect against it.

You cant have kids sitting in the sun.

Dewans Al Assam adds that colour

choice is extremely important and

that a tremendous amount o work

and studies have gone into explor-

ing the impact o colour in

schools. Sammon adds

that the trend in the

West is to use bright

colours.

Al Assam states

that security needs

attention, especially

when younger children

are involved, and Al

Bateen School contains barriers and

systems to determine the adults that

are admitted.

He also points out that tra c is a

challenge in any school project dur-

ing opening and closing time. In the

case o Al Bateen School, there are

multiple entrances or the diferent

age groups so that the streets are not

overloaded with cars.

He adds that the segregation

between the diferent age groups can

present di culties. Schools can be

operational challenges, but this the

case in a lot o buildings with diferent

uses, such as hospitals.

Sammon notes that segregation

is more extreme in the Middle East,

particularly Saudi Arabia, with the

required separation o genders.

Globally, there is now an appetite

or architects to design school proj-

ects, according to Sammon. Theres

a real opportunity or architects,

he comments. Nobody will ask an

architect to build a school project and

then not pay them. Schools are com-

missioned by good clients which are

oten visionary.

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57/84

EDUCATION DESIGN| FEATURE


Aside rom the financial draw,

Sammon states that school design is

no longer viewed as boring by archi-

tecture firms and that he is no longer

a closet school builder.

We now have some o the best

architects in the world designing

schools. It wasnt the case at all

beore. Previously they might have a

school or two hidden in their porto-

lio. Now architects are proud to show

their achievements in education.

A recent example o quality school

design is the UKs Evelyn Grace

Academy, by Iraq-born Zaha Hadid.

Last month, the Brixton school won

the 2011 RIBA Stirling Prize.

Sammon cites the GEMs World

Academy in Dubai as a great example

o school design in the region. It has a

very utur istic approach and its a an-

tastic efort or uture generations.

He concludes that, when it comes

to education design, unction is ar

more important than orm.

Creating a spaceship-like building

is one thing but its better to build

one that fits the unction. We need

to ocus on that rather than just the

architecture, and also make sure it is

uture prooed.

Al Bateen

School (top);

Abu Dhabi West

School (left and

bottom).

Theres a real

opportunity for

architects. Nobody

will ask an architect to

build a school project

and then not pay them.

They are commissioned

by good clients which

are often visionary.Micael Sammon, CEO of

Sammon Group


58/84

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Day: [ ] Wednesday, 2

Architect Nov 11 Volume 5

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Transcript of Architect Nov 11 Volume 5