Middle East Architect | August 2013

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

AUGUST 2013 / VOLUME 07 / ISSUE 08An ITP Business Publication

THE GALLERIA ON AL MARYAH ISLAND

INTERVIEW

Sherif Anis on bridging the gap between US and

the Middle East /p20

CASE STUDYBAGHDAD’S NEWEST LIBRARY

FEATURERESPONSES TO FRANK GEHRY’S COMMENTS ON DUBAI

p2// FRONTRogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ new project in Abu Dhabi

p4// PEOPLETadao Ando’s controversial ‘wall of hope’

SHINING BEACON

Concepts

Products

Service

Lindner Middle East LLCOne Business Bay Tower, Offi ce 2702Dubai, United Arab [email protected]

Lindner Partition Systems: Perfectly Separated.

The right wall for every room. No matter if you are interested in glass, wood or metal – with glazed and solid partitions from Lindner, there are no limits for your imagination.

We are looking forward to supporting you by offering products tailored to your needs:Demountable Partitions - Room-in-Room Systems - Fire Rated Partitions - Wall Claddings - Doors

AUGUST | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 08.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture, including plans for

Dubai Airport’s Concourse D 4

6PROJECTS

A round up of the latest project news from MENA

and the rest of the world

10THE BIG PICTUREA shot that artistically juxtaposes Dubai’s old and new elements

12

22INTERVIEWSherif Anis on bridging the gap for US architectural fi rms in the Middle East

32SITE VISIT

Exploring The Avenue, Jumeirah’s newest mall on

the block

64CULTUREA snapshot of funky furniture, lights and other accessories in the market

40CASE STUDIESBaghdad’s newest library, an equestrian arena in Qatar and the Sipopo Congress Centre

52THE WORK

A detailed reference section covering all the best projects

in the world

PEOPLEKey regional appointments, famous architect news and top quotes

AUGUST 2013 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 08

56LAST WORD

Michael Hammond on World Architecture Day 2013 in

New York City

FEATUREFive design professionals

share their thoughts on Frank Gehry’s comments about

Dubai

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 08.13 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | AUGUST

2

ROGERS STIRK HARBOUR + PARTNERSTO DESIGN ABU DHABI PROJECTThe four-tower luxury complex will be developed by Mubadala Real Estate and Taiwanese Farglory Group

Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastruc-ture (MREI) and Taiwanese prop-erty developer Farglory Group have broken ground on the $1b Maryah Plaza, a four-tower luxury water-front complex on Al Maryah Island. The four towers will be developed in phases and, when complete in 2020, will have a combined gross fl oor area of 153,000m2.

Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Maryah Plaza has been conceived to complement the water-front view and the natural environ-mental characteristics of Abu Dhabi,

using building design to represent and symbolize sailing, cruises and decks.

With residences ranging from one-bedroom apartments to pent-houses, the development will off er landscaped parks and open spaces, art galleries, community centres, and a wide arrange of street cafés and world class restaurants.

Maryah Plaza will provide ap-proximately 500 premium resi-dences in the hub of Abu Dhabi’s new Central Business District (CBD), further extending the off ering of Al Maryah Island to local residents, professionals and tourists.

Ground breaking

ceremony on Al

Maryah Island

Teng-Hsiung Chao, Chairman of Farglory Group said, “Al Maryah Island is a truly visionary mixed-use district and we are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to Mubadala’s vision for this develop-ment. Coupled with Farglory’s 44 years of real estate development experience, Maryah Plaza will raise the bar for luxury residential devel-opments by combining the renowned design expertise of Rogers Stirk harbour + Partners, resort-style amenities and carefully designed community spaces to create an out-standing living experience.”

2010

TOP STORY

AIA’s founding year

(Page 20)

2020YEAR OF

COMPLETION

AUGUST | FRONT


Following a global trend of environ-mental conservation, Dubai Interna-tional Airport, soon to be the world’s largest airport, is set to feature a sustainability-focused Concourse D.

The Dubai Aviation Engineer-ing Projects (DAEP) aims to be as energy-effi cient as possible and will implement several green initiatives that will reduce the environmental impact of the new facility.

These initiatives will include using recycling programmes during con-struction, renewable energy, as well as the application of locally sourced and recycled building materials.

The terminal’s lighting will com-

Dubai Airport unveils green plans

DMCC plans world’stallest offi ce tower in JLTThe Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has announced that it is planning to build what could ultimately be the tallest commercial tower in the world, in the Jumeirah

Jumeirah Lake Towers

bine natural sunlight with effi cient lighting and sensors for maximum effi ciency and minimum heat output.

The wing is designed to contain 100 additional airline companies and is scheduled to launch in 2015.

Lakes Towers development. The company announced that the tower will be taller than the 508-metre Taipei 101, the world’s current tallest completed offi ce building.

“Building the world’s tallest tower is in the Dubai DNA,” said Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC. “We will use the best tech-nology, the best materials and the best designers in the world to bring this project to life.”

The DMCC Business Park is expected to comprise of 107,000 square metres of commercial and retail space.

Dubai Airport’s Concourse D

12,800M2Area of The Avenues Mall(Page 26)

$25MCost of The

Galleria’s roof(Page 32)

2222222222

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

This month’s top stories from the online home of Middle East Architect• Gulf to invest $155b in solar projects• Sowwah Square featured in 2013 list of iconic buildings• In Pictures: Top 10 company headquarters• Foster + Partners appoints new head of interior design• Benoy breaks ground on new China project

James Law have been commissioned by Vijay As-sociate (Wadhwa Developers) to create an offi ce unlike any other in Mumbai, India. The 32,000m2 egg-shaped build will accommodate 13 fl oors to create an awe-inspiring landmark in the city.

TOP 3 OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE OFFICE SPACES (Source: Emporis)

TAIPEI 101, TAIPEICONSTRUCTION COSTS:

$1.76 BILLIONBURJ KHALIFA, DUBAICONSTRUCTION COSTS:

$1.5 BILLIONBANK OF AMERICA TOWER, NEW YORK CITYCONSTRUCTION COSTS: $1.0 BILLION

http

://m

agne

t.it

p.co

m/m

agne

t/ap

p/na

viga

tor/

view

_fi le

.php

?sf_

id=3

860

4&

sl_i

d=2&

com

ing

_fro

m=n

avig

ate&

r=13

7387

6388

&fe

tch_

tyht

tp:/

/mag

net.

itp.

com

/mag

net/

app/

navi

gato

r/vi

ew_fi

le.p

hp?s

f_id

=386

04

&sl

_id=

2&co

min

g_f

rom

=nav

igat

e&r=

1373

8763

88&

fetc

h_ty


FRONT | AUGUST

4

Tadao Ando , winner of the 2013 Pritzker Prize, is being accused of violating copy-right laws due to his plans for a monumen-tal green “wall of hope” along the Shin Umeda city complex in Japan.

Proposed to run along the landscape grounds of the complex, the project has called into question ideas about creative identity and the conceptual limits of copyrights, because the project changes the identity of the original landscape architecture and is therefore allegedly a violation of copyright law.

The Umeda Sky building is a combina-tion of imposing landscape and an artful blended mirror of the sky where the architecture acts as joinery between the fi rmament and the earth.

The landscape architect responsible for the ground level garden design, Motoo Yo-shimura, has fi led a petition to suspend the construction of the wall which is set to cut through the northeast end of the campus.

PEOPLE

Ando’s ‘wall of hope’ incites controversy

WATG’s head to lead MENA expansion

“Good design goes beyond mere image manipulation; awareness of scale, tactile qualities and subtlety of detailing should be taken into account during the design process.”AGATA KURZELA, senior architect and interior designer at AK Design

“I personally believe in two or three years that Iraq will surpass Saudi Arabia in terms of the amount

of [construction] business there.”

THRASOS THRASYVOULOU, MD, Habtoor Leighton Specon

Ando accused of violating copyright laws

“One of the characteristics of new developments is that developers want them up very quickly. Like kids, you have to let them run about and fall over occasionally.” STEPHEN EMBLEY, MD, Middle East operations, Aukett Fitzroy Robinson

60 SECOND INTERVIEWBEN SHAW, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DORMA GULF

How does your companymaintain environmentalsustainability?DORMA products conform to various environmental standards across the world. Our products have also been approved by MASDAR, the fi rst zero carbon city in the world. We aim to ensure energy-sav-ing and resource-conserving production with a high recy-cling ratio.

Why did your companydecide to get IS0 9001 certifi ed?We realized the need to have ISO 9001 certifi cation as the UAE government’s stand to safeguard the end user’s inter-est has given a wider scope of compliance with international standards in construction ac-tivities in the recent times.

Seyle to lead WATG for the next fi ve years

Mike Seyle, president and CEO of design fi rm WATG, will continue to lead the company for another fi ve years as it charts its expansion strategy into the Middle East and Africa region.

WATG Chairman and senior vice presi-dent Dave Moore stated: “Over the past fi ve years, Mike has led us through a challeng-ing period of change and we are now seeing the positive upside of this process in terms of company growth to double-digit profi t-ability. We need him to continue what he started as we move into new territories and new client services.”

As part of WATG’s expansion plans in the Middle East and Africa, Seyle will relocate with his family to London to be closer to the region. “We have ambitious growth plans for Africa and the Middle East, alongside our ongoing success stories in Asia, Turkey and Russia. Having the CEO sitting in London, close to these markets is simply common sense!” stated Muriel Muirden, vice president of strategy.

TECHNAL MIDDLE EAST - P. O. Box: 21848, Manama, Bahrain - T: +973 1722 5777 - F: +973 1721 7799 - E: [email protected] - W: www.technal-me.comC DD

Our technology and products are so advanced, they can protect any structure from the elements. At TECHNAL®, we offer

world-class aluminium façades, skylights, sunshades, windows, doors, office partitions, balustrades, and blast- and bullet-

proof systems, and many more. As leaders in the region, every customer is a partner and we work through each project from

start to finish. When it comes to premium architectural aluminium products and services, nothing beats TECHNAL®.

With our expertise, no project is too great...

Challenge us


FRONT | AUGUST

6

1LEBANONNew apartment to help rejuvenate downtown BeirutAs part of a larger master plan to rejuvenate the downtown Beirut area, Swiss Architects Herzog & De Meuron have designed The Ter-races, a green waterfront apartment tower in Beirut lush with vegetation and hanging gardens. The structure will include 129 single, duplex and townhouse apartments, and will be supported by columns on a 14.7 metre grid.

1

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

2 3

3ABU DHABINew school for autism opens in Abu DhabiThe New England Center for Children (NECC) recently opened a new state-of-the-art school in Abu Dhabi, to transform the lives of autistic children and their families.The school and residential campus was designed by U.S. based archi-tecture, engineering and interior design fi rm LEO A DALY. The new NECC-Abu Dhabi facility will be located on a 13,000m2 site in Mo-hammed Bin Zayed City.

2ALGERIAItalian fi rm to design Algeria’s telecommunica-tions HQItalian fi rm Mario Cucinella Archi-tects has won the competition for the design of the new headquarters of telecommunications agency ARPT in Algeria’s capital city, Algiers. The aerodynamic shape of the building was a result of the architect’s aspiration to create a building that would work accord-ing to the principles of bioclimatic architecture, such as the tu’rat.

AUGUST | FRONT


6

5

6ABU DHABIWork begins on GAJ designed schoolThe Godwin Austin Johnson (GAJ) Architects designed Cran-leigh Abu Dhabi school, which is ex-pected to open in 2014 in Saadiyat Island, has broken ground on the fi rst phase of its development. The project has been designed such that all the buildings are strategically positioned around the green spaces, to allow the best views towards the coastline and to optimise the pre-vailing wind direction onto the site.

5PALESTINEHeneghan Peng designs new Palestine museumIrish architectural fi rm, Heneghan Peng has proposed a new design for the Palestine museum, located on a hill above the West Bank Village of Bir Zeit. The design shows a series of unfolding green terraces planted with greenery. The fi rst phase, which will cost $15 million, is being sponsored by the Welfare Associa-tion, a Geneva-based non-profi t organization and is expected to be completed by end 2014.

4BAHRAINMGAEC designs new $300m hotel in BahrainA $300m hotel, commercial and residential development has been unveiled by Nama International Real Estate (a subsidiary of Kooheji Global Holding) as part of the Bah-rain Bay project in Manama.

Designed by Mohammed Al Gharib Architects and Engineers (MGAEC), the KGH Tower will be constructed in phases with the fi rst phase consisting of a 4-star hotel and a 120-unit apartment.

4

The single

building model in

practice. Details

of apartment

balconies

developed in

multiple views

that update

simultaneously

ADVERTORIAL | GODWIN AUSTEN JOHNSON

8 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 08.13 | www.designmena.com

Fragments of ochre found at Blombos Cave suggest that drawing is almost as old as our species, Homo

Sapiens. Architecture is also very ancient. We could trace it to mam-moth bone huts from the depths of the last ice age, but it is more conven-tional to start with the emergence of urban life in the Middle East some 7000 years ago.

Many of these historical archi-tects were also sculptors, and physi-cal models have long been part of the design process. In fact, the distinc-tion between drawings & models is a false one. Energy models, fi nancial models and freehand sketches are all simplifi cations that help us to focus on key issues.

The real breakthrough of Build-ing Information Modelling (BIM) is that it combines the virtues of a 3d model with the explanatory power of orthographic. BIM is a much more architectural way of thinking and working. It is holistic, volumetric, integrated, dynamic.

Here at GAJ, we began our BIM journey around 8 years ago. From the start, our motivation was simple. It was a new and better way of drawing. We had found ourselves living in an increasingly fragmented workspace, using multiple computer programmes to deliver our designs.

BIM offers a more integrated approach to design. We have used

BIM is the new pencil

Many of us have

seen the tools

that we draw with

change several

times during the

course of our

working lives

GODWIN AUSTEN JOHNSON | ADVERTORIAL

9www.designmena.com | 08.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

BIM processes in dozens of proj-ects ranging from master planning to single villas, traditional resorts to modern apartment blocks. The Middle East is still very much in love with the dream of progress: bigger, faster, more iconic. BIM is seen as a management tool for streamlining processes, giving a competitive edge.

Building Information Modelling means many things to many people and we do not doubt its potential as a powerful management tool, but it

is also the new pencil. We see the software and hardware tools that are coalescing around BIM as con-tinuations of the age old tradition of creative visual thinking.

The world needs fresh ideas and architects are uniquely placed to provide them. We bring well-honed visual and tactile skills to the table, embracing new tools that help us to engage our clients in the design process. Our goal, as always, to serve society at large and build a better designed world.

Andy Milburn is an associate at

Godwin Austen Johnson with spe-

cial responsibility for BIM strategy

and Revit implementation. He has

had a varied career ranging from

bricklaying in the UK, via curricu-

lum development in Zimbabwe to

architecture in the Middle East. He

is a well-known figure in the global

Revit community, speaking recently

at the BIM Show Live in London and

the Revit Technology Conference in

Auckland. You can follow his blog

at www.grevity.blogspot.com

Multi-disciplinary

collaboration

via BIM. One

of several new

school projects by

GAJ in the Gulf

Region


FRONT | AUGUST

10

THE BIG PICTUREOLD vs NEWShruti Jagdeesh’s photograph of the Dubai skyline, shot from across the creek in Deira, artistically juxtaposes the city’s older, more traditional landscape with a view of the tall, shiny buildings that defi ne modern Dubai.

AUGUST | FRONT



FEATURE | OPINION


FEATURE | OPINION

12

A couple of weeks ago, world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry, was quoted in an

international publication saying that architecture in Dubai was ‘cheap, anonymous, and on

steroids’. His comments set off a range of reactions within the architecture community, some

in support of Gehry’s frank and forthright comments, while most others in opposition to such

labels. In this special section, MEA rounds up some comments made by professionals in the

design industry to hear their views on architecture in Dubai.


FEATURE | OPINION

14

MARTIN DUFRESNE, managing director, U+A Consultants

My thoughts are somewhat divided. On one hand, I do think his remarks are not only evidently ironic, but to a certain extent ill founded, especially if we isolate and scru-tinise the architectural virtue of a certain number of buildings in Dubai.

Burj Khalifa for one is a wonderful example of an architect’s contemporary interpretation of localised design. As we well know, it is conceptualised not only through Islamic patterns based on a local desert fl ower, but its form is also reminiscent of spiral minarets found in Islamic architec-ture of the region.

The Burj Al Arab too, is another great interpretation of local tradition, and passion, the dhow. It must be said that architectural academics may dismiss this concept to have any merit in the process of establishing iconic structures, but we should really acknowledge the popular apprecia-tion validating its relevance in a city, which is still in its infancy, and still identifying its architectural history.

On the other hand, we could easily make the same remark for many great cities in the world. Hong Kong, New York, Toronto, are all guilty of building generic culturally disconnected structures. Most cities are in some ways burdened with ‘replicas’ of the next town primarily due to a severe lack of originality.

An immediate reaction may be that archi-tects are to blame. However it is my strong opinion that although not all architects are distinctively creative to a level of establish-ing a single unique style on every building they draw, Gehry’s fi nger should point at the developer for the most part. These non-architects shamelessly impose their ideologies onto buildings forcing architects to compromise on their designs.”

Most cities are in some ways burdened with ‘replicas’ of the next town primarily due to a severe lack of originality.

OPINION | FEATURE


TAREQ ABU-SUKHEILA, managing director, Gensler

Dubai’s development began and ended with the intent to serve a commercial purpose – offi ces, retail establishments, hospitality projects and transporta-tion networks. This jump started the economy and led to Dubai’s develop-ment in a really short time frame.

Many developers and property owners approached their projects with certain pre-conceived notions of what they wanted as a fi nished product ‘look’. This highly infl uenced client expecta-tions and there was a great deal of focus on the external aspects in the designs produced during that period of rapid ex-pansion. Designers in many cases were just trying to give their interpretation of what the client envisioned instead of taking a more holistic approach and designing for user experience.

Furthermore, the infl ux of designers to meet the huge project demand was unprecedented and many of the design-ers worked with limited context and little fi rst hand understanding of the lo-cal culture and historical architecture. In addition, most of them did not know about the city’s future outlook or urban needs, and hence designed buildings from a blank slate which has resulted in what we have today.

There could defi nitely have been more balance between the design con-sultants and developers to go beyond the architecture that was achieved, but as the cliché with design goes, there’s always room for improvement.”

Designers in many cases were just trying to give their interpretation of what the client envisioned.


FEATURE | OPINION

16

BART LECLERQ, head of structures, WSP Middle East:

I think Dubai has got its own style and though there are some examples where old shapes are reinvigorated or reused, I do not see anything wrong with that.

To be honest, I really like that Dubai is bold and naughty and that it copies things, shapes, forms and ideas and makes it a little bit big-ger. Yes, it is defi nitely on steroids but there is nothing wrong with it. It shows confi dence and it shows cheekiness and boldness.

We cannot have every building as a Frank Gehry building. That would be boring as well. In the whole spectrum, Dubai has got its own style and it is very recognisable as what we have come to know Dubai to be.”

Yes, it is defi nitely on steroids but there’s

nothing wrong with it.

Bathroom with Polygloss.SR fronts

OPINION | FEATURE


CHRIS BROWN, vice-president, HOK:

I think Gehry’s comments in the context of the article are an accurate refl ection on the diffi culties of working in diff erent countries and with diff erent cultures. I think you could easily fi nd many buildings in Dubai that underline why his comments are not unjust and you can probably fi nd the same proportion in any city around the world but just not built in such a short time frame.

You could easily fi nd many buildings in Dubai that underline why his comments are not unjust.

SHERIF ANIS, design manager, Gulf Related:

I do not want to criticise what Gehry said out of respect for him, but I think Dubai’s culture is still evolving. It is by compari-son to other geographic locations, a fairly new culture, especially when you consider the fact that it has grown so quickly and expanded its population and ethnic diversity far faster than any other culture has experi-enced before.

That is Dubai’s culture – it is, like steroids – on a quickly expanding growth pattern and while there may be a lot of mistakes made along the way that is to be expected, corrected and celebrated, not criticised. I would suggest Dubai is doing precisely what Gehry suggests it is not and that is respond-ing to the place and culture of today – maybe if he stuck around for a while, he might recognise that.”

Dubai is doing precisely what Gehry suggests it is not and

that is responding to the place and culture of today.


COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

18

Painting any city with one broad stroke is not only inaccurate but also unrealistic.”

EDITOR’S LETTER

BROADSTROKESHow do we defi ne a city’s architecture?

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

zeinab.saiwalla

@itp.com

The hot topic this past month revolved around Frank Gehry’s com-ments on his distaste

for cities like Dubai that produce architecture without any consistent cultural depth.

When I fi rst came across the Foreign Policy magazine article in which this comment was printed, as part of a longer interview on the nature of architecture today, the journalist in me let out a shrill of excitement –for it is not often that famous architects share candid, frank and controversial thoughts on a public platform.

The gist of Gehry’s comments, I gathered, had to do with the idea that Dubai’s architecture could do with more emphasis on the city’s cultural heritage and tradition. From the interview, it also seemed that Gehry was more in favour of cities like Abu Dhabi since it off ered a space for culture to prevail. After all, he did agree to design Abu Dhabi’s Guggenheim Museum!

Interestingly enough, the two site visits that we have featured in this issue, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively, off er an architectural impression quite in contrast to what Gehry had to say.

The Avenue (pg 26) , an open-air mall located in Jumeirah is all about culture and keeping with tra-dition. The design prides itself on having taken into consideration the surrounding architecture, to result in a development that integrates with the residential district and refl ects its style and beauty.

In contrast, The Galleria (pg 32), a luxury retail mall set to open on Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island later this month, is the epitome of high culture, quite distinct from the more conservative and modest tradition of the emirate.

Ultimately, painting any city with one broad stroke is not only inaccurate but also unrealistic. At a time where globalisation has made the world a much smaller place, and cities are more like collections of global cultures, a mesh of various architectural forms and designs is precisely the representation that ought to be seen.

To implement a single form which conveys a specifi c cultural refer-ence would demand that architects and designers artifi cially construct designs that speak of a certain time, because in reality, isolated traditional cultures no longer exist, especially in the developed world we live in.

Dubai’s skyline, a collection of some of the world’s most ambitious projects, is in fact a testimony to this global culture that pervades our lives, regardless of whether we choose to accept it or not.

The Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim

Museum to be built in Abu Dhabi

COMMENT | IAN HARFIELD

www.constructionweekonline.com | 08.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 19

Many buildings are superfi cially attractive, but have ineffi ciencies built in from the start.”

OPINION

FACILITIESMANAGEMENTWhat defi nes a successful building?

Ian Harfi eld

General

manager

of Cofely

Besix Facility

Management

No architect wants to design soulless, functional boxes and indeed few people

would want to live or work in one. But many people fear that would be the end result of including process-driven minds, such as facilities managers, in what is essentially a

creative process.Yet the combination of these

two disciplines has the potential to result in better buildings, adding real value in the process.

Many buildings in the region are superfi cially attractive, but have ineffi ciencies built in from the start, such as basements that force clean-

ers to transport waste over long distances to bin stores, meaning that more staff are required than might otherwise be the case.

In a country where the volume of available commercial space is high, service charges are under close scrutiny and are already an infl uencing factor in the choice of a building. Greater effi ciency means lower service charges, which has the potential to translate into valuable higher occupancy.

Facilities management com-panies bring value to the design process for the simple reason that they have an in-depth understand-ing of how buildings are actually lived in over time. We all live in buildings in our own way and style and we end up adjusting to the constraints of the built environ-ment. Yet the building is created by designers whom must perform the same functions. So why, at times, is it so hard to transpose the people’s use of a building to a design? We fully understand the need for the designer to introduce new concepts from which we all evolve, but how many designers get feedback from the occupiers of their buildings fi ve years after completion? If they did, how diff erent would buildings be today?

We need to be clear how we defi ne what constitutes a successful building. Is it an iconic design, or is it one that understands the require-ments of its end users and therefore has a lower TOC?

International Tower in Abu Dhabi, one of Cofely Besix’s clients

INTERVIEW | SHERIF ANIS


In the Middle East relationship building comes into play fi rst. Here, you will attend a business meeting but not talk about business at all.”

Sherif Anis

T he American Institute of Architects (AIA), syn-onymous with forward-thinking architects striv-

ing to make a diff erence to society, prides itself on a strong code of ethics and determination to drive positive change through the power of design.

These same values radiate from Sherif Anis, president of AIA’s Middle East Chapter, who grew up in a family of architects and was made to realise the importance of ethics in architectural practice.

However, unlike practicing in the United States, Anis realised that rules of the game were diff erent in the Middle East, when he moved here six years ago to serve as US-based CBT Architects’ regional director.

“Here, you have to get used to ex-pect the unexpected. The pay sched-ule and the fee schedule is diff erent

from what US architects are used to. People here work diff erently and for many US architects it can be quite diffi cult to understand,” explains Anis, design manager at Gulf Related.

Striving to bridge this gap, Anis together with several other architects based in the Middle East, including Hissam Youssef, Steve Miller, Loay Quota and Thierry Paret, banded together to form the AIA Middle East Chapter in 2010. “Our goal was really about forging connections be-tween the Middle East and American architects so that US fi rms know we are here to serve as that conduit for communication, and vice versa.”

He continues: “In the US, AIA helps with issues pertaining to the Government and are very involved in advocacy, but here we do not have that ambition. It is more about foster-ing and managing ties.”

Since joining AIA Middle East, Anis has taken on several roles, fi rst as treasurer, then secretary, followed by vice president and now serving as the organisation’s president.

However, Anis is quick to admit that the roles are more to help main-tain an orderly system than a clear designation of tasks. “The titles are there because we need to have the structure, but in a lot of ways we help each other do what we have to, to get things done.”

While serving on the board Anis has helped in crafting the organisa-tion’s graphic identity, creating its logo, posters, letterhead and newslet-ters, in addition to organising and planning events, though he is aware that a lot more can be done.

“It is easy to run events here in Abu Dhabi or Dubai but it gets challenging to hold events in the region.”

BRIDGING THE GAP

Zeinab Saiwalla speaks to Sherif Anis, president of the American Institute of Architects Middle East Chapter on challenges faced by

American architects in the region and ways to overcome them

THE INTERVIEW

SHERIF ANIS | INTERVIEW




He continues: “We have a lot of members in Kuwait and Jordan but frankly it comes down to having people on the ground that are willing to do it because everything has to be done on volunteer basis since we are a non-profi t organisation.”

As a result of the AIA’s organic structure, the Middle East chapter depends signifi cantly on partnerships and associations with annual confer-ences and exhibitions to remain en-gaged with the larger realm of society. “We all have real jobs that we have to attend to so we have paired up with events like Index, Cityscape and Big 5 to help us get exposure and put us on the events schedule in the region.”

Late last year, the AIA Middle East chapter together with the United States Department of Commerce and private and government offi cials from Qatar, organised a one-day sympo-

sium to facilitate discussions between US architectural fi rms and local de-velopers. The session was to serve as a platform to allow for greater involve-ment of foreign architecture fi rms in Qatari projects, Anis explains.

“It was mainly about letting US fi rms understand the ways of working in Qatar and letting the groups in Qatar hear about the obstacles faced by the architects so that a fruitful

outcome can develop,” Anis says. He adds: “Anybody in their right

mind would go after the work because there is so much of it in Qatar, but it is just not easy to do.”

According to Anis, one of the most common obstacles faced by US fi rms in the Middle East has to do with remuneration terms as it relates to advance payment bonds and perfor-mance bonds.

AIA members on

tour at the Burj

Khalifa

People want to know how they can get involved and what they the need to be sensitive of, so it is good for us to be here, to be that conduit.”

Sherif Anis

300AIA MIDDLE EAST

CHAPTER MEMBERS

VISIT THE BIG 5 KUWAIT

16 - 18 September 2013Kuwait International Fair, Kuwait

www.big5kuwait.com/arc1

REGISTER FOR FREE ENTRY AT www.big5kuwait.com/arc1

Part of The Big 5 - the largest and longest running construction exhibition in the Middle East

Source the very latest construction products andtechnologies

Meet 100s of global manufacturers and suppliers

Discover globally recognised brands from over35 countries

See the latest international products and technologies in the dedicated Concrete Zone

Gain knowledge educational workshops

WHY CHOOSE THE BIG 5 KUWAIT?

Headline SupporterGold SponsorPlatinum Sponsor



“The local companies tend to de-mand onerous fi nancial commitments, especially for some of these huge projects, and most architecture fi rms cannot handle such costs. They just do not have that kind of capital.”

Understanding these diff erences and fi nding ways around them is cru-cial for foreign fi rms if they want to be part of the region’s growth, says Anis. “It is us who want the work, so we have to learn how things get done here.”

He adds: “A relationship can very quickly go wrong if both parties do not understand the diff erences. It takes a bit more patience and it is not always business as usual. In the Middle East, relationship building comes into play fi rst. Here, you might attend a meeting but not talk about business at all.”

“Anybody in their right mind would go after the work because there is so much of it in Qatar, but it is just not easy to do.”

Sherif Anis

Capital Gate Tower in

Abu Dhabi, one of the

buildings visited by AIA

members

2010AIA’S FOUNDING

YEAR IN THE

MIDDLE EAST

Helen Dreilling, AIA 2014 President

SHERIF ANIS | INTERVIEW


He adds that at AIA’s recent national conference in Denver, Colorado, the topic of working in the Middle East featured several times during the presentations, owing to the fact that there is a lot of interest from fi rms in the US to work here. “People want to know how they can get involved and what they the need to be sensitive of, so it is good for us to be here, to be that conduit,” he says.

In addition to organising talks and symposiums to bridge the diff erences between working styles in the Middle East and the US, the AIA chapter here plays an active role in providing continuing education opportunities and building tours for its members.

As Anis reveals during the hour long interview, it is probably this benefi t of being an AIA member that has been so successful in attracting

international architects in the region, to the organisation.

Despite having only been around for three years, the Middle East chapter already has 300 members and the highest propor-tions of international associate architect members compared to other chapters around the world.

“Architects here are excited to join an organisation like AIA. Part of it is to have the credential on their name cards but more than that, people are hungry for educa-tion and they like to get certifi ca-tion from the courses AIA off ers,” says Anis.

As a way to further enhance the continuing education opportuni-ties, the AIA Middle East chapter is planning to organise its fi rst large-scale conference later this year and is looking to welcome the AIA 2014 president Helene Dreil-ling, FAIA as the keynote speaker and honorary conference chair.

“We are hoping it will be the start of many more to come. There will be a lot of technical and design presentations, building tours and a presentation of the fi rst annual AIA Middle East Design Awards featured by a gala dinner. As always there will be ample op-portunities to receive continuing education and keep up to date with all that is happening in the fi eld of architecture,” Anis says.

AIA members on

a guided building

tour

SITE VISIT | THE AVENUE

MEA visits The Avenue, Dubai’s fi rst open-air mall located in the heart of Jumeirah that promises to

transform the shopping experience here

BREAKING BARRIERS

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 08.13 | www.designmena.com26

THE ROAD TO DUBAI - CROWNING THE REGION’SCONSTRUCTION CHAMPIONS

Wednesday 11th December 2013JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

The 9th annual Construction Week Awards in Dubai, UAE will bring together winners from

Construction Week’s series of regional awards ceremonies to battle it out in 19 categories and decide the region’s top achievers in the construction sector in the past 12 months.

Do not miss your opportunity to see who will win the most sought after prize for construction

professionals in the Middle East at the lavish awards ceremony and gala dinner. Visit

PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR

www.constructionweekonline.com/cwawardsdubai

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWedJJJJJJJ

The 9th a

www.constructionweekonline.com/cwawardsdubai or contact one of our team for more information.

CATEGORY SPONSORS ASSOCIATE SPONSOR

NOMINATION DEADLINETHURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER, 2013

For nomination enquiries,please contact:Stuart MatthewsSenior Group EditorTel: +971 4 444 3476Email: [email protected]

For table bookings and furtherinformation, please contact:Daniel FewtrellHead of MarketingTel: +971 4 444 3684Email: [email protected]

Andrew ParkesAdvertising DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3570Mob: +971 50 656 3606Email: [email protected]

Gary RobinsonGroup Sales DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3482Email: [email protected]

Kelly ThomsonCommercial ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3754Mob: +971 56 256 0414Email: [email protected]

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact:



28

retail mall, The Avenue. Set to open later this month, the mall sits on a 12,800 m2 plot between Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, and stretches across 1.1km. Developed by Meraas Holding, The Avenue features 13 low-rise buildings with over 50 diff erent shops and

A fountain area

located in the

centre of the

mall (top) and

a layout of the

mall's buildings

(right)

n a region fi lled with some of the world’s big-gest and most successful malls, it comes as no surprise that developers continue to build retail centres to make the most of lifestyle practices here.

However, apart from their respective loca-

tions and distinguishing interiors, most malls in the Middle East off er visitors similar experiences – an air-conditioned environment, an array of fashion boutiques and din-ing establishments, and a variety of entertainment activities.

Attempting to move away from this standard, Dewan Architects & Engineers (DAE) in collabora-tion with Benoy Architects, have designed Dubai’s fi rst open-air

services including banks, clinics, restaurants and retail outlets in an outdoor setting.

Omar Delawar, chief projects of-fi cer at Meraas Holding, described the development as similar to of-ferings in the United States and in Europe, but unlike anything else in

12,800METRES2

AREA OF MALL

THE AVENUE | SITE VISIT


The mall's

service

entrances

also refl ect

architectural

uniformity

WPC protects primeval forests.

the technology to create a composite wood superior to natural wood in order to combat the thoughtless lumbering of forest trees.

10 year's manufacture's Guarantee

the Middle East. “The architecture is completely

diff erent; you will not fi nd this style of architecture elsewhere in Dubai. Contemporary, modern, but still new. We think we are adding something new to Dubai.”

The core design principle was to create a mall that fi t seamlessly with the surrounding residential architecture to allow for unifor-mity with other developments in the area. As the project architect, Ammar Al Assam, executive direc-tor of DAE explains, the idea was to add a structure without adding a sharp, foreign design.

To achieve this, the design team sought inspiration from some of the world’s leading outdoor retail ven-tures. “The team referred to other projects in the US, Europe as well as Singapore to fi nd comparable

types of off ering such as Kensing-ton High Street and Paris Champs Elysee,” says Al Assam.

He continues: “We were looking for something not present in Dubai, which is this style of outdoor expe-rience with shops and F&B largely open on an active public realm,

almost like a Californian Rodeo Drive experience.”

However, unlike California’s Rodeo Drive which is famous for its palm tree lined streets, The Avenue prides itself on its location, which off ers unobstructed views of the towering Burj Khalifa.



30

As Thyer Kubaisi, director, post contracts department, DAE, points out: “Regardless where you are in the mall, whether you are dining or shopping, you will be able to see the Burj.”

Although the mall’s open-concept promises to off er visitors a unique experience in Dubai, the lack of an air-conditioned roof structure meant that the architects had to fi nd innovative ways to combat the desert heat in order to remain viable as a thriving mall.

“The mall allows us to be envi-ronmentally sustainable because a lot of energy will be saved since there is no air-conditioning along the walkways but that itself proves a challenge because we have to look for diff erent ways to keep the site cool,” explains Thyer.

To maintain as low an ambient temperature as possible, the archi-tects choose colors and materials that would absorb the least heat and have included awnings as part of the design. In addition, an outdoor cooling system has been implemented to help maintain the running of activities on the ter-races adjacent to the F&B outlets, even during the summer months.

Another major challenge faced by the architects was having to work on a short time frame of nine months to execute the entire project. “The short time frame for the design and construction of the project a challenge faced but at the same time it allowed for close co-ordination between the design and site teams,” explains Al Assam.

Unobstructed views of the Burj Khalifa

Children's playground area

The architecture is completely diff erent; you will not fi nd this style of architec-

ture elsewhere in Dubai. We think we are adding something new to Dubai.”

Omar Delawar, chief projects offi cer at Meraas Holding

13LOW-RISE BUILDINGS

FORM THE MALL

Restaurants and shops line the mall

THE AVENUE | SITE VISIT


Apart from the layout of the mall, which ensures that visitors are able to take in magnifi cent views of the world’s tallest building, the stores and restaurants are arranged in a rectilinear fashion to re-create a homely atmosphere with a central play area.

The mall is arranged according to blocks around 300 units in length,

and 120 units in width. The parking is kept outside and all the activities inside so there is a separation of space while still allowing people to enter the mall from any direction.

In addition, for the part of the mall that houses medical facili-ties like clinics and pharmacies, a special back entrance has been in-cluded in the layout to allow for ease

of mobility for doctors, patients and medical staff .

The playground, located in the heart of the mall features sprin-kler fountains, a man-made lake and plots of greenery that were purposefully included during the design process to keep the mall cool during the warm summer months.

More importantly, as Thyer highlights during the site visit, the garden-like play area allows for an open-concept playground within the confi nes of a mall, hence allow-ing families with young children to comfortably enjoy their shopping and dining experiences.

“The main consideration was to develop a new and successful retail experience never seen before in Dubai, to give the project a sense of identity, place and uniqueness,” adds Al Ammar.

Green spaces

located in the

heart of the mall

SITE VISIT | THE GALLERIA

32

SHINING



32

THE GALLERIA | SITE VISIT


Zeinab Saiwalla visits The Galleria at Sowwah Square to get a sneak preview of Abu Dhabi’s newest shopping mall, designed to become a landmark in the city’s up and coming commercial business district

Zeinab Saiwalla visits The Galleria at Sowwah Square to get a sneak

BEACON





34

Almost every new building aspires to have a unique selling point, one that will attract visitors in droves and hopefully receive accolades from around the world. Dubai Mall has its size to boast, Burj Khalifa, its height, Cayan Tower, its twisting structure and Mall of the Emirates, an indoor ski slope.

The Galleria, located on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, which is set to open its doors on August 6th, is banking on its one-of-a-kind,

$25 million roof structure, designed by world-famous architectural fi rm RFR, and an ultra luxury tenant-list to attract throngs of shoppers from across the UAE.

Currently, Sowwah Square com-prises of four commercial towers, already home to a mix of blue-chip global and regional companies in-cluding Deloitte and JP Morgan, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, and the Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel.

“The idea is that when this whole thing gels together, The Galleria will be the one development that connects everything else together. Its purpose is to create harmony between all the buildings in Sowwah Square and to create a symbiotic relationship,” explains Andrew Ton-ner, senior vice president, project management, Gulf Related.

The eff ect with the roof is almost like a halo sitting on top of the development. It is elegant

and beautiful, not showy."Andrew Tonner, senior vice president, project management, Gulf

Related



The Galleria,

situated in the

heart of Sowwah

Square

Designed by Elkus Manfredi and Benoy, The Galleria will feature a prestigious mix of retailers along-side a comprehensive F&B off ering, including signature chef-driven and fi ne-dining restaurants like Zuma and Almaz by Momo.

Although the mall is situated in the heart of Sowwah Square, surrounded by commercial towers and fi nancial organisations, The Galleria’s target audience is not just limited to the professionals working in these buildings.

Rather, as Tonner explains, the aspiration for the project is to have it become an icon for the city.

“What we are trying to create here is a venue that will become a noted location. You will not just meet your friends at The Galleria. You are going to be in our great room and it will be like saying ‘I will meet you at Trafalgar Square.’”

US$25MILLION

COST OF THE GALLERIA’S ROOF



36

The underlying reason for this, as Tonner lets known during the interview was to “build something that stops the hemorrhaging to other malls, but predominantly to Dubai.”

He continues: “The people have seen the products in magazines and they want to buy these luxury items, but they want it at their doorstep. We are simply responding to the market place but we had to create an environment that was commensu-

The Galleria,

designed to fi t

in seamlessly

with the

existing

architecture

Andrew Tonner

rate with the luxury aspirations of the people, and I truly think that we have done it.”

Right from the onset, when Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Related joined Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastruc-ture (MREI) to co-develop The Galleria in 2011, they envisioned to transform the 33,000 m2 plot allo-cated for a retail complex in Sowwah Square into a luxury shopping and dining development.

“We know from our past develop-ments, such as the Time Warner Centre in New York City, that strong designs have the power to anchor new structures into their urban surroundings. This is why we felt strongly about creating a sculptural, iconic blueprint for The Galleria and an architecturally signifi cant place for visitors,” explains Kevin A. Ryan, managing director, development, Gulf Related.

However, as Tonner explains, this was not part of Mubadala’s original vision for the mall. “When Mubadala announced their plan for Sowwah Square in 2008, they were looking for The Galleria to be a secondary retail development, to off er sup-porting services to the surrounding commercial towers.”

He adds: “Prior to our being here, the site would have been fl at retail land but what we have done is to create a sense of arrival, a feature for the development that creates a hallmark, a unique selling point that is quite dramatic in itself and more luxurious. It is part of our brand and marketing,” explains Tonner.

Although the plan was to create something upscale, Tonner high-lights that the team did not want a grandiose development. “It is not a Dubai Mall ostentatious thing but it is something more playful and illuminated. The eff ect with the roof is almost like a halo sitting on top of the development. It is elegant and beautiful, not showy.”

We know from our past developments, such as the Time Warner Centre in New York City, that strong designs

have the power to anchor new structures into their urban surroundings.”

Kevin A. Ryan, managing director, development, Gulf Related



33,000METRES2

GROSS LEASABLE AREA

To achieve this magical eff ect, Gulf Related specifi cally chose RFR as the roof designer owing to the lat-ter’s experience with iconic projects, such as the inverted pyramid of Le Musee du Louvre in Paris and Ter-minal 2 of Charles de Gaulle Airport.

“When we went to RFR, we said create for us something that is dif-ferent and special, something that will create a unique selling point for the project,” explains Tonner. “We used someone very experienced in the fi eld, somebody who has got exquisite knowledge and capability which is why RFR was selected. We did not necessarily go and bid for this project. We went and handpicked the consultant we wanted to work with.”

The roof's

intricate panels,

designed by RFR

(above) and view

of The Galleria's

great room from

under the Abu

Dhabi Securities

Exchange (left)



38

“The brief revealed a strong wish for a delicate-looking aesthetics appearing to stretch seamlessly from landscaping to sky while comple-menting high-end retailers located below in the great room,” explains Jean Le Lay, director, RFR.

To create the iconic roof, RFR and Gulf Related spent close to four months discussing precise details such as the shape of each piece in the structure, to the perfect colour

for the roof. Eventually the team decided on a structure comprised en-tirely of steel and glass and a design inspired from snakeskin texture.

“What we wanted was for this space to be light, elegant and airy but because the environment is very aggressive – it is right beside the sea and there is a lot of sand in the air, so we had to use steel,” explains Tonner. “But we did not want the horrible silver colored steel, so we choose to

The brief revealed a strong wish for a delicate-looking aesthetic appearing to stretch seamlessly from

landscaping to sky while complementing high-end retailers located below in the great room.”

Jean Le Lay, director, RFR

have it coated with polyester in this spectacular shade of gold.”

Selecting the right shade of gold, too, was no simple process as Ton-ner explains. After short listing 12 shades of gold from the color palette, the team built 10m by 10m mock-ups of the structure in each of the dozen colors to be sure of how the roof would come to look.

The perfect shade was eventu-ally chosen after both the CEO of Mubadala and Gulf Related observed the mock-ups under diff er-ent lighting conditions and chose the colour which was most appropriate for their vision.

“We were very particular about the colour because did not want it to be too ostentatious, showy or gaudy. We do not want people saying that it is a gold leaf or for it to give a wrong impression. We wanted it to be very tasteful because this is the centerpiece and there is no question about it. This draws the whole thing together,” explains Tonner.


40/50CASE

STUDIES

54/55CULTURE

52/53THE WORK


BA

GH

DA

D L

IBR

AR

Y |

CA

SE

ST

UD

Y

BAGHDAD LIBRARYArchitects: AMBS ArchitectsLocation: Baghdad, Iraq

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT: The new Bagdad Library will be

the fi rst public library to be built in 30 years. The 45,000 m2 site will include two conference halls, a read-ing area, an auditorium, a research area, and a multipurpose area. The 80m steel cable roof will create the largest single span reading room in the world to accommodate over 2,500 people and over three million books, including rare manuscripts and periodicals. The building takes the shape of a drop-like peninsula, which projects out onto an existing lake, and will feature the word ‘read’ in Arabic Kufi c script on the roof.

AL

HA

MR

A T

OW

ER

| C

AS

E S

TU

DY

BA

GH

DA

D L

IBR

AR

Y |

CA

SE

ST

UD

Y


CA

SE

ST

UD

Y | B

AG

HD

AD

LIB

RA

RY

THE CONCEPT: Breaking away from the con-

ventional model of a library, the architects have aspired to make the project a modern multipurpose space. AMBS have sought to juxta-pose the minimalist form against the intricacy of the Islamic decorative screens and have included an expansive open plan space to host the activities that will take place within the building. It has been designed to inspire Iraq’s younger generations, and trigger a re-ascendancy of an active intellectual life in Iraq.

45,000M2AREA OF SITE


BA

GH

DA

D L

IBR

AR

Y |

CA

SE

ST

UD

Y

THE DETAILS: A chilled fl ooring system will be

adopted to overcome the challenges posed in maintaining a heat diff eren-tial between the inside and outside temperatures. Additionally, the building form avoids direct sunlight so as to reduce heat gains. North orientated skylights in the roof diff use cold light into the internal atrium space while angled screens perforated with Sumerian uniform script around the perimeter of the building allow light to penetrate the lower levels. Solar panels have also been integrated into the roof as a way to communicate the importance of optimising energy effi ciency, and working towards a future where Iraq’s economy is not solely depen-dent on oil.

THE SITE: The library is set to be located at the heart of ‘Youth City’; a master plan of 1,200,000 m2, with over 30 new build-

ings, including residential, cultural, offi cial and sports venues, commissioned by the Ministry of Youth and Sport. The library will be accessible to visitors of all ages and aims to off er an extensive programme of public events that include art exhibitions, book clubs, theatre events, educational conferences and fi lm screenings. State of the art computers and digital media will provide a vital resource for many young people who have limited access to such facilities.

3 MILLIONNUMBER OF BOOKS

For nomination enquiries,please contact:

Stuart MatthewsSenior Group EditorTel: +971 4 444 3476Email: [email protected]

For table bookings and furtherinformation, please contact:

Daniel FewtrellHead of MarketingTel: +971 4 444 3684Email: [email protected]

For sponsorship opportunities,Please contact:

Rabih NaderiBusiness Development ManagerTel: +966 1 206 8697Mob: +966 50 328 9818Email: [email protected]

Andrew ParkesAdvertising DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3570Mob:+971 50 656 3606Email: [email protected]

Tuesday 1st October 2013Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, KSA

RECOGNISING INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE IN THE BOOMINGCONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

w w w . c o n s t r u c t i o n w e e k o n l i n e . c o m /c w k s a a w a r d s

Ambitious construction projects continue at pace in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for the 4th year, Construction Week will crown the companies and individuals contributing

the most to the sector’s success in the past 12 months.

Do not miss your opportunity to be involved in this unique social gathering. Winners on the night will be entered into the Construction Week Awards in Dubai in December 2013,

which will crown the best accomplishments from the entire Middle East.

SILVER SPONSOR

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES STILL AVAILABLE


AL

SH

AQ

AB

EQ

UE

ST

RIA

N P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

AR

EN

A |

CA

SE

ST

UD

YA

L H

AM

RA

TO

WE

R |

CA

SE

ST

UD

YA

L S

HA

QA

B E

QU

ES

TR

IAN

PE

RF

OR

MA

NC

E A

RE

NA

| C

AS

E S

TU

DY

AL SHAQAB EQUESTRIAN PERFORMANCE ARENAArchitects: Leigh and Orange LtdLocation: Doha, Qatar

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT The Al Shaqab Equestrian Per-

formance Arena which is located in the Education City complex in Qatar comprises three main functions: a warm-up area, an indoor performance hall, and an outdoor arena. Within the master plan, the project is positioned at the base of a “horseshoe” shaped arrangement of the stables, training facilities and veterinary hospital- where the arena can mediate between the Academy and the public and equestrian communities. The entire complex is designed to ‘Radburn’ principles with full segregation between vehicle and horse circulation.


CA

SE

ST

UD

Y | A

L SH

AQ

AB

EQ

UE

ST

RIA

N P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

AR

EN

A

www.designmena.com | 02.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

7200SPECTATOR CAPACITY

THE CONCEPT: The design team took

the opportunity to cre-ate the present single roof approach that has encompassed all three primary activities whilst also serving to house the performance lighting. This single change, provided a signifi cant enhance-ment to the building form, allowing a clear expression of roof. In addi-tion, the all-encompassing entity shields the activities below from the harsh, hot Arabic climate that Qatar is subjected to.


AL

SH

AQ

AB

EQ

UE

ST

RIA

N P

ER

FO

RM

AN

CE

AR

EN

A |

CA

SE

ST

UD

Y

400MLENGTH OF ROOF

THE DETAILS: The construction takes its foundation on three distinct elements: the plinth base, the roof and the infi ll that links

the two. The clamshell roof form replicates desert tents, standard to the area, and is curved in two directions. The highest point of the roof stands over the indoor arena to provide the maximum volume relative to the area. The base that encloses the indoor arena is treated similarly to the fort-like structures of the region. It is clad with split face trav-ertine to visually link it to the surrounding desert landscape treatment, with large deep rebated openings for access points reinforcing its striking construction.

THE SITE: The fi nal design outcome resulted in a 400m long roof structure which unifi es the two competition arenas, as well as a grandstand for 7200 spectators and a warm-up space for the competitors. The grandstand adopts a unique ar-rangement by which it faces both indoor and outdoor arenas, and has carefully segregated facilities for VVIPs, VIPs, public and media – as well as the competitors and judges. The highly engineered clamshell roof facilitates natural lighting in the centre of the competition, while forming an iconic landmark that creates the public image of the entire Equestrian Academy.

With some of the most exciting and ambitious construction projects in the GCC happening in Qatar, the Construction Week Awards - Qatar will recognise the leading

project, company and individual achievements from this flourishing market.

RECOGNISING INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE IN THE BOOMINGQATAR CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

For nomination enquiries,please contact:

Stuart MatthewsSenior Group EditorTel: +971 4 444 3476Email: [email protected]

For table bookings and furtherinformation, please contact:

Daniel FewtrellHead of MarketingTel: +971 4 444 3684Email: [email protected]

For sponsorship opportunities,Please contact:

Andrew ParkesAdvertising DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3570Mob:+971 50 656 3606Email: [email protected]

Stephen ScottSales ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3465GSM Dubai:+971 56 370 5783GSM Doha:+974 55 664 082Email: [email protected]

www.constructionweekonline.com/cwawards uctionweekonline.com/cwawardswww.constructionweekonline.com/cwawt ti k li / wwwoon wawawwo aaoo wee ae wawaawae aaan aaawnn awanoot wawwwwaww drrdrrdrdrdrrddrddrrww rrrrrrrrartst nstststststsswww.constructionweekonline.com/cwawartructionweekonline.com/cwawarwww.constructionweekonline.com/cwawardsnen aon wwtt awwr nrtrrrrruuurrrruru

CATEGORY SPONSORGOLD SPONSORS

Wednesday 25th September, 2013 - Grand Hyatt Doha

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES STILL AVAILABLE

Do not miss your opportunity to be a sponsor. All winners will be entered into the Construction Week Awards in Dubai in

December 2013, which will crown the best accomplishments from the entire Middle East.


SIP

OP

O C

ON

GR

ES

S C

EN

TR

E |

CA

SE

ST

UD

YA

L H

AM

RA

TO

WE

R |

CA

SE

ST

UD

YS

IPO

PO

CO

NG

RE

SS

CE

NT

RE

| C

AS

E S

TU

DY

SIPOPOCONGRESS CENTREArchitect: Tabanlıoğlu architectsLocation: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT: The Sipopo Congress Centre is a

13,800 m2 double storied structure that contains three gathering spaces, a restaurant and a main central hall. The building has unparal-leled views of the forest on one side and the ocean at the other. The Sipopo centre is part of an oceanside development on the capital city’s north-eastern edge that also includes a cluster of hotels and recently built infrastructure. Aimed to develop as a diplomatic resort, the new Centre will be the core of the presidential zone and will host exclusive meet-ings in harmony with nature.


CA

SE

ST

UD

Y | S

IPO

PO

CO

NG

RE

SS

CE

NT

RE

2011YEAR COMPLETED

THE CONCEPT There is a true conceptual

sense of transparency with the incorporation of a veiled cladding that has been distanced away from the unframed curtain wall. It aims to provide a continuous surface for the encompassing nature to refl ect within the glass. The glass wall systems also allows for a maxi-mum viewing area, with no horizon-tal or vertical mullions to obstruct the vision towards the ocean.Each space is uniquely designed with reference to local sources, such as the geometric motives of African tradition on the walls of the lobby.


SIP

OP

O C

ON

GR

ES

S C

EN

TR

E |

CA

SE

ST

UD

Y

THE DETAILS: The double storied block is

encased within a semi-transparent metal mantle that shields the build-ing from excessive sunlight. Through the positioning of metal panes at diff erent levels and angles, the façade is regarded as an array of diff erential geometric alignments, paralleling the colours, tones and motions of the winds and waves. The lacy texture of the mesh behaves like sun-break and grants a shady interior without hin-dering the accent of transparency. In addition it also gives the feeling of fl oating by the vast sea and the breeze gliding through the leaves.

THE SITE: Malabo, the capital and the second largest city of Equatorial Guinea is located on the northern coast of BiokoIs-

land. The Sipopo Congress Centre building, which was completed in 2011, is situated by the ocean and surrounded by the woods. The project is designed to take advantage of all the natural externalities that the project is susceptible to. The sunny coastline integrates well with the design’s ideals of transparency and shadow work. The architects have also taken inspiration from ocean movements to structure out the geometrical elements of the project’s facade.

13,800m2AREA OF CENTRE


THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE

The 20,434m2 metro station will feature six platforms and two levels of underground car parking .The concept draws on the patterns of the desert winds on nearby sand dunes to create rippling motions across the façade. These undulating swathes are echoed inside the station concourse with a three-dimensional lattice defi ned by a sequence of opposing sine-waves, inspired by statistics of the station’s daily traffi c fl ows.

KING ABDULLAH FINANCIAL DISTRICT METRO STATION

Architect: ZHALocation: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

NORR’s residential tower has been inspired by the organic forms which are prevalent in parts of the Mediterranean such as the coastal and hillside regions of Greece. The tower sits on a 1,882m2 plot and will boast 11-storeys when complete. This modern interpretation of the ‘stepped blocks’ or building forms which inter-connect, provides generous terraces for the residential units and creates a building with distinct spaces.

PLOT C59 RAWDHAT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOP-MENT

Architect: NORR Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

DNB BANK HEAD-QUARTERS

Architects: MVRDVLocation: Oslo, Norway

The headquarters for the DNB bank in Oslo has a surface area of 36,500m2 and attempts to convey a futuristic take on space and void architecture. At 17 storeys high, the building provides over 2000 fl exible work spaces for employees and glass cubes where staff can hold informal meetings. The design is based on an ideal work group of the bank, a pixel of 6x6 metres, that allows for adapta-tion to the nature of the organisation.

2,000FLEXIBLE WORK

SPACES

20,434METRES2

SITE AREA OF METRO STATION

PR

OJE

CT

UP

DA

TE

| T

HE

WO

RK


TH

E W

OR

K | P

RO

JEC

T U

PD

AT

E

The airport’s design is based on a fl exible modular solution, allow-ing the capacity to increase by 6% per annum, from 3.5 million to 12 million passengers by 2030. The design is inspired by local references, particularly the domed roof which echoes the black fl owing fabric of a Bedouin tent, when viewed from the air. The terminal is glazed on all sides to allow views of the aircraft and to aid orientation.

QUEEN ALIA INTER-NATIONAL AIRPORT

Architect: Foster + PartnersLocation: Amman, Jordan

The $77.7-million renovation, cre-ated new entrance and social spaces, including a restaurant, terrace, education facilities and a dramatic full-height atrium. The main design principle implemented throughout the project was to maintain the same amount of exhibition area, while creating new circulation and visitor spaces. The refurbishment also signifi cantly improved the museum’s environmental performance.

LENBACH-HAUS MUSEUM

Architect: Foster + PartnersLocation: Munich, Germany

EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE RESEARCH FACILITY

Architect: Henning Larsen, COBE, SLALocation: Lund, Sweden

The ESS research facility will be-come the world’s fi rst most advanced center for neutron-based research and will contain state-of-the-art technologies in carefully designed spaces to complement the scientifi c research facility. The technology can be used for research in topics ranging from medicine to archaeol-ogy. Research at ESS is expected to commence in 2019, while the entire facility will be completed by 2025.

GERMAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Architect: Hoehler + PartnerLocation: Halban, Oman

The building was designed to make a substantial visual impact on the ur-ban grain of its immediate surround-ings and to become a landmark for Oman. Completed within 18 months, the main building contains 527 rooms, including offi ces, lecture halls, laboratories and a research area. It also features a sports hall, canteen, cafeteria, shops, recreational areas and parking spaces, as well as three attached accomodation blocks.

12MILLION

PASSENGERSBY 2030


CU

LTU

RE

| LI

KE

WA

NT

NE

ED

54

CU

LTU

RE

| LI

KE

WA

NT

NE

ED

LIKEWANTNEEDCULTURE

LIGHTINGKLIKLED+Klik Systems

Klik Systems recently launched the new KlikLED+ range, which can be used in all Klik Systems profi les. Fitted with solid-state components, Klik’s LED boards have been custom designed to provide high quality, dot-free and shadow-free illumination. It is available in a variety of colours, including 3000K, 4000K and 5000K off ering both RGB and RGB/W.


LIKE

WA

NT N

EE

D | C

ULT

UR

E

55

BATHROOM ADVOCATE

Bradley

Bradley Corp’s Advocate sink combines a sink, soap, faucet and dual-sided hand dryer in a single unit. The all-in-one function of the Advocate simplifi es hand washing, arranging everything within reach. The overall experience combines high technology, comfort and safety.

TECHNOLOGYELEMENTSMK

Designed by MK, the Elements Collection of wiring devices off ers elegant styling through simple design and an extensive selection of colours, materials and fi nishes. The warm tones, clean lines, glass eff ect fi nishes combined with metals, woods and leathers complements the latest interior design trends. Innovative electronic touch dimmers and switches provide a unique user experience via an intuitive, visually striking interface.

LIKE

WA

NT N

EE

D | C

ULT

UR

E

FURNISHINGMADE IN SINGAPORENatanel Gluska

Natanel Gluska, known for his hand- carved creations, has taken a step into mechanical craftsmanship with the Made in Singapore chair. In collaboration with Pacifi c Forest, a Singaporean company, the polished chair has been chiselled away at the edges to express sharp geometric forms.

www.designmena.com | 06.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT


Michael Hammond, programme director of World Architecture Day 2013, shares details about the event in

New York this October, which will bring together architects from around the world, to discuss issues on housing.

THE LAST WORD

COMING TOGETHER

Registered at Dubai Media CityPO Box 500024, Dubai, UAETel: 00 971 4 444 3000Fax: 00 971 4 444 3030Web: www.itp.comOffices in Dubai & London

ITP BUSINESS PUBLISHING

CEO Walid AkawiManaging Director Neil DaviesManaging Director ITP Business Karam AwadDeputy Managing Director Matthew SouthwellGroup Publishing Director Ian Stokes

EDITORIAL

Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews Editor Zeinab SaiwallaTel: +971 4 444 3305 email: [email protected] Aidan Imanova Tel: +971 4 444 3497 email: [email protected] Intern Chrystall ThomasTel: +971 4 444 3255 email: [email protected]

ADVERTISING

Sales Manager Alexander JamesTel: +971 4 444 3393 email: [email protected] Development Manager, Saudi Arabia Rabih NaderiTel: +966 1 2068697 email: [email protected]

ONLINE ADVERTISING

Digital Publishing Director Ahmad BashourTel: +971 4 444 3549 email: [email protected] Manager, B2B Digital Riad RaadTel: +971 4 444 3319 email: [email protected]

STUDIO

Head of Design Daniel PrescottPrincipal Creative Simon Cobon

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chief Photographer Jovana ObradovicSenior Photographers Isidora Bojovic, Efraim EvidorStaff Photographers George Dipin, Juliet Dunne, Murrindie Frew, Verko Ignjatovic, Shruti Jagdeesh, Mosh Lafuente, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav

PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION

Group Production & Distribution DirectorKyle Smith Production Coordinator Gijo ThomasDistribution Executive Nada Al AlamiManaging Picture Editor Patrick LittlejohnImage Editor Emmalyn Robles

CIRCULATION

Head of Database & Circulation Gaurav Gulati

MARKETING

Head of Marketing Daniel FewtrellMarketing Manager Michelle Meyrick

ITP GROUP

Chairman Andrew NeilManaging Director Robert SerafinFinance Director Toby Jay Spencer-DaviesBoard of Directors K M Jamieson, Mike Bayman,Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin

Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 444 3000

Certain images in this issue are available for purchase.Please contact [email protected] for further detailsor visit www.itpimages.com

Printed by United Printing Press, Abu Dhabi

Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions

Audited by: BPA WorldwideAverage Qualified Circulation5,184 (Jan – June 2012)

Cover image The Galleria, taken by Efraim Evidor

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances.

The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

Published by and © 2013 ITP Business Publishing, a division of the ITP Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company number 1402846.

The aim of the event is to provide a platform for architects from around the world to put their heads together to address some of the challenges facing us in

the 21st Century. It is not fi ve people or even 50 people, but 250 intelligent minds focused on making better

buildings. We also introduce developers into the mix so that they can see this in action and get inspired by the process and maybe let a little business happen.

When we set up WAD in the UK last year, we always wanted to take the event to our audience around the world.

Now that we are up and running, fi rst stop had to be New York because we have so many strong contacts there. When AIA NY came on board with the Centre for Architecture

venue, we knew that was it.

The fi rst day will be made up of a series building tours around Manhattan and will fi re up the imagination of the delegates ready for the main day conference,

which is titled: Towards 8 billion, housing the next generation.It will see architects from around the world join forces for a day to look at the massive

housing challenge facing most countries over the next few decades. It will include presentations and discussions on slums, social housing, building on water, fl at pack housing

and a new Berlin concept in which communities are building their own developments.

The actual theme of housing the next generation was selected because it aff ects all of us and architecture can and will play a major part in how it rolls out.

We probably tried to do too much last year, covering six sectors throughout the day. It is one of our problems at WAN – we are always trying to do more, so this time we are trying be

grown up and understand that sometimes less can be more.

LAST WORD | MICHAEL HAMMOND

w w w . c o n s t r u c t i o n w e e k o n l i n e . c o m / m e a a

SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR THEMIDDLE EAST ARCHITECTURE SECTOR

THE 6TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT AWARDS BRINGS TOGETHER THE ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ENGINEERING COMMUNITIES TO CELEBRATE INDUSTRY

EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST.

Tuesday5th November 2013

Jumeirah Emirates TowersDubai - UAE

For sponsorship enquiries, please contact:Gary RobinsonGroup Sales DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3482Email: [email protected]

For nomination enquiries, please contact:Stuart MatthewsSenior Group EditorTel: +971 4 444 3476Email: [email protected]

For table bookings, please contact:Michelle MeyrickEvents ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3328Email: [email protected]

Do not miss your chance to put forward your work for our expert panel of judges’ consideration. Submit your nominations today at www.constructionweekonline.com/meaa or contact one of our team for more information.

omm/

us

nmo

222222222222222222222210101010101010110101010

2552

5 1532.2233 15432

1645

560658

22222222

205

205

2055

205

2050202288888

ssn s t5656058 5398aw wwwwww wwwwwww

y

eA

EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST.

NOMINATION DEADLINETHURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2013

CATEGORY SPONSORSPLATINUM SPONSOR

Middle East Architect | August 2013

Documents

Transcript of Middle East Architect | August 2013