Middle East Architect | November 2012

NOVEMBER | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 11.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture including

Gensler’s Abu Dhabi bank4

6PROJECTS

A round up of the latest project news from MENA

and the rest of the world

14ANALYSISIs LED technology the key to sustainable lighting in the Middle East?

22

24INTERVIEWJason Burnside from GAJ, the recently crowned Architect of the Year 2012

32FEATURE

62CULTUREA snapshot of funky fur-niture, lighting and other accessories in the market

48CASE STUDIESGAJ’s Sharjah resort, SOM’s medical city and Sheppard Robson’s Siemens HQ

60

Analysis and reaction from the 13 winning projects,

people and practices

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering all the best projects in the world

PEOPLEKey regional appointments, famous architect news and top quotes

NOVEMBER 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 11

64LAST WORD

Bart Leclercq, WSP Middle East, on iconic structures

and delivering projects

COMMENT Thierry Paret, president of

the AIA Middle East and judge of the MEA Awards

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.12 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | NOVEMBER

2

GENSLER DESIGNS NEW ABU DHABI BANK HQHeadquarters building will form part of capital’s new CBD on Al Maryah Island

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), has appointed Gensler to design its global head offi ce in the capital’s CBD on Al Maryah Island.

Gensler is providing full design and supervision consultancy services in-cluding architecture, interior design, landscape design, engineering and site supervision services.

The new 67,300m2, 31-fl oor building will contain commercial offi ce space, hub bank, tower lobbies,

trading fl oors, auditorium, con-

ferencing centre and cafeteria.

The building is designed around a symmetrical central core that displays a clear axial relationship between the waterfront and main vehicular road. The overall massing is spilt into two thin towers emphasis-ing verticality and slenderness.

A key driver of the design con-cept was to refl ect the presence of a well-established bank, within the

The facade fea-

tures vertical fi ns.

context of a contemporary society. To accomplish this, Gensler designers ‘veiled’ the building with an arrange-ment of vertical fi ns that are used to extenuate the towers, while simulta-neously creating a dynamic exterior that responds to the environment due to the varied fi n rotations.

During the day, the fi ns modulate light and provide solar protection, while at night they give the illusion of a streaming glow, which is said to ‘cre-ate the aesthetic perception of author-ity in a straightforward manner’.

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NOVEMBER | FRONT


• Winners of ME Architect Awards revealed

• Dubai to build ‘frame’ tower by 2013

• In Pictures: At the ME Architect Awards

• Jason Burnside wins Architect of the Year

• Doha Tower scoops best project award

• Ex RMJM trio to set up new Dubai offi ce

• Twisted hotel tower to open in Bahrain

• Habtoor Leighton set to construct Qatar’s

fi rst rail link

Doha Tower, the winner of Best Overall Project of 2012 at this year’s ME Architect Awards, has also picked up a prize from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

The project by Jean Nouvel was named Best Tall Building World-wide at a ceremony in Illinois, USA.

Doha Tower was earlier named the council’s Best Tall Building in the Middle East and Africa, and beat the four regional winners.

Richard Cook, awards chairman and partner in Cook + Fox Archi-tects, commented: “The skin of the building is a beautiful expression of the local culture, connecting this

Doha Tower crowned world’s best skyscraper by CTBUH

Dubai to build 150m-high ‘frame’ structure by 2013Al Berwaz Tower, dubbed the Dubai Frame, has been approved by the Dubai government and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.

The window-shaped structure, which contains a 150m-high glass bridge, was designed by Netherlands-based Fernando Donis.

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

A skyscraper made from bamboo has been pro-posed by China-based Tokamarch Architects to address the country’s housing needs. The bamboo facade, inspired by traditional Dai homes, is said to provide protection against both the sun and wind. It also contains courtyards and gardens.

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

The structure contains a glass bridge.

Nouvel’s tower collects another prize.

13Categories at

the ME Architect Awards 2012

(page 32)

TWOAwards handed to

designer of Siemens ME HQ (page 56)

very modern tower with ancient Islamic designs.

“It also provides a fantastic pat-tern of light within the building, while effi ciently dampening the heat gains internally of the sun’s rays.”

Donis also designed the London Gate, a similar large frame gate for the London Olympics.

The Dubai project costs US$33m and is expected to attract about two million visitors and tourists a year.

Dubai Municipality is supervis-ing the design, implementation and management of the project.

The building will have facilities en-abling the hosting of cultural events, exhibitions and conferences on the ground fl oor area.

Each side shaft will have lifts that will take the visitors to the top of the structure consisting of a café off ering views of the entire city.

SHENZHEN

o s )

18%

25%

TALLEST CITIES IN CHINA(% of country’s buildings over 200m - data from CTBUH)

11%

dd

SHENZHE

1

25HONG KONG

SHANGHAI

GUANGZHOU6%

CHONGQING5%

WUHAN4%

NANJING4%

DALIAN4%

REST OF CHINA 21%

BEIJING2%

Dubai t

CategoriesCategoriesegCthe ME Architethe ME ArchitetcAEh

Awards 20Awards 202sw(page 3(page 3ea


FRONT | NOVEMBER

4

Renowned UK architecture fi rm Grim-shaw, chaired by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, is establishing a permanent foothold in the Qatari market with the opening of an offi ce in Doha.

The offi ce will also become the opera-tional centre for four new partners – Neil McClements, Juan Porral, Declan McCaf-ferty and Andrew Thomas.

A statement from the company said: “All four moves are rooted in the optimism and conviction of the practice as it builds upon its reputation for inventive, innovative architecture across all building sectors and across the globe.”

Further recent promotions include Keith Brewis as managing partner for in-ternational operations and Mark Middle-ton as a managing partner in London.

Established in 1980, some of Grim-shaw’s projects include the Melbourne Metro, Incheon Airport in South Korea and The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK.

PEOPLE

Grimshaw opens Doha offi ce

Ex RMJM trio to set up new Dubai base

People always ask: “How can you build a small building in front of a giant building, and I say,

why not?”ANTHONY POON,

architect for Chun Wo, a Hong Kong fi rm behind

Reem Diamond in Abu Dhabi

One of the key diff erences with Bahrain Bay is simply that our infrastructure has been fully completed, without

any debt.”ROBERT LEE, chief executive offi cer, Bahrain

Bay, Manama

Sir Nicholas is chairman of the board.

There are ten times more existing buildings than new buildings - existing buildings are a bigger factor in sustainability.”THOMAS BOHLEN, chief technical offi cer, ME Centre for Sustainable Development

60 SECOND INTERVIEWGEORGE EFSTATHIOU, CONSULTING PARTNER, SOMWhat is SOM currently working on? We’re done with the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and the Infi nity Tower in the Dubai Marina is almost com-plete. We have several projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like the conference centre in the King Abdullah Financial District.”Why do you think SOM deserved to win Large Archi-tecture Firm of the Year? I think it’s the consistency over long periods of time in terms of quality and work that we do and we push the envelope as much as we can. We try to do build-ings that can be built – it’s not just paper architecture. It’s great designing that service for our clients. Our buildings have the integration of sustainability and engineering, and we are able to keep the best people that we can hire. You just have to take a look at the history of SOM in architecture and engineering to see what we’re capable of doing as a company.

Colin Bone, Tony Kettle, David Tripney.

Former RMJM employees Tony Kettle, Colin Bone and David Tripney have set up a new design house, Kettle Collective, with plans to create a Dubai offi ce.

Focusing on architecture, but also pro-viding urban, interior and product design, Kettle Collective has set up its head offi ce in Edinburgh, but is also in the process of establishing a studio in Dubai which will act as a hub, providing links to key markets in the Middle East and Russia.

During his time at RMJM, Tony Kettle led the design of the Falkirk Wheel in Scot-land and Lakhta Tower, the new 456m tall HQ for Russian oil giant Gazprom.

Tripney spent 20 years in Dubai, over-seeing the sale of former company Holford Associates to Hyder Consulting, and was behind the delivery of Mall of the Emirates.

Meanwhile, Bone spent fi ve years at RMJM, heading up the European Studio as managing principal, with a focus on new markets such as Bahrain, Qatar and Russia.

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FRONT | NOVEMBER

6

3OMAN The Wave parades fi rst waterfront unitsThe Wave, Muscat opened the registration for Marsa One apart-ments, the fi rst waterfront units to be launched in the development. Marsa One forms part of Almarsa Village, which comprises 121 luxury units in a marina-front position. A spokesper-son added: “The apartments are spe-cifi cally designed to make maximum use of the spectacular views over the marina and village, as well as take advantage of light and space.”

2TURKEYEmaar launches Turkish mega schemeEmaar Properties announced its Turkish subsidiary has launched an urban project in Istanbul, which is partly inspired by Dubai Mall. Emaar Turkey said ‘Boulevardi’ will include over 1,000 luxury homes, a 190-room fi ve-star hotel, leisure facilities and offi ces. The centrepoint will be the Boulevardi mall, which will be one of the largest in Istanbul with 400 stores, an underwater zoo, ice skating rink and movie theatre.

1AFGHANISTAN National museum project won by Spanish fi rmThe Ministry of Information and Culture and the US Embassy have appointed Spanish fi rm AV62 Ar-quitectos to design the new National Museum of Afghanistan. The jury commented: “The strength of this design proposal rests on the balance between the architectural form and the presentation of the collections... [the] exterior appearance is distinc-tive yet understated and responds to the local context.”

3

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

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3GERMANYFrankfurt airport extension completed by gmpGerman fi rm gmp has completed the extension to gate A at Rhein-Main airport, Frankfurt. It is 800 metres long, with an area of 185,000m2 and designed for up to six million pas-sengers a year. On 10 October 2012, Fraport and Lufthansa start opera-tions. The architect’s commission included the link between two gates, the baggage claim area, the required conversions of existing structures in Terminal 1 as well the new gate A+.

1SINGAPORELargest dome in the world underway in SingaporeConstruction has begun on the roof of Singapore’s National Stadium, the world’s largest dome at 310m, which is scheduled for completion in 2014. The 55,000-seat stadium and sur-rounding spaces, is the only complex in the world custom-built to host football, rugby, cricket and athletic events under one roof. It is designed to use only a fraction of the energy required for an equivalent fully en-closed stadium.

2CHINAZaha Hadid to design HK university towerZaha Hadid Architects will design a tower for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University which will also be home to the newly established Jockey Club design institute for social innovation. Expected to be complete by 2013, the building providing 15,000m2 of net fl oor space, housing 1800 staff mem-bers. It will contain a lecture hall, 10 classrooms, studios and workshops as well as a museum, exhibition space and communal viewing lounge.

3

6

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

1 2


FRONT | NOVEMBER

10

6CHINAOMA competes for China National Art MuseumDutch fi rm OMA has released its design for the National Art Museum of China competition with results announced next month. OMA has in-tegrated a variety of city-like districts throughout the massive structure, with ‘classical’ museum spaces as well as modern, open-plan areas. ‘Dis-tricts’ include a city centre, periphery, a Chinese and international district, modern and historical areas as well as commercial and government areas.

4USAFoster + Partners wins New York tower competitionUK giant Foster + Partners has been selected to design a new commercial tower at 425 Park Avenue, New York, for a partnership of L&L Holding Company and Lehman Brothers Holdings. The tapered steel-frame tower rises to meet three shear walls that will be illuminated. Each of the three tiers – low, medium and high-rise – is defi ned by a landscaped ter-race off ering panoramic views across Manhattan and Central Park.

5GERMANYHenning Larsen picks up research centre projectHenning Larsen Architects has won the competition for a new research building for the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Stuttgart. The centre, for one of Germany’s top research institutions for renewable energy, is designed as a grid of small units to meet the requirement for a highly fl exible workplace. The building features various heights and is expected to be completed in 2016.

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NEWS ANALYSIS | LED TECHNOLOGY

ANALYSIS

Is LED technology the key to sustainable lighting? Aidan Imanova investigates


LED TECHNOLOGY | NEWS ANALYSIS

AESG is a

sustainability

consultancy

based in Dubai. S ustainability has been a trend in the market for a long period of time, and LED technology is often

touted as the future of eco-effi cient lighting. Yet has LED technology truly revolutionised the industry?

“The world is going through a step change which is driven by a signifi -cant shift in technology, from incan-descent fl uorescent lighting to LED lighting,” says Maryrose Sylvester, president and chief executive offi cer, General Electric (GE) Lighting. “This is really opening up a new world of possibilities in lighting which is one of the big technology shifts.”

Sylvester believes that the rise of LED technology has revolutionised lighting. “Businesses and customers around the world are more concerned than ever about energy effi ciency as well as sustainability,” she adds.

“Most of the sustainability consultants prefer to propose LED lighting for budgetary projects which reduce lighting demand from the ASHRAE requirements.”Scott Coombes, principal, AESG

Scott Coombes, principal, AESG, agrees that lighting technology is indeed “shifting from the use of incandescent fl uorescent technology to LED technology.”

Coombes continues: “Effi cient lighting is needed for sustainable architecture. In 2009, a typical 13-watt LED lamp emitted 450 to 650 lumens, which is equivalent to a standard 40-watt incandescent bulb.

“In 2011, LEDs have become more effi cient, so that a 6-watt LED can easily achieve the same results. A standard 40-watt incandescent bulb has an expected lifespan of 1,000

hours, whereas an LED can operate with reduced effi ciency for more than 50,000 hours, 50 times longer than the incandescent bulb,” he continues.

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NEWS ANALYSIS | LED TECHNOLOGY

technologies need to be adopted in order

to actually save on the carbon footprint gener-

ated here and also make sure that you have an effi cient

lighting system,” states George Bou Mitri, general manager - Middle East, Africa & Turkey, GE Lighting.

He describes the Middle East as a “multi-speed region” but concludes that the lighting organisation in the region is growing.

Coombes adds: “Most of the countries in the GCC have started to reduce their carbon footprint. Hence they started encouraging the sustainability regulations and energy effi ciency equipments to reduce electricity consumption.”

He continues: “As part of that, some of the Middle East countries have announced their Green Build-ing regulations and some of them have made it mandatory to achieve this. Green rating systems are also encouraged in many countries.”

Coombes states, however, that there are “no government regulations being made to drive LED lighting, but they do have regulations to meet the mandatory energy reduction by per-forming whole building energy simu-lation. This will incorporate lighting as well. In some of the government regulations, they recommend to use LED lighting.”

“Not everybody is at the same speed. Some have actually taken steps such as projects and proof points, wanting to learn about the technology better while others have been

completely convinced. ”George Bou Mitri, general manager - Middle East, Africa & Turkey, GE Lighting

George Bou

Mitri; Maryrose

Sylvester.

Coombes adds that LED lighting is sustainable as it uses less energy than most other types of lamps, has a longer lifespan, which causes less frequent replacement and reduces the amount of waste. In addition it is mercury-free and can be housed in special luminaries designed for easier disassembling and recycling.

Another benefi t is the ability to be dimmed, which opens up tremendous opportunities for additional energy savings through the use of controls and motion sensors.

Sylvester adds that with the ad-vancement in LED usage, companies have to take more responsibility with their decision making. “Companies now need to make more complicated decisions as old technologies are go-

ing away and new ones are coming into place,” she states.

For Coombes, LED technology has infi nite possibilities. “The uses of LED lighting are limitless,” he says. “LED lights can be used for entertainment and architectural lighting and also as part of a sophisticated and state-of-the-art interior design.”

Despite all the benefi ts and advan-tages of LEDs, Coombes outlines that there are, however, some concerns with the overall technology. He adds: “Some of the issues raised may be colour balance, water damage and UV sensitivity.

“LEDs can shift colour due to age and temperature. Two diff erent white LEDs will have two diff erent colour characteristics which can aff ect how the light is perceived.”

Moving on to regional concerns, it is hard to tell whether the Middle East has embraced this revolution of LED technology. “The region is rich in oil, but then again, this is why new

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LED TECHNOLOGY | NEWS ANALYSIS

He adds: “Most of the sustainability consultants prefer to propose LED lighting for budgetary projects which reduce lighting demand from the ASHRAE requirements.”

Coombes also brings up the extreme heat and humidity in the Middle East and how this may aff ect the employment of LED tech-nology in the region.

“Generally, the Middle East climate is determined as a very hot and humid place. LED performance is temperature dependent. LEDs used outdoors, such as outdoor signaling or in-pavement signal lights, in maintenance zones that are utilised in hot climates, could result in low signal intensities or even failure. It is recom-mended not to be used in caution zones to avoid accidents,” he says.

When asked the same question, Bou Mitri compares the climate in the Middle East to Las Vegas, where GE has recently installed an entire LED roadway.

According to Bou Mitri and Sylvester, GE installed 40,000 of its newest ERS outdoor fi xtures, removing 1,200 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide by replacing these HID lights with LED systems.

Sylvester informs that 2,300 cars were taken off the road an-nually. The 20 million kilowatt hour reduction and energy usage has saved the city $1.7 million, in addition to the maintenance and energy savings.

Therefore in terms of the climate in the Middle East, Bou Mitri says: “We look at some of the products like ERS outdoor fi xtures and think of the heat level here. That’s where we’re customising but we have very well positioned products that work here in the region so we’re taking all these specifi cs into account. To make sure that the products we use are compatible with the region, we consider the temperature risings, the heat level as well as the operating rhythm and maintenance rhythm that is used here.”

Whether this is the reason for the slow movement towards LEDs in the Middle East is an uncertainty. Bou Mitri states: “Not everybody is at the same speed. Some have actually taken steps such as projects and proof points, wanting to learn about the technology better while others have been completely convinced.

“It is defi nitely becoming more and more accepted in the region,” he concludes.

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COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

18

“Only one category received a unanimous vote from the judges and that was Best Overall Project, won by Jean

Nouvel’s Doha Tower.”

EDITOR’S LETTER

CLOSE CALLThis year’s MEA Awards was a hotly-contested event

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

Farshad Mahdizadeh’s snack bar was described as a “real eye-catcher”. Now that the results of

the 2012 Middle East Architect Awards have been revealed, the win-

ners can deservedly pat themselves on the back and bask in the glory.

It was a fantastic night for the likes of SOM, GAJ, Sheppard Robson and AGi Architects, who all picked up multiple awards.

However, there were several people and projects which impressed yet narrowly missed out. Only one category received a unanimous vote from the judges and that was Best Overall Project, won by Jean Nou-vel’s Doha Tower.

For most of the other categories, the judges had a tougher time in deciding the winners due to the evenness of the competition.

A particularly tight contest was fought for Architect of the Year. Ja-son Burnside from GAJ walked away with the award, ahead of Atkin’s Joe Tabet and Norr’s Yahya Jan.

Both the runners up were highly praised for building landmark struc-tures and only just missed out on the top prize.

Meanwhile, a fi rm that impressed yet left empty handed was Mangera Yvars Architects, in the Boutique Firm category. The Spain-based fi rm was narrowly pipped to the post by

AGi Architects. Mangera Yvars won rave reviews from the panel for its Faculty of Islamic Studies in Qatar. Judge Thierry Paret, AIA Middle East president, remarked that the project “re-confi rms this fi rm is on its way to better and bigger things” while Bart Leclercq, WSP, described its portfolio as “truly breathtaking”.

One of the night’s surprises came from little-known Iranian architect Farshad Mahdizadeh, who was highly commended for two awards.

Mahdizadeh’s bold apartment block in Iran was runner up in the Residential category, while his Circle Snack Bar was described by Leclercq as a “real eye catcher and a fabulous

example of an architect that was thinking outside the box”.

Leclercq added: “This must be the smallest architectural project ever but the amount of diligence that went into the design is remarkable”.

Aedas’ Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi also impressed the judges in the Best Commercial and Best Sustainable Project categories.

The scheme was outmuscled in both categories by Sheppard Robson’s Siemens Headquarters in Masdar City.

However, its façade was praised by Paret as an “innovative active solar screen system which makes for a fascinating solution to the otherwise entirely glazed building envelope”.

This year’s competition was un-doubtedly the most hotly contested MEA Awards yet. Congratulations are certainly in order for all the win-ners and runners up.


COMMENT | SAEED ALABBAR

20

As the UAE entered the 21st century, globalisa-tion brought with it many ideas and design

concepts from the West. Costly, energy-intensive air conditioning technology was utilised to ensure that such buildings were able to maintain comfortable interior conditions despite the poor insulation.

More recently, local governments introduced more rigorous codes, such as the Estidama Pearl Rating System in Abu Dhabi and the mandating of el-ements of LEED for buildings within Dubai World’s jurisdiction.

While these steps are fantastic for the industry, and governments should be praised, there are still fundamental issues that need addressing.

A lot of building envelope designs done by architects in the Middle East region are very poor and have enormous

amounts of thermal bridging.”

OPINION

Firstly, we need to start talking about a building’s energy use inten-sity and the energy consumption per square metre, rather than comparing buildings to theoretical baselines.

Next, we need to set stringent qual-ity control guidelines; the integrity of building envelopes needs major improvement. Some fantastic analysis goes into building designs to select the right glass and insulation but quite often this is lost during con-struction as insulation and facades are installed poorly with high levels of thermal bridging and air leakage.

It is not only the contractors that are at fault here. A lot of building envelope designs done by architects in the region are very poor with enor-mous amounts of thermal bridging.

There is really little use in specifying the top of the range insulation if heat is allowed to pass through all the exposed elements of the building. Major savings in energy can be made by addressing this rather simple issue, which would not cost that much to fi x.

We also need to move the discus-sion of green buildings into the realm of building operation. There is a lot of talk about green design and green construction but the objectives seem to stop once the building is completed and received its rating. Buildings do not consume energy while they are being built. They only consume energy when they are occupied so this should be the most important phase of a green buildings life.

Finally, we need to ensure proper utilisation of new technology. Far too often when we look at existing build-ings we see the most expensive, high-est spec building management system turned off because it is not working properly or the operators do not know how to use it. Bridging the interface between construction and operation, through proper commissioning is essential, particularly as buildings are becoming more and more high-tech.

There is a lot of great change that has happened in the industry over the past few years and the government and private sector are both making great strides in the realm of sustain-able buildings.

However, we must not rest on our laurels and should wake up every day and ask ourselves the fundamental question of how we can really make our buildings better.

Why modern constructions still fall short of the mark

Saeed Alabbar

is director at

energy and

sustainability

consultancy

AESG, which is

based in Dubai.

Traditional Arabian buildings utilised natural ventilation methods.

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COMMENT | THIERRY PARET

22

Iwas honoured to have been selected by the editorial team as a judge for the 2012 Middle East Architect Awards. This

was my fourth time as a judge, twice for domestic American Institute of Architect State Chapters and once for another Middle East publication.

The comparison was interesting as I found startling diff erences between the awards from my country and the ones here. First and foremost is the current economic situation in the US which means that projects there have to face the stark realities at hand which means having to be cost eff ec-tive to get built.

This is not to say that some fi nan-cial realities have not trickled down to our MENA region, but the diff er-

It was also refreshing to see so many entries return to sim-ple, elegant buildings over the type of “pastiche” architec-

ture lacking fundamental heritage and identity.”

OPINION

ences are still glaring. The majority of entries submitted were for projects located in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE which showed the resilience of the key GCC countries.

These areas still have a sense of optimism driving the market which is exhibited in this year’s entries. This gives great hope for the future of the profession in these challeng-ing times. Lastly this market is truly international as refl ected in this year’s Middle East Architect Awards with entries from American, European, MENA and Australian fi rms.

Now to the awards. The entries encompassed the full gamut of project types from large, medium and small fi rms in the region. Upon complet-ing my fi rst review of all the entries,

I established my criteria for judging each category and looked at histori-cal precedents in order to remain as objective as possible.

I also felt that it was important to establish a standard of excellence against which all architects can measure performance, and inform the public of the breadth and value of architectural practice.

According to Roman architect Vitrivus, a good building should sat-isfy the three principles of “fi rmitas, utilitas, venustas” which translates as durability, utility and beauty.

Sustainability is the fourth prin-ciple which many architects forgot with the advent of technology in the 20th century. My fi nal criterion has to do with how well a building will age. Will it be a timeless work of art or just a fashion trend like bell bottoms or wide lapels on a suit which will lose relevance as soon as it is completed?

I was impressed to see the ap-proaches taken by many of the architects particularly in response to the true regional vernacular and their contemporary interpretations.

It was also refreshing to see so many entries return to simple, elegant buildings over the type of pastiche architecture which lacks fundamental heritage and identity.

I was particularly taken by many of the entries for the Commercial, Residential, Sustainable and Public Sector, Institutional & Cultural categories. The maturity shown was refreshing and encouraging to see and bodes well for the future of architec-ture in the region.

Behind the scenes of the judging panel for the Middle East Architect Awards 2012

JURY DUTY

Thierry Paret

is president of

the American

Institute of

Architects (AIA),

Middle East

Nominations for the 2012 event were judged by a panel of six experts.

INTERVIEW | JASON BURNSIDE

24 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.12 | www.designmena.com

JASON BURNSIDE | INTERVIEW

25www.designmena.com | 11.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

It has been a good year. Deep down it is fl attering to get a promotion as it shows the hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Jason Burnside

S itting on a rooftop cafe, with no idea that he is soon to be crowned Architect of the Year at the MEA Awards, GAJ’s Jason Burnside pon-ders his chances of winning the event’s most

prestigious prize. “What will be will be,” mulls Burnside. “I haven’t checked who I’m up against because I need to man-age my expectations. I just want to turn up on the night.”

It’s already been a good year for Northern Ireland-born Burnside, who was made partner at GAJ this spring, follow-

ing 11 years of dedicated work at the Dubai-based company. The down-to-earth Ulsterman remarks: “It has been a good year. Deep down it is fl attering to get a promotion as it shows the hard work has not gone unnoticed.”

When asked why he chose architecture as a profession, he replies: “It was a funny introduction into architecture. I initially did a BTEC National Diploma in Building Studies and Civil Engineering which was a multi faceted course.The tipping point was when I saw St Aengus’ Church outside

THE INTERVIEW

Oliver Ephgrave meets Jason Burnside, GAJ partner, education design specialist and newly crowned MEA Architect of the Year



of Derry by Liam McCormick. The building itself sits next to an ancient monument and it is so well con-nected. I thought it was so clever and beautiful. That was certainly the fi rst time I really looked at a building in that way.”

He continues: “Another building that inspired me was Richard Rogers’ Lloyds Building - a super high-tech ‘spaceship’ in the centre of London. I started looking at buildings as an art form rather than something we use as a commodity. That was when I thought I wouldn’t mind getting involved in architecture.”

Burnside remarks that he headed to art college in Dundee to formally study architecture. After completing his training he received an out-of-the-blue off er to work on a project in London. “They needed someone the next day, so I set off with one rucksack on a coach to Victoria Station. This was for a small practice called Clarke Associates and I ended up staying for fi ve and a half years.”

Burnside’s move to Dubai was similarly fortuitous. He explains: “In 2001 I had a chance to visit some friends over here. The only time I’d seen Dubai was in a Tomorrow’s World programme about the con-struction of Burj Al Arab.

“In the last week of the holiday I had a chance meeting with Brian Johnson [managing partner of GAJ]. I had interview and got off ered the job, so I convinced my wife to take a ‘year out’ and live abroad. 11 years later, we’re still here, and now we have a family. When I fi rst arrived, the company had pitched to do archi-

A fi rm in London needed someone the next day. I set off with one rucksack on a coach to Victoria Station.”

Jason Burnside

Burnside hails

from Derry,

Northern Ireland.

2001BURNSIDE MOVES TO

UAE TO JOIN GAJ



Victorian idea of get in there and head down. That was fi ne when it was taught with blackboard and chalk. However, due to the way kids are taught today, the buildings can’t stay with that mentality - you can now even question whether you need a classroom. Yet the parents need to feel assured that their child is getting a proper education, so there’s still a way to go in convincing people. Cer-tainly what we are doing is breaking down the conventional stuff - cor-ridor, classroom, and you are fi nding something more like offi ce design.”

Burnside adds that fl exibility is a key consideration in many school projects, but not all. “Due to the horrendously tight timeframe to get schools done for the start of the academic year, we often build with precast - that is good and bad in equal measure. One of the schools had a cross wall construction - it was very quick with very little fi nishes to be done, but fl exibility is a problem.

“Some of the others have column and beam to maintain that fl exibility. I think that allowing for fl exibility in

the common spaces is a sensible way to go. However, the client tends to have their own views - the building won’t necessarily remain as a school. Maybe the buildings will be reused rather than demolished; these schools might be a hospital in the future. Al-lowing for some fl exibility is sensible, but if you want to make the building completely fool proof for the next 20 years, that’s another matter.”

Commenting again on his recent promotion to partner, he says that his responsibilities are still the same. “It doesn’t change what I do,” he remarks. “People think that architecture is a very glamorous profession, but it’s 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. You can’t just come up with ideas and that’s it. The very privileged few architects can get away with that, but for the rest of us it’s a lot of grunt work. I still do my own drawings and modelling, and the late nights with the rest of the team.

One has to wonder whether the situation will remain the same for Burnside in the wake of his new status as Architect of the Year.

People think that architecture is a very glamorous profession, but it’s 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.”

Jason Burnside

One of Burnside’s signature projects - Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai.

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NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING COMPLEX, ABU DHABI The Federal National Council’s new home contains a dome

structure like a soaring fl ower of the desert, envisaged as a

proud landmark for public gatherings. The project was designed

in association with Ehrlich Architects.

GEMS SCHOOL, DUBAICommissioned by GEMS Education, the brief specifi ed an

effi cient solution while creating the best possible educational

environment. GAJ’s design strategy was to create internal

courtyards at the centre of the individual blocks, introducing

greenery and natural light to all spaces.

PRIVATE VILLA, DUBAI Completed in 2004, and designed in association with Ehrlich

Architects, this private villa suggests a giant Bedouin tent.

The football-fi eld-sized roof, cantilevered nine metres on each

side, casts a giant swathe of shade.

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QATAR SCHOOLThis school was based around the concept of a ‘street’ in which

students interact and congregate as well as circulate to the various

activities available. The street opens onto the football pitch and

outdoor spaces, strengthing the link between outdoors and indoors.


COVER STORY | AWARDS 2012

32

The region’s architects and engineers flocked to The Westin Dubai to celebrate the Middle East’s best professionals, practices and projects

AWARDS 2012 | COVER STORY


THE JUDGES

With a record number of entrants, a 33% increase from the previous year, the in-

terest in the 2012 Middle East Architect Awards was notable for many reasons.

While it demonstrates that awareness of the event is growing year by year, the sheer volume hinted that more projects have been launched and completed in the past 12 months and fi rms are proud of their achievements.

The winners of the 13 categories were determined by a panel of six expert

judges - a cross section of practicing architects, engineers and academics.

Following a similar trend to last year, a number of fi rms walked away with two or more awards apiece. US-based giant SOM enjoyed a hugely successful night, picking up three awards in total.

As well as winning Large Architec-ture Firm of the Year, the company also received honours for Engineer of the Year (William F Baker) and Public Sec-tor, Institutional & Cultural Project of the Year (Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi).

Dubai’s GAJ also received multiple honours, with awards for Architect of the Year (Jason Burnside) and Hospital-ity & Leisure Project of the Year (The Chedi Khorfakkan, Sharjah).

Sheppard Robson won a brace of prizes for the Siemens Middle East HQ at Masdar City, in the Sustainable and commercial project categories.

Another two awards were scooped by Kuwait and Spain based AGi Archi-tects, for Boutique Firm of the Year and Residential Project of the Year (S Cube Chalet, Kuwait).

DAVID GREENPARTNER, GAJ

PETER DI SABATINODEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITEC- TURE, ART AND DESIGN AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH

TAREQ ABU-SUKHEILAPRINCIPAL AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, GENSLER

THIERRY PARETPRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, MIDDLE EAST

BART LECLERCQHEAD OF STRUCTURES, WSP MIDDLE EAST

YAHYA JANVICE PRESIDENT AND DESIGN DIRECTOR, NORR GROUP CONSULTANTS



34

SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL (SOM) Global giant SOM was recognised as the fi rm, with more than 100 employ-ees, that has made the most signifi -cant impact on the GCC in 2012.

The practice was a clear winner in this category and described by the judging panel as the “undisputed master of the skyscraper and many other building types”.

One judge commented that the company’s endless number of great projects makes it the supreme ex-ample of a large architectural fi rm.

It was also labelled as an architec-tural legend that pushes the envelope in every corner of the globe.

Collecting the award, George Efstathiou, consulting partner for SOM, said: “It’s another recognition for us. They use us as an example and called us a legend. It’s a testament to the people that work at SOM and the traditions of quality and services we provide to our clients.”

When asked why SOM stood out from the rest of the nominees, he replied: “I think it’s the consistency over long periods of time in terms of quality of work. We push the enve-lope as much as we can. We try to do buildings that can be built – it’s not just paper architecture.”

SHORTLIST

GAJ NAGA ARCHITECTS

LACASA

HIGHLY COMMENDED

WOODS BAGOT

“This fi rm continues to deliver quality Middle East projects, such as International Tower in Abu Dhabi and St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.”

LARGE ARCHITECTURE

FIRM OF THE YEAR

SO

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Ble

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Nic

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“The company’s endless number of great projects makes it the supreme example of a large architectural fi rm.”



GAJ partner Jason Burnside was handed the prize for Architect of the Year. Burnside has amassed an impressive array of education projects, and he was recently made a partner at the fi rm.

The panel described him as an architect with a strong body of work that displays a sensitive and elegant approach to architectural design which is refreshing to see.

Burnside said: “Without a doubt this is one of my career highlights. I’m really honoured to get this award and I’m chuff ed to bits. It’s great to be recognised.” This particular award was an

extremely tough decision for the judges, and the result was the closest out of all the categories.

Burnside added: “It was really tough, given the guys I was up against. Some of them have built landmark structures. I was sur-prised to win as my work is more small-scale.”

Judges were impressed by Burnside’s well-crafted portfolio which includes a stunning private villa in Dubai, a parliament design, a distinctive mixed-use complex in DIFC, Dubai, and a number of sensitive school proj-ects in Dubai and Qatar.

“Burnside has a strong body of work that displays a sensitive and elegant approach to architectural design

which is refreshing to see.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED SHORTLIST“His designs are always original in shape and form, never a copy of a previous job.”

ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR

JASON BURNSIDE, GAJ

JOE TABETATKINS

“A designer with a mature and consistent portfolio over many years in the business.”

YAHYA JANNORR GROUP CONSULTANTS

KHALED AL SHAMAA DWP

MEISA BATAYNEH MAISAM



36

DOHA TOWER Famous French architect Jean Nouvel scooped the prize for Best Overall Project for his renowned Doha Tower.

The striking cylindrical tower in West Bay area was recognised as the year’s best complete building.

Judges described it as an elegant form with a careful integration of Islamic architecture – a building that bridges modernity and tradition through its external skin.

Collecting the award, Hafi d Rakem, architect partner/area manager, Ateliers Jean Nouvel,

said: “We are very happy and proud for winning. I would like to thank Jean Nouvel and HE Sheikh Saoud. Without the client and the architect, our dream cannot be realised.”

He added: “I would also like to thank all the consultants and the contractor involved in the project, including Hubert Tonka, special ad-visor to Jean Nouvel and Michel Pe-lissie, CEO of Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

As part of the prize, Atelier Jean Nouvel won a custom-made model from 3DR Models. Hafi d chose a 1:500 scale model of Doha Tower.

SHORTLIST

AL HITMI COMPLEX NORR GROUP CON-SULTANTS

HIGHLY COMMENDED

SOWWAH SQUARE ABU DHABI, GOETTSCH PART-NERS (GP)

“A worthy second place for its sustainability eff orts.”

OVERALL PROJECT OF THE

YEAR

“An elegant form with a careful integration of Islamic architecture. This tower that has become a

symbol for an entire city.”

ST REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT WOODS BAGOT

TERRACITY SHOP-PING CENTRE ONCUOGLU & ACP



The prize for Principal of the Year was handed to Holley Chant, KEO’s corporate sustainability director, strategy, planning & urban development.

Judges were looking for an individual who best demon-strated their ability to lead in challenging times.

The panel remarked that Chant has worked hard to make sustainability a focal point in the industry.

One judge added: “[Chant] has a long and proven track record and has been a driving force behind the success of KEO in the Middle East.

“She is actively involved in educating design profession-als and her involvement with regional municipalities makes her a sustainability champion.”

Receiving the award, Chant said: “This is totally unex-pected, I am just completely stunned and overwhelmed. I am extremely proud of my colleagues and team and even though this is a one-person award, we are all winners.”

She added: “The important thing in sustainability is leading a team shoulder-to-shoulder. We appreciate young talent and especially innovation and the belief that the newest person you have could be just as good or even better than the seniors.”

“Chant has a long and proven track record and has been a driving force behind the success of KEO in

the Middle East.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED SHORTLIST“A promising individual in the GCC, bringing fresh, original design to the lifestyle sector.”

PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR HOLLEY CHANT, KEO

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS

JOAQUIN PEREZAGI ARCHITECTS

TAREK N QADDUMI TNQ

DR SHAMS ELDIEN NAGA NAGA ARCHITECTS

IBRAHIM AL JAIDAH ARAB ENGINEERING BUREAU (AEB)



38

COMMERCIALPROJECT

OF THE YEARUK-based Sheppard Robson im-pressed judges with its sustainable HQ for Siemens.

The project was described by the panel as an innovative design that addresses the need for effi ciency and sustainability, and a model for further research and development.

Accepting the award, Malcolm McGowan, managing partner, Sheppard Robson, commented: “It’s fantastic to win this award. We do a lot of work in the UK, but this is our fi rst foray into designing highly-effi cient commercial fl oor plates in another country.”

SIEMENS MIDDLE EAST HQ, MASDAR CITY, SHEPPARD ROBSON

SHORTLISTHIGHLY COMMENDED

ADNOC HEADQUARTERS HOK

“This building has all the makings of becoming a classic landmark along Abu Dhabi’s Corniche.”

Elegant, sophisticated and simple. These were the words used by the jury to describe AGi’s S Cube in Kuwait, which featured on the cover of MEA last month.

The jury noted the understated purity of design which takes into consideration the desert climate, with a façade devoid of unnecessary add-ons.

Dr Nasser B. Abulhasan, principal at AGi, said: “The joy is not just mine, but shared by the team and the client who lives in the project and allowed us to challenge the norm.

“The design phase was about six months and construction took about 18 months to fi nish. That’s what is special – that there are actually three clients in that house.”

S CUBE, AGI ARCHITECTSRESIDENTIAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

SHORTLIST

MOP HOUSE, KUWAIT CITY AGI ARCHITECTS

MUTTAWAR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, OMANKLINGMANN

SEASIDE VILLAS, KSA ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTIONS

HIGHLY COMMENDED

ABADAN APARTMENT, IRANFARSHAD MAHDIZADEH

“An interesting project in Iran which is notable for its bold form.”

AL BAHAR TOWERS, ABU DHABI AEDAS

AL RASHED TOWER, SAUDI ARABIA NORR GROUP

CONFERENCE CENTRE KAFD, SAUDI ARABIASOM



40

HOSPITALITY & LEISURE

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

GAJ’s Chedi Khorfak-kan Resort in Sharjah was described by the judging panel as a “beautifully designed resort which has taken historical precedents into consideration through considerable research”.

One judge remarked: “The architect managed to use all the technology available to develop a highly complex site into a beautiful top-end resort, with an astonishing level of detail.”

Commenting on the design, Ignacio Gomez, associate partner, GAJ, remarked: “I feel great. It’s so fantastic after so much hard work that we got recognised by the market. Our project was based on intensive research. We were trying to ground the project with more historical context and study.

“Our client, Shurooq, was heavily involved. It sup-ported us and believed in the success of the project. We believe that it is going to be a benchmark in terms of design and quality.”

THE CHEDI KHORFAKKAN RESORT, GAJ

SHORTLIST

HIGHLY COMMENDED

MONTE CARLO BEACH CLUBLW DESIGN FOR TDIC

“A nicely scaled and elegant building which undeniably communicates the idea of leisure and relaxation to the resort users.”

AL KHOBAR HOTEL, SAUDI ARABIA NAGA ARCHITECTS

ORIENT HOUSE DUBAI MUNICIPALITY

ST REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT WOODS BAGOT



42

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Sheppard Robson’s Siemens Middle East HQ picked up its second prize of the night, demonstrating that it really caught the eye of the panel.

One judge remarked that “any building achieving LEED Platinum should win is this category”, and this project is set to do so. The scheme was also said to be an innovative

design that addresses, step by step, the project’s need for both effi ciency and sustainability.

Malcom McGowan, managing partner, Sheppard Robson, com-mented: “The amount of eff ort that went into the façade was incredible. We looked at many diff erent varia-tions of how to do it.”

SIEMENS MIDDLE EAST HQ, SHEPPARD ROBSON

SHORTLISTHIGHLY COMMENDED

AL BAHAR TOWERS, ABU DHABI AEDAS

“The active solar screen is as a fascinating solution, and an appropriate response for the screening of fully transparent glazing.”

World renowned company Buro Happold picked up the accolade for Best Engineering Firm.

One judge remarked: “The best architects in the world use this company, and for a good reason - the fi rm is all about good service and engineering innovation.”

Collecting the award, Roger Nick-ells, managing director, Middle East, said: “We are delighted to be recog-

nised by our friends, the industry. We have got a fi rm full of passionate people who love what they do, so this prize is very rewarding.

“We are operating in Saudi Ara-bia, Qatar, Oman; every region has its own challenges but whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are always enjoying ourselves. We’ve got our fi ngerprints all over the market and we’re proud of that.”

BURO HAPPOLDENGINEERING FIRM OF

THE YEAR

SHORTLIST

RAMBOLL WSP

BAZAAR IN MAHALLAT, IRAN LED & NEGINSHAHR

MSHEIREB DOWN-TOWN, DOHA MSHEIREB PROPERTIES

SHEIKH KHALIFA MEDICAL CITY, ABU DHABI SOM



SOM’s project in Abu Dhabi was labelled by the panel as a refi ned, elegant and timeless design.

It was also described as a human-istic model that was bold in concep-tion, yet thoughtful and restrained in its execution.

Tannar Whitney, associate, SOM, remarked: “It’s extremely exciting to have won this award.

“We essentially created a ‘city within a city’. It’s a new take on hos-pital design which gives a welcoming feeling to the community, not giving that threatening feeling which other hospitals do sometimes.

“This would not have been pos-sible without Moustafa Abadan, partner, SOM, who led the design of the project.”

SHEIKH KHALIFA MEDICAL CITY, SOMPUBLIC SECTOR, IN-STITUTIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

SHORTLIST

DUBAI SPORTS COUNCIL HQ DSA

GEMS SCHOOL, DUBAIGAJ

UAE UNIVERSITY, AL AIN COX ARCHITECTURE

HIGHLY COMMENDED

FARSHAD MAHDIZADEH, CIRCLE SNACK BAR

“This project is a real eye catcher and a fabulous example of an architect that was prepared to think outside the box.”

The Boutique Architecture Firm of the Year award went to AGi Ar-chitects, an emerging practice with offi ces in Spain and Kuwait.

The panel noted the fi rm’s unifi ed style which respects the regional architecture in a modern manner.

Earlier on in the evening the com-pany won an award for Residential Project of the Year, with its beautiful S Cube project in Kuwait City.

Nasser B. Abulhasan, principal, said: “It’s always an honour to par-ticipate in such events and to receive recognition for our work.

“Without good clients and a good team nothing like this is possible. We are a local fi rm but have an international presence and a grow-ing reputation as we often provide industry solutions and understand our clients’ needs.”

AGI ARCHITECTSBOUTIQUE ARCHITECTURE

FIRM OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTHIGHLY COMMENDED“An innovative group whose work is both futuristic yet steeped in tradition. It is not shy of proposing expressionistic forms.”

MANGERA YVARS ARCHITECTS

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTIONS

LED ARCHITECTS

ONZ ARCHITECTS



44

Shape Architecture’s Abdulla Al Shamsi was crowned Young Archi-tect of the Year - an award for the most impressive designer under the age of 35.

Judges noted Al Shamsi as some-one who is not afraid to be bold and explore the boundaries of architec-tural design.

Collecting on Al Shamsi’s behalf, Ali Torabi, architect, said: “He

deserved to win because he is a very talented architect - he was one of the top students at Columbia University.

“In 2004 he set up a company in Sharjah, where he is from. This is a big advantage for him - he has a deep knowledge of the culture.

“He is managing a very small fi rm but we have won big projects. One of these is a very major project but it is confi dential at the moment.”

ABDULLA AL SHAMSI, SHAPE

Respected engineer William F. Baker from SOM was described as an “individual with a status in the profession which is hard to match”.

The jury added: “He has worked with some of the greatest archi-tects around today. Baker is a distinguished structural engineer involved in the design of challeng-ing projects, the most notable being Burj Khalifa.”

Collecting on Baker’s behalf, George Efstathiou, consulting partner, SOM, said: “Bill consis-tently shows high regard for design, architecture and engineering.

“This is never more highlighted than in the Burj Khalifa where Bill made the concept of the building and it is now replicated by others. Bill knows how to make someone’s dreams come true into a reality.”

WILLIAM F. BAKER, SOM

YOUNG ARCHITECT OF

THE YEAR

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

ISAAC COKER WSP

KHALED ZAGHLOUL RW ARMSTRONG

SHORTLIST

SHORTLIST

ATEF KHEDHIR LACASA

NASSER ABULHASAN AGI ARCHITECTS

SHAHAB MIRZAEAN MAHABADI LED ARCHITECTS

HIGHLY COMMENDED

HENRY TUNG – DXB LAB

“A young man to look out for in the years ahead.”

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48/58CASE

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This seven-storey commercial office building broke ground in 2009. The initial concept was given to Woods Bagot to create the building’s pri-mary plan. MZ & Partners further cultivated the building’s aesthetic as consultant of record. United Designers of London com-pleted the detailed architectural design for the colour of the glass, the showroom façades and the fit-out in the communal areas.

JAIDAH SQUARE

Designers:

Woods Bagot, MZ

& Partners and

United Designers

Location: Doha,

Qatar

70,000M2 TOTAL

CONSTRUCTIBLE AREA

Bodrum International Airport, de-signed by Turkish architecture firm Tabanlioglu, was completed in June this year, with a construction time-frame of 15 months. The 455,000m2 building consists of two main struc-tures, an ‘air side’ of transparent glass and steel linear scaffold which connects to the planes and a ‘land side’ terminal building. Primary ele-ments are organised to provide easy circulation for passengers.

BODRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Architect:

Tabanlioglu

Location:

Bodrum, Turkey

Picking up two International Prop-erty Awards in 2011, Neo Bankside was designed by Rogers Stirk Har-bour + Partners. The development contains a range of six to 24 storey buildings with 229 residential units. Situated in the Bankside area of London, the scheme forms a linking between Southwark, the Thames and the Tate Modern. Apartments vary from studios to four bedrooms as well as penthouses.

NEO BANKSIDE

Architect:

Rogers Stirk

Harbour +

Partners

Location:

London, UK

24 STOREYS

TALLEST OF THE FIVE BUILDINGS

This seven-storey commercial office building broke ground in 2009. The

60/61THE WORK


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THE PROJECT Conceived as three hospitals under

one roof, the new Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is a 300,000m2, 838-bed medical complex that will combine a general hospital and trauma centre with tertiary women’s and pediatric hospitals. It is a joint venture between ICME, Tilke, and SOM. The new complex is designed for SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, and will be the largest hospital in the country. The new facility will rise on the existing 36 hectare SKMC campus. Construction is scheduled to start in 2013, with completion in the second half of 2016.

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Designers: ICME, Tilke and SOM Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

CASE STUDY

www.designmena.com | 11.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE SITE The primary site challenge was

to identify a building location that would work in the short-term, when most existing campus buildings will remain, and later down the line when many buildings give way to future medical and mixed-use development. With zoning guide-lines and phasing requirements dictating a modest height, the build-ing’s prominence is ensured by a strategy that restrains the height of future perimeter development and provides grand entry boulevards to connect the main city streets to the campus centre.

2016COMPLETION

DATE OF SKMC

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PUBLIC SECTOR, IN-STITUTIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR


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Envisioned as a ‘city within a city’, the design goes against the typical model of a medical centre to create a bustling campus-like environment of distinct character, vibrant public spaces and a sense of community. The client required distinct identities for each of the three hospitals while maintaining an overall unifi ed expression. The facility’s two-storey base will house shared medical functions while the heart of the medical city, embedded in this base, is a vibrant ‘town centre’ of lobbies, cafes, retail, prayer rooms and education spaces.

THE DETAILS Above the stone plinth, inspired by

historic Arabic architecture, the ‘bed’ towers convey the identity of each hospital. Sun screens vary in design from the simple rhythm of the general hospital to playful colours and patterns of the pediatric hospital to the intricate mashrabiya-inspired geometries of the women’s hospital. From the landscaped entry drives to the main garden level and the light-fi lled courtyards that perforate the plinth, the medical city’s gardens will create a calm and healing environment. Within the base, a series of courtyards bring light and nature into these large fl oor plates, assisting in way-fi nding.

838NUMBER OF BEDS IN

THE COMPLEX

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Qatar Convention Center and Tower, Doha

Architect Murphy / Jahn Inc, Chicago / Berlin / ShanghaiBuild Under construction 2012Application of FOAMGLAS® Façade insulation, about 6000 m2, T4+ slabs, 80 mm thick, adhesively bonded and mechanically fixed to the structural wallFinish Lime renders in thick layer

Render system1 Concrete wall2 Lime adhesive3 FOAMGLAS® slabs, bonded

and mechanically fixed

4 Reinforcing mesh5 Lime render layer6 Final layer of render

Ecological and fire safe, a recommended building material.Web: www.foamglas.ae Email: [email protected] Dubai office Tel: +9714 434 7140 Doha office Tel: +974 465 5360

FOAMGLAS® Insulation

Qatar Convention Center and Tower have been designed by Murphy Jahn Inc. with a creative and inspirational power, just like other projects for which they are famous, be it Deutsche Post building in Bonn or the Sony Center in Berlin. Qatar Convention Center and Tower will be an iconic symbol for the Doha skyline – a 550 m high tapering obelisk, containing a total of 112 storeys. It will also comprise a 100,000 square metre convention center. When architects are looking for aesthetic quality, it is the chance to explore new insulation system solutions for façades – systems which will have high impact resistance. No maintenance, no degradation within time and, most important, fire safety – these substantial benefits are only possible due to the specific FOAMGLAS® insulation properties, providing high compressive strength, dimensional stability and non-combustibility.

Composite Facade System,Mineral Render

ASTM E84, E136

THE

BEST

FACA

DE FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

FIRE SAFE

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SIEMENS MIDDLE EAST HEADQUARTERS Architect: Sheppard Robson Location: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Winning both the Sustainable and

Commercial categories at this year's MEA Awards, the Siemens Middle East Headquarters at Masdar City is anticipated to be one of the fi rst buildings in the region to achieve LEED Platinum. The building was designed from the inside out to achieve maximum effi ciency. A combination of traditional design and parametric analysis resulted in an effi cient and compact form that has reduced material and embodied carbon. With completion scheduled for 2013, it will be the fi rst head-quarters building at Masdar City.

20,000M2AREA OF PROJECT

COMMERCIALPROJECT

OF THE YEAR

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR


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THE SITE The building is located adjacent

to the Masdar Institute (MIST) yet the surrounding site remains undeveloped. The design for the headquarters was required to meet Masdar City’s stringent masterplan guidelines. Offi ce fl oors fl oat above a fully shaded public plaza which connects the level change between the existing adjacent podium and the more formal square with its Light Rail Transport station. The plaza has been conceived as a terraced ex-tension of the existing public realm and encourages pedestrian move-ment within the heart of the site.


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THE DETAILS The offi ce fl oorplates, each of 4,500m2, have

been optimised for effi ciency, daylight and fl exibility using parametric modelling. They

are punctuated by nine atria and served by six perimeter cores. Completely column-free fl oorplates

incorporate 15m spans by using a post-tensioned fl at slab

with integrated void-forming technology. This reduces the material used by approximately 60% and improves fl exibility for the offi ce space planning. The arrangement enables each of the fl oors to be subdivided into a combi-nation of various space sizes and allows the building to be remodelled over time to accommodate between one and 32 tenants.

$46M CONSTRUCTION

VALUE

THE CONCEPT The building envelope was conceived as a box within

a box. It consists of an inner highly-insulated, airtight façade designed to reduce thermal conductivity, and a lightweight aluminium external shading system which minimises solar gain while maximising daylighting and views from the building.

The variation in the form of the shading systems was designed to off er legibility to the architectural expres-sion with each façade tailored to suit its solar orientation. Lightweight aluminium with a low thermal mass and high albedo function further reduces solar radiant heat transfer while maximising indirect daylight penetrating the fl oors.


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THE CHEDI KHOR FAKKANArchitect: GAJ Location: Khor Fakkan, Sharjah Emirate

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Designed by Godwin Austen John-

son Architects (GAJ), this boutique hotel resort north of Khor Fak-kan won the 2012 MEA Award for Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year. The design draws inspiration from historical references in similar hillside settings. The slope and nature of the existing mountainside have determined the massing of the hotel form. It has been sited to reduce the cutting of the natural rock as much as possible. Vehicle access will be via a meander-ing road following the contours from Khor Fakkan.

100+NUMBER OF SUITES

IN THE RESORT

HOSPITALITY & LEISURE

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

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THE SITE The development is situated at the

base of the mountains, within a se-cluded sandy bay. With views out to sea and back towards Shark Island, the orientation of the bay and beach allows the complex to be secluded from the external environment. As commonly found in mountainous regions of Arabia, the development will be built around the natural contours of the land and constructed using local materials and vernacular features. The spaces and forms are said to mitigate the climate while providing surveillance of the sur-rounding area.


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GAJ devised two concepts - the ‘fort’ and the ‘hill town’. The fort covers the front-of-house facilities includ-ing reception, spa and gym, pool, restaurants and busi-ness facilities. These will be located on the hilltop, ensur-ing that the hotel is a prominent landmark visible from

Khor Fakkan. Meanwhile, the hill town, located further down the slope towards the beach, will contain over 100 suites and a series of clustered courtyards. Each court-yard will be planted with aromatic plant species and trees while suites will have sea views and building entrances located at the rear.

THE DETAILS The centre of the hill town will contain a town square

with cafés rather than the traditional beach restaurant. In the evening, the plaza will become a secondary focal point to the fort with external spaces aimed at encourag-ing guests to relax and dine in a laid-back and informal environment.Suites will be fi nished in a slightly rough off -white render interspersed with natural stone elements based on natural colours and textures of the environment. The fort section will be constructed mainly from stone to re-inforce its solidity. Timber pergolas and planting provide shade, modelling and depth.

1580YEAR IN WHICH KHOR

FAKKAN WAS FIRST

REFERENCED

800More than

COMPANIES 35From

COUNTRIES

P.O. Box 56010 - Riyadh 11554 - Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaTel: +966 1 2295604 - Fax: +966 1 2295612E-mail: [email protected]

Organized By: Official Magazine:Strategic Partners:

Ú°Sóæ¡ª∏d ájOƒ©°ùdG áÄ«¡dG

SAUDI COUNCIL OF ENGINEERS

11 - 14 NOVEMBER 2012RIYADH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER

OPENING HOURS: 16:00- 21:30 DailyFor Trade and Professionals onlyVisitors under 16 years will not be allowed.

HELD CONCURRENTLY:

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

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THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE


Designed by Spain and Kuwait-based architecture studio AGi Archi-tects, the S Cube Chalet residential space is comprised of three inter-twined seafront houses developed into three levels. Located in Kuwait City, each house is complete with an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea. The plot is divided into two units, mirror images of each another, separated by a staircase that leads to the third house on top.

S CUBE CHALET

Architect: AGi ArchitectsLocation: Kuwait City, Kuwait 750M2

AREA OF PROJECT

Goettsch Partners (GP) has designed a 24-storey commercial develop-ment for Al Hilal Bank in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island. Totalling 87,570m2 overall, the tower includes 49,110m2 of offi ce and retail space with 1,000 parking spaces for tenants and visitors. The speculative offi ce tower is located in the capital’s new central business district, next to GP’s huge Sowwah Square project for Mubadala.

AL HILAL BANK TOWER

Architect: Goettsch Partners Location: Abu Dhabi

This futuristic complex by SOM provides a multipurpose event hall with operable walls, a 600-seat auditorium with full lecture and cinema support, and a ‘digital forum’ approach that allows all venues to be internally and externally networked. The conference rooms are clad in electrochromic glass which permits users to change from clear to opaque glass in order to control light levels and privacy.

KAFD CONFERENCE CENTRE

Architect: SOMLocation: King Abdullah Financial District, Saudi Arabia

28,350M2 SITE AREA

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The Masdar Institute is the fi rst development in Abu Dhabi’s eco-driven Masdar City. It is being developed in phases, with a total planned area of 343,740m2. Construction of the six buildings in Phase 1A commenced in 2007 and was completed in September 2010. Expansion of the existing campus under Phase 1B started in January last year, and is scheduled for completion in Q3 2012, cover-ing 86,138m2.

MASDAR INSTITUTE

Lead consultant:

RW Armstrong

Designer: Foster

+ Partners

Location: Masdar

City, Abu Dhabi

86,138M2 AREA OF PHASE 1B

This seven-storey commercial offi ce building broke ground in 2009. The initial concept was given to Woods Bagot to create the building’s pri-mary plan. MZ & Partners further cultivated the building’s aesthetic as consultant of record. United Designers of London com-pleted the detailed architectural design for the colour of the glass, the showroom façades and the fi t-out in the communal areas.

JAIDAH SQUARE

Designers:

Woods Bagot, MZ

& Partners and

United Designers

Location: Doha,

Qatar

70,000M2 TOTAL

CONSTRUCTIBLE AREA

Bodrum International Airport, de-signed by Turkish architecture fi rm Tabanlioglu, was completed in June this year, with a construction time-frame of 15 months. The 455,000m2 building consists of two main struc-tures, an ‘air side’ of transparent glass and steel linear scaff old which connects to the planes and a ‘land side’ terminal building. Primary ele-ments are organised to provide easy circulation for passengers.

BODRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Architect:

Tabanlioglu

Location:

Bodrum, Turkey

Picking up two International Prop-erty Awards in 2011, Neo Bankside was designed by Rogers Stirk Har-bour + Partners. The development contains a range of six to 24 storey buildings with 229 residential units. Situated in the Bankside area of London, the scheme forms a linking between Southwark, the Thames and the Tate Modern. Apartments vary from studios to four bedrooms as well as penthouses.

NEO BANKSIDE

Architect:

Rogers Stirk

Harbour +

Partners

Location:

London, UK

24 STOREYS

TALLEST OF THE FIVE BUILDINGS


MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11. 12 | www.designmena.com62

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BOOKLE CORBUSIER REDRAWN - THE HOUSESSteven Park

Using the original drawings from the Le Corbusier Foundation’s digital archives, architect Steven Park has carefully redrawn 130 perspective sections, as well as plans, sections, and elevations of exterior forms and interior spaces. Le Corbusier Redrawn presents the only collection of consistently rendered original drawings (at 1:200 scale) of all 26 of Le Corbusier’s residential works.

LIGHTING PH 50Poul Henningsen

Louis Poulsen has commemorated the 50th anniversary of Poul Henningsen’s seminal PH 5 by introducing PH 50, a special version of the famous fi xture. While the classic PH 5 version comes with a matte surface, the new PH 50 models have high-lustre surfaces, which give, together with fi ve new colours, a novel look. It is available in Chili Red, Mint Blue, Wasabi Green, Coconut White and Olive Black.

BLESt

Ca13seinthoC


BATHROOM STARCK 2 RANGE Duravit

At fi rst glance, Philippe Starck’s redesigned washing bowl in the Starck 2 range appears circular. However, on closer inspection it is revealed to be slightly oval. This small nuance is said to gives the form an organic, fl owing character. Starck’s design purposefully diverges from symmetry to create a natural, authentic feel.

APPWORLD ARCHITECTURE 100 2012Woobius

This app for iPad is a guide to the biggest architect practices in the world, from Aedas to Zaha Hadid, as surveyed by the UK’s Building Design. Practices are ranked by the number of fee paying architects they employ. The app also includes the world’s best buildings in 2012, including projects by star firms such as OMA, Grimshaw and Herzog & de Meuron, as well as practices on the verge of becoming the next big names in the business.

RCHITECTURE 100 2012

FURNISHINGSCAMICIA CABINETMoschino and altreforme

Italian fashion brand Moschino has joined forces with altreforme to create a collection of scenographic furniture inspired by a harlequin’s costume, made in Italy entirely with alumunium. The collection includes the lively camicia and pantalone cabinets (pictured) as well as tables, chairs, mirrors and boxes with archive Moschino prints.

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LAST WORD | BART LECLERCQ

64

Bart Leclercq, head of structures for WSP Middle East, on engineering marvels and future projects

THE LAST WORD

STAND AND DELIVER

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My personal favourite, out of all the projects we’re working on, is the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi.

It is by far the most exciting and challenging project we’ve ever been involved with.

It’s currently under construction and will be an unprecedented icon. The look of the white fare-faced concrete will be as if the base of the building is

carved from a single piece of white marble.

In addition, we are currently working on a number of confi dential projects both in the UAE and Qatar for high profi le clients.

These will certainly raise our profi le in other industry sectors once these projects have reached completion.

Our project pipeline remains strong and we are actively recruiting in all engineering disciplines.

It is a very exciting time as we can see the market changing. Qatar is strong and can only grow and we are facing up to our commissions well.

It feels like the activity in Qatar is driving a desire to get things moving again in the UAE and in particular Dubai.

Facing growing and emerging markets needs to be done in a sustainable manner. Our approach to growth is ‘considered’ as we carefully match opportunities against

our current resource commitments. It is a careful balance to strike and I feel that we are doing this well.

ADVERTORIAL | Technal

30 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 10.12 | www.designmena.com30 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 10.12 | www.designmena.com

We at KONE would like to congratulate the team behind the Doha Tower for winning Best Overall Project of the Year at the 2012 Middle EastArchitect Awards.

Designed by acclaimed French architect Jean Nouvel, the 48-Storey DohaTower is equipped with four KONE elevators that serve levels 27 to 41,which travel at 8m per second. A further eight glass panoramic elevators, also by KONE, serve levels 1-27, travelling at 6m per second. Traffic handlingcapacity is optimized by a full destination control system (DCS).

Additional private elevators for VIPs are also located within the plan. A trip in a panoramic elevator, with the tower’s skeletal structure whizzing past, is nothing less than an architectural adrenaline rush.

KONE Middle East LLCP.O. Box 21474, Dubai, UAETel. +971 4 [email protected]

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Middle East Architect | November 2012

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