Middle East Architect | September 2012

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

SEPTEMBER 2012 / VOLUME 06 / ISSUE 09An ITP Business Publication

p2// FRONTArchitectural roundtable sparks debate on Qatar

CASE STUDYSTRIKING COMMERCIAL

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+CASE STUDY

TABANLIOGLU’S NEW AIRPORT IN TURKEY

p16// ANALYSISShould Middle East designers embrace media facades?

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SEPTEMBER 2012 / VOLUME 06 / / ISSUE 09/An ITP Business Publication

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HOUSING PROJECT

HOME PRIDE Goettsch Partners opens UAE base in the scheme it designed for Mubadala

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SEPTEMBER | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture including a

roundtable discussion on Qatar6

8THE BIG PICTURE

Capturing the fi shlike facades of Emirates Park

Hotel & Towers

16ANALYSISShould Middle East designers embrace media facade technology?

24

28INTERVIEWSteven Nilles, partner in charge of Goettsch Partners’ new Abu Dhabi offi ce

36SITE VISIT

68CULTUREA snapshot of funky fur-niture, lighting and other accessories in the market

48CASE STUDIESDoha’s Jaidah Square, Midfi eld Terminal in Abu Dhabi and Rogers’ Neo Bankside

62

Dewan prepares to deliver Al Bateen Park, Aldar’s huge

Emirati housing project

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering all the best projects in the world

PROJECTSA round up of the latest project news from MENA and the rest of the world

SEPT 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 09

72LAST WORD

Nigel Eckersall, general manager of Tangram Qatar,

on the road ahead

COMMENT Buro Happold’s Andrew

Kelly on why designers should think about security

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | SEPTEMBER

2

QATAR’S NEED FOR TALL BUILDINGS DEBATEDMsheireb identifi ed as key project ahead of skyscraper development

Qatar’s development challenges, in-cluding the need for tall towers, were debated at an architecture roundtable held by Construction Week Qatar.

Nigel Eckersall, general manager from Tangram Qatar, commented: “Today it is seen that all leading cities must have a tall tower to be able to compete as an economic hub.

“However, wouldn’t it be brave for Doha to buck the trend and aim for a vernacular and sustainable environ-ment built around people’s needs?”

The US$5.5bn mixed-use Msheireb scheme, under construc-tion, was identifi ed by the experts as a key future project.

Gurminder Singh Sagoo, head of business development & marketing for WSP ME, said: “Msheireb is a clear example of a how to wow with-out going tall. It will be interesting to see how Qatar evolves and if they want the world’s tallest tower.”

Eckersall replied: “I don’t think they want [the tallest buildings],

A panel of

architects and

engineers were

brought together

by CW Qatar.

they will want to ensure sustainable

development which integrates infrastructure and

public realms.” Karim Benkirane, regional manag-

ing principal for Woods Bagot said: “People need to be proud of the city they live in. Musheireb will be a tour-ist attraction, but West Bay won’t.”

He continued: “There are very few nations in the world who can attest to trying to accomplish something as radical as Qatar.”

2005Formation of

Goettsch Partners (page 28)

$5.5bnVALUE OF MSHEIREB

TOP STORY

SEPTEMBER | FRONT


• Qatar 2022 architect to head Woods

Bagot Sport

• Best of the Burjs

• Zaha Hadid designs Arum for Venice

Biennale

• Areen completes design work for Jeddah

airport

• Pictures: First look at Jeddah airport

design

Tameer’s 381m-high Elite Resi-dence, the third tallest residential towers in the world, has been deliv-ered in Dubai Marina.

The 91-storey structure is amongst the world’s top 20 tallest buildings and is located in the same cluster as the Princess Tower, also by Tameer.

Both towers were designed by UAE-based fi rm Eng Adnan Saff ari-ni (EAS). Elite Residence is notable for its striking gold and white façade, latticed roof structure and mast.

With a total of 696 apartments for 1,500 residences, the project provides a mixture of one and two

Tameer delivers super-tall tower in Dubai Marina

Project delays aff ect Atkins’ regional growth plansAn interim management statement by Atkins for Q1 2012/13 revealed that project delays have aff ected the fi rm’s plans to grow in the region.

However, the report predicted a headcount growth later this year.

The statement read: “The Middle East has seen delays in projects coming to market, constraining our anticipated headcount growth, and reaching client agreement on various contract variations.

“In addition, we continue to experi-ence more onerous contract payment terms on some of our current govern-ment and infrastructure work.” The statement also conceded that

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

UK architect Dave Edwards conceived an energy-harvesting tower in London covered in algae. The conceptual mixed-use tower would produce its own energy and clean water. An outer ‘green wall’ of algae would absorb CO2 emissions and harvest bio-methane for heat and power.

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

Burj Al Arab, Atkins’ Middle East icon.

The 381m-high Elite Residences.

69,000Tonnes of steel in Midfi eld Terminal

(page 54)

100,000m2Area of Aldar’s Al

Bateen Park (page 36)

bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom penthouses.

According to Tameer president Federico Tauber, the handing-over of units has commenced.

the global performance was below expectations.

“While the Group’s geographic and sector diversifi cation continues to provide resilience, the outlook for the Group’s overall performance for the full year is slightly below previous expectations,” it added.

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66GLOBAL TALL TOWERS(DATA FROM CTBUH)

2668


FRONT | SEPTEMBER

4

Dan Meis, a former senior principal with Populous and designer behind one of the stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, will lead a new global sports division of Woods Bagot.

As global director of Woods Bagot Sport, Meis will expand his Los Angeles-based team to include design and technical experts in New York, London and Sydney.

The new group will continue Meis’s current projects including the new NFL Stadium at Grand Crossing in Los Angeles and a 50,000-seat, multi-use venue for the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Meis is also leading conceptual design eff orts for a new stadium for soccer club AS Roma in Rome, Italy, and Sports City Stadium in Doha, Qatar, for the 2022 World Cup in association with Aedas.

In 2006, he was elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, recognising his contribution to advancing the practice of sports architecture.

Star architect Frank Gehry has been com-missioned to design an extension to the Facebook headquarters on the edge of San Francisco Bay, California.

Located across the highway from current headquarters ‘Facebook East’, the huge 10-acre building breaks away from Gehry’s signature curvaceous creations.

The design encourages a community-like atmosphere with a fl exible open fl oor plan, a large roof garden and a lounge area fi lled with arcade machines.

The social media giant will maintain its current campus and use an underground tunnel to connect the two areas.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2013.

“When it’s completed, we hope it will provide a paradise workspace for the 3,400 engineers who will one day fi ll it,” a com-pany statement said.

PEOPLE

Stadium ace heads Woods Bagot Sport

Gehry designs new Facebook HQ

BIM was almost unheard of in the last decade; now it is here to stay, with more designers and contractors adopting it to identify building coordination issues.” DR SHERIF HASHEM, PM at KBR Project Management Consultants

Precast buildings have been built for very many

years in a lot of Gulf states...Precast buildings 30

years on still as good as new.”

BOB SCOTT, head of structural

engineering at Atkins

Former Populous principal Dan Meis.

There is an estimation of about 500 buildings across the UAE that still have these low fi re-resistant panels on the facades,

and so that is a looming problem out there.” THOMAS BOHLEN, chief technical offi cer, MECSD

60 SECOND INTERVIEWCLIVE NAYLOR, AREEN AVIATION

Areen was awarded interior design work on the new termi-nal at King Abdulalziz Interna-tional Airport, Jeddah. How is the project progressing? Much of the design work has already been agreed, with fi nal details progressing as the con-struction continues. Enabling works started on site in February 2011 - basic in-frastructure and struc-tural work is already well advanced with interior works due to commence in the main terminal later this year.

How do you feel about the overall design?Good design is all about passion and an obsession with detail. Every day we are refi n-ing the detailed imagery of the project using a very high degree of 3D computer modelling. This technology allows us to see the places we are creating from many viewpoints and ensure we control the user experience right through their journey. As a result we remain quietly confi dent that this airport experience will be unique, sometimes spectacular, sometimes quietly traditional and will really speak of Jeddah and its region to all its visitors.

Social media giant turns to veteran designer.

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FRONT | SEPTEMBER

6

3AL AINStadium up for World Architecture Festival prizeUAE-based MZ Architects is short-listed for its Al Ain Rock Stadium project under the Future Projects cat-egory at this year’s World Architec-ture Festival. The stadium is carved into the site’s volcanic rock with the pitch sunken into the sand. Future projects is one of three categories including completed buildings and landscape architecture. The World Architecture Festival runs from 3-5 October in Singapore.

2IRANWinner announced for Tehran Stock ExchangeAlejandro Aravena won a competition to design Tehran Stock Exchange in the capital of Iran. The international competition was chaired by Nader Tehrani, MIT Head of Architecture and principal at NADAAA, and the decision of the jury acts as a recom-mendation to the client. Aravena’s minimalist project includes areas for a stock exchange hall, an audito-rium, bank representatives, training classes, a museum and a tea house.

1ABU DHABIUniversity praised in infrastructure reportA report by advisory fi rm KPMG named Abu Dhabi’s Paris Sorbonne University as one of 100 worldwide examples of innovative infra-structure projects. The university, completed by Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure in August 2010, made the second edition of KPMG’s Infrastructure 100 report. Cover-ing 93,000m2, the project provides educational, recreational and resi-dential facilities for 2,000 students.

2

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FRONT | SEPTEMBER

8

3JEDDAHFirst look at Jeddah airport interiors by AreenAreen has revealed images of its interior design for the new terminal at King Abdulalziz International Airport, Jeddah (KAIA). Contrac-tor SBG won the $7bn contract on design and build terms and awarded Areen the interior design and supply management contract. Much of the design work has already been agreed, with fi nal details progressing as the construction continues. Enabling works started in February 2011.

1DUBAIInfi nity Tower reaches 90% completion Infi nity Tower, the eye-catching skyscraper in Dubai Marina which twists 90 degrees, is 90% complete, according to Montasser El Raie, senior resident engineer with Khatib and Alami, the project’s consultants. The Cayan Properties’ project, designed by architect SOM, had been set a deadline of 31 October several months ago and is still on course to reach that target, according to a report in MEP Middle East.

2AFGHANISTANNational museum of Afghanistan revealed A new design proposal for the Na-tional Museum of Afghanistan has been created by architecture fi rm theeAe LTD to bring back the lost heritage of the country. With a built area covering 18,000m2, the concept of the scheme was infl uenced by the Afghanistan fl ower arch. Surrounded by nature, the proposal aims to highlight the natural environment of Afghanistan, including its open valley of mountains and bright sunlight.

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3UKHeatherwick up for Royal Opera House redesignThe Royal Opera House of London has invited architects to compete in redesigning the entrances and public spaces of its Covent Garden building. Heatherwick Studio, which designed the UK Pavilion for Expo 2010, is involved in the competition. Other fi rms include Amanda Levite Architects, Stanton Williams, Jamie Fobert Architects, Caruso St John Architects and Witherford Watson Mann Architects.

1CHINABDP picks up trio of projects in ChinaBDP has announced three project wins in China including a university in Suzhou. Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University is a partnership between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University. BDP was appointed to masterplan a large-scale campus to provide teaching, laboratory and research facilities, and design the humanity building, science building and training centre, and international exchange centre.

2SOUTH AFRICARTKL mall uses distinctive aluminium facadeA mall extension project in South Africa, designed by RTKL, has been built with an unusual prepainted aluminium facade. The extension of Sandton City Shopping Mall in Johannesburg uses coil-coated aluminium sheet ff 2 by Novelis, in 2mm thickness, with a PVDF coating. To blend in with the surroundings, four copper colourings were selected. The coating on the back features an abrasion-resistant lacquer system.

2

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6UKHadid denies blame for restricted Olympic viewsMeanwhile, Hadid has denied blame for restricted views of the diving events in the London 2012 Aquatics Centre. Around 600 tickets were sold to spectators aparently unaware of the restrictions. A statement from the architect said: “The brief for the building from LOCOG was to provide 5,000 spectator seats with uninter-rupted views....The centre actually provides over 8,000 seats with unin-terrupted views.”

4SINGAPOREUNStudio reveals V-shaped tower in Singapore Dutch fi rm UNStudio has revealed its striking design ‘V on Shenton’ in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. The two-towered project features a 23-storey offi ce building, which remains in line with its neigh-bours, and a 53-storey residential block which stands out from the surrounding buildings. A third sky lobby in the residential section marks a change to the internal layout with a split core.

5CHINAGuangzhou Opera House by Hadid picks up prizeThe spectacular Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid was honoured by Architectural Record as the standout public project in China. The 70,000m2 scheme was awarded ‘Best Public Project’ in the magazine’s Good Design Is Good Business China Awards 2012. Completed in 2010, the building was designed to host Chinese and Western operas, as well as being an open and accessible civic centre complex.

54

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THE BIG PICTURE FISHY FACADES Taken by Lester Ali, this image captures the fi sh gill facades of Emirates Park Hotel & Towers, which has taken shape in Dubai’s Business Bay.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com16

ANALYSIS | FACADE TECHNOLOGY


FACADE TECHNOLOGY | ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

Is media facade technology catching on in the Middle East? Aidan Imanova investigates

E ver since the popularisation of bill-boards in the early 20th century, the advertisement has become an intrin-sic part of any city, from Muscat to

Moscow. With the development of media façades, a new wave of communication has emerged that is integrated with architecture. Yet are clients and designers in the Middle East region embracing this new technique of advertising?

“The media façade has generated huge interest in the region and has already proven to be very suc-cessful for the building owner,” says Gareth Reid, Middle East sales manager at Citiled, a company specialising in LED technology and video systems.

The fi rm has worked on the King’s Road Tower media façade in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which has been operational for the past three years. Reid continues: “The success of a media façade systemis



is determined by the level of integra-tion you can achieve, both in terms of design and day-to-day building operations. Finding this balance is the challenge of any media façade.”

Thomas Schielke, an architect and researcher of architectural lighting, remarks that media façades need to be adapted to the local environment.

“The Islamic environment has a long tradition of non-fi gurative art. This could be an infl uencing factor for projects in a conservative environ-ment,” he says.

Ben van Berkel, co-founder and principal architect of Amsterdam-based UNStudio, agrees: “Media facades need to have an integral local quality, so they need to be connected to local needs, local interests, and local policies. It is not so important where and how much we can use me-dia façades in the future. The impor-tant issue is that it is integrated, that it is locally accepted within existing regulations so that it is not obstruct-ing or causing any diffi culties.”

Crucially, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Hotel reserves its space as a billboard for branding, according to Schielke.

“The building obtains vast media attention during the Formula 1 race which is crucial for a successful worldwide communication strategy. The amorphous roof structure with the dynamic luminous grid has al-most become as relevant for the brand image of the hotel as the daytime ap-pearance,” he says.Schielke observes that media facades have become beacons for advertising and branding with an agenda that goes beyond its

American Eagle

Flagship store,

Times Square,

NYC; Thomas

Schielke

decorative function. “In the last decade,

many media façades emerged worldwide . What is the driving factor for this new trend? Is it mainly technical advances with LED lighting and control technology or does a major cultural infl uence exist? You can easily observe that

many fl agship stores in metropolitan areas have

started to use media facades to form their corporate visual ap-

pearance. Branding is a driving factor to install media facades today.”

Van Berkel is also familiar with the trend of using media facades as a billboard. “Often the client will want a series of brands placed on the façade. They argue that it would be nice to have Louis Vuitton and all the high-end brand names displayed on it,” he says. “But I argue that it is much more preferable to approach the facade as a combination of diff er-ent messages that you would like to communicate.”

“That is the function of the media façade in my opinion; that you facili-tate communication with a structure that is not so one dimensionally brand oriented, but instead creates a condi-tion where the building becomes more like a museum and a commer-cial centre at the same time.”

UNStudio’s Galleria Centercity, a mall in Cheonan, South Korea, dis-plays one of the largest media facades of its kind. It is made up of two layers of customised aluminum extrusion profi les on top of a back layer of alu-

1,400M2SIZE OF MEDIA

FACADE

We fi nd quite a lot of sites where media façades reveal the impression of a decorated shed where a small screen

has been added to a big façade, which is not closely linked to the architectural design.”

Thomas Schielke, architect and researcher of architectural lighting



Berkel also objects towards this form of TV façade. “They are only eff ec-tive if they go beyond the TV screen, because if they are just large scale, high density screens then they don’t do their job well enough; they are simply a surface that is unrelated to the architecture or the organisation of the building that supports them. I think you need to think of new forms of representational tools, to represent how architecture, communication and media can interact,” he says.

There are other issues regarding LED technology that leave question marks over media façades. Schielke explains that media façade technol-ogy is very young compared to tradi-tional façades such as steel and glass. Reid adds: “Top quality LED lamps can now be operational for up to 60,000 to 100,000 hours before the lamps reach down to 50% brightness. Choosing the right LED lamp for either application is critical.”

But even with top quality lamps, Schielke thinks that LED technology is still a challenge. “For a natural noc-turnal image, many media façades are too bright and contain high colour contrasts and fast changes in their lu-minous patterns. This is a challenge for companies that would like to send out an ecological and natural image. They need to come up with wise adjustments regarding the content

and technology.” “One approach, for example, is to include photovoltaic

elements, like the Green-PIX media façade in

Beijing, to avoid the argument of non-regenerative energy con-sumption. The brightness and lighting distribu-tion of media facades can also contribute

minum cladding. The vertical profi les of the top layer are straight, but those of the back layer are angled. This results in the wave-like appearance, which changes with the viewpoint of the spectator.

For Schielke, the main role of media facades is to echo or corre-late with the overall function of the architecture. “We fi nd quite a lot of sites where media facades reveal the impression of a decorated shed where a small screen has been added to a big façade, which is not closely linked to the architectural design. The propor-tion, form and content don’t cultivate a tight relationship with the building. A lack of authenticity occurs between the media façade and the building with regards to content and form,” he says.

Reid remarks that Citiled tries to keep a close tie between the facade and architecture. He says: “Ideally we get involved during the design stage to ensure sensitivity to the building design and to adapt around the building use and its tenants.”

If media facades work well in the entertainment and advertising

sector, should the next step involve the use of media facades as commu-nication tools? Schielke says: “The change should not be reduced to the level of media replacing billboards with me1dia facades and keeping the advertisement. Excess advertise-ments annoy people. Take a look at Singapore; Orchard Road is a fascinating example where media facades have outplayed billboards due to their artistic dimension. A high-class aesthetic appearance is more favourable than a banal commercial broadcasting instrument for luxury shopping malls.”

He continues: “The American Eagle Flagship store in New York’s Times Square symbolises an extreme example where the media façade covers the whole building with a high-resolution screen and fashion videos by the brand are displayed on a large scale. The impression is more like watching TV on an urban scale. An

architectural façade does not exist anymore.

The LED screen dissolves the ar-

chitecture.”Van

63% BUILDING COVERAGE

UNStudio’s

Galleria

Centercity

department

store, Cheonan,

South Korea.

Photo: Kim

Yong-Kwan.


COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

22

Although perhaps not as spectacular as some of Tabanlioglu’s other projects, namely its Tripoli Congress Centre in Libya, Bodrum airport certainly has the fi rm’s

familiar touch of panache.

EDITOR’S LETTER

FLYING HIGHHow important is the design of an airport?

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

Bodrum International Airport.

S omething noticeable about this month’s issue is that we’ve covered a lot of airports. I have to

admit that this was unintentional. We always try to feature the most interesting projects in the region, and it just so happened that three major airports in the Middle East emerged recently.

One of these, Bodrum Interna-tional Airport, by Turkish fi rm Ta-banlioglu, has been completed. The architect’s specifi c aim was to create a holiday-like atmosphere, with high ceilings, optimum daylighting, mini-mal columns and quality materials.

Although perhaps not as spectacu-lar as some of Tabanlioglu’s other projects, namely its Tripoli Congress Centre in Libya, Bodrum airport certainly has the fi rm’s familiar touch of panache.

The design of Jeddah’s new airport was also revealed last month. With interiors by Areen, the design has a decidedly Arabic fl avour to it.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is moving forward with its huge Midfi eld Ter-minal by KPF, also featured as a case study this month.

An airport that is certainly spec-tacular, and one that I have person-

ally experienced, is Madrid-Barajas Terminal Four. Designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers, it’s the only airport I’ve visited and felt compelled to take photographs of the architecture.

Just like Bodrum airport, the ar-chitect’s aim was to make passengers feel at ease. When I landed in 2008 in Madrid, I felt exactly that. I was in no hurry to leave the airport, merely content to admire the undulating wooden ceiling and the colourful tree-like pillars.

My least favourite airport would have to be the one I’m most familiar

with: London Heathrow. The more recent terminal buildings, such as Rogers’ Terminal Five, are slick if not jawdropping. Yet the size and sprawling nature of the airport is daunting and soul-destroying.

Furthermore, the overall pas-senger experience is marred by the support facilities - confusing traffi c systems, badly designed car parks and an overriding grim environment. Even if the best terminal in the world was built in Heathrow, you’d prob-ably feel depressed as soon as you stepped outside.

It would be too much to say that the design of an airport can make or break a trip, but it can certainly aff ect a passenger’s short term mood and fi rst impressions of a destina-tion. This partly explains why the likes of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Jeddah are pouring vast sums of money into grand airport projects.


The fast and gigantic devel-opment of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the fi rst decade of the new millennium made

a positive impact not only on those directly involved, but on the entire world. An army of people were facing challenging projects and had access to innovative construction technologies, pioneering methods for creating man-made islands and equipment used for extraordinary building services.

At the slowdown of the construc-tion and development of the Middle East countries and the entire world, we are looking once again at the les-sons learned and ask the question: “Is the UAE utilising and even exporting the experience it gained during the construction boom?”

In this context the meaning of the word ‘experience’ does not refer to the Burj Khalifa as the fi rst tallest

Is the UAE benefi ting from its latest pioneering investments? I believe it certainly is, and the results will be visible in the

years to come.”

OPINION

structure in history to include resi-dential space. Neither does it refer to Capital Gate, a building in Abu Dhabi built to lean 18 degrees westwards - more than four times that the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The pursuant analysis uses the above mentioned and many other projects to highlight the new tech-nologies created to achieve the vision of the local leaders; technologies that the world would appreciate and use as a stepping stone to move forward.

Burj Khalifa is certainly a success to start with. The world’s highest elevators are installed, situated inside a rod at the very top of the building. These elevators are the world’s fast-est, created to travel 64 km/h or 18 m/sec. The highest vertical concrete pumping was invented and used for the making of Burj Khalifa, ejecting concrete up to 600m.

In addition, the engineers invented the buttressed core structural system; a core reinforced by three buttresses forming the ‘Y’ shape.

Other pioneers in reclaiming land from the sea and creating eco-friendly environments were Dutch construc-tion fi rms who were carrying out engi-neering work on the Palm Jumeirah. Their technology of churning out the bottom of the sea some 90 million cubic metres of sand is just a stepping stone to more advanced technologies in the future.

The use of the pre-cambered core was not known to the world until this innovative construction technique was implemented in the Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi. 15,000 cubic metres of concrete, reinforced with 10,000 tonnes of steel were installed in the building core.

What happened in the Emirates doesn’t just stay in the Emirates. The new standards set in construction and the new inventions in the technol-ogy, the new materials created, the lifestyle, the new developments introduced and the embellishment of the desert by the sophisticated landscaping and the recycled waters for irrigation are just the beginning of the new era in design and engineering.

Is the UAE benefi ting from its lat-est investments? I believe it certainly is, and the results will be visible in the years to come.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular will remain the cradle of the inven-tions and the gate to sophisticated development in the construction industry in the new millennium.

The UAE’s construction boom led to the development of pioneering technologies

BOUNDARY PUSHER

Georgina

Chakar is an

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architect and a

Master of Urban

Planning. She

works in Abu

Dhabi

Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is known for its pre-cambered core.

COMMENT | GEORGINA CHAKAR

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Society is evolving at a great rate across the globe. The advance of social media, re-cent changes to established

political regimes around the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the role of the masses in aff ecting step change, has been more evident in recent years.

These advances and adjustments are causing rapid societal behaviour shifts which mean that many environ-ments where we live, work and visit are now facing a diff erent and more diverse set of threats to our wellbeing.

Most of the recent regional unrest started in city environments and this, along with the increasing perception of external infl uences on society, has made the development of safe and secure urban ecosystems much

It is apparent that gradually the focus of security is shifting from a narrow and isolated building or plot level approach into one that takes in to account the wider space that sur-

rounds the built environment.”

OPINION

more challenging, sophisticated and important.

It is apparent that gradually the focus of security is shifting from a narrow and isolated building or plot level approach into one that takes into account the wider space that surrounds the built environment. Emphasis is now given at district, city or even regional levels which can sig-nifi cantly enhance safety and security at an individual building level and lead to the realisation of huge cost and operational effi ciencies.

High profi le national emergen-cies have also necessitated a fresh approach to safety and security. The need for security and emergency planning for catastrophes remains a primary interest. Natural disasters

such as tsunami, fl ooding, confl agra-tion, stampede and pandemics are all very real, and only eff ective plan-ning, training and management can minimise their impacts on the often fragile communities they devastate. It’s very easy for governments and authorities to become complacent especially when such threats happen so infrequently.

Cities such as Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat and Riyadh are expe-riencing or planning rapid population growth over the next few decades, as their economies diversify away from petrochemicals to other activities such as tourism, manufacturing, research and development and fi nance.

But this growth comes with its own security problems. This will require developments and buildings to consider crime prevention measures from the outset in order to reduce the impact on national reputation, the economy, and police resources.

The development of safety and security solutions is largely based on human behaviour and interaction with the environment. This means that as designers we can make the great-est impacts when we work together with architects, urban planners and their teams in envisioning how their virtual environments should react and respond to these threats.

An integrated approach to safety and security at the earliest stages of a project can reap huge aesthetic and fi nancial benefi ts, reducing the impact and constraints on the built environ-ment to give much more fl exibility to designers and planners.

Should designers be thinking more about security?

SAFE AND SOUND

Andrew Kelly is

an associate with

Buro Happold

Safe and Secure

and is based in

the Abu Dhabi

offi ce

Rapid growth in Middle East cities is creating security issues.

COMMENT | ANDREW KELLY

INTERVIEW | STEVEN NILLES

28 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 09.12 | www.designmena.com

“You have got to live here to experience it, to sweat it, and really understand the value of shade and the scarcity of water.”

Steven Nilles

W hen an architect rents space in a building they created, it’s a

pretty good indication that they’re proud of their work. Given that Goettsch Partners has leased an offi ce in Tower One of Sowwah Square, it’s safe to assume that the Chicago-headquartered fi rm is more than happy with its mega-scheme for Mubadala.

Sitting in the fully-glazed corner of the seveth fl oor offi ce, partner in charge Steven Nilles is clearly thrilled about the new location.

“Not many architects can say they work in their own building. We knew there was an intangible benefi t to being here,” he beams.

“People really enjoy coming here and we like people visiting. So much goes into delivering a project like this; it was a labour of love.”

Niles elaborates on his back-ground and how he became an ar-

chitect. “I grew up in Barbara North Dakota and ever since childhood I was fascinated with art and design and construction.

“At high school I had the oppor-tunity to visit an architecture offi ce. As soon as I walked in I saw that you get to draw and design. So I went to the University of Notre Dame, Indi-ana, for my architectural degree.

He continues: “After that it was just non-stop. I moved to Chicago and got picked up by Helmut Jahn. I did commercial work in every major city in the US. When things slowed there we were active in Europe.”

After 16 years with Helmut Jahn, with a focus on international work, Nilles yearned for work closer to home. The formation of Goettsch Partners came out of this desire, as Nilles explains.

“We had an opportunity to join forces with Jim Goettsch who had been the number two guy at Helmut Jahn for many years. Goettsch

partners was set up. We now have 85 people in Chicago; a lot of those guys have been there for 25 to 30 years.”

Around four years ago, Nilles moved to Abu Dhabi to deliver the Sowwah Square project, following in the footsteps of associate Mat-thew Berglund. Nilles continues: “Matthew was the fi rst guy to come over full time. Then we were asked to do the construction documents and the construction administra-tion.We had a longer term plan, so we decided to commit. We were one of the fi rst tenants to sign a lease.”

For architects with projects in the region, it is integral to have an offi ce on the ground, according to Nilles. “You have got to live here to experience it, to sweat it, and really understand the value of shade and the scarcity of water. When you look at ecological design, it has a diff erent meaning here.

“Matthew and I started this job from day one and we are still here.

THE INTERVIEW

FINE FELLOWSteven Nilles, partner in charge of Goettsch Partners’ new Abu Dhabi office, tells Oliver Ephgrave about the company’s regional expansion

and his recent elevation to the AIA College of Fellows

STEVEN NILLES | INTERVIEW

29www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

INTERVIEW | AUKETT FITZROY ROBINSON


We want to make sure that no stone is left unturned. If you are not here, there is a chance that something in the drawings gets lost in translation.”

Currently the offi ce contains four full-time employees. Nilles adds: “There’s space for 12. We have a fi ve-year lease commitment and we’re go-ing to expand as the market dictates.

“Things have slowed down here in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere but we still see opportunity; our fi rm is somewhat unique as we do big jobs but we’re managed like a small business. We give very personal attention to every one of our projects. There is a limit to how we will expand globally.

“We’ve now got offi ces in Chicago, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai; in reality we will never exceed, nor will we want to, beyond 120 people.”

This personal attention is refl ected in the Sowwah Square scheme, according to Nilles. He adds: “You know how hot it is out there today. If you were to sit in a typical Abu Dhabi offi ce in an all-glass corner you are going to bake. We have discharge air going through this cavity before it goes out of the building. The glass is as cool as a cucumber.

“A lot of thought went into these column-free corners. Every other offi ce you see out there has a column near the corner - what do you do with the space behind it?”

He adds that there is a lack of quality offi ce space in Abu Dhabi. “In terms of our assessment of the market here, there is very little of what we consider Class A Plus, international standard offi ce space. This is in terms of fl oor plate size, column-free lease spaces, Category A fi nishes, and environmental improvements.

“We took everything that we know, from projects all over the world, and applied it in this marketplace. There are things here that we couldn’t aff ord in a speculative development - even the highest level of quality in the US. It’s been a great opportunity for us to take advantage of this marketplace.”

Nilles believes that companies should take a closer look at the design of their offi ces. “It aff ects absenteeism and productivity. You just

keep going in a good offi ce with good daylighting.”

Another facet of Sowwah Square is its green credentials. Nilles adds that the scheme is certifi ed LEED Gold. There is no Estidama rating as the project began before the establish-ment of the system. “If this project was started again with the Estidama programme, there may be things that we do diff erently,” he remarks.

“The Estidama programme is more fi ne tuned to the Middle East market - they did a good job on that. The water use has been given more emphasis and rightly so.”

When it comes to Goettsch Part-ners’ projects in the wider region, Nilles reveals that the company is working on a commercial develop-ment for Al Halal Bank, on the same island as Sowwah Square, due to be delivered in September 2013.

Nilles adds: “We’re also doing a couple of large hospitality projects in Saudi including a 1,000-key Hilton in Riyadh. It was selected as Hilton’s de-sign of the year - they are very excited about it and we are too.

“We’re pursuing other work in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Doha. This is a great place for us to be. In Saudi we have been teaming up with Omrania & Associates, an architectural and engineering fi rm in Riyadh.”

From Nilles’ perspective, the Middle East market has improved. He continues:

“The fi nancial situation has stabilised and the worst is

behind us. Even in markets that don’t have a net growth,

for commercial offi ce space there is consolidation going, with

mergers and acquisitions. There is

Nilles moved

to Abu Dhabi

after associate

Matthew

Berglund (above

right).

“ I’m a throwback to the way that architects used to be - doing design, technical and construction. I don’t have a particular specialty.”

Steven Nilles

2005ESTABLISHMENT OF

GOETTSCH PARTNERS

STEVEN NILLES | INTERVIEW

31www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

always a need for the best of the best in terms of products. It’s good to see that happening.”

However, he notes that the Chinese market has recently overtak-en the Middle East as a revenue generator for the company. “Five years ago, 50% of our revenues were coming out of the Middle East. Now 50% are coming out of China.”

Nilles’ ever-expanding portfolio, spanning 30 years, has not gone unnoticed; earlier this year he was elevated to the American Institute of Architect’s elite College of Fellows .

He remarks: “I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated - there is a select group within the AIA. It analyses your whole career’s body of work and it was nice to be a part of that group.

“I have taken a diff erent track than most architects. Other part-ners in the fi rm would be classifi ed as pure design directors. I’m a throwback to the way that architects used to be - doing design, technical and construction. I don’t have a particular specialty but it was very encouraging that they assessed my overall body of work.”

With a smile on his face, Nilles thinks back over the process. “It was a humbling experience - it forced you to go back and collect letters of reference from people you worked with 20 years ago and revisit the portfolio you were involved in.

“We are always moving a mile a minute. I don’t really stay on top of what I’ve done - I’m very focused on the current situation and moving forward. It was a good lesson to look back, and also realise how many people have helped you as a design professional.

“I don’t think architects spend enough time looking back at what they’ve done. It makes us realise that we’ve done a lot of pretty good stuff .”

Natural Leather Bonded MDF Panels

Kitchen Door Fronts in Polygloss Magnolia U1379

PORTFOLIO | STEVEN NILLES


SOWWAH SQUARE, ABU DHABIDeveloped by Mubadala,

Sowwah Square is the

quadruple-towered

centrepiece of Abu Dhabi’s

new commercial business

district and headquarters

for the Abu Dhabi

Securities Exchange.

HILTON RIYADHA joint design eff ort of Goettsch Partners and

Omrania & Associates, this complex in Riyadh

for Hilton includes a 650-key hotel tower and

serviced apartment tower with 250 units. It

covers a total area of 111,000m2.

AL HALAL BANK HQ, ABU DHABI Due for completion in late 2013, this offi ce

development for Al Halal bank is located on

the same island as Sowwah Square.

The Leaders in Construction Summit 2012 is the Middle East’s premier platform to discuss the most pressing issues facing the

region’s contractors and developers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

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[email protected]: +971 4 444 3351GSM: +971 56 778 3824

CARLO MENEZESSPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER,

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LEADERSIN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT

18th September 2012, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,Dubai

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Case study Ondrej Nepela Arena

Building type: Sport Hall

Client: Ingsteel, s.r.o.

Investor: Bratislava city

Architect: Dušan Fischer and Team

Location: Bratislava, Slovakia

»Qbiss One was the best and the

quickest solution«, said Milan Lavrincik,

technical director at Ingsteel,

developing holding company, one of the

strongest in Slovakia.

Qbiss One took part at Ice Hockey World

Championship

Slovakian for the first time in world ice hockey history hosted the world’s best teams at the 75th

IIHF World Championship. Bratislava and Košice with their new sport halls hosted all the matches.

Trimo was part of this championship, as the Bratislava sport hall includes 4,000 m2 of the

Qbiss One* facade system. The World Championship demanded a complete transformation.

A complete

transformation Ondrej Nepela Arena was the central scene of

the 2011 World Championship. The “granny” of

the sport halls (it’s history goes back to 1940)

was undergoing a thorough transformation to

meet the demands of the championship. The

main objective of the project was to increase the

capacities of the spectator area, build a warm-

up hall, as well as increase safety and comfort

by removing the support columns which were

blocking direct views. The latest state-of-the-art

timing and signalling technology has been installed

and underground garage has been expanded by

more than 760 new parking spaces.

Trimo participated by supplying the new

modular facade system Qbiss One, which was

used on the outside envelope of the sport hall.

The essence of a

successful project lies

in details For this project Trimo developed a prefabricated

Qbiss One corner element, which connects two

sides by an angle. The speciality of this solution

is that there are two facades joining under

angle of 18° with two different module widths

by one corner element.

* Qbiss One uses Colorcoat Prisma®

Trimo UK Ltd, UAE Branch office | Level 19, Monarch Office Tower | Office 1907 | One Sheikh Zayed Road | P.O Box 333840 | Dubai, UAEt: +971 4 7050401 | m: +971 505093153 | [email protected] | www.qbiss.eu | www.trimo.org.uk


SITE VISIT | AL BATEEN PARK

Oliver Ephgrave visits Al Bateen Park, Aldar’s huge Emirati housing scheme which is nearing completion in the heart of Abu Dhabi

PARK LIFE

AL BATEEN PARK | SITE VISIT


L ess than three weeks before the fi rst handover, Aldar’s whitewashed Al Bateen Park housing scheme is teem-ing with activity. While hard-hatted

construction workers patrol the 100,000m2 scheme in Abu Dhabi, a meaty stack of con-struction drawings is piling up on the desks in the site offi ce of architect Dewan.

“These are just the top priority drawings for today,” remarks Imad Sadiq, resident engineer for the UAE-based fi rm. “We have a busy few

weeks ahead of us - we’re currently on the pre-snagging stage; the contractor has to address our comments before we move onto snagging.”

The huge residential project for Emirati nationals, in the affl uent Al Bateen district, is divided into two parcels. The smaller plot, which covers 33,000m2 with nine blocks and 284 apartments, is due to be delivered at the end of August.

Meanwhile, the larger plot, covering 66,000m2, is pencilled for delivery at the end of



38

“Aldar launched the project seven months ago and sold it to locals. In certain sections they have sold every unit. It’s interesting to have such

a project in the recession.” Imad Sadiq, resident engineer, Dewan

Al Bateen cemetery. According to Sadiq, this proved to be a challenge for the architects. “We are planting trees around the cemetery boundary. It will be a curtain through which you can’t see. It is a big challenge in dealing with the cemetery. More landscaping will be planted on it.”

Yann Pennes, projects director, Dewan, adds: “We created a visual continuity and urban feel all around the site, therefore the cemetery remains private.” He explains that a separate park adjoins the cemetery, which can be accessed by residents.

Another challenge, according to Sadiq, is the client’s tight timeframe. He elaborates: “A big challenge is the fast track and the large

Wooden Arabic

panels enliven the

white facades.

scale; the project duration was just 20 months.

“It was on hold for many years, then Dewan was asked to start from zero, but just adopt the initial con-cept. We started design in 2010.”

Sadiq explains that the main package is worth $538m, while the enabling package was $25m, both won by contractor Seidco. Dewan was appointed as lead consultant, following conceptual work by Ser-endipity. The MEP consultant is Ian Banham & Associates.

Described as an ‘Arabesque’ style on Aldar’s website, Pennes

elaborates on the aesthetics. “We tried to create a more

contemporary version of Arab buildings. We used a new type of mashrabi-ya screens and placed

them in diff erent areas.”

September. It contains three blocks of apartments as well as 75 villas. Ten of these are six-bed super-luxury homes with their own private pools, while the remainder is made up of 25 four-bed townhouses and 40 four-bed villas.

An unusual feature of the site, and the scheme itself, is that it surrounds

120,000M2GROSS FLOOR AREA



40

He continues: “There is a deeper skin to the buildings - they are more insulated and energy effi cient. This was to create the traditional Arabian feel. We mixed the rendered walls with wooden elements, in the form of pergolas and screens, to enhance the appearance of the buildings.”

In addition the mashrabiya panels, the villas contain stone cladding on the entrance facades to “give a private feel” according to Pennes.

The fl at roofs and clean white render lends the development an almost art deco quality. Aside from the Arabic panels, the apartment

blocks would not look out of place in the suburbs of London. However, the scheme with take on a decidedly Middle Eastern fl avour once the landscaping is completed.

Dewan was involved in the overall landscape design while other landscape services were provided by Badri and Bensouda and Citiscape. “The landscaping will be a tradi-tional style, with palm trees, vines and turf,” adds Sidiq.

He reveals that the 10 six-bed villas will have tailor-made back gardens,

Our design brief was to create a contemporary university that would rival the leading education infrastructure

projects around the world.”Greg Howlett, director for Cox Architecture

Courtyards,

playgrounds and

swimming pools

will take shape. $538mMAIN CONSTRUCTION

PACKAGE



with end-users able to choose the plantation.

Pennes adds: “It will be a residen-tial and family orientated landscape. The atmosphere will be very easy going; basic but quality. We arranged clusters of open space throughout, in both hard and soft landscaping, to break up urban fabric.”

Other outdoor components include fountains and sculptures, sandstone pool decks, childrens’ play areas with tensile canopies and a tennis court in the larger plot.

The scheme also contains two separate retail areas, with a coff ee shop/restaurant that is open to the general public.

Access control will ensure the public can’t enter the residential area. There is also a boundary wall between the two plots, even though the scheme is viewed as one com-munity, according to Sadiq.

When it comes to the design of the interiors, Pennes admits that the style is uncomplicated. “It’s a straightforward approach which har-monises with the modern Arabian feel. It’s an international style with open spaces and kitchens.”

Pennes’ description seems apt as the tour move inside an apartment block. The spaces are clean-lined and functional, with no extensive elaboration. Naturally the top fl oor penthouses enjoy the best views over Abu Dhabi and the surrounding cemetery and parkland.

In a 2010 Aldar press release, chief commercial offi cer, Mohammed al Mubarak, said: “This is going to be a great place to live that signals just how strong the underlying market for residential developments is in the heart of Abu Dhabi.”

Indeed, al Mubarak’s statement is backed up by a strong demand in the

“There is a deeper skin to the buildings - they are more insulated and energy effi cient. This was to create the traditional Arabian feel. We mixed the rendered plaster with wooden elements, in the form of pergolas and screens.”Yann Pennes, projects director, Dewan

The site was

teeming with

workers at the

time of visit.



42

The buildings

are designed

to evoke a

traditional

Arabian feel.

scheme. “Aldar launched the project seven months ago and sold it to locals. In certain sections they have sold every unit. It’s interesting to have such a project in the recession,” adds Sidiq.

One of the key reasons for its popularity is its central location. Sit-uated between Khaleej al Arabi and Sultan bin Zayed streets, a stone’s throw from the centre of town, it’s close to the impressive Al Bateen Secondary School, also developed by Aldar and designed by Dewan.

Pennes adds: “We hope it will be a diff erent type of off ering in the city, with mid-rise luxury apartments and freestanding villas. It’s a quality of life that you would fi nd outside the centre of the city.”

Another notable aspect of the scheme is its sustainable credentials. Pennes reveals that the project is

gunning for a Pearl rating, but is complying with the 1 Pearl manda-tory requirements for ‘Community’.

He adds: “Energy savings are achieved through the envelope in-sulation, solar hot water system and energy effi cient appliances. Water

savings are achieved through land-scape specifi cation/irrigation and sanitary fi ttings fl ow rate controls.

“It’s one of the fi rst residential projects to go for Estidama, so it was a learning curve at every stage of design and construction.”

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44

Technical drawings supplied by DewanAL BATEEN PARK

Enveloping the Al Bateen cemetery in the middle, the development is slit into

two plots. The smaller one on the left, covering 33,000m2, is due to be delivered

at the end of August. Meanwhile, the larger plot, covering 66,000m2, is pencilled

for delivery at the end of September. It contains three blocks of apartments as

well as 75 villas and townhouses.

SITE PLAN



The site contains 75 villas, all conrained in the largest

plot which is due for delivery at the end of September. The

materials are similar to the apartment blocks, although stone

cladding is also used in the entrance sections.

ELEVATION - VILLAS

These elevations depict the fi ve storey apartment blocks with basement

parking spaces. Balconies, pergolas and mashrabiya panels refl ect the

Arabic feel to the development. The top fl oor penthouses enjoy sweeping

views over the parkland and the city skyline.

ELEVATION - APARTMENT BLOCKS


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JAIDAH SQUARE Designers: Woods Bagot, MZ & Partners and United Designers Location: Doha, Qatar

CASE STUDY

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THE SITE Located in downtown Doha, Jaidah Square is situated on Airport Road, and acts as a

centre for local and international businesses. Jaidah Square is the largest commercial offi ce nearest to the New Doha International Airport. The property has 662 parking bays spread over three basement levels. Housed in the centre of the atrium are eight passenger lifts, one VIP and one service lifts. On either side of the

atrium are two 2,300m2 showrooms, both with 1,300m2 mezzanine levels with each of the subsequent fl oors being 4,000m2.

THE PROJECT Built for Jaidah Group, this seven-storey

commercial offi ce building broke ground in 2009 and is now nearly complete. The initial concept was given to Woods Bagot to create an ‘inversion of the ordinary’. After the team created the building’s primary plan, MZ & Partners further cultivated the building’s aesthetic as consultant of record. United Designers of London completed the detailed architectural design for the colour of the glass, the showroom facades and the fi t out in the communal areas. Naqsh panels and geometric patterns were modernised and used as a motif in the building and land-scaping. White Young managed all aspects of the project’s development.

70,000M2TOTAL CONSTRUCTIBLE

AREA



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Creative director for United De-signers Ian Bayliss said: “We hope to have created a luxurious space that will be a completely new concept in offi ce design for Doha and a fi rst for the city.” Energy effi cient features include high density roof insulation, water-less urinals and high effi ciency chillers on the roof. All the lighting in communal areas is set to 30%, with the rest on a lighting control module. 50% of the offi ces have been taken and the building will be offi cially opened later this year.

10 NUMBER OF LIFTS

THE DETAILS Commenting on the details,

Nicholas Young, building manager for Jaidah Group, said: “The ceil-ing height in the atrium is eight metres and it still remains cool. This is primarily thanks to the glass. Most offi ces usually toughen the glass inside and out. We’ve laminated the outside and then toughened the inside. “If you just laminate without toughening it is very dangerous if it breaks as you get the shards. It really does off er a really effi cient solar solution. From the outside it’s almost black where as from the inside it appears to be clear.”


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BODRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTArchitect: Tabanlioglu

Location: Bodrum, Turkey

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Bodrum International Airport,

designed by Turkish architecture fi rm Tabanlioglu, was completed in June this year, with a construction time-frame of 15 months. It is located in the Aegean coastal city of Bodrum in the south of Turkey, a historic port and major tourist destination. The 455,000m2 building consists of

two main structures, an ‘air side’ of transparent glass and steel linear scaff old which connects to the planes and a ‘land side’ terminal building. Primary elements are or-ganised to provide easy circulation for passengers within the terminal.

455,000M2AREA OF THE FACILITY

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www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE DETAILS Tabanlioglu’s aim was to create a

holiday-like atmosphere rather than a monotonous experience. The ter-minal is designed to put passengers at ease with the use of high ceil-ings, optimum daylighting through the sides and roof, and a minimal amount of columns. Accessing the terminal via glass bridges, passen-gers pass over a green landscape arranged with banana and olive trees and daphnia. The various areas of the facade contain opaque, screen printed or sheer glass and local natu-ral stone, while local black marble is used on the fl oor.

15 MONTHS

CONSTRUCTION

TIMEFRAME


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THE PROJECT Earlier this summer, Abu Dhabi

Airports Company (ADAC) and the joint venture of TAV, CCC, and Arabtec signed an $2.9bn contract for the construction of the Midfi eld Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. With ground works already underway, the opening of the airport is planned in 2017. The scheme is the centrepiece of ADAC’s multi-billion-dollar investment programme which will provide a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, and duty-free shops and restaurants for up to 50 million passengers a year.

69,000TONNES OF STEEL

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MIDFIELD TERMINALArchitect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates Location: Abu Dhabi

CASE STUDY

www.designmena.com | 09.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE SITE Midfi eld Terminal is located

between Abu Dhabi International Airport’s two runways, which gives the terminal its name. This location allows for the quickest possible jour-ney from runway to stand. The complex will include 20,000-25,000m2 of retail and F&B outlets, set around an 8,400m2 indoor park, with Mediterranean plants and features at its centre and desert land-scapes at the edge. Associated sup-port buildings take up an additional 800,000m2, and will include access to 16-20 aircraft parking stands dedicated to cargo.


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terminal to house 49 gates. Passenger facilities and duty-free retail will in-clude high-end commercial facilities covering more than 18,000m2, with over 27,500m2 of airline hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum.As the largest terminal in Abu Dhabi, the central space will be able to hold three full-sized football pitches. With a height of 52m, the departure hall creates an openness that allows for a smooth and strong connectivity between outdoor landscaping and indoor civic space.

52MHEIGHT OF

DEPARTURE

HALL

THE DETAILS The new terminal is designed to

achieve a minimum Two Pearl Rat-ing in Estidama. High-performance and angled glass facades will limit heat entering the building, improv-ing the effi ciency of the air condi-

tioning while providing day lighting for interior spaces. Solid cladding has also been integrated in the design, further reducing the impact of the sun. It will be constructed using ap-proximately 69,000

tonnes of steel, more than 680,000 cubic metres of concrete, nearly 500,000m2 of steel and glass cladding, 135,000 tonnes of rebar, 360,000m2 of suspended ceilings and around 325,000m2 of natural

stone fl ooring.

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NEO BANKSIDE Designers: Rogers Stirk Harbour + PartnersLocation: London, UK

CASE STUDY

THE CONCEPT The brief was to design a modern

landmark providing a high quality residential element within a vibrant mixed-use scheme. The confi gura-tion of the buildings fronting onto Southwark Street creates a new marker for the area, helping to signal the main approach to Tate Modern. Five individual buildings step in height in response to the neighbouring properties while the arrangement encourages public per-meability through the site, further enhanced by retail units.


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THE SITE Bankside is one of the oldest parts

of Southwark. The area has recently seen change and regeneration, en-couraged by developments such as Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge.Neo Banskide occupies a complex, irregular space between Southwark, Sumner and Holland Streets, with a mix of buildings ranging from the large volumes and heights of Tate Modern and an offi ce development to a series of adjacent historic two-storey almshouses.

THE PROJECT Picking up two International Prop-

erty Awards in 2011, Neo Bankside was designed by Richard Rogers’ fi rm, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The develop-ment contains a range of six to 24 storey buildings with 229 residential units and a total residential provision of 28,600m2. 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. Retail units are situated at ground level with an additional area in the basement.

24 STOREYS

TALLEST OF THE FIVE BUILDINGS


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THE DETAILS ‘Winter gardens’ - in-

ternally glazed balconies - are featured on the north and south ends of each of the buildings. External glass lifts provide river views and remove the need for internal structural walls, creating highly fl exible internal spaces for the development. The views from in and out of the apartments are controlled by a clad-ding system with the use of timber louvered screens set between layers of a double glazed façade. As well as softening the aesthetic of the façade, the screens also function as solar shades for the apartments, reducing solar heat gain.

28,600M2TOTAL RESIDENTIAL

PROVISION

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THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE


The Masdar Institute is the fi rst de-velopment 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 Septem-ber 2010. Expansion of the existing campus under Phase 1B started in January last year, and is scheduled for completion in Q3 2012, covering 86,138m2.

MASDAR INSTITUTE

Lead consultant:

RW Armstrong

Designer: Foster

+ Partners

Location: Masdar

City, Abu Dhabi

86,138M2 AREA OF PHASE 1B

This disaster prevention centre in Istanbul draws inspiration from ancient cave dwellings. A conference hall and planetarium are each situ-ated at opposite ends of the facility. The conference hall is fl anked by an exhibition hall, orientation stage and children’s section, while the planetarium is surrounded by the 4D-video display room, fi re fi ghting training room and rainstorm simula-tion section.

DISASTER PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CENTRE

Architect:

Dinkoff

Architects and

Engineers

Location:

Istanbul, Turkey

Every year since 2000, a diff erent architect has been responsible for creating the Serpentine Gallery’s Summer pavilion for Kensington Gardens, London. The 2012 edition, on display until October 14, features a collaboration between Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. This year’s designers went for an archaeological approach, with excavation revealing the traces of previous pavilions.

SERPENTINE GALLERY PAVILION

Designers:

Herzog & de

Meuron with Ai

Weiwei

Location:

London

12 NUMBER OF SUPPORTING

COLUMNS

Peter Drummond

Chief ExecutiveBDP

UK

Reiulf Ramstad

Architectural Directorand FounderReiulf RamstadArkitekterNorway

Sudhir Jambhekar

Senior PartnerFXFOWLE ARCHITECTS

USA

Sumaya Dabbagh

FounderDabbagh Architects

UAE

Sandy Surya Sanwatri

Senior ArchitectOmrania and Associates

Saudi Arabia

The Most Dynamic Meeting of Architects in the Middle East

Architectural leaders from Europe and the Middle East share their formulas for success in a shifting market

Affording housing initiatives, ghost building opportunities, value-added services such as smart building systems, and new vertical markets to consider

Extend your business network at the region’s most important meeting of architects

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PARK HYATT ABU DHABI

Architect: Perkins EastmanLocation: Abu Dhabi

The fi rst hotel project completed on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, as well as the fi rst Park Hyatt-branded property in the UAE capital, the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas opened its doors in November 2011. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the 306-key 45,000m2 resort is oriented towards the sea, with private villas that line a boardwalk and private beach. The energy-effi cient design meets LEED Certifi ed standards.

306NUMBER OF ROOMS

AND SUITES

Completed in April 2012, the new residential section is the fi nal piece of the jigsaw for Doha’s distinctive Al Hitmi complex, designed by Norr Group Consultants. With a built up area of 27,743m2, the 15-storey tower accommodates a total of 84 units and sits behind the older seven-sto-rey offi ce section. Selective glazing all around provides the living rooms and bedrooms with ample natural light and views of the Corniche.

AL HITMI COMPLEX - FRASER SUITES

Location: Doha, QatarArchitect: Norr Group Consultants

84 NUMBER OF

RESIDENTIAL UNITS

Dewan has been awarded a contract to design and supervise the con-struction of a 150m-tall tower in Dammam, KSA. Designed for build-ing material supplier Al-Abdulkarim Holding, the 35-fl oor structure will contain a total built-up area of 54,846m2. Notable for a dramati-cally tilting section, the tower is set to open in 2014. Its façade and tilting volumes will create distinctive offi ce spaces on every fl oor.

AL-ABDULKARIM TOWER

Architect: Dewan Architects & EngineersLocation: Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Dongdaemun Design Plaza project (DDPP) is a major cultural facility under construction in Seoul. The main client is the Seoul Metro-politan Government, which chose a consortium comprising Zaha Hadid Architects and local fi rm Samoo Ar-chitects & Engineers. The 85,000m2 scheme will establish a learning resource for designers and members of the public, with a museum, library and educational facilities.

DONGDAEMUN DESIGN PLAZA AND PARK

Location: Seoul, South KoreaArchitect: Zaha Hadid Architects and Samoo Architects & Engineers

50,000 DOUBLE-CURVED EXTERIOR PANELS


WATER DISCUS HOTEL

Designer:

Deep Ocean

Technology

Location:

Various,

including Dubai

This daring concept for an under-water hotel was conceived by Polish company Deep Ocean Technol-ogy (DOT). Drydocks World, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World, signed a deal to become the exclu-sive main contractor for the hotel concept in the Middle East. Named Water Discus Hotel, the design en-visages an ‘ultimate leisure facility’ with a structure that is partly above water and the rest submerged underneath.

TITANIC BELFAST

Lead

consultant:

Todd Architects

Location:

Belfast,

Northern

Ireland

This $140m cultural scheme is a strikingly modern homage to the Titanic, located on the site where the ill-fated ship was designed and built. It is the world’s largest ever Titanic-themed visitor attraction and Northern Ireland’s largest tourism project. The building contains nine galleries document-ing the Titanic, as well as the maritime history of the city, and a 1,000-seat banqueting suite.

3,000 ALUMINIUM SHARDS

IN THE FACADE

As the fl agship project for UAE developer Limitless, the Galleries is a mixed-use scheme in Downtown Jebel Ali containing Grade-A offi ce space, housing and retail space. Since last month, all four towers in the Galleries Offi ces Buildings are now open, with 70% of the 800,000m2 space already leased. Certifi ed LEED Silver, it consists of two groups of four buildings, separated by a landscaped plaza.

THE GALLERIES

Architect:

Burt Hill

Location:

Downtown

Jebel Ali, Dubai

18M HEIGHT OF

LOBBY SPACES

This eco tower for Abu Dhabi was de-signed as part of a master’s course at the University of Nottingham’s architecture department. The project, called the Vertical Oasis, was created by students Aaron Marriott and Clarissa Wenborn. As suggested by the name, the project aimed to recreate the oasis in the sky, for a site on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, adjacent to the ADIA Tower. It features a series of stacked villages shaded by an outer perforated facade.

THE VERTICAL OASIS

Architect:

Aaron Marriott

and Clarissa

Wenborn,

University of

Nottingham

Location: Abu

Dhabi

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NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONALS IN THE GCC

An ITP Executive Publication

THE FIRST AND ONLY MIDDLE EAST PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONALS

Joining ITP Business Publishing’s vast stable of construction and energy magazines, Manufacturing Executive Middle East is the first title in the region to address the thriving manufacturing sector, from the primary industry providers smelting aluminium and milling steel, to the SMEs carrying out assembly and finishing work locally.

Manufacturing Executive Middle East is a must read for professionals from the manufacturing industry across the GCC. It covers all aspects of the industry and keeps its readers up to date with the latest news and trends in the region. It includes in-depth interviews, features and special reports as well as a project focus section that gives full details on upcoming events across the Gulf.

To be involved in the f i rst issue, contact one of our team today

EDITORIAL

ANIL BHOYRULEditorial DirectorTel: +971 4 4443000Email: [email protected]

SALES

ADAM WHITEHEADSales ManagerTel: +971 4 4443744Email: [email protected]

CONTACTS

THE NEEDFOR SPEEDSIEMENS CREATE THE FASTEST CAR IN THE FASTEST TIME


PROCESSESDUBAL:The meltingpot of successP80

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Managing the systems that saw the world’s tallest tower built in just 22 million working hours P10


//

NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR M

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HOW THE IPAD CAN CHANGE EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR PROCESSP30

Abu Dhabi’s mission to be the tech hub of the GCC P54

AUJAN: How the drinks giant raised the efficiency bar P38

IRON CLAD: Inside the Omani factory revolutionising steel production P60

SIEMENS CREATE THE FASTEST CAR IN THE FASTEST TIME


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Managing the systems that saw the world’s tallest tower built in just 22 million working hours P10


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Abu Dhabi’s mission to be

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AUJAN:A

How the drinks giant raised the efficiency bar

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IRON CLAD: Inside the Omani factory revolutionising steel production

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Sectors covered by Manufacturing Executive Middle East includeMotor industryFMCGChemicals and PharmaceuticalsPower and EnergyOil and GasConstruction


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BOOKBALTHAZAR KORAB ARCHITECT OF PHOTOGRAPHYJohn Comazzi

Based on the mid-century modernist architecture photographer Balthazar Korab, this illustrated biography by John Comazzi is the fi rst book to be solely dedicated to his life and work. The book includes a portfolio of over 200 images from Korab’s professionally commissioned works, including close examination of Saarinen’s TWA Terminal at J.F.K Airport as well as the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana. Other famous architect’s works include Mies van der Rohe’s S.R. Crown Hall and Le Corbusier’s Carpenter Centre for the Visual Arts at Harvard University.

WALL COVERINGS METROPOLIS Claesson Koivisto Rune

Swedish architecture and design studio, Claesson Koivisto Rune knit together this urban textile, Metropolis, inspired by its many travelling trips across the globe. Putting together maps of visited cities, the team chose the parts that most appealed to them, later clearing all details except for buildings and streets, reduced to classic black and white. The selected parts of each city were then fused with the other to make a giant city map, a seemingly eternal metropolis. The cities in the textile include Berlin, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo, Prague, Paris, Stockholm and Athens.

AB ARCHITECT OF PHOTOGRAPHY


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ACCESSORIESLITTLE PALM Khalid Shafar

The Little Palm stool was created by Khalid Shafar, an Emirati interior designer whose works are generally influenced by the Middle Easte. Little Palm is not only an object of culture and heritage of the UAE, but also a sentimental relic of Khalid’s childhood; a tribute to a tree around which the designer’s father would tell him stories. The palm tree’s ‘trunk’ is made from ash wood with a metal base and traditional hand-woven mats made from dyed palm leaves. Shafar’s Palm collection is now available in Dubai at the D.tails store in DIFC.

OUTDOOR FURNISHING YODAKenneth Cobonpue

The outdoor furniture designed by Kenneth Cobonpue is part of the YODA collection, offering easy chairs, barstools and side chairs as well as couch designs. Made from rattan, a specific type of palm tree that is similar to bamboo in both appearance and texture, the collection adds personality by its unusual look of natural wilderness. The chairs come in both bright and neutral colours, combining a natural and playful design.

SETTING THE BENCHMARKFOR THE REGION’SARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY

For more information, please visit:www constructionweekonline com/meaa

The 5th annual Middle East Architect Awards are an opportunity for the industry to come together for one night to toast exceptional performance in architecture, engineering & design.

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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 SouthwellEditorial Director David Ingham

EDITORIAL

Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews Editor Oliver Ephgrave Tel: +971 4 444 3303 email: [email protected] Aidan Imanova Tel: +971 4 444 3497 email: [email protected]

ADVERTISING

Sales Director, Construction Group Yazan RahmanTel: +971 4 444 3351 email: [email protected] Development Manager, Saudi Arabia Rabih NaderiTel: +966 1 2068697 email: [email protected]

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Group Art Editor Daniel PrescottDesigner Wasim Akande

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

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Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Deputy Production Manager Matthew GrantProduction Coordinator Nelly PereiraDistribution Executive Nada Al Alami

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Head of Database & Circulation Gaurav Gulati

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Tangram has invested heavily into opening up our local offi ce in Qatar. The reward of working on visionary projects makes it worth the eff ort.

New York, London and Sydney became the cities they are through international involvement and the sharing of international expertise. If Doha wants to play level with the other great cities it must have external

infl uence, but it should be through the local offi ce network if possible.

The need to deliver at a fast-track pace with very highly organised projects requires people with a long history of working in Qatar and in the GCC. I fear that if Qatar opens up to too many new companies, we do run the risk of

having fi rms with no experience of working in the region.

Quality of design is diff erent to build quality. We are all eff ectively part of Qatar’s future, but how do we ensure that we can better service the

country’s development?I feel that Qatar has attracted some of the best design companies and project

management companies in the world. The build quality is the bit we have to get to grips with; how do we increase it?

We need to speak with the stakeholders and make sure the majority of the population can use the metro and the railway network like in London,

Melbourne or Sydney, even in the heat.If we can get that to work it will be a success; if we don’t we will absolutely fail.

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Middle East Architect | September 2012

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