middle east architect

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

MAY 2013 / VOLUME 07 / ISSUE 05An ITP Business Publication

MOVERS& SHAKERSMEA’s fi rst roundtable of the year covers starchitects and earthquakes

p2// FRONTAGi unveils shimmering civic scheme in Kuwait

CASE STUDYFOSTER + PARTNERS’ AIRPORT IN JORDAN

INTERVIEW

Christopher Lee of Populous discloses

the secrets of world class stadium design

/p28

FEATURETHE LATEST TRENDS

IN BATHROOM DESIGN

p4// PEOPLERamboll’s new MD targets Middle East growth

p64// LAST WORDDavid Stanford of Leigh & Orange on equestrian design

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MAY | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 05.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture, including a civic

scheme in Kuwait4

6PROJECTS

A round up of the latest project news from MENA

and the rest of the world

12THE BIG PICTUREA beguiling art installation with polycarbonate at Bloomingdales Dubai

14

28INTERVIEWChristopher Lee of Populous, one of the world’s top stadium architects

36FEATURE

60CULTUREA snapshot of funky furni-ture, books and other acces-sories in the market

44CASE STUDIESFoster’s Jordan airport, a university in Oman and AFR’s London refurbishment

56

Discovering the latest trends and hottest designer

products for the bathroom

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering all the best projects in the world

PEOPLEKey regional appointments, famous architect news and top quotes

MAY 2013 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 05

64LAST WORD

David Stanford, principal director, Leigh & Orange, on

equestrian design

ROUNDTABLE A group of the region’s top

architects and engineers go head to head

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 05.13 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | MAY

2

AGI DESIGNS SHIMMERING KUWAIT CIVIC SCHEMEKuwaiti-Spanish fi rm creates metal-clad complex alongside Bonyan Design

AGi architects, in collaboration with Bonyan Design, has won a competi-tion to design the General Depart-ment of the Information System in Kuwait, notable for its shimmering metal skin.

The 135,482m2 complex is con-ceived as a strong civic icon repre-senting Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior Aff airs, while providing offi ces for the government body.

Its striking façade is made up of metal louvers with a shiny mirror fi n-

ish, which is shaded to defl ect heat while allowing views.

According to the architects the overall design is based on three principles: representativeness, security and functionality.

The aesthetics are shaped by the superimposition of two contrasting layers: a large stone plinth at the lower level and lighter glass struc-tures on the upper fl oors.

From afar the building is per-ceived as a light volume elevated from the ground, while the immen-

The façade is

made up of metal

louvers with a

shiny mirror fi nish.

sity of the stone plinth will become apparent from close-up.

Ground fl oor level will contain a plaza acting as an inner urban space which provides access to all four departments in the building.

The lower section is open to the public through the main gates, while the upper levels house the offi ces of the various departments.

The transparent glass envelope of the offi ces is wrapped with the metallic second skin that protects the building from direct sun.

60

135,482m2AREA OF COMPLEX

TOP STORY

Duration of roundtable in minutes

(Page 14)

MAY | FRONT


The redevelopment of a 146,000m2 site between Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Emirates Towers is underway, according to news agency WAM.

Approval has already been granted by Dubai’s deputy ruler and Dubai World Trade Centre chairman HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Mak-toum for construction to re-start.

The fi rst phase of construction includes a 588-room, mid-range hotel and three new commercial buildings.

Construction work is due to start on site later this year, and the fi rst of the commercial buildings is set to complete in 2015.

Work re-starts on Dubai Trade Centre district

RIBA helps set up Libyan equivalentSenior offi cials from the Royal In-stitute of British Architects (RIBA) were in Tripoli last month to help set up the Libyan Institute of Architects (LIA), according to BD Online.

Led by the RIBA’s head of inter-national Marcus Deeley, the foreign team met key fi gures in Libya’s

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAM

RIBA offi cials ventured to Tripoli.

A $926m contract to develop the Dubai World Trade Centre district was signed in 2008 with Al Jaber Engineering & Contracting. Work was initially meant to complete in 2011, but the project was put on hold due to the economic uncertainty in the region.

government, academia and construc-tion industry.

Phil Graham from Cullinan Studio also attended the visit, as well as local partner, architect Sami Jaouda of the Libyan Engineering Offi ce.

Marcus Deeley of RIBA said: “Our Libyan mission is in support of the newly established Libyan Board of Architects and Libyan Institute of Architects with the intention of establishing long-term, institutional, educational and practice-to-practice partnerships that are the neces-sary foundations for a sustainable and community-focused future for Libya’s built environment.”

h l t

Work is set to be complete in 2015.

This month’s top stories from the online home of Middle East Architect• Dubai’s older buildings at risk of

earthquake damage• Tangram unveils ‘wind sculpting’

stadium for Qatar • Emaar launches new gated community

in Dubai• Pictures: Technology University, Oman• Lebanese fi rm completes $20m

London penthouse

The third place entrant in eVolo’s 2013 sky-scraper competition, Light Park by Ting Xu and Yiming Chen, is a fl oating building for Beijing which features a capped helium balloon.

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CONTINENTS WITH MOST SKYSCRAPERSData: Emporis

18Months to build Technical College Oman(Page 48)

1970sFirst construction

on 123 Victoria Street

(2)


FRONT | MAY

4

Yaver Abidi has joined engineering and design fi rm Ramboll as managing director for the new markets business unit, which includes the Middle East and India.

Based in Dubai, Abidi will assume responsibility for the main business lines and local units for new markets, which covers activities in regions outside Ram-boll’s Nordic and UK home markets.

He will also oversee the development of new services and sectors.

Abidi said: “Today, Ramboll Middle East and Ramboll India are the main busi-ness units that make up new markets.

“Our strategic goal is to develop our presence in these growth markets signifi -cantly, as well as expand into new regions, including Russia, South East Asia, North America and Africa.”

Abidi joins Ramboll from Halcrow and CH2M Hill, where he most recently held the position of regional managing director for Middle East & Africa.

PEOPLE

Ramboll’s new MD targets Middle East

Facebook tells Gehry to “tone down” HQ

“I think the design standards have just improved from a consultant’s perspective. There are still gaps on the construction side.”ROBERT DAVIES, associate director of fi re and life safety, WSP Middle East

“Leadership in sustainability can only be seen in Abu Dhabi and Qatar — the only two states that have mandated ratings for new buildings.”ARVIN DAEIZADETH, Alpin Limited Masdar City

Abidi heads new markets unit.

“Competitiveness for new contracts is intensifying. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on higher-margin sectors and new geographic areas.”HASAN ABDULLAH ISMAIK, CEO, Arabtec

60 SECOND INTERVIEWHUGH HENDERSON, DIRECTOR CONSULTANCY, MACRO INTERNATIONALHow can architects and FMs How can architects and FMs work together? For architects the challenge is to balance design with sustain-ability, function and overall appeal. For FM the challenge is primarily about the effi cient use of space and cost management. By working together we create a relationship that adds value to a project and has a huge impact-not only design and appeal, but also on the long-term costs and functionality of a building and the performance of end-users.

Is this happening?Without doubt, the market is waking up to the value of col-laboration between architects and FM. The more FM can be a part of any project team, the less pain there will be at the hand-over stage.

Starchitect given frank order.

Facebook has asked Frank Gehry to “tone down” his original design for the company’s new Silicon Valley campus, according to a partner at the architect’s fi rm.

The early proposal for the campus dis-plays a form in Gehry’s signature decon-structivist style.

Craig Webb, partner at Gehry’s fi rm, told the Mercury News: “They felt some of those things were too fl ashy and not in keeping with the kind of culture of Facebook so they asked us to make it more anonymous.”

Webb continued: “Frank was quite will-ing to tone down some of the expression of architecture in the building.”

The new plan is to disguise the white stucco building with a rooftop garden.

Gehry was enlisted to design Facebook’s campus last summer, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg specifying an offi ce with “the largest open fl oor plan in the world”.

An underground tunnel will connect the new building with Facebook’s existing campus over the road.

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FRONT | MAY

6

1QATARTangram unveils ‘wind sculpting’ stadiumA proposed design of a sustainable stadium for the Qatar 2022 World Cup was unveiled by Tangram Gulf. The stadium is oriented to limit solar gain and utilises the movement of air to assist with passive cooling. The design is said to ‘sculpt the wind’ to provide natural ventilation, while site water is also used for cooling purposes. Internal circulation routes will contain ceilings that bring in diff used light.

1

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

2 3

2ABU DHABIPremier Inn pioneers grey water reuse systemThe Premier Inn Hotel at Abu Dhabi International Airport — currently nearing completion — has achieved a Pearl 2 rating, partly due to its pioneering grey water reuse system. The facility is the fi rst in the emirate to recycle used wash basin, bath and shower water, which is treated and later reused in toilets and for water-ing the landscape. Additionally, solar collectors on the roof provide 25% of the complex’s hot water production.

2DUBAIMeydan’s $325m luxury scheme set for 2015Meydan and G&Co announced the launch of 198 luxury villas in Millennium Estates, with delivery scheduled for late 2015. The $325m luxury residential development, covering 35ha, is set to occupy Mey-dan’s South Extension and will be available on a freehold basis. Villas will range in size between 500m2 and 630m2 of livable space, with gardens, double-height ceilings and the use of large glazing panels.


FRONT | MAY

8

6

5

6DUBAILargest conservatory in UAE built for studentsSwiftrooms LLC has recently completed the largest conservatory project in the UAE for the School of Architecture, Art and Design at American University in Dubai (AUD). The 35m x 10m conserva-tory will be used by students for les-sons, seminars, art exhibitions and presentations. The undergraduate programmes off ered by the school are Architecture, Interior Design and Visual Communication.

5ABU DHABISouk-inspired housing unveiled by TDICTourism Development & Invest-ment Company (TDIC) launched the second phase of its Eastern Man-groves residential component in Abu Dhabi — the 170-unit Promenade Apartments. Units are set across two buildings, one of which is now available to lease. The Promenade features a loose interpretation of a souk avenue with an arch-fronted open colonnade providing a pedes-trian zone for a retail area.

4DUBAIEmaar launches new community in DubaiEmaar Properties has launched its fi rst residential development at Reem — a gated community devel-opment close to Arabian Ranches in Dubai. The company said that it will begin selling 188 townhouses in Mira, which is the fi rst residential site to be developed at Reem. It will feature a desert botanical park, camping sites, camel riding trails, go-karting and dune buggy tracks, sand surfi ng and climbing walls.

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FRONT | MAY

10

1THE NETHERLANDSRijksmuseum reopens after 10-year renovationA 10-year refurbishment project on Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum was completed on April 13, 2013. Archi-tects Cruz and Ortiz were com-missioned to lead the design team, with a joint venture between Arup, Royal Haskoning /Van Heugten and DGMR handling building services, building physics and lighting design. The renovated museum is expected to attract up to two million visitors each year.

1

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

2 3

2JAPANOMA-designed Coach store opens in TokyoDesigned by Shohei Shigematsu and OMA’s New York offi ce, Coach’s latest fl agship store opened in Tokyo. The design features a façade of 210 stacked, translucent display boxes in a herringbone pattern which displays the brand’s products. In ad-dition to the façade, OMA designed a “fl oating” tower of 105 illuminated acrylic units that encase the store’s central stair, drawing pedestrians to the upper level.

3FRANCEBIG wins Europa City development near ParisDanish practice BIG has won an international competition to design Euro City, an 800,000m2 cultural, recreational and retail development in Triangle de Gonesee, France. Europa City combines city develop-ment with an open landscape, situ-ated along the route from Charles de Gaule Airport to Paris. It is created as part of a larger initiative to attract international tourism into the north-ern parts of the capital.

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FRONT | MAY

12

THE BIG PICTUREPLASTIC FANTASTICThis image captures a beguiling temporary installation ‘City Within’ by Italian designer and architect Antonio Pio Saracino. Each translucent polycarbonate sheet contains the shape of a city landscape with diff erent building forms. It was installed at Bloomingdale’s Home in Dubai until the 16th of April as part of Design Days Dubai’s off -site events.

MAY | FRONT


14 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 05.13 | www.designmena.com

FEATURE | ROUNDTABLE

15www.designmena.com | 05.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

ROUNDTABLE | FEATURE

Taking place at 2.30pm on April 16th in Dubai, the fi rst Middle East Architect roundtable of 2013 was both memorable and unpredictable — partly due to a dramatic interrup-tion caused by the 7.8-magnitude

earthquake in Iran. After evacuating the shaking building and braving the mid-afternoon heat, the discussion got back on track to a range of subjects aff ecting the region’s architectural scene today. The attendants of the session were: Yahya Jan, design di-rector and vice president of Norr Group Consultants; Peter Moy, associate partner at GAJ; Bart Leclercq, head of structures, WSP Middle East; Martin Dufresne, managing director, U+A Architects; Chris Wan, manager, city design, Masdar City; Tareq Abu-Sukheila, managing director, Gensler Abu Dhabi.

How is business in 2013? Yahya Jan: We are fi nding a real bounce back in Dubai. When the slowdown happened, we had very little work here — most of it was in Saudi, Iran, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. In the last six to nine

months, some of that franticness is back in select ar-eas. This concerns me. Certainly what we are seeing is a galloping rebound and the pace is not sustainable. It will continue for a while and it will eventually have to reach equilibrium and settle down a bit.Tareq Abu-Sukheila: A couple of projects that we have in Dubai are not progressing as fast, especially after the concept design phase. I think that the clients are more cautious. They want to make sure that the projects have been studied and they research the market very carefully.Chris Wan: Speaking from the development side, I would not use the word cautious. It is more like being sensible. There is a lot of research going on — the most unsustainable building is an empty building, no matter what credentials it has. Our model looks at more involvement from the end-user so there is far less emphasis on speculative-type developments.

In 10 years time, which city do you think will be the major centre in the Middle East? TA: I believe that Abu Dhabi is creating a niche for itself in terms of promoting the cultural district on

Middle East Architect brings together a cross section of top professionals to debate topics ranging from celebrity designers

to earthquake-proof buildings

MOVERS & SHAKERS

ROUNDTABLE



16

Five years ago architecture was used as a gimmick. Sheikh Zayed Road became like a body building contest –

everybody was fl exing.”Yahya Jan, Norr

Saadiyat Island. As we stand now, there are no great museums in the Middle East. You go to France, London, New York and fi nd the Guggenheim, Louvre, etc. From my perspective, Abu Dhabi will be the cultural city in the Middle East.Bart Leclercq: Maybe from a cul-tural point of view, yes — and maybe Sharjah even — but if you look at the city that has the strongest brand it is by far Dubai in my opinion. Dubai is always managing to catch the head-lines, to trigger the imagination and stir the blood of literally everybody in the Middle East and the rest of the world. And with the people that you tend to get here — very entrepre-neurial and enthusiastic — I think Dubai will always rejuvenate itself and be surprising and exciting. It will defi nitely stay the number one spot in the Middle East.Martin Dufresne: I agree about Dubai. In terms of art and culture,

Doha is bringing it up to a much high-er level. The museums are fantastic with remarkable collections and it will keep going in that respect. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in the race but to me they are catching up with Doha.BL: It is like a shopping spree — who can get the most and best art pieces.TA: I do share your points but look-ing 10 years down the road, I believe Abu Dhabi will be the cultural hub. I understand that Doha is buying all the art pieces, but I see that Abu Dhabi is doing it carefully.MD: I agree, they are doing it care-fully and with the right type of in-frastructure in exciting locations for these wonderful buildings. In time this will also bring in a lot of tourists. BL: But by being careful, they are also being risk averse.MD: But look at Doha with Islamic Art — it is a fantastic piece of archi-tecture and it is attracting a lot of interest and tourism.

Peter Moy: It is going to take huge investments to create what they want and the scale of developments they are looking at in Abu Dhabi. I’d say 10 years is probably too short a period of time. You are probably looking at 15 or 20 years.

Does the Saadiyat masterplan have the right approach of mix-ing culture with luxury retail? BL: I wonder that if what you see with the DIFC is something better where you have a number of art gal-leries, exquisite restaurants and resi-dential above it. To have something like that in the middle of the beauti-ful museums would be, in my mind, absolutely wonderful. They could have a lot of art dealers and antique

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18

Every city needs one or two pieces of architecture that shout at you. But the success of the city is really what

happens between these icons.”Chris Wan, Masdar City

collectors. If they put a shopping mall in Saadiyat, I think they have lost a really good opportunity.PM: I think the master plan for Saadiyat is very sound. It is how the master plan becomes a reality. You cannot make it grow organically un-less you pump a lot of money into it.TA: We at Gensler have done the master plan for both — for Saadiyat Island and for DIFC. And part of the success of Saadiyat Island is that we created a cultural district. You do need some of this high-end retail to act as a balance. It has high-end beach resorts, hotels, schools, a uni-versity, some high-end shopping, and I think it will be quite a destination.YJ: But you say high-end and we are talking about cultural institutions. I think what we are missing in this part of the world, and DIFC is an interesting start to that, is where cultural institutions are meshed into a dense urbanism.

How do you think the Middle East urban landscapes will change? YJ: I am hoping that Dubai will develop with projects that are near each other rather than far out in the desert. Hopefully Dubai moves away from the car culture toward pedestrian. We need to move away from object fi xation, to space and environment. If Dubai goes that way, it will be an amazing city.BL: I have a feeling that this is hap-pening. The whole area around the Burj Khalifa and also the Jumeirah Beach Residences area is such an exciting place to be.MD: There was so much disconnect and now people are merging. In Marina boulevard, especially in the evening, I feel like I am in downtown Toronto because it is so vibrant. Right now it’s a bit frustrating with the tram but when it is fi nished it will be amazing.

PM: It will be interesting to see if areas like Jumeirah will see rede-velopment and whether there will be pockets of café culture and street culture. I wonder if people will start investing in prime sites rather than ones off the main beat.YJ: Developers look at spaces to see what is more viable. It used to be that people were not fond of outdoors but people are now using it. I always felt that Dubai was a city of cities, almost like satellites connected by lines, and I would argue that is not the way going forward. We need more conscien-tious city building. Five years ago architecture was used as a gimmick. Sheikh Zayed Road became like a body building contest — everybody was fl exing. I really feel and hope that

ROUNDTABLE | FEATURE


“Dubai is always managing to catch the headlines, to trigger the imagination and stir the blood of literally everybody in the Middle East and the rest of the world.Bart Leclercq, WSP

we all learnt from that.CW: In our design team we think of cities as meat and potatoes. We are not really interesting in the meat — we are interested in the potatoes because they make up 90% of the city. You need one or two pieces of architecture that shout at you. But the success of the city is really what happens between these icons and more and more people are recognis-ing that and putting eff ort into that.

Are developers in Dubai still going for starchitects, or are local practices fully utilised? MD: Speaking on behalf of a medi-um-sized local practice, defi nitely no. I get extremely frustrated when developers go out and invite the big names. It feels like someone goes out shopping and goes straight to Louis Vuitton and Chanel without looking at the boutiques that may come out with products that have been given more care. In my offi ce we get into the last detail. It is about craftsman-ship and I think there is still quite a bit to learn in that respect. PM: I can see why developers bring in big name architects in terms of

growing brands for their develop-ment. But I agree that there are a lot of good architects here in Dubai and the region and it would be better to look at them as a knowledge source. I have seen a trend from an external point of view where a client goes to a star architect for the concept and then goes to a local architect to have the whole thing worked out. Devel-opers want to have the signature brand but they don’t necessarily want to pay the premium price.TA: At the same time, there are clients who see the emerging young architects making a diff erence. There are a lot of interdisciplinary fi rms but in terms of pure architec-

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tural companies...I see that they are emerging and there will be more of such architects.YJ: I think there is a place for all kind of human endeavours. In the art fi eld — from an unknown actor to a star like Brad Pitt. I don’t see Dubai, or any of the cities here, as a problem. I think there is space for everyone. It is not whether the architect is a star or not. What matters is the quality and appropriateness of the work. What we saw happening before the crash is the fl ooding of architectural fi rms that did horrible work — that is the biggest concern for me. BL: I think every city is entitled to have a couple of failures — that is part of growing up and part of being an exciting city. We should try and focus on getting some of the projects that are unfi nished, completed or demolished. When you go to Thai-land and India and see areas where

buildings are incomplete, you know they were from before a crash.

Finally, bearing in mind the tremor, are Dubai’s buildings able to withstand earthquakes? BL: Yes, all buildings are checked by authorities and in Dubai the buildings are built under certain conditions. We all know that this is an earthquake-prone area given its proximity to Iran and all buildings are designed to withstand this. The code that we follow here is zone 2B, which is overestimating the risk — we have never had an earthquake of great magnitude. I have no concern that in the future if a really big earth-quake hits, we should be covered.YJ: But we have a huge building stock and some older buildings in Deira and Bur Dubai were not designed to such codes. And we know that in earthquakes, it is often

the shorter buildings with sharper frequencies, that are more suscep-tible to earthquakes, rather than tall buildings. My main concern is more about the older stock — the fi ve-storey buildings that are touching each other and I can imagine there is a risk there.BL: Yes. Older buildings are more susceptible and the proximity of buildings matters — when they are too close they start hitting each other and that is when damage starts.YJ: Earthquake design is statistical, it is based on probability. You can never design for the worst earth-quake so there is always a risk that a mega earthquake will cause damage, no matter what code you design to.

I get extremely frustrated when developers go out and invite the big names. It’s like someone who goes out

shopping and goes straight to Louis Vuitton.”Martin Dufresne, U+A Architects

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COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

22

We’re seeing a smarter type of building emerge across the GCC: one that is tailored to the user and the climate rather

than the ego of the architect or developer.”

EDITOR’S LETTER

CHANGING TIMESTwo years can make a lot of diff erence in the development of the GCC

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AGi’s Kuwait villas are recent regional gems.

When I fi rst joined MEA in April 2011, we held a round-

table discussion with fi ve industry professionals and asked them how business was going.

The universal reaction was that work in Dubai was painfully slow, or nonexistent, and fi rms were looking further afi eld.

Last month we held another roundtable discussion, yet the mood was decidedly diff erent. In fact, one of the attendants, Yahya Jan from Norr, described the Dubai develop-ment scene as “frantic”.

As Jan noted, this franticness is slightly alarming given that the

previous construction boom led to an almighty crash in late 2008.

However, Jan and the other at-tendees were hopeful that lessons had been learnt in the wake of the fi nancial crisis.

It would seem that nowadays developers are more sensible, although realism and straight thinking is by no means universal, certainly in Dubai.

Fanciful projects that were seem-ingly wiped out during the crash have somehow come back to life, while billion-dollar schemes involv-ing giant fairground pieces have been launched from scratch.

But on the whole, we’re seeing a smarter type of building emerge

across the GCC: one that is more tailored to the user and the climate rather than the ego of the architect or developer.

Highlights for me, which I’ve personally visited, include the inti-mate art spaces created by Sharjah Art Foundation, the colourful Al Ain University by Cox Architec-ture, Jean Nouvel’s intricate and spectacular Burj Qatar and the 5 Pearl-rated Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre in Al Ain.

There are also several inspiring new buildings in the GCC that I’m yet to explore.

A number of these are in Kuwait — a country I have not visited — such as AGi’s MOP house and S-Cube chalet, as well the striking Al Hamra tower.

On the more pyrotechnical side, I’ve been dying to see the inte-rior spaces of the twisting Infi nity Tower, a building I glimpse every day in Dubai Marina.

However, the much-delayed building is still not quite ready for a MEA site visit, according to the architecture fi rm Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM).

As there is so much I want to see and write about, it is particularly diffi cult for me to announce that this is my last issue as editor of Middle East Architect.

I leave with a very heavy heart and would like to thank you all for reading, sharing your thoughts and letting me visit your inspiring cre-ations over the past two years.

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STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Although the art of stair-making has been around for generations, rarely has one feature within

a property off ered so much potential for expressing individuality.

There is signifi cant scope, both within the structure and design. Stairs can be straight, helical, spiralled, fold-ing, single-fl ight, multi-fl ight. They can come with or without a plinth, stringers and handrails, they can be cantilevered or wall steps, and you can choose from wood, steel and glass.

It’s possible for architects, interior designers and end users to have the creative freedom to deliver a cus-tomised solution for both corporate and residential buildings. They can experiment with colours, materials,

A recent trend we have noticed from specifi ers in the Middle East is the increasing demand for fl oating staircases,

especially within residential applications.”

OPINION

structural design and positioning to deliver a central feature.

A recent trend we have noticed from specifi ers in the Middle East is the increasing demand for fl oating staircases, especially within residen-tial applications. Floating staircases are built into walls (or attached to a staircase’s stringer) on one side, and unsupported on the other — giving the appearance that they are ‘fl oating’.

Structurally it is possible to incor-porate hand rails or glass balustrades, which may be required in homes where children or elderly people live, into designs without sacrifi cing the minimal aesthetic of the stair.

Traditionally, fl oating staircase treads have been manufactured from wood, though increasingly specifi ers

and end-users alike are requesting glass treads, allowing the maximum infi ltration of natural light.

Smoked glass is particularly beau-tiful and when combined with a light colour creates a contemporary tread. Another design possibility attracting interest in the Middle East is LEDs incorporated within staircase treads.

For Sabic (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), we created a helical staircase with blue LED lighting embedded within glass treads. Helical stairs are distinct from spiral stairs in that they don’t turn around a central column, but curve gracefully to lead the way up or down stairs. In a helical staircase, each tread has a full depth of surface across the width of the tread to give sure-footed access.

The LED lighting provides the staircase with an unusual, bold edge, producing an product that combines innovative design and practicality.

First and foremost, of course, staircases are functional items. They aff ord the practical use of space and provide the link between diff erent parts of the building. But just because they are functional, does not mean they shouldn’t say something about you, the architect or the owner.

The way you choose the location, how you light the area and the materi-als you choose for the construction of your staircase can all be personal to your building.

Get those right and incorporate them within a distinctive design and there is no reason why your staircase should not become your own practi-cal, as well as, personal work of art.

What are the possibilities when designing stairs?

Cornelis van

Vlastuin is

founder of

EeStairs

Lighting can be used to create drama.

COMMENT | CORNELIS VAN VLASTUIN


COMMENT | RIZWAN SAJAN

26

In the olden days, building mate-rials had been restricted to a few man-made materials along with those available in nature such as

timber, stone, lime and concrete.Metals were not available in suffi -

cient quantity or consistent quality to be used as anything more than orna-mentation. Structure was limited by the capabilities of natural materials. However, the industrial revolution changed this situation dramatically.

The building material industry strengthened its footprint across the globe and in the UAE extending its presence to various geographies. As more and more multinational companies move into the UAE, the local commercial offi ce buildings and hotels continue to increase.

We are now defi nitely witnessing a genuine drive of new development projects in pursuing increasingly higher levels

of sustainability.”

OPINION

There is a large demand for build-ing materials, such as aluminum, steel, cement, marble and bathroom accessories. Due to the rapid develop-ment of the tourism industry in the UAE, the entire infrastructure is in a comprehensive and fast-track construction process.

However, the centre stage of discussion now is sustainable build-ing materials. While sustainability has been a buzzword in the industry for a number of years, we are now defi nitely witnessing a genuine drive of new development projects in pursuing increasingly higher levels of sustainability. This is driven partly by regulation, and also due to developers realising that sustainability off ers a genuine opportunity to increase the

value of assets. Sustainable products will be a key growth driver for Middle East construction. Using green build-ing materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling non-re-newable resources internationally.

In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the envi-ronmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recy-cling and disposal of these building industry source materials.

Long-term prospects for the UAE building material industry are bright due to growth in investment in the UAE, GCC and key foreign markets. This underlines an increase in demand for building materials especially for steel products.

Dubai recently unveiled the Mo-hammed Bin Rashid City and a lot of other large projects worth billions of dollars. With the UAE ranking as the world’s 14th largest importer of steel products, the industry is set to grow.

Moreover, the geographic advan-tage of the UAE makes international trade of steel fl at products accessible to global markets by linking western markets — including Europe and North America — and Asian markets.

The UAE has experienced enor-mous investment in the construction industry. As a percentage of the UAE’s GDP, the construction industry contributed 10.6% in 2008 and 10.3% in 2011. For 2015 and 2021, it is ex-pected to contribute 11.1% and 11.5% respectively, setting high standards for the sector.

The long-term prospects for the UAE are bright

BUILDING HOPE

Rizwan Sajan

is founder and

chairman of

Danube Group

The UAE is ranked as the 14th largest importer of steel products.

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INTERVIEW | CHRISTOPHER LEE


For someone who has spent most of his life either designing stadiums, or thinking about stadium design, Christopher Lee is somewhat hesitant when asked to name his favourite project.

Lee is more decisive when it comes to his overall favourite stadium, plumping for the

Maracana in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the old Wembley stadium, although he admits that in terms of usability, the latter was a “dis-gusting” place. “There was no leg room and people were using the corridor as a toilet, but it had a mythical status and it’s very hard to create that magic. The old Wembley and the Maracana were these sort of mythical places you almost didn’t believe existed.”

Lee, who has worked on a huge range of new-build and redevel-opments including Olympic stadiums in Sydney and London, the Millennium stadium in Cardiff , Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and the new soccer stadium for the Houston Dynamos MLS team, even-tually settles for Arsenal’s Emirates stadium as the project which has given him the greatest level of personal satisfaction.

“They were a fantastic client,” he says. “It was a kind-of game changer in the UK for Premiership football clubs — for a stadium to become the primary engine of commerce for a football club, whereas previously they hadn’t been.”

Lee grew up on Australia’s East Coast and began working, af-ter graduating, for architect Rod Sheard at Lobb Sports Architec-ture, responsible for Sydney’s Olympic stadium. The fi rm is now advising Qatar’s Olympic Committee on a sports masterplan.

Lee has spent much of his career in London, where he “got kind-of trapped by great projects” such as the Millennium sta-dium and the Emirates stadium.

He said the brief he received for designing the Emirates stadium was just that. “If you imagine for a project like Emirates, which was a £200m — the brief from Danny Fiszman, who was the director there, was 60,000 seats and the most beautiful and the most intimidating stadium.”

And that, he says, was pretty much it. “At the time I thought, ‘Wow, that’s succinct!’, but it was actually genius.”

He said that the focus of the design was all about creating an atmosphere by looking at the proximity and intensity within the seating bowl, while having spectators as close to the pitch as possible, developing a roof that was inward-focusing and choos-ing the right materials to generate a spectacle. “This whole big thing at the moment — you’ve probably seen in the papers that Manchester United have hired an acoustic engineer — is trying to get this ephemeral thing of atmosphere and how you create that. Noise is certainly one way. But it’s more art than science.”

He argues that stadiums — particularly in Asia — are becoming more integrated parts of their communities, with other facilities such as hotels, conference centres and even shopping centres, meaning they are less dependent on matchday use.

Lee cites Chelsea FC as an example — where 1.3m people visit each year on matchdays, but around 1.4m attend for non-match-day uses such as shops, corporate facilities or banqueting suites.

The other great driver in stadium design is the use of technolo-gy. Populous recently built a soccer stadium in Kansas City — the former Livestrong Sporting Park — which has a Wi-Fi connection so fast that people bring laptops to games to download movies.

“Smartphones will very much integrate into our buildings, whether it’s in-seat ordering for food or merchandising, or inter-

Christopher Lee, senior principal of Populous, speaks to Michael Fahy about the changing nature of stadium design and the potential impact of Qatar 2022

WORLD CUP

GOALSINTERVIEW

CHRISTOPHER LEE | INTERVIEW




active signage and wayfi nding. Certainly, technology will change very much how we experience the game — whether it’s live stats, replays or just social interaction and buying tickets. You can see where your friends have bought tickets and sit there.”

The other major driver will be in sustainability — and this is where Lee believes Qatar will be at the vanguard. “The issue that needs to be addressed in Qatar is one of legacy, and a genuine as-sessment of what’s needed — pre- and post [World Cup].

“From a sporting point of view I think that’s important — to get the facilities in the right place, at the right size and with the right kind of legacy mode. But also how you can leverage the event to start developing your cities in the way that you want them to.”

Among the many questions that have been asked is whether the country will need so many big stadiums after the event — many of which are packed closely together in and around Doha. All of the venues will be developed for the World Cup with 45,000-plus seats, but many can be taken back down to 25,000 once the tournament is over, so they can be used by local sides.

“There’s a great opportunity to develop a series of core stadi-ums with good facilities for an ongoing league that will become high-quality venues and grow the game well beyond the event.”

He adds the proximity of the stadiums provides an opportunity for a World Cup with a unique atmosphere as fans will all largely be based in and around one city — as opposed to preceding World Cups in Brazil and Russia, where some stadia are a fi ve-hour plane fl ight away from others. “As a visitor, it will be a fantastic experience where you can base yourself in Doha and go to any group game within a 40-minute drive.”

However, he says the most interesting thing about the proposed stadia planned for Qatar’s World Cup bid is the sustainability element. There have been doubts expressed about the ability to deliver truly sustainable stadiums when average summer tem-peratures in Doha regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

Lee believes this can be achieved, though. “We’ve just fi nished in stadium for the Miami Marlins. It’s a baseball stadium, but it’s a similar size, has a closing, operable roof and is fully air-conditioned. That’s LEED Gold. Miami has remarkably similar climactic conditions as Qatar in summer. So it’s entirely achiev-able to do fully-conditioned but sustainable stadiums,” he adds.

Passive cooling technologies can be used to channel wind to naturally cool stadiums, but photovoltaic panels can be used to generate energy to off set active air cooling, he argues. Lee notes

that by the time the World Cup gets underway, photovoltaic panels will be much more robust and able to deliver better performances.

He says there are “lots of diff erent mechanisms” that can be used to cool stadiums sustainably. “The stadium we’re doing in Mexico at the moment is using pretty similar technology to the test stadium — using off -grid electricity to create massive ice stores. But yeah, defi nitely the technology exists now to do it in a sustainable way — otherwise you wouldn’t get LEED Gold,” he says.

Another challenge will be to deliver sustainable environments for crowds around the grounds and in fan zone areas. Lee believes that much of this can be achieved naturally, using vegetation and trees to provide shading rather than relying on man-made structures.

“As a stadium designer, it is quite tricky. And that’s the great challenge — to produce something that is sustainable but also an environment that is comfort-able and everyone is happy to be in.”

There’s a great opportunity to develop a series of core stadiums with good facilities for an ongoing league that will become high-quality venues and grow the game well beyond the event.”

Christopher Lee believes it is possible

to build sustainable

stadia.

CHRISTOPHER LEE | INTERVIEW


THE EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON Home of Arsenal FC, the

Emirates Stadium is a

60,000-capacity, three-

tiered bowl with translucent

polycarbonate roofi ng over

the stands. Lee described

the design as “beautiful” and

“intimidating”.

OLYMPIC STADIUM, LONDONA stand-out feature from the

London 2012 Olympics, the

80,000-capacity stadium

was designed by Populous,

with engineering services

from Buro Happold. A wrap

made from polyester and

polyethylene encircles the

stadium.

PORTFOLIO:CHRISTOPHER LEE



MARLINS PARK, MIAMIPopulous recently completed

this baseball stadium for the

Miami Marlins, a fully air-

conditioned structure with a

closing, operable roof which

achieved LEED Gold.

QATAR NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Opened in late 2011, the

LEED Gold QNCC contains

a 4,000-capaity conference

hall. Populous worked with

Burns & McDonnell as archi-

tect of record for the $720

million project, which was

inspired by a Sidra tree.



“The real alternative to exotic hardwoods”

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Come and visit us at our Grand Showroom -

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BBVA STADIUM, HOUSTON, USAThis 22,000-capacity soccer

stadium for the Houston Dynamo

features a faceted façade of ex-

panded metal mesh with orange

polycarbonate enclosed entranc-

es and spectator facilities that

refl ects the industrial heritage of

the area.

www.cityscapeqatar.com/eqv

Creating a picture ofQatar’s National 2030 Vision


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

Collection 3 by

Duscholux AG.

36


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

37

Tapping into the latest trends and award-winning products for the bathroom

CLEAN DESIGNS


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

1 LITREFLUSH VOLUME OF

LUFEN’S ANTERO

URINAL

T he oldest documented bath is believed to stretch back to 3,300BC, with ancient copper water

pipes found under a palace in India. Since then, the bath has seen a variety of developments and concepts, from the thermal ingenuity of the Romans to the iron tubs of the 19th century, which were akin to horse troughs.

Today, the bathroom industry is a big business, with scores of manufac-turers competing against each other to secure lucrative contracts. With so much choice around, what are the needs of specifi ers these days?

Advanced technology is a key requirement, certainly when it comes to the functionality of bathroom fi t-tings. According to Ivan Zupanovic, Laufen’s head of international project sales & export, the biggest technolog-ical advancement is in water-saving.

He says: “Along with dual-fl ush toilets, which are now

pretty much standard issue ... there has been a sharp rise in demand for infra-red, sensor controls on

bathroom brassware.”A sophisticated

water-saving fi tting is Lufen’s Antero urinal 1 , win-

ner of a coveted red dot design award in 2012. Thanks to the patented fl ushing action of the back wall, the whole urinal can be fl ushed with less than one litre of water, while the intelligent hybrid control provides various cleaning modes. The red dot jury stated: “Antero impresses due to its high-quality workmanship and its distinctive form style of aesthetically appealing, timely elegance.”

A deep-soaking

bath is a

common feature

in the JW

Marriot Marquis.

1

3

2

FEATURE | BATHROOMS


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

Chest of Drawers in Acrylux

Another product that won a red dot award for its technical wizardry is Sigma80 2, a touchless WC actuator plate by Geberit. Sensors recognise the presence of a person and illuminate the operating display panel of the two-volume fl ushing. The jury com-mented: “This hygienic WC operating panel is self-explanatory and functional, matching harmoniously with all kinds of bathroom sur-roundings due to its puristic appearance.”

A current trend, particularly in the hospital-ity sector, is spa-like bathing. Daryl Barker, managing director at Bagno Design/ Sanipex says: “Showering is a high point of the hotel guest room experience.”

He continues: “Old showers are out; rain showers are in, with oversized bathtubs bring-ing luxury. Many new hotel designers choose placing a large, freestanding tub in the middle of the suite surrounded by glass shower doors. A deep soaking bath and a rainfall showerhead are all standard in the bathrooms of the recent-ly opened JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai.” 3

Andreas Dornbracht, managing director of Dornbracht, also outlines the shift towards rain showers. “This is what people are looking for; it’s not just taking a shower to wash yourself but enjoying it under a big rain sky or maybe with a cold mist changing temperatures. This is not only a matter of pleasure but also certain func-tions. For example, using water to stimulate blood circulation and the quality of the skin through certain water treatments.”

These elements have been incorporated into the design of Dornbracht’s new horizontal shower 4 which incorporates six seamless faucets within a sleek marble slab parallel with each other. Three diff erent water “scenarios” are all electronically controlled by the user who is situated between the two slabs.

“The new interesting features are coming from the spa industry,” remarks Dornbracht. “I

Spa-like

bathing is

a common

trend in the

hospitality

industry.

3

FEATURE | BATHROOMS


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

Old showers are out; rain showers are in, with oversized bathtubs bringing luxury.”

Daryl Barker, Bagno Design/Sanipex

The horizontal

shower features

a marble slab

and three water

scenarios.

remarks Dornbracht. “I believe that the bathroom is developing into a per-sonal beauty and care centre. Where does beauty take place in a private en-vironment? It’s in the bathroom. This is where the bathroom can become more interesting and integrate more features in the future.”

Meanwhile, manufacturer Delta has devised a way to create a luxuri-ous shower experience and conserve water at the same time with its H2O-kinetic faucets. 5 The showerheads are manufactured to be more water effi cient by utilising technology that sculpts water into wave patterns, cre-ating the feel of more water without actually using it.

The resulting concentrated spray of large water droplets is intended to mimic the rain in the Amazonian rainforests. Heat is held for longer, making the entire shower experience feel warmer while also creating the feel of more water.

Ross Jackson, general manager for Delta in the Middle East and North Africa, explains: “Each shower head and hand shower contains an internal system that controls the speed, move-ment and droplet size of the water, which creates the feeling of more water than a standard shower fl owing at the same rate.”

In terms of aesthetics, luxurious clean lines and minimalism is de rigueur. This entails large showers with ample glass for natural light, frameless doors and ceilings as well as side-mounted showerheads.

Judd Lord, director of industrial design, Delta, said: “We’re seeing clean, minimalist design dressed in warmer, traditional fi nishes such as shades of bronze. There is a move to

eliminate hardware, with hidden, built-in handles for a cleaner look.”

A frameless shower that has taken the design world by storm is Collec-tion 3 by Duscholux AG, 6 a series with striking contours which picked

up a red dot award. Flat hinges and wall brackets made from chrome-plated metal, slimline crossbars and an innovative handle complement the linear design.

Another award-winning shower is Duravit’s St. Trop, 7 a steam shower designed by the pop star of product design, Philippe Starck. Reduced to the essentials, it is presented as a simple rectangle, where the door forms a frame. A stool inside the shower incorporates an artistic motif and resembles a modern sculpture.

4

6 7

SIXFAUCETS IN

DORNBRACHT’SHORIZONTAL

SHOWER


FEATURE | BATHROOMS

Delta’s

H2Okinetic

faucet (left).

The 1,000mm by 1,000mm steam shower is available in back-to-wall and corner versions.

When it comes to stylish tubs, the Asymmetric Duo by Kaldewei, 8 is certainly an eye-catcher. The

entire bath is drawn from one piece of special steel and then extensively enamelled. Flush mounted into the bottom of the bath, the drain forms an aesthetic, harmonious solution. “The distinctive design detail of a generously dimensioned bathtub surrounding satisfi es also the need

for barrier-free products, as one can sit comfortably on the bathtub surrounding and slide into the bath,” commented the red dot jury.

A collection of fi ttings which oozes elegance is the aptly named Allure Brilliant 9 by Grohe AG. Every faceted surface has been sculpted to delicately refl ect light which helps to reduce the perceived volume of the product. The red dot jury remarked: “The carefully engineered surfaces with their jewel-like character and the surprising, architectonic appear-

ance are the outstanding features of this unusual collection.”

According to Bagno’s Barker, another bathroom trend is the use of natural materials and tones. He adds: “Nature is visible with the demand for softer fi nishes utilising products such as marble, copper, bronze and re-constituted stone, especially for basins and bathtubs.”

Whatever the inspiration, it’s clear that bathroom manufacturers have come a long way since the days of the Victorian horse trough.

8

5

9

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

SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR THEMIDDLE EAST ARCHITECTURE SECTOR

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

EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST.

Tuesday5th November 2013

Jumeirah Emirates TowersDubai - UAE

For sponsorship enquiries, please contact:Alexander JamesSales Manager, Middle East ArchitectTel: +971 4 444 3393Email: [email protected]

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

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

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

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NOMINATION DEADLINETHURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2013

CATEGORY SPONSORPLATINUM SPONSOR


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QUEEN ALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Architect: Foster + Partners

Location: Amman, Jordan

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECTLast month marked the offi cial open-ing of Queen Alia International Air-port in Amman, designed by Foster + Partners. The airport’s design is based on a fl exible modular solution, allowing the capacity to increase by 6% per annum, from 3.5 million to 12 million passengers by 2030.

Two piers of departure gates run along either side of the central build-ing, which contains the main pro-cessing areas and shops, lounges and restaurants. Between these volumes, open-air courtyards — in the vein of vernacular architecture — contrib-ute to the environmental strategy.


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THE SITEIn response to the climate, where summer temperatures swing be-tween day and night, the building is constructed largely from concrete, which provides a high thermal mass. Horizontal louvers shade the façades from direct sunlight. To eliminate glare, the louvers become concentrated in exposed areas close to the columns. The concrete structure incorporates local gravel which harmonises with the natural shades of local sand.

12MESTIMATED CAPACITY

BY 2030

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THE DETAILSDaylight fl oods the concourse through split beams at the column junctions. Echoing the veins of a leaf, a geometric pattern based on traditional Islamic forms is applied to each exposed soffi t. The forecourt has been enlarged to create a land-scaped plaza with seating.

As well as providing an area where visitors can gather to greet fl yers, the forecourt contains plants and trees to help fi lter pollution and pre-con-dition the air before it is drawn into the air handling system. Refl ecting pools bounce indirect natural light into the airport.

THE CONCEPTThe airport’s design is inspired by local references, particularly the domed roof which echoes the black fl owing fabric of a Bedouin tent, when viewed from the air. The ter-minal is glazed on all sides to allow views of the aircraft and to aid orientation. A tessellated roof canopy comprises a series of shallow con-crete domes, which ex-tend to shade the façades — each dome provides a modular unit for construc-tion. Domes branch out from the supporting columns like the leaves of a desert palm.

6% GROWTH OFAIRPORT PER

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GERMAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYArchitect: Hoehler+PartnerLocation: Halban, Oman

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Designed and supervised by Hoehler+Partner, the German University of Technology in Oman recently won the 2013 Construction Week Oman award for Commercial Project of the Year. It currently holds 1,800 students but the design allows for a future capacity of 10,000. Completed in 18 months, the main building contains 527 rooms, includ-ing offi ces, lecture halls, laboratories and a research area. It also features a sports hall, canteen, cafeteria, shops, recreational areas and park-ing spaces, as well as three attached accommodation blocks.

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www.designmena.com | 05.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE SITELocated in Halban, Muscat, the imposing building was designed to make a substantial visual impact on the urban grain of its immediate sur-roundings, acting as a landmark for Oman. The site also contains a sew-age treatment plant, roads and related infrastructure. The building utilises wind and solar energy. Energy effi ciency was achieved by enveloping the entire building with thermal insulation, combined with the air-tight construction method of the façades.

18MONTHSCONSTRUCTION

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THE DETAILSRecycled water from the sewage treatment plant will be used for hor-ticulture; green elements have been incorporated across the courtyards and campus to enhance sustainabil-ity credentials. The construction of the project started in the middle of 2011 with a strict time schedule and fi xed budget.

The project involved meticulous designing, engineering and con-struction meeting high German and British standards, while accommo-dating Omani and GCC products in wherever possible.

THE PROJECTUnprecedented in Oman, the project acts as a fully established univer-sity campus, inspired by Omani cultural heritage and equipped with the most up-to-date techni-cal building standards. The major architectural highlight is a large shaded amphitheater with playful fountains and a seating capacity of 1,000. Another 1,000 spectators can glimpse the events taking place at the centre from the spe-cially designed spiral ramps around the amphitheater.

10,000FUTURE TOTAL

CAPACITY


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123 VICTORIA STREETArchitect: Aukett Fitzroy RobinsonLocation: London

CASE STUDY


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www.designmena.com | 05.13 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE PROJECTArchitecture fi rm Aukett Fitzroy Rob-inson (AFR) led the transformation of a jaded 1970s offi ce block, Land Se-curities’ 123 Victoria Street, London, into a contemporary complex covering 18,580m2. The project involved remodelling the cores, introducing an atrium and providing two new larger reception areas.

With an emphasis on maximising natural light, AFR’s designs include the complete replacement of all glazing with new high-performance units that complement the style of the original fenestration, delivering a refl ective brighter façade and providing signifi -cantly improved thermal and acoustic insulation.

THE SITEThe scheme is located in Victoria, a major transport hub. At street level, the ground fl oor envelope has been completely replaced, giving the building a fresh interaction with its surroundings. Together with a sister building, the complex fl anks a new piazza for Westminster cathedral. The previous external façade domi-nated the surroundings, with dark brown tinted glazed bays and heavy features. Careful material selec-tion, lighting and the full redesign of the retail arcade has improved the rundown retail off ering, enhancing Victoria as a shopping destination.

18,580M2AREA OF

THE PROJECT

Before development

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THE DETAILSAFR’s roof design draws inspiration from the linearity of the building, using timber decks, linear planters and pebbled terraces as part of a playful redesign of the many elevated terraces. The attractive terrace also off ers the opportunity for occupants to survey the surroundings.

Internally, the design creates a new Grade A offi ce space, with the building being stripped out to provide increased ceiling heights and improved natural lighting. AFR worked closely with architect MoreySmith to deliver reconfi gured reception areas.

THE CONCEPTLuke Schuberth, MD at AFR stated: “Throughout the design stages AFR was keen to create a quality, modern and effi cient landmark development, but at all times respecting the origi-nal acclaimed design of E H Elsom.”AFR's revamp was completed in the fourth quarter of 2012. Schuberth contin-ued: “123 Victoria Street has now been brought back to life as an iconic place to work, comple-menting the neighbouring Victoria area and signifi -cantly upgrading the immediate surroundings.”

DATE OF ORIGINAL BUILDING

1970s

THE ROAD TO DUBAI - CROWNING THE REGION’SCONSTRUCTION CHAMPIONS

Wednesday 11th December 2013JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

The 9th annual Construction Week Awards in Dubai, UAE will bring together winners from Construction Week’s series of regional awards ceremonies to battle

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

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

For table bookings and furtherinformation, please contact:Michelle Meyrick Events ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3328Email: [email protected]

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THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE

The unanimous winner of the 11th Tile of Spain awards in Architecture and Interior Design, this project involves the conversion of a 19th century Spanish slaughterhouse into a professional cooking school. Designed by Maria Gonzalez Garcia and Juanjo Lopez de la Cruz, from Sol 89, it was described by the jury as “acutely aware of its surroundings...resolved with very modest means, yet very delicately and very successfully”.

CATERING SCHOOL

Architect: Sol 89Location: Medina Sidonia, Spain

Designed by Norr, this 150m high tower in KSA responds to the architects belief that modern offi ce buildings should be designed for fl exibility. It features 20 fl oors of column-free Class A offi ce space suspended between split concrete cores. In addition to the 15,500m2 of leasable space, amenities include a health club and leisure deck and a roof garden located within the frame at the top the tower.

AL KHOBAR OFFICE TOWER

Architect: Norr Group ConsultantsLocation: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

11,900 POPULATION

OF MEDINA SIDONIA

FLAME TOWERS

Architect: HOKLocation: Baku, Azerbaijan

The construction of Baku’s striking complex of three mixed-use high rises, the Flame Towers, is now com-plete with interior fi t out underway. A residential tower sits to the south, with 130 apartments over 39 fl oors, and is the tallest of the three towers. The Fairmont Baku hotel, situated on the northern corner of the site, consists of 318 guest rooms, whilst the western tower provides 33,114m2 of Class A offi ce space.

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Foster + Partners has completed its fi rst project in Latin America with the Faena Aleph Residences in Buenos Aires, Argentina — a nine-storey resi-dential complex on Avenida Juana Manso. It comprises 50 apartments, animated at ground level by a fringe of shops, cafés and restaurants, with a landscaped garden to the rear and an infi nity pool at roof level. Apartments are characterised by vaulted ceilings and expressive sunscreens.

THE ALEPH

Architect: Foster + PartnersLocation: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Last year Dewan was awarded the contract to design the new Cultural Centre by the Basra Governorate in Iraq, after the recent establishment of Dewan’s Basra branch offi ce. The Basra Cultural Centre will contain fi ne arts exhibition areas, meeting rooms, conference halls, a heritage museum, cinema halls, theatre, a radio and television broadcasting department, public library, cafeteria, outdoor landscaping and green areas.

BASRA CULTURAL CENTRE

Architect: DewanLocation: Basra, Iraq

50 APARTMENTS

IN THE COMPLEX

BAHRAIN NATIONAL THEATRE

Architect: AS. Architecture-Studio Detailed design: AtkinsLocation: Manama, Bahrain

Bahrain’s fi rst national theatre con-tains a 1,001-seat auditorium and a 150-seat fl exible auditorium and ex-hibition area. The expansive glazing involved an innovative curtain wall system fully supported by glass. With overall control of the entire project, Paris-based AS. Architecture Studio appointed Atkins in 2009 to collabo-rate on detailed architectural design, including the total external envelope, along with site-wide supervision.

800KGWEIGHT OF EACH

GLASS FIN

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 prop-erty in the UAE capital, the Park Hy-att Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas opened its doors to guests last year. 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.

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Designed by Henning Larsen, this impressive museum is located in the Arts Campus at Umeå University in northern Sweden. It comprises three exhibition halls placed on top of each other. The ground plan of the museum covers 500m2, while the total gross fl oor area amounts to 3,500m2. The new museum more than doubles the exhibition area. It contains an auditorium, children’s workshops and administration.

UMEÅ ART MUSEUM

Architect: Henning Larsen Architects Location: Umeå, Sweden

3,500METRES2

GROSS FLOORAREA

This ambitious ‘experiment’ for Qatar involves the construction and operation of a super energy-effi cient house, which adopts the Germany-developed ‘Passivhaus’ concept. It also requires the construction of a conventional villa to serve as a tangible point of comparison, and the basis for a number of targets for the eco-villa. The scheme is a collaboration between Kahramaa, QGBC, BRE and Aecom.

QATAR PASSIVHAUS

Architect: AecomLocation: Qatar

Highly commended in the Resi-dential category at the 2012 MEA Awards, the austere apartment block was designed by local ar-chitect Farshad Mehdizadeh and Raha Ashrafi . Mehdizadeh is also supervising the project, still under construction. It uses local architec-ture elements such as cantilevers, but adds new design techniques. The façade made from local materi-als suits the dusty conditions.

ABADAN APARTMENT

Designers: Farshad Mehdizadeh & Raha Ashrafi Location: Abadan, Iran

200METRES2

SIZE OF BOTHVILLA PROJECTS

Sponsored by the National Industrial and Mining Company (SNIM), the fi ve-star hotel project is intended to be an oasis of rest within the heart of Nouakchott. The main building is swathed in greenery and vegetation. Land-scaped grounds link a central reception building to living and rec-reational areas, including a spa and pool. Part of the connecting area was designed as a public gallery.

SNIM HOTEL

Architect: Draw Link GroupLocation: Nouakchott, Mauritania


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Designed by Iranian architect Farshad Mehdizadeh, this fast food store occupies 7m2 on an Isfahan street. The project was highly commended in the Public Sector, Institutional and Cultural Project category at the MEA Awards in 2012. Judge Bart Leclercq, WSP, said: “This must be the smallest architectural project ever but the amount of diligence that went into the design is remarkable.”

CIRCLESNACK BAR

Architect: Farshad Mehdizadeh Location: Isfahan,Iran

This skyscraper is inspired by sikkas, the narrow alleys between buildings in old Middle East cities. Designed by Alexandre Carrasco and Omelmominin Wadidy, Mas-ters in Sustainable Tall Buildings Course, Department of Architec-ture and Built Environment, Uni-versity of Nottingham, it has eight stacked communities, with a library and retail facilities at ground level, and a space for prayer at the apex.

SIKKASIN THE SKY

Designers: Alexandre Carrasco and Omelmominin Wadidy, University of NottinghamLocation:Abu Dhabi

This four-level home consists of a main residence with a garden, pool, gym, and private terrace. Origi-nally conceived as a single-family home, MOP House can be split into two separate properties for future use. The project uses dark brown, natural sandstone and white plaster in the building’s façade to diff eren-tiate between the diff erent levels. Bamboo is used generously in the interior, built into curved walls.

MOP HOUSE

Designer:AGi ArchitectsLocation: Kuwait City 750

METRES2 AREA OF PLOT

This mixed-use commercial and residential project just off Al Safa Park is geared towards design savvy, middle-income residents and retailers. The multi-dwelling property is intended to socially integrate its community. The three-storey complex incorporates retail spaces on the ground fl oor to cater to pedestrians, and apartments on the top two fl oors, providing privacy from the two-storey townhouses.

WASL SQUARE

Architect: NAGA ArchitectsLocation: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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FURNISHINGSBLOW RADIATORJean-Marie Massaud

Blow turns the radiator into a piece of sculpture, proudly on display rather than tucked away. Made up of two connecting metal plates, the design was inspired by the movement of waves. The plates keep the water at a constant temperature and act as a highly effi cient source of heat. The product picked up a coveted red dot design award in 2012, with the jury remarking: “Blow is an innovative architectural element. The radiator is defi ned as a subtle, interactive sculpture.”


LAST WORD | DAVID STANFORD

64

David Stanford, principal director, Leigh & Orange, talks about equestrian centres and fearless cities

THE LAST WORD

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We continue to work on Leigh & Orange’s landmark Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy at Education City in Doha, Qatar.

The main arena is now complete and successfully hosted its fi rst major equestrian event.

Meanwhile, construction and fi t-out works continue on other sections of the 100ha campus.

The buildings are off set very well by the landscaping — designed by Cracknell — which minimises the need for irrigation while using form and texture in a very attractive way.

We are concentrating on the Qatar market while being very open to opportunities elsewhere.

In recent years we have completed a number of sports facilities in the region and currently have residential, retail, offi ce park and healthcare projects under construction in Qatar,

Bahrain and the UAE.

We fi nd that our unique portfolio of equine design can take us into very unexpected places.

For instance, the upcoming World Cup event in Qatar off ers many opportunities that match Leigh & Orange’s expertise in the sports, transport, medical, hospitality and mixed use sectors.

As a teenager I was lucky enough to live on a day-to-day basis with buildings by the 19th century English architect William Butterfi eld.

His mastery of form and colour remains with me; for example his design of All Saints, Margaret Street in London is both an object lesson in how to develop a tight urban site and

an inspiring respite from the West End.

My favourite city in the Middle East is Istanbul for its wonderful combination of city, history and sea.

Otherwise, Dubai wins for its total lack of fear — Sheikh Zayed Road to the south of the World Trade Centre is one of the most exhilarating streets in the world.

Samsung Chemical Europe GmbH Dubai Rep. OfficeOffice 2403, Al Shafar Tower 1, Tecom, PO BOX 48969, Dubai, U.A.ETel : +971-4-447-3411 Fax : +971-4-447-3412Available at Bahrain, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, U.A.E

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middle east architect | may 2013

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