Middle East Architect 2011-12 Sheva370 T

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

DECEMBER 2011 / VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 12An ITP Business Publication

The region’s largestarchitecture fi rms

25Power

CASE STUDYLeigh & Orange’s impressive

Equestrian Academy in Qatar

ANALYSISAdrian Smith delivers keynote

speech at Green Build Congress

INTERVIEWdwp’s new design director on working in ‘danger’ markets

PLUS

DECEMBER | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture including

Kingdom Tower’s imminent construction

6

10THE BIG PICTURE

Capturing the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Road skyline

at its best

14ANALYSIS Adrian Smith leads a stellar line-up of speakers at the Green Build Congress16

OPINIONGeorgina Chakar on how top

architects always look back to nature for inspiration

20INTERVIEWFariborz Hatam, dwp’s new design director, on designing for ‘danger’ markets like Afghanistan26

COVER STORY

54CULTURECool products, clever ideas, and some of the latest gadgets in the design world56

THE LAST WORDMario Seneviratne,

managing director of Green Technologies and founder of

EGBC

40CASE STUDIESLeigh & Orange’s Equestrian Academy, Aedas’ Shanghai showstopper and SOM’s Vertical Medina

52

Unveiling the largest 25 architecture fi rms in the

Gulf region based on staff numbers

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering the projects MEA has looked at in recent

months

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

DECEMBER 2011 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 12

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com

FRONT | DECEMBER

2

KINGDOM TOWER GEARSUP FOR CONSTRUCTIONArchitect Adrian Smith confi rms early start for 1km-tall Kingdom Tower in Jeddah

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, the ar-chitecture fi rm behind the Kingdom Tower, has revealed that construc-tion is due to start on the 1km-high skyscraper in Jeddah.

A story in UAE daily The National claimed that construction on the tower will start in January 2012.

However, in an exclusive interview with Middle East Architect, Adrian Smith said: “It is probably wrong to say that construction will start in January. There is one more permit to get. It could start in December, or it

could be delayed until February.”

The National report revealed that most of the per-mits are in place for the US$1.2 bil-lion (AED4.40bn) tower by Kingdom Holding, which would be the tallest building in the world.

“The project is moving rapidly. We have actually advanced the design to a high level of detail,” Smith re-marked to The National.

He continued: “We know that all the partners have agreed to get going.

The exact height

of the tower is

still a secret.

Number of luxury apartments in SOM’s

Everything is proceed-ing as though it’s going to

happen.”Smith was also the lead de-

signer on the 828m-high Burj Khalifa during his long stint at Chicago archi-tecture giant Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM).

In the same way that the fi nal height of the Burj Khalifa was a closely guarded secret by developer Emaar, Kingdom Holding has not revealed an exact height for the cloud-piercing Kingdom Tower.

$1.2BNVALUE OF KINGDOM

TOWER

FIFTY FIVE

Vertical Medina in Riyadh(Page 44)

DECEMBER | FRONT


This month’s top stories on the online home of Middle East Architect• Foster + Partners sand dune UAE Pavilion

opens Abu Dhabi Art 2011

• Mumbai project handed to Aedas

• 25 essential iPad apps for interior design

students

• World’s fi rst precious gemstone bath sells

for AED6.4m

• Christian Lundwall Associates to redesign

record-breaking hotel in Kuwait

The London offi ce of HOK has revealed its design for Marina Mall, a 60,000m2 retail and leisure facility in the Lusail development on the east coast of Qatar.

The design is said to be inspired by natural forms created when water

Large architecture fi rm Austin-Smith:Lord (ASL) has decided to close its Abu Dhabi offi ce due to late payments from a client in the emirate.

The company is owed millions of dollars for its work on a huge cultural quarter project in the heart of the city.

The client, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, recently paid ASL US$3.6m. However, this is only around a fi fth of what is owed to the architecture fi rm, according to a report on bdonline.co.uk.

The closure of the Abu Dhabi offi ce will result in 13 staff redundancies. This moves follows 70 staff being laid off in the UK offi ces.

Austin Smith Lord to close Abu Dhabi offi ce

HOK unveils sleek design for Marina Mall in Qatar

and land meet. Five interconnected retail ‘islands’ link the mall to a body of water that runs through the centre of the scheme.

Barry Hughes, vice president, HOK London, said: “The fl uid sculptural exterior complements the surround-ing area, whilst the fl ow from exterior to interior draws people into the internal oasis, providing welcome protection from the desert sun.”

The mall includes three levels, with a 10,000m2 hypermarket in the basement. It will also house cinemas, restaurants with terraces overlooking the marina, and spa facilities.

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Studio 505 has designed a series of cultural projects in China’s Jiangsu Province, includ-ing a conference centre that bears a striking resemblance to a lotus fl ower.

Spectator capacity of Qatar’s Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy(Page 40)

il l k d i

GCC staff at MZ Architects, the fi rm behind Aldar HQ in Abu Dhabi (Page 28)

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAMKEO - GLOBAL STAFF NUMBERS

The mall is located in the Lusail scheme.

The closure leads to 13 redundancies.

KEO - GLOBAL STAFF NUMBERS

979QATAR

645ABU DHABI

416KUWAIT

101DUBAI

21OMAN20

AL AIN

8KUALA

LUMPUR

5SAUDI ARABIA

4JORDAN

3BAHRAIN

m n


FRONT | DECEMBER

4

Qasim Mansoor has been appointed general manager of dwp’s UAE offi ce, to realign and enhance business development within the region for the group.

Mansoor added: “It is with pride and great enthusiasm that I take up the lead position at dwp’s UAE offi ce.

“The dwp group has a network, strength, resources, talent and unique qualities that few can rival, putting us at the forefront of the design industry.

“I look forward to taking these essential skills, along with this fantastic opportunity, personally and professionally, to remodel and build upon dwp’s reputation, as a world-class architecture and interior design fi rm.”

The appointment of Mansoor comes amid signifi cant changes to dwp’s opera-tions in the Middle East, to better support its regional projects and clientele.

Steven Miller has joined international design and architecture fi rm Perkins East-man as regional manager for MENA.

As part of an international management team, Miller will oversee the fi rm’s projects and growth in the MENA region.

Miller joins with more than 48 years of experience in architecture, design manage-ment, and construction administration for planning and infrastructure.

He served as the regional director and managing director for both Kohn Pederson Fox and FXFowle, as well as Planning and Design Consultants, a fi rm he founded.

Miller is a founder of the AIA’s Middle East Chapter, a member of the MENA Region Board of the Urban Land Institute, and a past president of the AIA Continental Europe Chapter.

PEOPLE

dwp appoints general manager for UAE

New MENA regional manager for Perkins Eastman architects

Dubai Metro is a modern day gem. It is a great success as it represents a truly global initiative. It is also a project with a unique identity.”Alaa Mandour, founder, KMA Design Consultants

We want to deliver the best World Cup

ever, and while that is a high

ambition, it is one we believe we

are able to do.”

Joachim Schares, Albert Speers +

Partners

With developments such as Masdar and Musheireb, we are transforming the desert to create wonderful living conditions.”Ibrahim Al Jadar, MD for Arab EngineeringBureau

60 SECOND INTERVIEWADRIAN SMITH, PARTNER AS + GGYou also designed the 82-hig-Did your work on Burj Khalifahelp with the design of King-dom Tower?

Yes, it’s an evolution of the de-sign of the Burj Khalifa. It’s an improvement on the building’s ability to shed vortices and the tapered shape allows us to cut down on materials. It does have its disadvantages - every fl oor is dif-ferent so it takes longer to design each fl oor.

Are you work-ing on any otherprojects in the Middle East?

We [Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architec-ture] are working on three buildings in Riyadh that are under construction. They range from 20 to 30 storeys. We are also doing the shopping mall for Kingdom Tower.

So not all super-tall towersthen? We wrote an article in Construction Weekcalled ‘King of skyscrapers’.

[Laughs] Yes, I guess that tall buildings are considered to be my thing.

als. It doesd entages gaf-

h + +itec-e

g on threeo edh that area a

Qasim Mansoor joins dwp’s UAE offi ce.

Steven Miller has 48 years of experience in

the construction and design industry.

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6

2SAUDI ARABIAHigh speed rail link moves forwardA consortium of Spanish and Saudi companies has been awarded Phase II of the 444km Haramain High Speed Rail Project (HHR). The project links the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City and King Abulaziz International Airport. Construction has now started on four stations along the line designed by Buro Happold, Foster + Partners and local architect Dar Al Riyadh.

3DUBAIMarina tower surpassesEiff el Tower heightTameer Holding’s Elite Residence in Dubai Marina has reached its fi nal height of 381m, almost 60m taller than the Eiff el Tower. The roof structure and mast have recently been completed, and the tower crane has now been removed. The focus for the site team will now be on the completion of the internal fi nishes. The AED1.7 bn tower includes a total of 697 apartments over 91 storeys and will house 1,500 residents.

1ALGERIAFoundation stone laid on mega mosqueThe foundation stone of the world’s third largest mosque was laid at an offi cial ceremony in Algiers, Algeria. The 400,000m2 Mosquée d’Algérie off ers space for up to 120,000 visitors daily, as well as a prayer hall for up to 37,000 people and a 265m-high minaret. Plans for the mosque have been drawn up by a German consor-tium consisting of KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten and engineering fi rm Krebs und Kiefer International.

3

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

1 2

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What keeps usmoving.


FRONT | DECEMBER

8

6

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

5HONG KONGAedas completes ‘green’ tower in Kowloon BayAedas has delivered a 28-storey mixed-use tower in Hong Kong which features extensive planting in the lower levels. The tower in Kowloon Bay contains offi ces, retail space and car parking within a rational box. The foliage in the car park fl oors is an attempt to ‘green’ the neighbourhood and improve air quality. It is hoped that Aedas’ building will encour-age more ingenious ideas within the dense cityscape.

4UNITED KINGDOMBroadway Malyan’s UK college opensBroadway Malyan, the architecture fi rm behind seven new schools in Abu Dhabi, has also celebrated the opening of the US$106m Bournville College campus in Birmingham, UK. Built by national contractor Shepherd Construction for developer St Modwen, the 23,226m2 school has a capacity for 15,000 students and consolidates three existing campuses. The building is hinged around a dramatic linear central spine.

6INNER MONGOLIALandmark museum for Gobi Desert cityA striking museum has been com-pleted in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia, designed by Chinese architecture fi rm MAD. The Art and City museum was commissioned by the municipal government of Ordos in 2005 and is envisaged to form an integral part of a city that has quickly emerged in the Gobi Desert. With its polished metal facade and spherical form, the museum pays homage to the culture and history of the region.

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FRONT | DECEMBER

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THE BIG PICTURE SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD

This dusk shot, taken by ITP staff photographer Lester Ali, captures one of the most inter-esting sections of the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. The focus of the image is the award-win-ning Rolex Tower by SOM, with its subtle yet beguiling facade. Combined with the metro sta-tion, this photograph paints a futuristic picture of Dubai.

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The SolutionThe ambitious concept was brought to life using a range of LED lighting

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com14

NEWS ANALYSIS | GREEN BUILD CONGRESS

ANALYSIS

TIME FOR ACTION

The Green Build Congress featured high profi le speakers including Adrian Smith


GREEN BUILD CONGRESS | NEWS ANALYSIS

R unning alongside The Big 5, last month’s Green Build Congress in Dubai gathered some of

the region’s key players in the green building movement.

One of the highlights, and cer-tainly the best attended session, was a keynote speech on November 22 from skyscraper supremo Adrian Smith, partner, AS + GG Architecture.

Speaking on the subject ‘sustain-able landmark buildings’, Smith ran through the sustainable elements in his impressive portfolio, including Burj Khalifa and the Kingdom Tower. As a specialist in high rise design, Smith noted that tall towers are now a fact of life. “60 million people a year are moving into urban areas - there is a great deal of pressure on cities to grow, and to grow vertically.

“By 2050, it is estimated that 60% of the global population will live in cities. High density is a part of the present and the future. I think it will get even denser as we move into the 21st century.”

Smith emphasised the need to ensure that existing buildings are energy effi cient. “Our immediate aim is to address the existing stock.”

The following day was billed as an ‘Action Forum’, with a series of speak-ers and panel discussions, including a six-person debate on the subject ‘why are buildings in the Middle East not sustainable enough?’

Panel moderator Dr Sadek Owainati, co-founder and board member, Emirates Green Building Council, said: “It is important that there is a commitment to start in the right direction, and a leadership.

“I would ask the government to act as a leader, by actually making the

buildings that belong to the authori-ties become green. The bottom line is to provide better environmental conditions within the building to improve the quality of the air.”

Paul Bierman Lytle, director of sustainability, IMCC Green, said: “The Gulf region can lead the world in demonstrating that sustainability is profi table. We have got to change this myth that to go green is a compromise on culture and economy.”

He continued: “We have to fi nd examples that demonstrate profi t-ability. There are very few sustainable communities in the world that can demonstrate this.”

Lytle added that regional govern-ments should give developers an incentive to perform better, such as a rebate.

Ben Piper, senior architect, Atkins, remarked: “One of the real problems in Dubai is the slew of half-fi nished buildings. They are essentially ruins.

There is an opportunity to reinterpret these buildings in an alternative way. I look forward to the time when there are diff erent layers to the city.”

Piper suggested that a long-term commitment to sustainability could be achieved by encouraging perma-nent stakeholders in the community.

He commented: “Dubai and the Gulf region is a fantastic marketplace for business, for projects and activi-ties. But ultimately many members of that population don’t have the long term stakeholder status.

“The United States had highly multicultural origins where people were given stakeholder status in the country, and I think that is part of its ultimate success.”

Owainati concluded: “This issue of sustainability is so multifaceted, but I would say that we have got to bring in the human scale to our activities, whether it’s in the design or the way we operate these facilities.”

The Green

Build Congress

off ered new

thoughts on

an oft-debated

subject.

“60 million people a year are moving into urban areas - there is a great deal of pressure on cities to grow, and to grow vertically. Adrian Smith, Partner, AS + GG Architecture


COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

16

This month the UAE cel-ebrates its 40th birthday. It goes without saying that the past four decades

have produced reams of fantastic architecture that’s admired through-out the world.

The icons started emerging soon after independence, with the 1979 Dubai World Trade Centre springing up on a then-barren Sheikh Zayed Road. More celebrated landmarks followed, with the National Bank of Dubai headquarters on the creek and Atkin’s much-photographed Burj Al Arab in 1999.

Then came the 2000s and the staggering building boom. Granted, the period left the country with

Putting practicalities aside, and based on the architecture alone, it must be said that Dubai Metro is a triumph.”

EDITOR’S LETTER

many ill-conceived schemes. Howev-er, I’d argue that the decade provided the highest number of world-class buildings. This was partly due to the sheer amount of construction but also thanks to the involvement of quality architects and clients.

In the last ten years or so, the UAE has gained an array of jaw-dropping projects such as Emirates Towers, Burj Khalifa, the Yas Hotel, Ferrari World and Dubai Metro.

I have a new-found appreciation for the latter scheme since becoming a regular user. There’s no doubt that it’s a highly-effi cient, clean and or-derly system. Yet, due to the location of the stations - combined with the regional attachment to the automo-

GOLDEN TICKET

bile - the metro remains unused by a large part of the population.

Earlier this year, Middle East Architect held a roundtable discus-sion with a number of top architects, and the subject eventually turned to Dubai Metro. Richard Marshall, joint CEO of Woods Bagot asserted that the metro is a “test programme” that “doesn’t capture any major population centres” and fails to fulfi l a “broad sustainability agenda”.

Graeme Fisher, partner at GAJ, added: “If the metro works for you it’s great, but at the moment it doesn’t work for everybody.”

I completely agree with Fisher’s statement. My previous apart-ment was a 20 minute walk from the nearest station. Now I live just two minutes away from a station, as demonstrated from this photograph taken from my balcony (courtesy of Lester Ali).

Putting practicalities aside, and based on the architecture alone, it must be said that Dubai Metro is a triumph. Aedas and Atkins managed to create a station architecture that is far superior to any other metro system I have seen in the world.

I love the shell-like forms, the airy interior spaces and the use of tactile materials. When I’m not using the system, I can spend many hours sit-ting on my balcony and watching the activity inside the futuristic hubs.

This month I’m heading back to London for Christmas. I think it’s safe to say that next month’s column won’t be a tribute to the Tube.

Dubai Metro is one of the UAE’s fi nest feats

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

Dubai Metro deserves world-class status.


COMMENT | GEORGINA CHAKAR

18

At the beginning of the last century, an avant-garde and contempo-rary group of designers

led by Le Corbusier, Rudolf Steiner and Frank Lloyd Wright began a movement which off ered a dialogue with nature.

Wright famously stated: “Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain.”

In 1959, the architect completed his fi rst public project - the Gug-genheim Museum in New York. The building is a revolutionary artwork that keeps encouraging designers to think outside the box, with an inge-nious shell-like structure.

The Guggenheim is a revolutionary artwork that keeps encouraging designers to think outside the box.”

OPINION

Less than 20 years later, Malaysian architect Dr Ken Yeang made a name for himself as a ‘green architect’.

Supporting the idea of vertical living, Yeang embraces tall buildings as an urban necessity. Being diago-nally diff erent from the sculptural architects who achieve their design ideas through building masses, Yeang strives for what he calls ‘ecomimesis’ in buildings; a way to copy and paste nature into high rise designs. If people are committed to vertical living then vertical vegetation should reach them no matter how high they are in the air.

Even though the old masters such as Wright and Le Corbusier did not work in the UAE, they infl uenced other architects, such as Zaha Hadid.

Hadid’s rich portfolio of UAE proj-ects includes the Dancing Towers, the

Performing Art Centre on Saadiyat Island, and the recently completed Sheikh Zayed Bridge. The sculptural masterpieces represent her inspira-tion from the environment, with features such as leaf-like windows.

The architect describes her Performing Art Centre as a ‘biologi-cal analogy’ with primary compo-nents that will be ‘transformed from abstract diagrams into architectonic design’. Although this kind of link with nature leads to a sculptural design, it will not necessarily be a ‘green’ design.

Close to the Performing Art Centre on Saadiyat Island is the upcoming Louvre Abu Dhabi by French archi-tect Jean Nouvel. The building will be an excellent example of a sculptural building raised from the grounds of the traditional components with an integration with nature.

Similar to Ken Yeang’s ecologi-cal and sustainable buildings, comes the lounge of the Eco Tower in Abu Dhabi, developed by Connection Real Estate. Being a residential building, the provision of a large amount of greenery to the tenant’s doorstep proves that vertical living can keep human in touch with nature and make it enjoyable.

It appears that sculptural archi-tecture is made with a strong design to please the public, beautify the en-vironment and provide functionality for the end users. To create a building with vertical urban planning and sculptural components is a challenge for all disciplines involved.

Architects keep coming back to nature for inspiration

NATURAL ORDER

Georgina

Chakar is an

Australian

architect and a

Master of Urban

Planning. She

works in Abu

Dhabi.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.

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20

THE INTERVIEW

I think that we have now truly passed the era of fantasy, whereby unpractical form-driven architecture is over.

Iran-born architect Fariborz Hatam has just been appointed design director for dwp. Oliver Ephgrave catches up with the outspoken MEA judge and contributor

L ess than a week into his new role as design director of dwp, Fariborz Hatam appears to be at home in

the fi rm’s sleek white-washed space in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. “It’s a nice offi ce, isn’t it,” remarked the 34-year-old, who featured on this year’s judg-ing panel for the 2011 Middle East Architect Awards.

For a young architect, Hatam has amassed an impressive portfolio. Born in Isfahan, Iran, and raised in Australia, the former Aedas director has worked on various projects across the UAE, Qatar, Iran, Afghanistan, Croatia and Australia.

Career highlights include a leading role in two major Aedas schemes - a plot in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and Aino Mina in Afghanistan. Hatam is particularly proud of the latter, which won both Residential and Sustainable Project of Year at the Middle East Architect Awards 2011.

“Aino Mina is a project that gives back to the Afghani people, a popula-tion that has suff ered considerably in the past 30 years. It was very chal-lenging as we were not able to travel to the site. We had to build a physical

and digital model of the area, which is called Khandagar,” he remarks.

Another of Hatam’s signature projects is Dubai Mosque, a con-temporary place of worship that has never been realised. The architect adds: “Dubai Mosque wasn’t a built project. The aim was to increase the awareness of Islam in a country that has an 80-85% expat population. I think it has done the right thing in that respect.”

When asked the reasons for his choice of career, he replies: “Being an architect is the job dreams are made of. You see the lines you once drew amazingly transformed into a living, breathing space, which is used and viewed by thousands, if not millions, of people from all nations. Later still, the structure you designed on that simple piece of paper is a recognised icon, recorded in history and re-membered for all time. This is a very powerful magnet.”

After completing his architectural studies in Australia and working in the country, Hatam moved to the Middle East to join Woods Bagot’s Doha offi ce where he worked on the acclaimed Qatar Science and

Technology Park. He subsequently switched to the fi rm’s Dubai offi ce prior to joining Aedas. Regarding his relocation to the Middle East, he says: “It was a chance to be part of history.

“There might not be another boom like Dubai’s during my lifetime. It intrigued me to come out here and I’ve now spent nearly eight years in Dubai. I’ve been very lucky as I’ve been exposed to many international projects which you never would get in the rest of the world.”

Hatam asserts that the UAE has learned from its mistakes and is focusing more on infrastructure. He comments: “Lessons have been learned from the past and Dubai is pulling back from building projects - it’s good to see the metro’s Green Line up and running.

“I think that Dubai is a place that will never die. It is the Las Vegas of the Middle East. It off ers a great lifestyle with education and shopping facilities - everything you can fi nd in a Western country. Many companies put their headquarters in Dubai but work in other countries in the region.”

When it comes to regional op-portunities, he asserts: “The Middle

PASTURESNEW

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.constructionweekonline.com

INTERVIEW | FARIBORZ HATAM

21

FARIBORZ HATAM | INTERVIEW

www.constructionweekonline.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

22 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.constructionweekonline.com


TWO MEA AWARDS WON BY

AEDAS’ AINO MINA

East is going to be interesting in the next two of three years. Given the economic downturn of late, as well as the recent instability in the Middle East, which had a tremendous impact on the construction industry here, I think we have to remain both realistic and optimistic.

“If we compare this region with the rest of the world, then I would say that the outlook nevertheless remains positive for 2012. The only way is up and I am therefore excited about the opportunities to come. I believe that architects should shift their focus towards public buildings, such as educational institutions, schools, hos-pitals and urban planning, to focus on social architecture.”

In terms of geographical hotspots, Hatam states that ‘danger’ locations are worth exploring. “I’d say that 80% of companies ignore them. Iran,

WPC protects primeval forests. Our first objective was to develop the technology to create a composite wood superior to natural wood in order to combat the thoughtless lumbering of forest trees.

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Iraq, Afghanistan and even Pakistan - these are places that have a lot of potential as they have to develop. In 2013 Libya will come back up, as will African regions.”

Closer to home, he believes that Qatar will get into gear in mid-2012, once the metro starts progress-ing. Hatam continues: “I think that we have now truly passed the era of fantasy, whereby unpractical form driven architecture is over. Now architects can refocus and concentrate on standards, effi ciency and practicality, in order to win work. The projects have become smaller in scale, but with a much more careful planning and feasibility. Therefore, this will be a challenge for architects used to vast amounts of freedom and

only the best will survive.”Hatam has a strong belief that dwp

is on course to become one of those elite fi rms.

He adds: “It’s clear that dwp is a fi rm with big ideas. It has the right

tools and it is getting the right people in. I hope to bring

a fresh, creative energy and a driving force to push the boundaries of architectural design, as well as expand projects

into new territories. “I’ve moved from a

very large practice and I’m trying to bring in that experience - for instance, what Aedas and Fosters + Partners do to win competitions. A fi rm is only successful based on lead-ership. With the design values and en-trepreneurship of Brenton Mauriello, our CEO, we can’t go wrong.”

PORTFOLIO:Fariborz Hatam

23

FARIBORZ HATAM | INTERVIEW

www.constructionweekonline.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

DUBAI MOSQUE (Concept)The conceptual Dubai mosque was Hatam’s solution for a

city that he believed to be moving away from true Islamic

architecture. Designed without a brief or a client, the architect’s

scheme was said to come “from the heart”. Hatam took a three-

month calligraphy course to fully understand how light would

fi lter through the Arabic words on the walls of his building.

AINO MINA, AFGHANISTAN (Design)This 2 million m2 community scheme by Aedas, which won both

the Residential Project and Sustainable Project of the Year

at the Middle East Architect Awards, will provide over 2000

homes for the rapidly expanding population of Afghanistan.

Situated in the province of Kandahar, the masterplan hinges on

a wide central park.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12 .11 | www.designmena.com24

SHEIKH’S PALACE, Saudi ArabiaPositioned in a secluded beach location on the Red Sea, this

Aedas project aims to create a centrepiece in a tranquil oasis.

The design brief required a mix of residential and recreational

development, which includes a palace, villas, gardens, sports

fi elds, health spa, leisure attraction and lush gardens with an

understanding of water in Islamic gardens and the Quran.

MASDAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEIGHBOURHOOD, Abu DhabiAt Aedas, Hatam was design director for a plot in a mixed-use

development situated in Masdar City, including commercial,

residential, retail, hospitality and community elements. The

project forms part of the fi rst phase of the US$22 billion

masterplan for the world’s fi rst carbon-neutral city.


the SPIRITof WATER

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POWER 25 | FEATURE

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com 27

POWER 25 | FEATURE

Top spot goes to Kuwait-

based fi rm KEO, with its

whopping team of 2,190

staff in the GCC.

The multi-disciplinary

practice boasts regional

offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al

Ain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,

Bahrain and Oman.

Key projects include the QP

District in Doha (pictured) and the

Kuwait Investment Authority’s new

headquarters in a 200m-tall tower

In Abu Dhabi, KEO is working on

Nation Towers on the Corniche,

and is also behind several school

projects for ADEC.

In addition, KEO provided full

design and supervision services

for 23 Marina in Dubai Marina,

which is now recognised as the

tallest residential tower in the

world at 395m.

1

23

KEO2,190 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 240 ARCHITECTS

This year’s runner up is UK-based

Atkins, a company behind some of

the Gulf’s most postcard-friendly

buildings such as the Burj

Al Arab (pictured) and

the spiky Bahrain World

Trade Centre.

The fi rm has been

working in the region for

more than 40 years and has

10 offi ces in the UAE, KSA, Qatar,

Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Atkin’s yearly revenue for the

Middle East, as of March 2011,

totalled US$218.5m.

ATKINS1,770 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 200 ARCHITECTS

One of the surprise fi nds

this year is local fi rm

Eng Adnan Saff arini

(EAS), which boasts 550

staff and an undisclosed

number of architects.

The company was formed in

1968 and has offi ces in Abu Dhabi,

Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain, Ras Al

Khaimah and Qatar.

A key project involves the

provision of two 400-bed General

Education Hospitals for the

Ministry of Health in Iraq. The

complex covers 10,000m2 and

construction is underway.

EAS550 STAFF IN THE GCC


FEATURE | POWER 25

4

Founded in 1966 as the fi rst

architectural and engineering

consulting fi rm in Qatar, Arab

Engineering Bureau (AEB) took off

in 1991 when it was acquired

by current managing

director Ibrahim

Mohamed Al Jaider.

The fi rm has regional

offi ces in Doha and Abu

Dhabi with further bases in

Manila and Kuala Lumpur. Key

projects include the tallest hotel

in Qatar, the 62-level Kempinski

Residences and Suites, and Doha’s

Al Sharq Village & Spa resort.

AEB404 STAFF IN THE GCC WITH 70 ARCHITECTS

With offi ces in Dubai, KSA, Qatar,

Iraq, Libya and Egypt, Dewan

has taken major strides since its

formation in Baghdad in 1971.

The company has grown from a

two-man fi rm in 1984 to one of the

DEWAN246 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 90 ARCHITECTS

region’s largest practices

with 246 staff and 90

architects in the GCC.

Led by founder Mohamed

Al Assam and executive

director Ammar Al Assam,

the total consolidated revenue in

2010, in the Middle East, totalled

AED108.7m (US$29.6m).

The company was behind the

jaw-dropping Al Bateen School for

Aldar Academies, which recently

opened in Abu Dhabi and featured

as a Building Focus in MEA’s

October issue.

Dewan also designed the 750-

key Fairmont Hotel and Resort

(pictured) for Breakwater Island

in Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere, it is

working on a 28-fl oor tower in Al

Khobar, KSA.

5

Headquartered in Lebanon, MZ

Architects has further offi ces

in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Libya, and

Morocco. The company has an

impressively large workforce in

MZ ARCHITECTS200 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 70 ARCHITECTS

6

the GCC, with a total of 200 staff

comprising 70 architects.

The practice’s most famous

design is undoubtedly the

curvaceous Aldar Headquarters

building in Abu Dhabi, one of

the most quirky and distinctive

buildings in a country that’s

known for audacious

developments.

Aldar HQ was voted the ‘Best

Futuristic Design’ by The Building

Exchange (BEX) Conference held

in Spain.

The shape of this project

- the fi rst circular building of

its kind in the Middle East - is

achieved through the use

of a structural diagrid, a

diagonal grid of steel.

Another key scheme

for the company is

Eko Atlantic City in

Lagos, Nigeria, in which

MZ Architects provided the

masterplan.

The development consists of

business, residential, commercial

and leisure areas spread on

17,000m2 of reclaimed land. The

scheme will be home to a quarter

of a million people.

As well as masterplanning, MZ

Architects will also be responsible

for architectural, engineering and

construction management of a

number of towers in the city.

FEATURE | POWER 25

Scotland-based fi rm RMJM

has long been a regional

stalwart, although its

GCC staff numbers have

shrunk since the downturn.

It is currently working on

two mixed-use towers in the King

Abdullah Financial District in

Riyadh, a luxury commercial offi ce

in Manama, Bahrain, a shopping

mall in Abu Dhabi and a fi nancial

education facility in Bahrain.

Its Middle East offi ces are located

in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Bahrain

and Muscat.

RMJM was presented with the

‘Overall Project of the Year’ and

‘Commercial/Mixed Use Built

Award’ at the 2011 Cityscape

Awards for Architecture in

Emerging Markets, for Capital

Gate in Abu Dhabi.

The much-anticipated project,

which is the world’s inclined tower,

is due to open this month.

RMJM178 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 65 ARCHITECTS

7

Acquired by the Stantec Group in

December 2010, US-based Burt

Hill is another fi rm to have

cut GCC staff numbers in

recent years.

Nevertheless, the fi rm

still makes the top 10,

with 140 employees in the

UAE including 34 architects.

Burt Hill’s Dubai branch opened

in 2003 to tap into the emirate’s

emerging real estate market.

Among the fi rm’s UAE projects are

the multi-billion dirham Al Mafraq

BURT HILL140 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 34 ARCHITECTS

8

Hospital, ADEC Headquarters,

and the masterplan for Union

Properties’ 3.5 million m2 Motor

City in Dubai. Key components of

the project are Dubai Autodrome

and UpTown Motor City.

The Stantec Group off ers services

in planning, engineering,

architecture, surveying,

environmental sciences,

project management

and project economics

for infrastructure and

facilities projects, with

approximately 11,000 operating

out of 170 locations worldwide.

Its acquisition of Burt Hill is part

of its quest to become one of the

world’s leading design practices.

RW ARMSTRONG126 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 30 ARCHITECTS


Founded in 1961 in Indianapolis,

RW Armstrong has 18 offi ces in

the USA, UAE, Libya, Egypt, Guam

and Azerbaijan.

Its UAE offi ces, in Abu

Dhabi and Dubai, were

established in 2006 and

now employ a total of 126

staff with 30 architects.

Key individuals in the regional

fi rm include vice president Mona

Salem, development sector

leader Jeff rey Decker and Zaky

Abdulrahman, BD regional leader.

In addition to architecture,

the fi rm off ers planning,

design, interiors, programme

management, project

management and construction

management.

Its expertise includes building

services, infrastructure, aviation,

transportation and water services.

RW Armstrong’s Sun and

Sky Towers (left) won the GCC

Residential Project of the Year at

the Construction Week Awards

2011. The project was acclaimed

for its innovative technical

strategies to solve complex

construction challenges.

9


POWER 25 | FEATURE

Winner of Large Architecture

Practice of the Year, at the Middle

East Architect Awards 2011,

Woods Bagot is behind some of

the GCC’s most recognisable

landmarks such as the

stunning Qatar Science

and Technology Park in

Doha (right).

The fi rm was established

in Adelaide by former

architect-in-chief for the South

Australian Government, Edward

John Woods.

Since then the fi rm has grown

into a signifi cant multi-disciplinary

practice operating in Asia,

Australia, the Middle East and

North America.

WOODS BAGOT120 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 100 ARCHITECTS

10

Established in 1938, Norr

has 900 professionals in

25 cities globally. In the

GCC it employs 110 staff

including 44 architects.

Over the past 20 years,

the group has worked on icons

such as Atlantis-The Palm, Burj

Khalifa, Emirates Towers and

the National Bank of Dubai

Headquarters.

Its signifi cant projects in Abu

Dhabi include Le Meridien Hotel,

Sir Baniyas Island Resort and the

expansion of the UAE Central

Bank. In Qatar, the practice

completed the striking Al Hitmi

complex, which has become a

symbol of the nation.

NORR GROUP110 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 44 ARCHITECTS

11Naga Architects was founded

by Dr Shams Naga in 2000 and

has experienced steady growth,

currently employing 110 staff

including 42 architects. This year

the practice claimed the inaugural

Building Information Modelling

Award at the Middle East Architect

Awards, for its exciting Sawari

Residences project in Al Khobar,

Saudi Arabia.

Elsewhere the company is

working on the Al Khobar Hotel

in Saudi Arabia, a 21-storey

residential scheme called

Octavian Tower in Dubai,

Ajman University Housing

and a blimp terminal

building in Dubai.

NAGA ARCHITECTS110 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 42 ARCHITECTS

12

With a total of

107 staff in the

Gulf region,

dwp employs 59

professionals in its

Dubai offi ce and 48 staff

in Bahrain.

It recently appointed Qasim

Mansoor as general manager and

Fariborz Hatam as design director

for its Dubai offi ce.

Key projects include the FTV

Hotel in Dubai, the Maysan Towers

in Abu Dhabi and the Makkah

Cultural Gateway project.

Led by CEO Brenton Mauriello,

dwp’s Dubai offi ce was formed in

2007 while the Bahrain base was

established in 2005.

DWP107 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 24 ARCHITECTS

13


FEATURE | POWER 25

GAJ is one of the longest-

established UK practices in the

UAE. It is behind several of Dubai’s

modern gems, such as Dubai

Creek Golf Club, Bab Al Shams,

Arabia Court, Residence & Spa at

The One and Only Royal Mirage.

The fi rm is also working on

multi-million dollar projects in

GAJ105 STAFF IN THE GCC WITH 38 ARCHITECTS 14

Egypt, Tunisia and Oman

that are in various stages

of development.

With new offi ces in Al

Barsha, the management

consists of six partners, fi ve

associate partners and eight

associates. Managing partner

Brian Johnson won Principal of the

Year at the Middle East Architect

Awards 2011 and was described

by the judging panel as “an icon

of the Middle East architectural

landscape.”

AEDAS 100 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 70 ARCHITECTS

15Aedas’ Dubai offi ce was

established in 2004 and

the company now has

offi ces in Abu Dhabi,

Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi

Arabia. Its expanding

portfolio in Dubai includes the

82-storey Ocean Heights, the

twin offi ce towers at Boulevard

Plaza (above) and the 123-storey

Pentominium in Dubai Marina.

It is also working on

New Doha International

Airport in Qatar. Middle

East turnover for 2010

totalled US$10m.

HOK100 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 20 ARCHITECTS

HOK appears to have

expanded its presence in

the Middle East, with a

total of 100 staff in Dubai,

Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Notable projects in the region

include the massive US$10bn King

Abdullah University for Science &

Technology (KAUST) in Thawul,

Saudi Arabia, which is being built

for Saudi Aramco.

The fi rm is also the design

architect for the US$2bn New

Doha International Airport, the

New Kuwait Central Bank (above)

and the ADNOC headquarters in

Abu Dhabi.

HOK was established in St.

Louis, Missouri in 1955. The name

derived from the surnames of its

three founders: George Hellmuth,

Gyo Obata and George Kasabaum.

The fi rst offi ce in the GCC was

established in Dubai in 1999 and

annual turnover in the region is

estimated at US$20m.

16


FEATURE | POWER 25

Formed in 2002 in Dubai, DSA

has delivered several landmark

hospitality projects in the region.

Its key schemes include

Madinat Jumeirah’s Mina

A’ Salam and Al Qasr,

Park Hyatt, The Palace,

Qamardeen and Al Manzil.

It is also behind Old Town

Residences, Fairmont Hotel

and Residences and Golden Mile

Residences on Jumeirah Palm,

as well as the One & Only Royal

Mirage and the new One & Only

The Palm. The offi ce is led by

managing director Steve Kelshaw.

DSA 80 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 48 ARCHITECTS

17

BSBG70 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 22 ARCHITECTS

Under the guidance of group

chairman John Mills, BSBG has

been operational in the Middle

East since 1976.

Having completed IKEA on

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, BSBG was

awarded the design of the IKEA

store in Doha, which has recently

begun construction.

In addition to the IKEA

projects, BSBG is involved

in the City of Lights - a

mixed-use development

under construction in

Reem Island, Abu Dhabi - that

comprises a 60-storey commercial

tower, a 26-storey hotel and a

34-storey residential block.

It also worked on the

refurbishment of the previously

BSBG-designed Emirates Golf

Club (below), one of Dubai’s most

elegant leisure schemes.

18P&T54 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 11 ARCHITECTS

Based in Hong Kong, the

P&T Group has a history

stretching back 140

years. It has actively

been involved in the

Middle East since 1998 and

established an offi ce in Dubai back

in September 2004.

Currently the fi rm employs 54

professionals in the GCC with a

total of 11 architects.

An Abu Dhabi offi ce was

opened in January 2007, to

coincide with the awarding of a

major scheme in Reem Island. In

the same year it started work on

the Al-Dana project in Raha Beach

and two hotels in the Mina al-Arab

resort in Ras al-Khaimah.

Elsewhere in the GCC, P&T is

working on the 70-storey Burj

Rafal tower in Riyadh.

19


POWER 25 | FEATURE

In 2011 the UK’s Broadway Malyan

celebrated the opening of seven

schools designed for the Abu

Dhabi Education Council (ADEC),

including the Abu Dhabi West

School (right).

This year, Broadway Malyan

also delivered the concept

masterplan for the ‘10x10’

project in Baghdad, Iraq,

comprising a 17km2 urban

regeneration and extension

of Sadr City.

The project is named after

its US$10bn value and 10-year

delivery timeframe.

Other projects include the

masterplan and design of the Al

Bandar residential project on Al

Raha Beach, and the Mina Zayed

masterplan, also in Abu Dhabi.

BROADWAY MALYAN48 STAFF IN THE GCC WITH 28 ARCHITECTS

Founded by Dr Mohamed

Alaa Mandour, KMA

established its Cairo

offi ce in 1990, followed

by a UAE offi ce in 1995.

The fi rm subsequently

opened offi ces in KSA and Oman,

and has built up a total workforce

of 45 with 12 architects.

Key projects include the Makkah

Gate aff ordable housing scheme,

the Icon development in Al

Khobar, the urban development of

Barkah City in Oman, the Ras Al

Hamra development in Muscat and

a Seven Seas complex, also in the

Omani capital.

KMA 45 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 12 ARCHITECTS

Established by Canadian-Iranian

Amir V. Rahbar and UAE national

Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al

Banna, Dubarch has three

architectural and interior design

offi ces in the GCC.

The Dubai offi ce was set up in

1986 while an Abu Dhabi practice

followed in 2007.

This year, Dubarch opened an

offi ce in Qatar, bringing the total

number of staff to 43 with nine

architects.

One of the company’s

key projects is Bayswater,

a commercial scheme in

Business Bay, Dubai.

DUBARCH43 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 9 ARCHITECTS

This year’s

runner up for

the Boutique

fi rm of the

Year at the MEA

Awards, Drawlink

Group has a total of 40 staff in the

GCC, with 20 architects.

Recent projects in the Gulf

region include the Radisson Royal

and Hues boutique hotel, both

located in Dubai.

The company recently

celebrated the opening of

the convention centre for the

Radisson Royal, located on Sheikh

Zayed Road.

DRAWLINK GROUP40 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 20 ARCHITECTS

20

23

22

21


FEATURE | POWER 25

Formed in January 2008,

Abu Dhabi’s Bead

Architects is led by

managing director/

partner Muhannad Assam

and comprises 35 staff with

26 architects.

In 2010 the fi rm recorded a

turnover of AED13.7m (US$3.73m).

Bead recently picked up a gong

at the 2011 Cityscape Awards

BEAD ARCHITECTS35 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 26 ARCHITECTS

for Emerging Markets, for its

Mangrove Elite Residence in Reem

Island. The scheme was lauded in

the ‘Residential-Future Category’.

Another key project is

an under-construction

residential scheme in

Danet Abu Dhabi.

Bead has also designed

Al Nasser Tower, a Class A

offi ce scheme in the Emirati

capital city.

The project is most notable

for its column-free fl oor space

spanning between vertical steel

support trusses.

Winner of the 2010 MEA

Award for Boutique Firm

of the Year, X-Architects

was founded in 2003 in

Dubai by Ahmed Al-Ali and

Farid Esmaeil.

The company currently employs

30 staff , including 16 architects,

which was just enough to make it

into the top 25.

Since its inauguration, the

company has won a further two

MEA Awards, for Best Mixed-use

Project in 2009 and Principal of

the Year in 2010.

Key scheme include the Mosque

for 2000 Prayers in Abu Dhabi

(below), which incorporates an

existing sculpture plaza to create

an attractive public space.

One of the fi rm’s most radical

projects is Xeritown, which is

currently on hold in Dubai. The

scheme for 7,000 residents looks

at the desert and local climate and

works with it rather than against it.

X-Architects has also carried out

the urban design masterplan for

Al Nasseem in Al Ain. The under

construction scheme has been

chosen by the UPC’s Estidama as

one of its fi rst pilot projects.

X-ARCHITECTS30 STAFF IN THE GCCWITH 16 ARCHITECTS

24

25

39www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

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MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 63

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INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMATIC STUDIES

Architect:

Henning

Larsen/ Buro

Happold

Location:

Riyadh, KSA

Winner of Institutional & Cultural Project of the Year, this scheme will provide Saudi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) with a new 46,000m2 building to house facilities for the Institute of Diplo-matic Studies and Consular Affairs Department. Located in Riyadh the building contains an auditorium, lecture halls, library, classrooms, offices, a large hall for visa applicants and office space.

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI

Architect:

Benoy

Location: Yas

Island, Abu

Dhabi

Winner of the Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest in-door theme park. Designed by Benoy for Aldar Properties, the project fea-tures over 20 rides and attractions including the world’s fastest roll-ercoaster. The total surface area of the colossal red roof is 200,000m2, while the perimeter of the building is 2,200m2. The highest point of the structure is 45 metres.

AINO MINA

Architect:

Aedas

Location:

Kandahar,

Afghanistan

This two million m2 commu-nity scheme, which won both the Residential Project and Sustainable Project of the Year at the Middle East Architect Awards, will provide over 2,000 homes. Situated in Kandahar, the site gently slopes and has a backdrop of mountains. A wide central park runs through the masterplan and links the retail area at the southern end with the Friday mosque at the northern end.

2M METRES2

TOTAL AREA OF THE SCHEME

DOHA TWIN TOWERS

Architect:

GHD Global Pty

Ltd

Location:

Lusail, Qatar

This billowing twin tower project in Qatar was designed by GHD Global and is designed to meet the client’s target net floor area ratio of 398%. Overall water consumption will be reduced by 40% though the use of native plantation, water reducing fixtures, storm water re-use and grey water treatment strategies. The building also aims to produce 5% of its energy from renewable sources, such as photovoltaics.

398%TARGET NET FLOOR

AREA RATIO

EKO ATLANTIC CITY

Architect:

MZ Architects

Location:

Lagos, Nigeria

This ambitious new city in Nigeria responds to coastal erosion and aims to relieve pressure on the congested city of Lagos, which is currently inhabited by 15.5 million people. Estimates of urban use predict that Eko Atlantic City will be home to a quarter of a million people when complete. MZ Architects is the urban planner for the new city and will also be responsible for a number of towers in the scheme.

MIRDIF CITY CENTRE

Architect:

Hyder

Consulting/

RTKL

Location:

Dubai

The first LEED Gold accredited retail outlet in the Middle East, the AED3 billion Mirdif City Centre opened in March 2010 and achieved its green certification in May 2011. At the peak of construction, 22 cranes and 10,000 workers were on site. Developed by mall specialist Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Mirdif City Centre features a gross floor area of 300,000m2, with 450 shops and parking for over 7,000 cars.

10,000 PEAK NUMBER OF WORKERS ON SITE

MAYSAN RESIDENCES

Architect:

DWP

Location:

Abu Dhabi

Currently in the design development phase, Maysan Residences is a pair of striking residential tower buildings in the Al Najmat district of Reem Island, Abu Dhabi with an expected completion date of 2013. Designed by dwp, the project aims to achieve a 2 Pearl Rating with Estidama. The roof structure contains solar energy technology while the tower forms are devised to minimise the exposure to excessive heat gain.

337 TOTAL NUMBER OF APARTMENT UNITS

45

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THE VERTICAL MEDINAArchitect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Location: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

CASE STUDY

www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE PROJECT One of many Middle East projects

by Chicago-based titan SOM, the Vertical Medina is a mixed-use scheme in Saudi Arabia. It uses the traditional Arab medina city form – with its interlocking alleyways and

THE CONCEPT One of the defining characteristics

is the use of the traditional Ara-bian courtyard which offers both privacy and respite from the heat. Each apartment has its own private courtyard, interspersed with open-air gardens for all residents. The shared spaces serve as terraces for a fitness centre, event room and children’s play area.

No two apartments in the Vertical Medina are alike - each has a different layout. The office floors are more regular, with a linear plan.

courtyards – to create a ‘vertical network’ with residential, office and retail components.

Clad in limestone from local sources, the project is slated for completion in late 2012. The top six

floors contain 55 luxury residential apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, with a total area of 18,000m2. The lower seven floors are dedicated to Class A office space with a total area of 21,000m2.

55NUMBER OF LUXURY

APARTMENTS


AINO MINA

Architect:

Aedas

Location:

Kandahar

Afghan

2MMETREES2

TOTAL AREA OFF THESCHEME

esign development sidences is a pair of

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FURNITURELONDON CHAIR

BoConcept

The new London chair from BoConcept, available in both upholstered and pure shell versions, has its roots in the Scandinavian design style. The core of the London chair is the seat which is produced in high-quality FSC approved wood. Customers can pick the slim steel legs for a light minimalistic look or the solid oak for a more natural Nordic feel.

APPRLB GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Global construction and property advisor Rider Levett Bucknall launched its free cost-based app for desktop PCs and smartphones with insight into global, regional and local construction markets without any fees. It includes global cost comparison, tender price index data and worldwide construction market analysis. The firm hopes it will be useful for architects to check benchmark costs when making design decisions. RLB’s location specific cost data helps provide a range of current expected building costs for specified building types across the world.

BATHROOMFUSION II BY WET

Jan Puylaert

Designed by Jan Puylaert and produced by WET Italia, Fusion II is a freestanding LED illuminated sink. Made with 100% recyclable polyethylene, it can have an AC5 rim-spout, either with a rim-mixer or side faucets. A column in dark grey can be fitted with a range of nine colours with optional RGB LED illumination.


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FURNITUREBAN STOOLS

Esrawe

These stools created by Mexican studio, Esrawe, are reminiscent of furniture used in African cultures - and in America during pre-Hispanic times - as symbols of status, tradition, religion and identity. They have been developed from certified, solid walnut, tzalam, and beech wood, produced through a process of cutting, assembling and lathing by craftsmen, and finished with natural oils.

BOOKTOWARDS A NEW INTERIOR

Lois Weinthal

Interior design, as a relatively young discipline within the academic world of design, has historically been seen as an extension of other fine arts. Narratives exist, but treat interior design as a function of architecture or display. Professor Lois Weinthal envisions a future where interior design is treated as being equal to architecture and industrial design. Weinthal is associate professor of interior design at the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and Cranbrook Academy of Art.

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www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT54 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmen

FURNITUREBAN STOOLSLS

Esrawe

These stools created by Mexican studio, Esrawe, are reminiscent of furniture used in African cultures - and in America during pre-Hispanic times -as symbols of status, tradition, religionand identity. They have been developed from certified, solid walnut, tzalam,and beech wood, produced through a process of cutting, assembling and lathing by craftsmen, and finished with natural oils.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.desig4440/49CASE

STUDIES

54/55CULTURE


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AL SHAQAB EQUESTRIAN ACADEMYArchitect: Leigh & OrangeLocation: Education City, Qatar

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT One of the largest show horse

facilities in the world, this equestrian complex in Qatar covers a total area of 800,000m2. Centred around a 350m long performance arena with a double facing grandstand, the scheme also caters for the training and breeding of Arabian horses.

The project was offi cially com-pleted in September 2011 but is being continually expanded. Leigh & Orange provided master planning, architectural design, interior design and led a team of 18 sub-consultants, which divided the project into eight packages of work.

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THE SITE The scheme is situated at the heart

of Education City, an initiative by the Qatar Foundation. Located on the outskirts of Doha, it covers an area of 14 km2 and contains several international universities and re-search facilities.

L&O’s equestrian acade-my design contains refer-ences to local heritage. Stone-faced walls on the performance arena refl ect local forts while the dramatic 400m roof resembles a Bedouin tent and visually links the complex.

800,000M2

TOTAL AREA OF THE SITE

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THE DETAILS The roof has been designed to be

structurally effi cient while minimis-ing the enclosed volume and provid-ing diff used natural light to the indoor arena. Overhangs shade the glazed façades while allowing fl ood-lighting without unsightly masts.

THE CONCEPT Designed in the shape of a horse-

shoe, the list of amenities includes a riding academy and equestrian club, veterinary clinic, hospital and re-search facilities, endurance training centre and a breeding centre.

The performance arena required a space for all-weather conditions with facilities for 8,000 spec-tators. L&O’s response was to propose separate indoor and outdoor competition arenas which could both be viewed from the same grandstand.

8,000SPECTATOR CAPACITY

OF THE ARENA

While utilising modern materi-als and technology, the Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy incorporates traditional desert methods of venti-lation and shelter. Air-conditioning is available for the stables and arenas to provide optimum comfort.

Online News for Architecture, Interiors and Industrial Design Professionals

Up to the minute reports on the latest industry news and events Interviews with leading figures in the interiors, design and architecture sectors The latest case studies, market trends and developments for the Middle East market

Visit www.designmena.com todayand sign up for the twice weekly eNewsletter

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YAZAN RAHMAN, Sales Director - Tel: +971 4 444 3351 - GSM: +971 56 778 3824 - Email: [email protected]

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THE VERTICAL MEDINAArchitect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Location: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

CASE STUDY


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THE PROJECT One of many Middle East projects

by Chicago-based titan SOM, the Vertical Medina is a mixed-use scheme in Saudi Arabia. It uses the traditional Arab medina city form – with its interlocking alleyways and

THE CONCEPT One of the defi ning characteristics

is the use of the traditional Ara-bian courtyard which off ers both privacy and respite from the heat. Each apartment has its own private courtyard, interspersed with open-air gardens for all residents. The shared spaces serve as terraces for a fi tness centre, event room and children’s play area.

No two apartments in the Vertical Medina are alike - each has a diff erent layout. The offi ce fl oors are more regular, with a linear plan.

courtyards – to create a ‘vertical network’ with residential, offi ce and retail components.

Clad in limestone from local sources, the project is slated for completion in late 2012. The top six

fl oors contain 55 luxury residential apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, with a total area of 18,000m2. The lower seven fl oors are dedicated to Class A offi ce space with a total area of 21,000m2.

55NUMBER OF LUXURY

APARTMENTS


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Primary exposures are shaded by the deep recesses of each courtyard in the Vertical Medina. The glass façades of the residences are clad with operable shading screens – like mashrabiyahs in traditional Arab cities – to provide further shading

21,000M2AREA OF CLASS A

OFFICE SPACE

from the sun and to enhance privacy. It has separate entrances, lob-

bies, lifts and drop-off areas for the residences and offi ce tenants. Basement lobbies are treated as ‘front-of-house’ areas.

THE SITE The Vertical Medina is located in

King Abdullah Financial District, a large scale fi nancial centre un-derway in Riyadh masterplanned by Henning Larsen Architects. A landscaped plaza and fountain serves as the main arrival point for SOM’s scheme. Shops line the street and plazas while a fi ve star hotel is located across the street.

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WEEKLY NEWSUNRIVALLED COVERAGE

UNRIVALLED REACH

AN ITP BUSINESS PUBLICATION

Face to face

p8

p6

AN ITP BUSINESS PUBLICATION

p50

p28

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIOIOIOIOIONIOIOONNOIONONIONONONONONIONNONIOIOIOOOOONIOONNNONNNIOIOOONNONNNOOIOOONIOIOONNNNIOOOOOOIOOONNONNNIIIOOOOONNOOOOOOOOOOOOIOONNOONNNNOOOIOOIOOONNNONNNI NI N

10,190Jan-June 2011


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THE URBAN CROSSINGArchitect: AedasLocation: Shanghai, China

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Aedas’ “boutique urban” project

in Shanghai provides offi ce and retail components, as well as a gal-lery, conference centre and a water promenade plaza. It is conceived to be a landmark hub with a strong

civic presence and a vibrant mix of com-mercial and public elements.

In addition to main-taining daily commer-cial and retail activi-

ties, the Urban Crossing is capable of hosting

multiple major events.

35.5MHIGHEST POINT ON

BUILDING

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THE SITE

THE SITE With an area of 24,678m2, the site

will contain a canal meandering through the northern edge. Currently titled as the Ur-ban Crossing: Linkong Block 10-1 Develop-ment, the project is the focal point and public destination for the Linkong Business Park. The scheme is also the gateway of the Hongqiao Airport Transportation Hub and will anchor the terminus of the proposed Hongqiao retail axial.

THE CONCEPT In response to the functional re-

quirements and the constricted site, the project stacks vertical stages and runways using inter-connecting layers of platforms.These accessible platforms off er views of the park at various levels and locations.

The design of the Urban Crossing consists of two offi ce towers linked by two weaved platforms at upper and lower fl oors.

The form, layering and circula-tion pattern are said to reinforce the ‘crossing’ architectural concept.

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THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE


EKO ATLANTIC CITY

Architect: MZ Architects Location: Lagos, Nigeria

This ambitious new city in Nigeria responds to coastal erosion and aims to relieve pressure on the congested city of Lagos, which is currently inhabited by 15.5 million people. Estimates of urban use predict that Eko Atlantic City will be home to a quarter of a million people when complete. MZ Architects is the urban planner for the new city and will also be responsible for a number of towers in the scheme.

MIRDIF CITY CENTRE

Architect: Hyder

Consulting/

RTKL

Location: Dubai

The fi rst LEED Gold accredited retail outlet in the Middle East, the AED3 billion Mirdif City Centre opened in March 2010 and achieved its green certifi cation in May 2011. At the peak of construction, 22 cranes and 10,000 workers were on site. Developed by mall specialist Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Mirdif City Centre features a gross fl oor area of 300,000m2, with 450 shops and parking for over 7,000 cars.

10,000 PEAK NUMBER OF WORKERS ON SITE

MAYSAN RESIDENCES

Architect: DWP

Location: Abu Dhabi

Currently in the design development phase, Maysan Residences is a pair of striking residential tower buildings in the Al Najmat district of Reem Island, Abu Dhabi with an expected completion date of 2013. Designed by dwp, the project aims to achieve a 2 Pearl Rating with Estidama. The roof structure contains solar energy technology while the tower forms are devised to minimise the exposure to excessive heat gain.

337 TOTAL NUMBER OF APARTMENT UNITS


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INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMATIC STUDIES

Architect: Henning Larsen/ Buro HappoldLocation: Riyadh, KSA

Winner of Institutional & Cultural Project of the Year, this scheme will provide Saudi’s Ministry of Foreign Aff airs (MOFA) with a new 46,000m2 building to house facilities for the Institute of Diplo-matic Studies and Consular Aff airs Department. Located in Riyadh the building contains an auditorium, lecture halls, library, classrooms, offi ces, a large hall for visa applicants and offi ce space.

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI

Architect: BenoyLocation: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Winner of the Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest in-door theme park. Designed by Benoy for Aldar Properties, the project fea-tures over 20 rides and attractions including the world’s fastest roll-ercoaster. The total surface area of the colossal red roof is 200,000m2, while the perimeter of the building is 2,200m2. The highest point of the structure is 45 metres.

AINO MINA

Architect: AedasLocation: Kandahar, Afghanistan

This two million m2 commu-nity scheme, which won both the Residential Project and Sustainable Project of the Year at the Middle East Architect Awards, will provide over 2,000 homes. Situated in Kandahar, the site gently slopes and has a backdrop of mountains. A wide central park runs through the masterplan and links the retail area at the southern end with the Friday mosque at the northern end.

2MMETRES2

TOTAL AREA OF THE SCHEME

DOHA TWIN TOWERS

Architect:GHD Global Pty LtdLocation:Lusail, Qatar

This billowing twin tower project in Qatar was designed by GHD Global and is designed to meet the client’s target net fl oor area ratio of 398%. Overall water consumption will be reduced by 40% though the use of native plantation, water reducing fi xtures, storm water re-use and grey water treatment strategies. The building also aims to produce 5% of its energy from renewable sources, such as photovoltaics.

398%TARGET NET FLOOR

AREA RATIO

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FURNITUREBAN STOOLSEsrawe

These stools created by Mexican studio, Esrawe, are reminiscent of furniture used in African cultures - and in America during pre-Hispanic times - as symbols of status, tradition, religion and identity. They have been developed from certifi ed, solid walnut, tzalam, and beech wood, produced through a process of cutting, assembling and lathing by craftsmen, and fi nished with natural oils.

BOOKTOWARDS A NEW INTERIORLois Weinthal

Interior design, as a relatively young discipline within the academic world of design, has historically been seen as an extension of other fi ne arts. Narratives exist, but treat interior design as a function of architecture or display. Professor Lois Weinthal envisions a future where interior design is treated as being equal to architecture and industrial design. Weinthal is associate professor of interior design at the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and Cranbrook Academy of Art.

55

FURNITURELONDON CHAIRBoConcept

The new London chair from BoConcept, available in both upholstered and pure shell versions, has its roots in the Scandinavian design style. The core of the London chair is the seat which is produced in high-quality FSC approved wood. Customers can pick the slim steel legs for a light minimalistic look or the solid oak for a more natural Nordic feel.

APPRLB GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Global construction and property advisor Rider Levett Bucknall launched its free cost-based app for desktop PCs and smartphones with insight into global, regional and local construction markets without any fees. It includes global cost comparison, tender price index data and worldwide construction market analysis. The fi rm hopes it will be useful for architects to check benchmark costs when making design decisions. RLB’s location specifi c cost data helps provide a range of current expected building costs for specifi ed building types across the world.

BATHROOMFUSION II BY WETJan Puylaert

Designed by Jan Puylaert and produced by WET Italia, Fusion II is a freestanding LED illuminated sink. Made with 100% recyclable polyethylene, it can have an AC5 rim-spout, either with a rim-mixer or side faucets. A column in dark grey can be fi tted with a range of nine colours with optional RGB LED illumination.

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LAST WORD | MARIO SENEVIRATNE


Mario Seneviratne, MD of Green Technologies and founder of the Emirates Green Building Council

THE LAST WORD

GREEN GURUIn 2008 we saw a decline in construction, and hence a decline in the number

of green buildings. Now we are seeing a steady increase in the green building movement, with a number

of quality projects. There are now 44 LEED certifi ed schemes in the UAE.

In Dubai, most of the commercial interior fi t-outs are going LEED. We’ve also seen that many new constructions are going LEED.

I think a higher percentage of buildings are going LEED than before. LEED is a performance based rating system - it adds value to the building, and as a

result you can see that it improves. Green buildings are truly better buildings.

Previously people didn’t care as the revenue was so high in the boom years. Now the revenue has reduced so many are looking to build green.

It’s important to have done the LEED work in the concept design stage. If you construct a building and then try to make it green then it will cost lots – that’s

why people think green buildings are more costly.

It’s almost impossible to do a Platinum-rated hotel as it’s very complicated. Offi ces are easier, and can be achieved with a little bit of eff ort.

The latest way of teaching is through case studies. This is the way that LEED will be taught for years to come.

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Documents

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