Middle East Architect

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

FEBRUARY 2012 / VOLUME 6 / ISSUE 02An ITP Business Publication

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FEATURERoundtable discussion reveals

hopes and fears for the year

ANALYSISHow will Qatar benefit from its

upcoming railway network?

FEBRUARY | CONTENTS

www.designmena.com | 02.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 1

2FRONT

Top stories in the world of architecture including Nakheel’s addition to the

Palm Jumeirah6

10THE BIG PICTURE

Capturing one of Dubai’s most photogenic metro stations at its very best

12ANALYSIS Will Qatar’s new rail network be worth its whopping US$37bn price tag?18

OPINIONGeorgina Chakar on how

the new wave of housing will benefi t Abu Dhabi

20COVER STORYSite visit to TNQ’s unusual copper-clad Al Manara commercial building on Sheikh Zayed Road30

FEATURE

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

THE LAST WORDSimon Gathercole, director for Allies and Morrison, on

Qatar’s future development

38CASE STUDIESSOM’s Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait, Sidra Village in Qatar and an Oman mountain resort

50

Middle East Architect’s fi rst roundtable of the year brings

together two architects, an engineer and a supplier

THE WORKA detailed reference section

covering the best projects that MEA has looked at in

recent months

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

FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 02

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 02.12 | www.designmena.com2

FRONT | FEBRUARY

NAKHEEL TO BUILD RETAIL SCHEME ON THE PALM$80m development on tip of Palm trunk to be open by 2013 end

Nakheel has announced plans to build an $80m restaurant and shopping area at the tip of The Palm Jumeirah, facing the Atlantis hotel.

Covering a total of 131,000m2, ‘The Pointe’ will include high-end retail, informal and formal dining, a promenade, marina with fl oating pontoons and computerised water fountain set off shore.

The Pointe will have 1,200 car parks and links to the Palm Jumei-rah monorail system. Water taxis will also operate between the Palm

Atlantis hotel and the Pointe, while the marina will allow boat owners to moor nearby and visit the development.

The initial designs have been pro-duced by Dar Al Handasah, and plans include space for 75 retail shops and 120 cafes and restaurants.

Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah told reporters that tenders for work on the project would be announced within the next two months, and that work would begin

The Pointe will

face the Atlantis

hotel.

onsite by mid-year. He said construction would

take 18 months, and that The Pointe would be ready to open at

the end of 2013.“We will see,” Lootah said when

asked whether 18 months was a real-istic timescale for the development.

“It is a relatively straightforward plan, and contractors need the work. If you pay contractors, they will do the work – and we have gone to great lengths to ensure we have paid every-one,” Lootah said.

131,000TOTAL AREA IN

SQUARE METRES

412MHeight of Al Hamra

Tower in Kuwait (Page 38)


FEBRUARY | FRONT

This month’s top stories• 25 essential iPad apps for interior design

students

• Dubai design fairs to be held in March 2012

• Interior design and architectural projects

get a boost in Qatar

• Floating ‘Sea Tree’ proposed for crowded

harbour cities

• Jestico + Whiles wins Doha College project

Park Towers in DIFC scooped the title of ‘World’s Best’ in the ‘Best Mixed-Use Development’ category at the International Property Awards.

The development, by Damac, was propelled to the International Property Awards after landing fi ve honours at the Arabian Property Awards last month.

Designed by Gensler, the twin elliptical shaped towers change shape as they rise, with no two fl oor plates the same. The towers expand from the base, with the maximum fl oor plates achieved at the mid-point, before gradually receding to the top of the structure.

Gensler’s Dubai Park Towers voted ‘world’s best’

Futuristic footbridge set for Downtown Dubai

Emaar has revealed a glassy design for a 820m-long pedestrian bridge linking the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall to the nearest metro station.

Scheduled to be operational in 2013, the link will improve access to the attractions in Downtown Dubai, as well as reduce vehicular traffi c.

The air-conditioned bridge, to be constructed by Dutco, will be trans-parent to allow sightseeing.

Its 10 travellators will connect the metro station entrance pod directly with The Dubai Mall. Allowances are also made for future connections to Emaar Square and Boulevard.

WEIRD PROJECT OF THE MONTH

The latest wacky idea to emerge from Holland is a fl oating ‘Sea Tree’ – essentially a home for fl ora and fauna in crowded urban environments. The design by Waterstu-dio.NL would inhabit the harbours and rivers surrounding major cities, such as New York.

DESIGNMENA.COM

DATASTREAMAEDAS - GLOBAL TURNOVER 2010 (USD)

The metro bridge will link to Dubai Mall.

Dubai’s ‘double gherkin’ wins prize.

14 Delivery timeframe, in months, for Al Manara

complex (Page 20)

FOUR

f b id

Experts pitted together

for MEA’s roundtable

(Page 30)

EUROPE MIDDLE EAST ASIA AMERICAS

69M

10M

109M

33M


FRONT | FEBRUARY

Perkins Eastman regional manager Steven Miller has been appointed chairman of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) International Committee.

Based in Dubai, Miller has served as a committee member for two years and will now chair the group throughout 2012.

AIA principal and executive director, Jon Stark, commented: “Steven Miller brings an unparalleled level of experience and insight to excellence in the international practice of architecture.”

The AIA International Committee is a forum for all constituencies of the AIA’s International Programme (which includes representatives, global practitioners and overseas members).

It is also a resource for the AIA president and the board of directors to monitor and advise on global issues.

Star architect Zaha Hadid is on the shortlist to construct a new $1bn parliament build-ing in the Iraq capital of Baghdad, the city of her birth.

The shortlist also includes Assemblage, Buro Happold, Davis Langdon, Iraqi fi rm Al-Khan in collaboration with Canada’s Adamson, and the UAE’s Dewan Architects & Engineers, as reported by BD Online.

A technical committee will review the proposals in the fi rst week of July, before a fi nal decision from an international jury.

The building site will be the abandoned Al Muthana Airport where Saddam Hus-sein had planned to build a ‘super mosque’.

PEOPLE

Steven Miller chairs AIA committee

Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraq parliament

Qatar clients are now employing project managers and are defi nitely more sophisticated.”

Ibrahim Mohammed Al Jaidah, managing dire

tor, AEB

These days we now have more time to spend

educating the client on the right way of doing things.”

Nigel Craddock, design manager,

Stride Treglown.

While we have undertaken projects in Saudi Arabia, our focus remains on Qatar and the UAE.”Tony Morris, commercial

director, Hilson Moran

60 SECOND INTERVIEWSTEVE KELSHAW, MD,DSA ARCHITECTS

How was 2011 for DSA?2011 was one of continued con-solidation for us. We focused hard on delivery for our existing clients in order to retain and achieve repetitive business, which we did successfully. Coupled with that we were appointed for new work in China, India, Qatar and Azerbaijan. It was certainly a challenging year, but one where we are proud of our achievements.

What are yourhopes in 2012?

We start the year with optimism. Our order book is healthy and we remain committed to the region.

What are your key regionalprojects?

In Jordan we’re working on the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa and the Samarah Rift Town-houses and Retail Mall. In Syria, we are designing a commercial tower within the Eighth Gate De-velopment. Our master planning projects include the Lebanon Waterfront City in Beirut and Bilaj Al Jazayer in Bahrain.

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Miller is regional MD for Perkins Eastman.

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FRONT | FEBRUARY

3ABU DHABIDesign revealed for Siemens’ Masdar HQSheppard Robson revealed its design for Siemens’ AED170m headquarters at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, which is gunning for LEED Platinum status. The 20,000m2 project is now on site and is due for completion in late 2012. Completely column-free fl oorplates incorporate 15m spans by using a post-tensioned fl at slab. Energy mod-elling was used to help the building perform 44% better than the baseline ASHRAE energy model.

2QATARJestico + Whiles wins Doha College projectUK-based fi rm Jestico + Whiles has been selected from a fi ve-strong shortlist to design Doha College in Qatar. The practice beat Broadway Malyan, Fielden Clegg Bradley Stu-dios, Penoyre & Prasad and RHWL Architects to the appointment. Managed by Aecom’s Davis Langdon, the project calls for an entirely new campus for the British curriculum school that is suited to the region’s culture and climate.

1TURKEYRMJM to design supertall in IstanbulThe Dubai studio of RMJM has received planning approval for a 300m-high tower in Istanbul, which is set to become one of the tallest towers in Europe. The 500,000m2 development will consist of three tow-ers with the main tower containing offi ces, serviced apartments, a hotel, sky lobby and a 30,000m2 public shopping mall. It will also feature a separate residential-only block and a dedicated offi ce tower.

2

MENA PROJECT SNAPSHOT

1

3


FRONT | FEBRUARY

2INDONESIABroadway Malyan wins fi rst Indonesia projectUK-based practice Broadway Malyan has been appointed to deliver the masterplan for Cilandak Bisnis Square in Jakarta – the company’s fi rst project in Indonesia. The fi rm has completed the concept master-plan and will deliver the schematic masterplan, concept architecture and branding. The scheme covers a 11.7 ha site and includes a cluster of tall buildings and a business hotel with conference and leisure facilities.

1DENMARKDanish island to build zero waste hotelAn experimental hotel and confer-ence centre on the touristic island of Bornholm in Denmark will push the concept of sustainability by eliminat-ing waste. The Green Solution House, by Danish engineering and archi-tecture fi rm 3XN, only uses fully recyclable or biodegradable materi-als. Solar power produces the energy consumed in the building, while rain water is collected and all water is biologically cleaned and reused.

1

2

GLOBAL PROJECT SNAPSHOT

3NORWAYHenning Larsen to design new urban districtHenning Larsen Architects and the Norwegian landscape archi-tect Gullik Gulliksen have won an international competition for a new urban district in Trondheim city centre, Norway. Centred around a new square, the project ‘Leüthen’s Cultural Garden’ will deliver an open offi ce building and a cinema next to the city theatre. It will cover a total of 39,000m2 and is expected to be completed during 2015.

3

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FRONT | FEBRUARY

THE BIG PICTURE Al Karama metro stationThere’s no doubt that the Dubai Metro, designed by Aedas and Atkins, contains some of the most photogenic stations on the globe. This sunrise shot by Lester Ali captures the bus-tling scene on the streets of Karama. Ali adds: “I spotted a great angle for a shot and luckily there was easy access to the street. My advice for photogra-phers: when you fi nd a great angle, you should be patient and wait for the best light. You can’t go wrong with sunset or sunrise.”


FEBRUARY | FRONT


NEWS ANALYSIS | QATAR RAILWAYS

ANALYSIS

TICKET TO RIDEHow will Qatar benefi t from its US$37bn railway? Devina Divecha investigates

13www.designmena.com | 02.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

QATAR RAILWAYS | NEWS ANALYSIS

W hen Qatar put forward a bid to host the FIFA World Cup, the

Qatar 2022 chief executive, Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi, said: “All our state-of-the-art stadia will be linked to a brand new metro system and to-tally integrated with a comprehensive shuttle bus network, allowing fans to travel to games by public transport.”

With US$3bn having been ap-proved as the kickoff investment, the country’s national rail project is now valued at US$37bn.

The project includes plans for a high-speed long distance rail link, driverless four-line Metro service for Doha and freight lines, the West Bay People Mover and overground rail system designed to distribute pas-sengers around Doha’s tower district. As well as connecting all the stadium locations for the World Cup, the network will also include the Lusail Light Rail Network — currently the most advanced rail project in Qatar.

The Doha Metro Red line, between Messaieed in the south and Al Khor in the north, runs through the city and will be pushed for development fi rst. It will serve fi ve stadiums host-ing matches during the World Cup: Al Khor, Lusail, Qatar University, New Sports City and Al Wakra.

Phase one also includes the Green Line which runs from Msheireb in the heart of the old city, to Education City. The line will cover Al Rayyan and Education City stadiums. Much of the Green line will be under-ground, surfacing as it passes through Education City. A portion of a third line, the Yellow line, will also be built

and linked via a temporary branch from the Green Line at Al Rayyan Sports R/A which will serve Khalifa Stadium in Sports City.

Phase one will cover a total length of 129.4km, with 29km underground, 56.1km elevated and 44.3km at grade or ground level.

This project alone means a boost to the employment situation in the country, with a large number of people needed to get the railway on track for its deadline for the World Cup. However, there is only an eight-year window, rather than 10, to allow FIFA offi cials to have a look at the network and give its blessing.

Speaking at Construction Week Infrastructure Qatar, Geoff Mee, deputy CEO, Qatar Rail, said there are business opportunities available, both for entrepreneurs and construc-tion and logistics companies.

Ibrahim Mohamed Al Jaidah, managing director of Qatar’s Arab Engineering Bureau, said: “To host an event like the World Cup without good transport links would be very diffi cult. There is a big potential in transport, such as ports and rail.”

Mee said it is entirely possible to complete the project on time. “Geo-technically, we could spend the next 18 months drilling holes all over Doha and I still wouldn’t know where the fi ssures and breakdowns are going to be. But I talk to tunnellers who love being up to their armpits in muck, and they say it’s not as bad as other places they’ve worked.”

Al Jaidah said it was interesting to see how fast the project is moving, with companies going for tender. Contractors will be engaged this year, and the hope is to let the fi rst contracts in June 2012.

Geoff Mee,

deputy CEO,

Qatar Rail.

Thinking further ahead, a really successful public transport system will change the mental map of Doha.”

Simon Gathercole, director, Allies and Morrison


NEWS ANALYSIS | QATAR RAILWAYS

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Those contracts would cover utility diversions, and also advanced works for some of the station design. Major civil work has been split into fi ve tunnelling contracts, each totalling US$1-1.5 billion, and two major sta-tions contracts.

Al Jaidah added: “The rail project will defi nitely benefi t Doha, as in other cities. Even though the costs are big, it’s not going to be a waste as the economy will benefi t. It will be crucial for future development.”

Tim Risbridger, partner and head of transportation at built asset con-sultancy EC Harris, said the project in Qatar can learn from past systems in the region. “Dubai is a great case study in sequencing of works. We saw that the private sector was far better at building than the public sector was at completing its infrastructure, which lagged behind and exacerbated problems in economic development. Qatar needs to ensure the sequencing

of works is correct. Infrastructure is an enabler of economic development, and without it, the success of projects is compromised.”

Mee agreed and said: “In Dubai, we learned the connectivity to the Metro was not as good as it could have been, something Qatar can learn from. In Saudi Arabia, the technical challeng-

es of building a railway in the desert will provide lessons for Qatar over the coming months and years.”

Simon Gathercole, director for Allies and Morrison — a fi rm behind Doha’s Msheireb — added: “Think-ing further ahead, a really successful public transport system will change the mental map of Doha.”

Mee expressed

the view the

project will be

completed on

time.

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 02.12 | www.designmena.com

COMMENT | EDITOR’S LETTER

16

Abu Dhabi’s museums will fi ll a gaping hole in the UAE’s quest to be a world class destination.”

EDITOR’S LETTER

MISSING PIECES Museums and galleries are key components lacking from the UAE’s development jigsaw

GOT A

COMMENT?

If you have any

comments to

make on this

month’s issue,

please e-mail

oliver.

ephgrave

@itp.com

Abu Dhabi’s cultural district on Saadiyat Island.

At the time of going to press we have just re-ceived promising news on Abu Dhabi’s fl agship

museum projects after months of uncertainty and speculation.

According to a statement issued on the Abu Dhabi Executive Council’s websites, the budgets and opening dates were approved for the museum projects in the cultural district on Saadiyat Island.

These include the Sheikh Zayed Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Gug-genheim Museum, and Emirates Museum. The directive stipulates that the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel, will open in 2015, the Norman Foster-styled Zayed

National Museum in 2016 and Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim a year later.

A week before the statement was released, Middle East Architect held a roundtable discussion with four Dubai-based experts (covered in this very issue). The importance of the museum projects was raised by Steven Miller, regional manager of Perkins Eastman.

“Abu Dhabi needs to build its museums - that’s what it’s about. Nobody is going to go shopping in Abu Dhabi when you have two of the biggest malls in the world in Dubai,” said Miller. He’s absolutely right. Abu Dhabi’s museums will fi ll a gap-ing hole in the UAE’s quest to be a world class destination.

I would certainly make the trip to visit each and every of them. Coming from a family of ‘culture vultures’, I was regularly carted around Lon-don’s National Gallery, Tate Britain, and Natural History and Imperial War museums.

As a young child I was bored wit-less by every exhibition, unless it was on dinosaurs or tanks. But I slowly developed an interest in art, culture and design, which prompted me to study architecture at university.

I’ve lived in Dubai for three years now and one of the things I miss most about London is its wonderful array of museums and galleries.

It’s worth noting that the impres-sive Sheikh Zayed Desert Learn-ing Centre, a museum and science centre in Al Ain Wildlife Park, is due for completion this year.

Yet there’s no doubt that the Saa-diyat museums will have the biggest impact on the UAE, both in terms of lifestyle and tourism.

Even if the contents of the muse-ums do not live up to expectations, the design of the buildings them-selves will be a good enough reason to go. When I visited Bilbao a few years ago I spent two hours admir-ing Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim and about 30 minutes looking at the art.

On paper, the cultural district will get any architecture fan salivating. Where else will you fi nd tour-de-force schemes from the likes of Gehry, Foster and Nouvel, all within a few metres from each other? No-where comes close.


It’s safe to say 2009 and 2010 were spent focusing on the ef-fects of the world’s issues. When the fi nancial crisis stretched its

tentacles to the UAE, Abu Dhabi re-shuffl ed the puzzle pieces to discover the most needed and the best solution for its future development and pros-perity. So, what has been done?

While many private developments, including Masdar, were conceptu-alised based on the assumption of a population of 80% expatriates and 20% Emirati nationals, the govern-ment is focusing on the overall devel-opment with special attention to its housing programme for nationals.

2011 was when a number of Emi-rati housing projects were started or

The medium- and high-density developments such as Etihad Towers are essential to maintain the sustainable built environ-

ment within the structure of the city.”

OPINION

completed all over the emirate such as the Jebel Hafeet Emirati housing project, Sorouh’s 448 villas along the coastline of Al Garbia, and 488 villas by the Royal Development Company on the waterfront at Yas Island.

But while the development of low-density communities for Emiratis is increasing momentum, the market is facing an oversupply of apartments.

Looking through the prism of urban planning, the construction of residential and mixed-use high-rises is essential to maintain sustainable living in the Emirates.

Statistics show apartments com-prise almost two-thirds of the total upcoming residential units in new locations such as Abu Dhabi Island,

Reem Island and Al Raha Beach. It may be expected at the handover

stage, that many apartment units will remain empty for some time. But they are long-term investments currently going through economic turbulence, social and demographic changes and they feel the echo of the last global economic recession.

The impact of the transition period from economic and development boom to stabilisation are inevitable. The medium- and high-density developments such as Etihad Towers are essential to maintain the sustain-able built environment within the structure of the city.

The currently growing oversupply of residential as well as commercial units should not be seen only through the eye of the dirham, rather as urban entities that stabilise the economy, improve the social life of the people and lead towards green communities.

It is only a matter of time before the upcoming apartments are popu-lated by consumers in the UAE who largely contribute to the economic and social development as a whole. Perhaps lower rent will encourage expatriates in Abu Dhabi to revive the new urban environments, to vacate old and run-down buildings, and cre-ate opportunities for their demolition and redevelopment into facilities most needed in the circumstances of constant development and prosperity.

Let’s not forget we are facing a re-cession, shaken by the negative eff ects of the fi nancial crisis, and these days will be over and forgotten.

The new wave of housing will benefi t Abu Dhabi

SUPPLY CHAIN

Georgina

Chakar is an

Australian

architect and a

Master of Urban

Planning. She

works in Abu

Dhabi.

Etihad Towers form a part of Abu Dhabi’s new urban environment.

COMMENT | GEORGINA CHAKAR

20

COVER STORY | AL MANARA COMPLEX


e ven if you pass the building every day you might not have noticed it. Located opposite

Times Square mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, TNQ’s Al Manara complex is not your typical Dubai commercial development. Modest in scale, with only two main fl oors, the building is set back from the highway and devoid of showy pyrotechnics to deliberately grab the eye.

However, its charms are revealed up close. While the overall shape is simple, blocky and functional, the fa-çade is decidedly artistic. Horizontal strips of copper mesh hover in front of green-tinted glass, with diagonal beams adding an offb eat rhythm.

Standing outside his creation, architect Tarek N Qaddumi, principal at TNQ, reveals it is the fi rst copper-cladding installation in the UAE.

“The outer skin started as louvers — shade that you can see through. We wanted to do something diff erent but back it up to convince the client. When we were researching materials we looked at engineered wood, but Dubai has this unusual combination of salinity and humidity.

“Then copper came up. It’s such a beautiful material. It is metallic but in

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20 years it will turn green. We didn’t treat it to stop the copper from co-louring — we wanted it to change with time. This will give it a lovely vintage feel,” he remarked.

The ground level is occupied by boutique deli-restaurant, Jones the Grocer, while the fi rst fl oor is the re-gional headquarters for construction company Brookfi eld Multiplex.

Qaddumi explains the background to the project: “Brookfi eld ap-proached the landowner Emivest in the light of the recession. There were no plans for the site, so Brookfi eld off ered to fi nd a tenant for the ground fl oor and occupy the fi rst fl oor, as well as construct the building. There was no risk — it was a no brainer, so both signed up. We were recommended to Brookfi eld by another client.”

He continues: “The building is no frills, but it is right for the context at a time of recession. It’s not about acrobatics. You could say it is a box but it is nice and transparent, with high performance glass.

“The copper shading is only on the south and east sides. We didn’t wrap the whole building because the north side does not get direct sunlight. It’s site specifi c. We were able to push the fi rst fl oor towards the street. This

21

AL MANARA COMPLEX | COVER STORY

www.designmena.com | 02.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT


The building is no frills but it is right for its context at a time of recession. It’s not about acrobatics.”

Takek N Qaddumi

14TOTAL DESIGN AND

CONSTRUCTION TIME IN MONTHS

The complex

contains Jones

the Grocer

and Brookfi eld

Multiplex.

allows the architecture to have depth, so it’s not a fl at building. Thanks to the shading and high-performance glass, electrical consumption is low and the building is very effi cient.”

Qaddumi notes the proximity to the busy Sheikh Zayed Road was initially perceived as a hindrance, but later embraced. “We paid particular attention to the proportions of the space and the connection with the

surroundings. Ini-tially we were wor-ried that it was close to the highway, but that’s part of Dubai. It’s as close to a Paris feel as you can get — you can see the cars and the buses, and you have close contact with the street.”

After ordering an ice tea in Jones the Grocer, Qaddumi describes the ground fl oor design, which is notable

for the central food preparation area framed

by four columns.“The central food area

draws you in. It is what you look at when you arrive and when you leave. The four columns help to organise the structure.”

He highlights that the ‘back of house’ areas were, literally, moved to the back of the building.

“Similar to Richard Meier’s build-ings, we made a clear distinction between the back of house. All the service areas — electrical rooms, kitchens, garbage — were organised at the back. This was made in nego-tiation with the client. We arranged them on this particular side because




2,500BUILT UP AREA IN

SQUARE METRES

The upper

fl oor is

cantilevered

on one side of

the building.

Owner/ client Emivest

Architect and engineer TNQ

Main contractor Brookfi eld Multiplex

Subcontractor Blue Sky

Façade subcontractor Prisma Space Frame

Copper skin KME

Elevator ThyssenKrupp AG

BUILDING CREDITS

the offi ces and shop were not allowed to overlook the residential area.”

Qaddumi points to a wall by our table and concedes design compro-mises were made.

“This should have been glass. Also we wanted to make the external cantilever a bit bigger. Yes, we had to compromise a bit but when you look

at the numbers, you are not sad. It was more about mak-

ing it happen on time and on budget.”

He elaborates on the impressively swift construc-

tion time. “We did the design in six

months and it took an additional 12 months to

build. 14 months in total was a very condensed timeframe. This really was strictly followed because Brook-fi eld had already agreed on a price with the owner.”

The short timeframe meant the ‘feel’ took priority over fi ne details.“Getting the feel is most im-portant, rather than being pernickety. We had six months for design — this is often talked about but rarely happens. We had a team of six, with myself as principal in charge and Steven Langman as project architect.



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Getting the feel was more important than being pernickety. We only had six months for the design stage.”

Tarek N Qaddumi

We also did the structural engineering. Woods Bagot was respon-sible for the interior architecture of the Brookfi eld Multiplex offi ce on the fi rst fl oor.”

Moving upstairs, via the “high-tech-low-tech” staircase, the outer copper skin becomes visible from the offi ce of Brookfi eld Multiplex. Qaddumi then explains how the heights of the horizontals were care-fully calculated.

“The placement of the horizontals was really measured — they were calculated from the height of people standing and sitting down, so they could still see out. The diagonals were more intuitive. They visually hold the façade together, otherwise it would be fl apping.”

As well as providing visual interest from the inside and out, the copper screens perform the vital function of blocking excess sunlight. “It’s a screen that off ers shade and pattern. It frames the ho-rizon when you are sitting in the boardroom. If we were to be strict, we could say it is a mashrabiya. It’s essentially a shading device, although it doesn’t have traditional forms,” remarks Qaddumi.

Management offi ces are located by the windows and the generous boardrooms aff ord views over the surroundings while being shaded by the carefully positioned mesh skin.



A ‘green roof’

is located on

the top of the

complex.

The top of the building features one of Dubai’s fi rst green roofs, with views of the Marina, and Down-town skylines. MEP equipment is concealed by strategic planting while the up-stand is set back from the edge for aesthetic reasons. According to Qaddumi, the green roof remains under-utilised, aside from providing a scenic spot for cigarette smokers.

Although completed in early 2011, there are pending additions that

could help raise the profi le of the building. Firstly, Jones the Gro-cer will soon be equipped with an alfresco dining area. Qaddumi adds: “This will be the cherry on top for Jones. They are just waiting for the furniture. It will have a green wall, which will be organic but still allow views through.”

The second measure, if under-taken, will certainly draw a lot of attention to the scheme; Qaddumi

reveals the diagonal beams will be fi t-ted with lights. “The whole thing will have a billboard eff ect. When you see it from Sheikh Zayed Road, you will recognise the building.”

It’s clear Qaddumi is hoping to gain more recognition for a scheme that he is justifi ably proud of.

“I’d describe it as a neat building. It’s like a nice suit — it uses quality materials and it’s a colour that every-one will feel comfortable in.”

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The façade system used in TNQ’s Al Manara complex is

the fi rst copper-cladding installation in the UAE. It features

an expanded copper mesh within steel ‘casette’ framework,

mounted onto primary cladding steelwork.

FAÇADE ELEVATION

Technical drawings supplied by TNQ ArchitectsAL MANARA COMPLEX

Cladding vertical frame members are positioned at

4,000mm centres on grid and mid-grid centres locations.

The positioning takes into account users’ eye levels when

standing and sitting down.

FAÇADE ELEVATION



This detail shows the components of the façade. The double-glazed unit sits behind the copper mesh panels which are held in

place by steel ‘cassette’ frames.

FAÇADE DETAIL

Galvanised steel frame

Double-glazed unit

Powder-coated aluminium transom

Expanded copper mesh panels

PPC steelwork ‘cassette’ frames

The ground fl oor plan shows

the provision for boutique deli/

restaurant Jones the Grocer.

Service areas, such as the

toilets, kitchen and garbage

room are grouped together on

the north side, leaving a large

open space for customers. An

outdoor dining area on the east

side of the building is due to be

opened this year.

GROUND FLOOR


30 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 02.12 | www.designmena.com

FEATURE | ROUNDTABLE

PHIL DALGLISHDirector, Buro Happold NIGEL CRADDOCK

Design manager, Stride Treglown

JASON HIRDTechnical development

manager, GyprocSTEVEN MILLER

Regional manager, Perkins Eastman


ROUNDTABLE | FEATURE

Following an animated group discussion in July 2011, Middle East Architect held another

roundtable to fi nd out the current realities of working in the UAE’s building design industry. Thank-fully the attendees were not shy to speak their minds, spurred on by the refreshingly outspoken views of New Yorker Steven Miller, regional man-ager for Perkins Eastman and the newly appointed chairman of AIA’s International Committee.

Miller was joined by Phil Dalglish, director for engineering giant Buro Happold as well as Nigel Craddock,

HOME TRUTHSMEA’s fi rst roundtable of 2012 uncovers the situation on the ground in the UAE

design manager for the Abu Dhabi offi ce of architect Stride Treglown and Jason Hird, technical develop-ment manager for drywall supplier Gyproc Saint-Gobain.

Is the UAE’s building industry on the road to recovery?Steven Miller: I don’t know what recovery means. Yes, Dubai has stopped projects, but it never needed them. No city can grow the way that Dubai was originally going to, so I think it’s OK.

Unfortunately, the fi rm I work with here, Perkins Eastman, does not have any work in Dubai, aside

from one project that will start up again in Port Rashid.

But Dubai is the headquarters for the GCC. I have three architects moving here next month from New York. We have projects in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq that are medical-related, but no one is living in those countries. Where do they want to live? Dubai.

Abu Dhabi is never going to be the brand but the people there don’t seem to understand that. You can have two cities that have diff er-ent functions - you don’t have to replicate each other. In fact, Sowwah Island is a big mistake. DIFC is the



32

This talk of sustainability is tiring because it’s already there. It’s a way of life for all of us here today.”

Steven Miller, Perkins Eastman

recognised centre of business. Abu Dhabi needs to build the museums because that’s what it’s about. So what do they do? Put the museums on hold. I can’t understand that.Nigel Craddock: The museums were going to be the real catalyst. Because of all that’s happened in the wider region – the Arab uprising etc – there has been quite a shift. Abu Dhabi is thinking, how do we keep the people happy? Do we build three museums or do we move into social infrastructure like education, hospitals, and get all the roads and rails fi xed up?Phil Dalglish: They’ve all had their strategies haven’t they. Very few op-portunities are coming up in Dubai now, apart from buildings that are half fi nished or those that have a commitment to build.

There is a clear strategy for Abu Dhabi, but are they re-looking at it? The strategy is a few years old now - it was developed in a diff erent market. Our perception is that Abu Dhabi is putting all these big projects on hold, and at some point the deci-sion makers will say “we want to do this one because it aligns with our strategy”. But a lot of these projects are probably going to sit there for quite a number of years. SM: Many of these new hotels in Abu Dhabi are struggling for business. Why? Because it’s all built on the philosophy of having the museum district. You’d spend a few days in Dubai, you’d go up to Abu Dhabi, see the mosque, Ferrari World and go to the museums.

No one is going to go shopping in Abu Dhabi when you have the two

biggest malls in the world sitting down the road in Dubai. PD: Abu Dhabi is a wealth driven economy – they have enough natural resources there to fi nance their economy. Dubai is a market driven economy so it has to innovate to survive. But it’s the place where everybody wants to live.SM: It is defi nitely the place to live in the region but it still has its fallacies. There are problems in the construc-tion administration side, such as site supervision. They don’t have an understanding on that. This is the lingering thing in the UAE. For a hotel project we recently worked on, they had to clean the place for six weeks before we could even start snagging the building.

Are locally-based fi rms more at-tractive to clients these days? PD: Some clients want the design done in the UAE - they want you to be on the ground. For instance, we are doing Masdar from Dubai. It’s very easy to communicate with the rest of their professional team. But we have got clients who really don’t care. They want their international architects coming in.

The likes of TDIC and UPC want people in Abu Dhabi. They want a meeting at short notice and they can’t do that with international guys. NC: I think the formula that seems to work is a marriage of the two. You have an international consultant who can be based here or abroad, who does the concept and the sche-matic, and then you have a local ar-chitect for the post-contract side and delivery side. That is fraught with

problems - the guy that has done the design work and put the eff ort into the detailing might be removed from the project if you’re not careful. But some clients like the idea of having the international architect for its experience, and also getting the lo-cal knowledge on the ground.PD: I think that works well with private developers, but if you’re deal-ing with government contracts, it will not work. They want to sign with a company that will be responsible and carry out the work. While it’s a very good model, I’m seeing it less and less. International fi rms are more competitive for the detailed, backend design.

Clients are saying “why would I want to bring on a local fi rm?” Maybe they’ll bring them in to contribute to site supervision, local approvals and keeping an eye on the international fi rm to make sure they’re delivering on time. That actually works quite well.SM: That’s very true, but what’s interesting in today’s marketplace is that it’s cheaper to do our construction documents in the US, rather than staffi ng up in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The talent now in the States



34

Dubai is a market-driven economy so it has to innovate to survive. But it’s the place where

everybody wants to live.”Phil Dalglish, Buro Happold

Everyone is focused on the initial costs and will not see beyond that. I think that

legislation is the way to go.”Jason Hird, Gyproc

is so phenomenal at every level. NC: I think that clients are gener-ally happy with that arrangement so long as you can convince them that there’s a face here, and that the local knowledge element is being fed into the process. But they are sometimes worried about ignorance of local building codes, for example.SM: But as Phil said, the private guys understand that they can brand with an architect’s name. The government entities don’t understand it. They never did and they never will. Emaar won’t put the architect’s name on a project, even with Burj Khalifa. It’s always Emaar’s project.

How is the UAE doing in terms of sustainability?SM: This talk of sustainabil-ity is tiring, because it’s there. No international architecture fi rm, today, would design something that couldn’t get a LEED or BREEAM or a Pearl Rating with Estidama. All the magazines are saying “green, green, green”. But it’s a way of life for all of us here today. We don’t ever think any other way.

PD: I think that Europe has grabbed hold of this more than the US. In this market, Steven is dead right. We don’t do a project without thinking about sustainable measures, such as grey water recycling. But often we will fi nd that the cost managers will say “hang on, what’s the payback period?” So it goes out.

ROUNDTABLE | FEATURE


We need to be smart and use the UAE as a hub and fi lter to the greater region.”Nigel Craddock, Stride Treglown

There’s still a mentality of “this is going to cost me money, I’m not going to get the return”. There isn’t an acceptance that they are going to own the building for another 25-40

years and the maintenance

costs far out way the construc-tion value.

Jason Hird: People

don’t accept it. In the last

18 months, we’ve released 100 new innovative products and it takes so much hard work to get these ideals through to people. They want to stick with what they know. Everyone is so focused on the initial cost and they don’t see beyond that. I think legislation is a great way to go and it’s something that I am working on with groups, forums and education seminars. But it is very diffi cult.NC: One thing I’ll add is that sud-denly people are aware that utility charges are an awful lot higher than four or fi ve years ago. My feeling is that people are a little bit more in-tune with the end users. People are asking “what are the utility costs, the maintenance costs, how much will my DEWA bill be on this house?” Developers need to realise that they have to provide buildings which are green - not just put a fancy BMS

system that’s never going to get used properly.

PD: It’s defi nitely going to be cus-tomer driven. JH: I’m yet to see much evidence of this coming through. Is it really go-ing to translate to the end user?SM: We do have that now, in Dubai more than Abu Dhabi, in the case of international end users of offi ce buildings. They have governances about using so many watts per hour, endless rules. Every hotel is selling how they are operating. Will all these end users demanding these things, the developer has to go along with that. The problem is in the region is the mega contractors. They need to get into this thing too and they are probably the last to begin to understand what this is about.

What are your hopes and fears for 2012?SM: Perkins Eastman is project-ing a considerable growth this year. Everything was fl at for a number of years but we see substantial growth because the wider region has an enormous need for social infra-structure like hospitals, government housing and schools. NC: I agree. We’re lucky at Stride Treglown because we are focused on the social infrastructure side and they are taking schools to the top level in Abu Dhabi. Interior projects are rolling out in Dubai - people want to refresh their interiors - and that can keep us going. But we need to be smart and use this as a hub and fi lter to the greater region. SM: If you have the ability to be in the region, to have offi ces, to get on that aeroplane and do what you’ve got to do, then my feeling is that busi-ness can only look up for the next year for all of us.

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AL HAMRA TOWERArchitect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

CASE STUDY

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THE PROJECT Designed by US giant SOM, Al

Hamra Tower is a sculpted concrete tower in the capital city of Kuwait, valued at US$950m.

The commercial complex will be

THE SITE The building sits on an 18,000m2

construction site. The design provides transparency on the sides towards the Gulf and near-complete opacity against the desert sun to the south. With the aim of maximising views and minimising solar heat gain, a quarter of each fl oor plate is chis-elled out of the south side, shifting from west to east over the height of the tower. The result is a monolithic stone framed by the twisting ribbons of torqued walls.

195,000M2AREA OF COMMERCIAL

AND OFFICE SPACE

complete early this year and con-tains offi ces, a health club, rooftop restaurant and a high-end shopping mall with an IMAX cinema complex and food court.

Standing at 412m, Al Hamra Tower

claims numerous height-based records such as tallest building in Kuwait, tallest ‘sculptural’ tower and tallest stone-clad structure, with 258,000m2 of limestone — enough to cover New York’s Central Park.


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THE DETAILS On each fl oor, a skybridge con-

nects the two wings, with deep sculpted windows in the

south wall providing views towards the city,

the peninsula and the desert. The tower will welcome tenants

with a 20m-tall lobby featuring a lamella

structure which supports the tower above and articulates

the space below. This provides conti-nuity from the building to its footing and is a strengthening component while integrating with the structure.

THE CONCEPT According to SOM, the building

resembles an enshrouded fi gure with a delicate glass veil refl ecting the profi le of the peninsula. Openings are based on the relationship of the envelope and its position to the sun.

The geometry of the interior wall not only protects the building from critical environmental conditions but takes on the role of the structural spine of the building. The point at the tower’s apex resolves the complex ge-ometry of the carved fl ared walls and also implies the continuation of the sculptural form infi nitely upwards.

412MTOTAL HEIGHT OF THE

TOWER

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Designer of Emirates Stadium, O2 Arena London, Dublin’s O2 Arena, Dubai Autodrome, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and the King Saud University Sports Campus

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Designer of Qatar Sports City Stadium and Los Angeles’ Staples Center and one of Time magazine’s 100 innovators in the world of sports

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SIDRA VILLAGELocation: Doha, QatarArchitect: Allies & Morrison

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT This walled community on the

outskirts of Doha will provide 1,165 fl ats for the nursing staff of the new Sidra hospital, as part of the Educa-tion City development.

The scheme will contain a small mosque, community and leisure facilities, restaurants and cafés.

Designed by Allies and Morrison for the Qatar Foundation, Sidra Vil-lage is integrated within the existing street pattern, with new diagonal links connecting the scheme to the hospital it is serving. It is orientated to minimise the impact of the sun with the east-west grain.


THE SITE Hendrik Heyns, direc-

tor, Allies and Morrison, adds: “The density of the site is higher than the surrounding villas. Therefore the mas-terplan was developed with two-storey buildings around the perimeter of the site with blocks split into smaller buildings relating directly to the surrounding villas. The buildings towards the centre of the site step up to three-storeys to accommodate the higher density. This creates a more urban environment.”

1,165NUMBER OF FLATS IN

THE VILLAGE

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THE CONCEPT Heyes explains: “The brief called

for repetitive one and two bedroom units which created the danger of a very stark and soulless environment. The design achieved diversity but used the minimum number of unit types to keep design and construc-tion simple and cost eff ective.”

Public spaces are integrated, such as a central square, a Sika providing a fully pedestrian route, semi-pri-vate courtyards for residents of each block and private open space in the balconies for each unit. Some buildings have shaded roof gardens. 2013

COMPLETION DATE OF

THE PROJECT

THE DETAILS“The façades are modelled with re-cess panels and deep window reveals achieved by using 300mm thick walls,” adds Heyes. “The building fabric is also enriched by the use of four varied patterns for the diff erent quarters, in mainly metalwork and precast concrete elements.”

Sustainability credentials include a central cooling plant, solar hot wa-ter, solar shading, water recycling for irrigation, a bicycle hire scheme and a bus route. The project is mindful of a potential expansion to the west.

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SARAYA BANDAR JISSAHArchitect: GAJLocation: Oman

CASE STUDY

THE PROJECT Designed by GAJ, Saraya Bandar

Jissah is a luxury resort and com-munity nestled within a sheltered bay where mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. Residential units and rec-reational facilities are located within the valleys while two luxury hotels sit adjacent to the beach.

With views of a lagoon system, wadis and mountains, the hous-ing units are oriented to follow the contours and minimise impact on the landscape. This zone contains fi ve-bedroom villas with one six-bedroom villa overlooking the bay and the ocean beyond.

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THE SITEFrom the highest point of the site,

two dry wadi systems — planted with arid species — fl ow towards the centre. Instead of a brief annual presence, water is permanently introduced at their meeting point. A small stream meanders through a public park feeding a large lagoon, with a central residential island, which ends just before the beach. This system provides a safe route for annual fl ood waters, directing them away from properties and towards the sea.

22OHAAREA ON WHICH THE

PROJECT IS BUILT


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THE DETAILS With punched façades and

fl at roofs, the villas use a mix of traditional and contemporary fi nishes such as render, glazing and mashrabiya screens. The slideable screens can be positioned to shade and protect living spaces from the sun as well as provide privacy.

In addition to the mashrabiya screens, internal shade is created through the use of deep recesses and projecting walls and roofs that do not compromise views. Large windows slide away to connect the interior with the exterior, allowing the spaces to fl ow together.

THE CONCEPT GAJ’s architectural design

strategy is to create contemporary buildings which respond to the natural environment. Infl uence is taken from the local vernacular architecture and Omani detailing is used throughout the villas.

The buildings have been designed to connect resi-dents and guests to the external environment so strong architectural forms are used to frame the views. Residences are modest in scale and are clustered in the various valleys.

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THEWORKPROJECT UPDATE


AL MIZHAR VILLA

Architect: AK

Design

Location: Dubai

Designed by UAE-based AK Design, Al Mizhar Villa is a contemporary play on the traditional Arabian courtyard house. The constraints of the long, narrow site led to the form of two ‘living tubes’ sliding past each other to create a central landscaped courtyard. The northern tube con-tains common, family-oriented func-tions while the bedrooms are housed in the southern tube and accessed via a fully-glazed gallery.

TOZEUR RESORT

Architect: GAJ

Location:

Tozeur, Tunisia

Runner-up in the Hospitality & Leisure category at the 2011 Middle East Architect Awards, this boutique 63-key resort in Tunisia is designed by GAJ. The master plan comprises a destination spa, a banqueting and conference centre and a cultural village. Other facilities include local craft studios, retail outlets, restau-rants and an amphitheatre with 180-degree views over the dramatic desert surroundings.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH

Architect:

Ennead

Architects

Location: Salt

Lake City, Utah,

USA

This spectacular scheme, which opened in November 2011, provides a stunning home for the Natural History Museum of Utah, as well as housing research facilities for undergraduates and graduates at the University of Utah. The building was designed by Todd Schliemann of New York-based Ennead Architects. Conceived as an abstract extension of the landscape, the museum rests on terraces that step up the hillside.

AED7M COST OF THE VILLA

3,900M2 AREA OF EXTERIOR

COPPER PANELS


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MAYSAN RESIDENCES

Architect: DWPLocation: 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

AL SHAQAB EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY

Architect: Leigh & OrangeLocation: Education City, Qatar

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. Leigh & Orange provided master planning, architectural design, interior design and led a team of 18 sub-consultants.

THE VERTICAL MEDINA

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & MerrillLocation: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

One of many Middle East projects by SOM, the Vertical Medina is a mixed-use scheme in Saudi Arabia. It uses the traditional Arab me-dina city form 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 with a total area of 18,000m2.

THE URBAN CROSSING

Architect: AedasLocation: Shanghai, China

Aedas’ “boutique urban” project in Shanghai provides offi ce and retail components, as well as a gallery, 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 commercial and public elements. In addition to maintaining daily commercial and retail activities, the Urban Crossing is capable of hosting multiple major events.

8,000 SPECTATOR CAPACITY

OF THE ARENA

24,678M2 TOTAL AREA OF

THE SITE


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AINO MINA

Architect: Aedas

Location: Kandahar,

Afghanistan

This two million m2 community scheme, which won both the Resi-dential Project and Sustainable Proj-ect 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 back-drop of mountains. A wide central park runs through the masterplan and links the retail area with the Friday mosque at the northern end.

2MMETRES2

TOTAL AREA OF THE SCHEME

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.

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.

200,000METRES2

TOTAL SURFACE AREA

OF THE ROOF

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI

Architect: Benoy

Location: Yas

Island, Abu

Dhabi

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DUBIOTECH RESEARCH LABORATORY

Architect:HDRLocation:Dubai

This US$25m complex was the fi rst research facility to be com-pleted in DuBiotech, a huge freezone dedicated to the life science industry. Architect HDR was also responsible for the masterplan, as well as a head-quarters building which is under construction. A common require-ment for DuBiotech facilities is the achievement of LEED certifi cation; the research laboratory received Silver status at the end of 2010.

DOHA TWIN TOWERS

Architect:GHD Global Pty LtdLocation:Lusail, Qatar

This billowing twin tower project in Qatar was designed by GHD Global to meet the client’s target net fl oor area ratio of 398%. Overall water consumption will be reduced by 40% through 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.


CU

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LIGHTINGROOF TOP LIGHT

LightBoys

In the almost forgotten tradition of the classical ceiling painters, Jirko Bannas and Oliver Seltmann aim to revive an area often neglected in modern interior design — the ceiling. Large-format illuminated photographs mounted on an ultra-light only 40 mm in thickness literally show rooms in a new light. Be it a romantic starlit sky above a bed, treetops over a dining table or an old church dome in a lift, these lights give spaces a fourth dimension.

BOOKNO NAILS, NO LUMBER

Jeffrey Head

In 1941, architect Wallace Neff developed Airform construction as a solution to the global housing crisis. He had a passion for dome-shaped “bubble houses” made of reinforced concrete cast over an infl atable balloon. The book shows Neff ’s designs through photographs.

© JAN VAN ENDERT


LAST WORD | SIMON GATHERCOLE


Simon Gathercole, director for Allies and Morrison, on Qatar’s future development

THE LAST WORD

NEW DAWN

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The city’s identity is becoming stronger. We have the historic souk, the parkland and the high-rises of West Bay which

represent the modern aspirations of the city.

I think there is a future opportunity for buildings lining the parkland, as part of bigger structured plans. The Corniche would also benefi t from upgrades.

The architectural scene is still quieter than perhaps expected. Many people were anticipating a switch to come on after Qatar won the bid to host

the 2022 World Cup.

There are some really large sites in Doha that off er opportunities. For instance, when the airport is relocated it will leave behind a site. There is also an

opportunity to renovate buildings in the historic centre.

Opportunities will depend on the developers’ approach. It’s easy to place projects in the hands of one company, and this means that other

architecture fi rms will miss out.

The challenge is to have a measured growth with event-focused infrastructure, while keeping the legacy in place.

If they can get it right then Qatar will be a very exciting place in 2022, with a mature urban environment.

Middle East Architect

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