Calatrava Aesthetics in Dubai
Emaar Properties has unveiled designs for a new observation tower to be built in the Dubai Creek area of the city. The tower’s design was approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed reviewed proposals by six consultancy companies before approving the selection of a design by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, whose Turning Torso was awarded the 2015 10-Year award by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
The winning design, which provides a modern twist on Islamic architecture, was described by Sheikh Mohammed as an “architectural wonder that will be as great as Burj Khalifa and the Eiffel Tower,” according to the state news agency Wam. The height of the tower has not been specified, but in drawings provided by Emaar it looms high over neighboring towers. A name for the tower has not yet been chosen.
Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Al Abbar thanked Sheikh Mohammed for his continued support and confidence in Emaar’s projects. He said the new tower would prove to be a cultural and tourist icon, adding that construction would begin within the next few months. The tower is to be linked to a central island district within the Dubai Creek Harbour district, which is being jointly developed by Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding. It is to have a number of residential and commercial buildings set around a 4.5-kilometer creek boardwalk offering retail, dining, and entertainment units.
Santiago Calatrava