Rational Conservatism of Dubai

Quite recently, in the articles on high-rise buildings, almost all of the new skyscrapers have been compared with New York or Chicago high-rises, but about the construction in Dubai or UAE in whole were spoken as of a separate exclusive facilities. Today, the reality has changed so much that America is no longer perceived as the main center of the most interesting skyscrapers. Featured and ultra-modern, megatall skyscrapers emerge mostly in Asia and the Middle East. Already for them the best architects of the Old and New World currently develop the most fantastic and incredible engineering solutions that are surprisingly easy to put into practice.

Analysts predict that in the coming decades, most of the tallest buildings would be outside the North American continent. In 2015 only Dubai will have more 100-storeys buildings than any other city in the world. Nowadays as a really tall skyscrapers in the Middle East are considered buildings more than 200 m height, whereas for the rest of the world a significant mark is 150 meters height, and as for a conservative Europe - it is 100 meters. Over the past few years in Dubai was built 38 skyscrapers above 220 m, not to mention the unconditional records, that permanent desire to possess such outstanding pieces of the high-altitude architecture inherent to this country. Its very first skyscraper, the 39-storey Dubai World Trade Centre, built in 1979, was immediately recognized as the highest building in the Middle East (149 m). In 2010 there was completed the tallest building in the world – Burj Khalifa, 828 meters height (163 floors). So, the competition for the title of the tallest skyscraper in the world currently is developing in this region. Chinese skyscrapers are gradually losing out to the unique achievements of the construction industry. Although today’s most ambitious project of Dubai skyscraper Nakheel height of about 1140 m (228 floors), has officially canceled, the planned 1022- meter Murjan Tower in Bahrain, 1001 m Burj Mubarak al-Kabir in Kuwait and 1007-meter Mile-High Tower in Jeddah could successfully compete in the region in the coming years.

In a one of the previous issues, we in detail considered the history of erection skyscrapers in Dubai during the period from the turn of the 1980s to the mid-2000s. However, the construction of tall buildings in this part of the world goes in a such a rapid pace and is replete with such achievements, that it is appropriate again to draw attention to new and planned Dubai skyscrapers. Here being built the different typologies of skyscrapers, claiming for leadership due different settings or unique technical characteristics, for example, the tallest residential building in the world - Pentominium and the world’s first rotating skyscraper – Dynamic Tower.

The main concentration of such buildings – are still situated along Sheikh Zayed Road and around Dubai Creek. The aforementioned the main Emirates’ skyscraper – Burj Khalifa looks like a giant man-made stalagmite. In the various sources the skyscraper, known around the world called Burj Dubai, subsequently, in a surprise move at its opening ceremony, the tower was renamed Burj Khalifa, said to honour the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his crucial support. Already in the construction process the tower won the title of the highest building in the world, surpassing not only the Asian and American high-rises (Taipei 101, the 508 m (Taipei), CN Tower, 553,3 m (Toronto) or the Willis Tower, 443,2 m (Chicago), as well as such a constraction like Warsaw Radio Mast (646 m). Construction achievements of this object is also unique: it tested the maximum height for buildings made with a help of concrete injection, and in general for any facilities – 601 m (the previous record – 449.2 m at the skyscraper Taipei 101 and 532 meters – a hydroelectric Riva del Garda). To support the unprecedented height of the building, the engineers developed a new structural system called the buttressed core, which consists of a hexagonal core reinforced by three buttresses that form the ‘Y’ shape. The building has returned the location of Earth’s tallest freestanding structure to the Middle East where the Great Pyramid of Giza claimed this achievement for almost four millennia before being surpassed in 1311 by Lincoln Cathedral in England.

The second and third in height amongst Dubai’ buildings are Towers of the Emirates Park Towers Hotel & Spa (Emirates Park Tower 1, Emirates Park Tower 2). This project, owned by The Emirates Group, was originally conceived as a single, 350-metre tall, 77-storey tower which was supposed to be completed in 2008. Its design and location had to be changed because of the construction of a creek extension belonging to the Business Bay megaproject. The new twin-tower design was launched at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in 2006. The shape of the towers was modified and the height decreased to 365 m (1,198 ft) in a later redesign. The concrete structural frames of both towers topped out in April 2010. As of April, 2011 the spires on both towers has been added while the outer structure of the both towers has almost been completed. At the cost of 1.8 billion dirhams, the twin tower will become a 1,612 room hotel run by Marriott International, with some residential apartments. At 77 storeys and 376 m (1,234 ft) tall the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel will become the second tallest building in Dubai, surpassing the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, and will become the world’s second tallest hotel.

The Marina Torch, also known as Dubai Torch or just The Torch, is a supertall residential skyscraper at the Dubai Marina, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tower became the tallest residential building in the world in 2011, surpassing Q1, in Gold Coast, Australia. The tower reaches 348.1 meters (1,142 feet) in height with 84 floors above ground. However, today the skyscraper has a little chance for a long time to retain the title, since is being built the Pentominium. The original design by Dubai-based architects Khatib & Alami was 74 floors, with three basement levels and a four-story podium, and had a total planned built up area of 111,832 m² (1.2 million ft²). It was to have 504 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms and four duplex apartment suites. The three basement floors and part of the podium were to hold car parking for 536 vehicles, while floors five and six were to contain a swimming pool, health club, gymnasium, cafeteria, aerobic rooms and sit-out cover seal terraces. However, due to the subsequent project refinement some of the parameters and spaces have been changed. As a result, the architectural appearance of the building turned out pretty conservative. It is a clear square cross section structure of glass and concrete, with well articulated planes of the external facades, traditional vertical division in the basement, main volume and the completion of the bulk, as well as accented corners, which gives the whole look additional visual stability and solidity.

The same designer, Khatib & Alami group in cooperation with Abbco Group carried out the construction of the highest (at that time) hotel building - 380-meter Rose Tower. This is much more intricate white and blue skyscraper was built in 2006 and opened as the Rose Rotana Suites Hotel in 2008. It is a 333 m (1,093 ft), 72-storey hotel located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. It is the world’s third tallest hotel. The tower was originally to be 380 m (1,250 ft), but design modification reduced it to 333 m (1,093 ft). Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2007. On 24 October 2006, the building reached its full height with the addition of the spire. By total height with spire the hotel surpassed the nearby 321 m (1,053 ft) Burj Al Arab.

Another high-rise building designed by Khatib & Alami Group – Al Tayer Tower is a 59-floor residential tower. Its location along Sheikh Zayed Road gives it close proximity to Downtown Dubai (the district that includes the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall) and Business Bay. The design of the tower was completed in 2005. The 249 m (815 ft) tower will have a total of 244 apartments that come in various sizes. Built behind the tower will be an 11 floor parking garage, also built by Al Shafar General Contracting Co. LLC

Full version you can download here

Text by Marianna Maevskaya