© 2b'n architetti associati . Pubblicata il 12 Maggio 2009.

INTRODUCTION

© 2b'n architetti associati . Pubblicata il 12 Maggio 2009.

The new urban symbol of such a cosmopolitan city as Dubai is compelled to represent the spirit of a city that is increasingly projected toward the future, and at the same time to evoke the spirit and culture of the local territory. This stimulating equilibrium is the basis of this design concept proposal, whose objectives are very clear: integration within the urban context, efficiency and functionality, security and accessibility, structural simplicity and energy conservation, economic sustainability and efficient operation of the complex.

© 2b'n architetti associati . Pubblicata il 12 Maggio 2009.

CONCEPT

© 2b'n architetti associati . Pubblicata il 12 Maggio 2009.

The interpretation of Dubai’s natural environment in its largest cultural meaning is what inspired the genesis of this project proposal. The evocative beauty of the UAE’s natural terrain, marked by the extraordinary forms of the dunes that dynamically shape the region’s landscape, suggests the form of the Tower, which in turn symbolically evokes, by virtue of its spiral structure (largely clad in a highly transparent metallic steel wire mesh), the movement of a dune spiralling up toward the sky. This dynamism defines an architectural structure that changes according to the point of observation, the infinite perspectives of the Tower deriving from the ever-changing desert landscape generated from the action of the wind on the sand. The evocation of the dunes and the desert conjure up more generally the region’s archetypal culture, namely the Berber tradition that lies at the origins of the entire Arabic peninsula’s culture.

© 2b'n architetti associati . Pubblicata il 12 Maggio 2009.

The sinusoidal shape of the Tower, powerfully evocative enough to take on the role of Dubai’s tall emblem, is the impetus for the incorporation of an additional element of remarkable characterization: one of the two elevators was in fact conceived with a specially engineered structural rack system which allows the cabin to travel along the length of the spiral’s crest, giving visitors the exceptional experience, whilst going up or down, of taking in a 360-degree view of the city of Dubai.

The spiral shape symbolically represents knowledge, learning, and therefore progress: a symbol that is perfectly suited to the modern reality and even more to Dubai’s future political and economic ambitions.

URBAN CONTEXT

With regards to the existing urban context, both the general aspects as well as the more particular aspects have been taken into account. The more general aspects include the Tower’s relationship with the city as a whole and with its outstanding elements, such as the axis of Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as the sea and the banks of Dubai Creek. The more particular and significant aspect that is taken into account is the relationship with Za’abel Park, location from which the Tower rises.

It is worth noting that by not having a single architectural compositional axis, the remarkable sinusoidal form of the Tower interfaces with the entire city in an omnidirectional manner, resulting in total integration with the urban landscape. This architectural choice permits observation of the city’s emblem from virtually any location with equal evocative power. Strengthening the Tower’s role as a landmark is the ever-changing perception of the building’s skin, as a result of the use of a steel wire mesh that guarantees varying degrees of transparency as a function of the changing conditions of daylight, whilst in its nocturnal embodiment the Tower assumes multiple chromatic effects, thanks to a complex LED illumination system operated by specific software.

In regards to the relationship with Za’abel Park, the design pays particular attention to the Park’s overall layout and to the buildings in closest proximity to the future construction, such as the existing restaurant located on the lakeshore. Aiming for a harmonious integration, the design focuses on the Tower’s attachment to the ground and related external arrangements.

The principal idea behind the planivolumetric layout, which includes the Conference Room and the Children’s Day Care Centre spaces, is the conception of an open square that circularly surrounds the Tower, subsequently extending out toward the existing restaurant, marking a preferential path in the direction of one of the Park’s main entrances. Underneath this strong compositional design, created by the paved square and by an interplay of varying levels in the surrounding grounds, lies a lower level, partly paved and partly occupied by a water reservoir and gardens. This in fact constitutes the Tower’s entrance level, effectively piercing the open square’s level, consequently allowing visitors to access elevators from within a climate-controlled environment, characterized by a spacious hall onto which open, in turn, the main entrances of the Conference Room and the Children’s Day Care Centre, both situated for the most part underground.

Both levels characterize the design’s overall planimetric system and may be conceived as an upper outdoor plaza and a lower indoor plaza. This solution is motivated not only by compositional reasons, but also by purely functional considerations: given Dubai’s particular climactic conditions, it was deemed advisable to offer visitors the possibility to view and access the Tower and its spaces from areas that may be climate-controlled.

THE TOWER

Geometry and Structure

As mentioned above, the 170-meter-tall Tower that naturally embodies the heart of the planned design was conceived with a specific geometry aimed at evoking the dynamic shape of a sand dune. In order to reach the desired objective, an irregular ellipsoidal plan was adopted as geometric generator of the architectural structure to whose main axis, in proximity to one of the two foci, is inscribed a circumference in tangency. This circle generates the cylindrical volume that develops along the height of the Tower, within which is situated the space containing the emergency stairwell; meanwhile, the surface between the stairwell and the outermost part of the cylinder is occupied by a ramp that spirals upward along the entire height of the edifice. At the same time the volume generated in height by the ellipsoidal plan rotates approximately every 3.5 meters and by a few degrees in relation to a rotational axis whose centre is the above-mentioned circle, repeating this procedure for the entire height of the Tower. This is how the sinusoidal spatial structure, inspired by the sand dune, is achieved.

Based on the Tower’s geometry as described above, it can be noted that the load-bearing structure of the edifice is itself generated by the architectural geometry. The main construction, built of steel, lies in fact within the geometric cylinder that contains the emergency stairwell and the ramp, and is composed of a series of pilasters located on the outer circumference of the cylinder and connected to one another by cross-beams and braces. Connected to this primary structure is the reticular spatial structure composed of steel tubes and generated by the twisting movement of the ellipsoid.

The Tower’s structure, contrary to what might appear at first glance, is in fact simple in construction, for it is made up of modular elements; the reticular structure generated by the twisting of the irregular ellipsoid presents numerous identical structural segments, all measuring 3.5 meters in height, offering remarkable advantages, both from an economic and from a practical perspective.

Contributing to the Tower’s architectural appearance is the building’s skin, made up of a steel wire mesh that has the ability to adapt itself like a fabric to the complex form of the structural skeleton, resulting in a continuous surface with a remarkably sculptural effect. It must be noted, finally, that the Tower’s particular sinusoidal shape is favourable also in consideration of the wind’s dynamic force: given the absence of full, flat surfaces, and to the perforated quality of the mesh skin, the wind’s force exerts far less stress on the structure. Only the elevator landings and the bar level, located underneath the outdoor viewing platform level, have glass surfaces placed behind the metal mesh that are necessary for the creation of suitably climate-controlled environments.

Layout and Vertical Connections

The layout and connections in the entire complex have been studied to optimize the various functions and to guarantee high security standards, with the necessary clarity of use required in a high-level structure to be used by an international tourist industry. Located in the basement level (partly described above) is the indoor plaza that functions as an access hall to the Tower. Also accessible from this level is the Conference Room, with a capacity of 100 people and divisible into three smaller rooms, as well as the Children’s Day Care Centre. Both of these spaces, for the most part underground, are situated radially in relation to the open square and to the Tower itself. The basement level holds an underground parking garage with a 30-car capacity.

The Tower’s vertical connection system is composed of two elevators in addition to an emergency stairwell and ramp, both described above, located within the Tower’s cylindrical volume. Both elevators included in the design are panoramic: one of these is traditional, whilst the second has been designed with particular structural and engineering characteristics in mind. As mentioned above, this elevator is in fact an integral part of the design concept, in that its unique structure, consisting in a special rack-system device, allows the cabin to travel in a spiral path, recalling in a certain fashion the very geometry that characterises the Tower. Both elevators carry visitors to the floor located 157 meters above ground, from which one can access the higher floors of the panoramic indoor bar and the top floor with its outdoor viewing platform, connected to one another by way of a special elevator and a wheelchair-accessible ramp. The panoramic bar is laid out on two levels and offers a 360-degree view of the city of Dubai. The lower bar level has visitor washroom facilities in addition to a staff service area.

Functionality and Security

Whilst the focus of this project was to design an important landmark and future emblem of the city of Dubai, the design has not neglected to devise a functional layout that permits a rational use of the structure by a foreseeably high volume of visitors, and at the same time an economically sustainable management of the complex over time. These objectives have been reached thanks to the clear and rational layout of access points and distribution of spaces in the basement level and in the Tower itself. In regards specifically to the basement-level access points and elevator landing areas at the top of the Tower, these were planned in such a way to allow an orderly flow of visitors in climate-controlled environments.

The Tower’s connection system, as mentioned above, features, in addition to the two elevators, a protected emergency stairwell, in the centre of which is planned a skylight well for the positioning of technological devices. Added to the emergency staircase is the external ramp that screws into the staircase itself, giving the Tower a dual connection system. In Dubai’s four or five months of comfortable weather, visitors can choose to descend from the top of the Tower by way of the helicoidal ramp, completing their experience of taking in the urban panorama.

Environmental sustainability

In placing such high energy-conservation standards on the new Tower complex, the design aims to obtain a system of zero greenhouse-gas emissions through a series of active and passive devices planned in the design concept. In order to accomplish this, the Tower’s skin, composed of a steel wire mesh, does not in fact cover entirely the structure’s skeleton because part of it is replaced by surfaces of mouldable photovoltaic panels installed in continuity and on the same plane as the metallic mesh, resulting in an overall effect of a single skin with a flecked appearance and more or less transparent luminous effects. The total area of the photovoltaic surfaces will supply the entire amount of electric energy requirements for the operation of the whole Tower complex. Added to this active system are the passive systems that make it possible to achieve the highest performance in energy conservation, such as the use of double panes fitted with ventilated air chambers, particularly in the indoor spaces at the top of the Tower, as well as the garden-rooftop coverings for improved insulation in the spaces located at the basement level, given their already partially underground position.

Illumination

The illumination of a landmark, of a Tall Emblem such as that requested for this competition, is of crucial importance to the success of this project. From this point of view the Tower’s shape itself and the skin that covers it are in and of themselves greatly favourable for the creation of luminous effects; it is evident, in fact, that the Tower’s curved surfaces will lend a unique quality to the LED system designed for its illumination. As can be seen in the illustrations, the possibilities for chromatic combinations are endless, and can modify in varying degrees the Tower’s physical appearance, which can certainly be admired from any point in the city.

Progettazione

• Arcomproject S.r.l.: Giancarlo Bertocchini, Capogruppo Gabriella Ruggiero, Antonio d’Elia, Progettisti
• Gianluca Graziani, Progettista
• Cristiana Sarapo, Progettista
• 2b’n architetti associati: Giuseppe Maretto, Mauro Santandrea, Progettisti
• P & A s.r.l.: Edoardo Benazzi, Angelo Rago, Progettisti