© Yulia Volosovich . Pubblicata il 14 Maggio 2009.

Harmony. Plane. Light.

Light is condensed into an apparition: out of the petals, billowing, sparkling with cool, a flower shoots up like an arrow. The flower seems a mirage, an alien – the laws of this space do not have power over it.

This apparition is… the Flower Tower.

Flower Tower is an iconic tall emblem structure that contributes to the new face of Dubai.

Prototype of the concept of a structure is the flower.

The flower is a symbol. Different cultures assign various symbolic meanings to flowers: growth, purity, dynamics and freshness being common to all.

The flower in the desert is a true and laconic symbol of a dynamic and quickly developing city of Dubai. Prosperity of nations, power of ideas inspired creation of architectural symbols throughout history. Regardless of the functional purpose of a structure, its architectural concept has always been a reflection of the overall culture of a society, its ideology and its perception of beauty. In earlier times the level of technological development set limits on personal expression in architecture. Now the time has come when the boldest fantasy can be realized. Now is the time when man breaks free from the shackles that is imperfect technology. Instead, he takes on the burden of responsibility for the preservation of energy and a clean environment.

A flower, the embodiment of simplicity and aesthetic perfection, became the prototype of the Flower Tower, itself the embodiment of a conceptual simplicity and perfect engineering. A tender and defenseless creation is, in reality, an independent being full of inner strength. The sparkling surfaces of the podium, as if woven from water, support an array of huge solar panels, supplying power to the complex. The translucent petals of the tower, like interlaced streams of air, disguise the blades of the wind turbines. The light and lithe stem of the tower can withstand strong winds through the wind pressure compensation during the overload of the tower by the work of the wind turbines. Thus, the seemingly unnatural becomes viable and functional due to modern engineering solutions.

Site: The site is located within the Zaabeel Park and covers approximately 2.00 hectares. The site is relatively flat at altitude of approximately 3.00m Dubai Municipal Datum (DMD). The Flower Tower is focused upon the lake and upon the coast. Visitors get to the site through an existing entrance to the park from 21st Street, leading to a palm lined promenade along the lake and to the entrance to the Tower. The structure it is surrounded by a band of water 2 to 3 meters wide with the musical fountains offering theatrical effects of jets and cascades, illuminated at night by all the colors of the spectrum. Visitors get to the building over the planked footbridges which cross the water. Crossing over water in many cultures symbolizes purification and revival. Thus this passage is important for such a symbolic structure. Parking for the employees is from 6th Street using the ramp. The park features meditation gardens with benches and small fountains for visitors.

Composition: The height of the Flower Tower is 162m. The Flower Tower consists of several main areas including: The two – storey podium. The main spiral staircase with the floors every 2.7 meters. Upper level café Underground parking is provided for employees. The first floor of the podium (level ±0.000) is the entrance zone which includes the main lobby as well as ticket and information kiosks,. The main lobby offers access to the upper levels of the Tower, either by the stairway or by the two main panoramic elevators. The lobby also allows access to the second floor where cultural activities are offered. Toilets are located on the first floor, including toilets for the disabled. The cultural activities zone is situated on the second floor of the podium (level + 5.400). The cultural activities zones include conference space (160 m²) which can be divided into 3 conference rooms if required and the children’s library (160 m² ). The visitors can get to the second floor using stairs, escalators or one of two elevators with the capacity of 8 persons per elevator. The core and the heart of the Tower is the basic spiral staircase rising from a podium to the cafe at the highest level. Each level of a structure is a viewing platform from which a wonderful panorama of Dubai opens. At each level (every 2.7m) comfortable sofas are installed upon which guests can have a rest. The surface of internal walls can be used as a screen for demonstration of slides and films acquainting visitors with the city’s history or sharing other thematic information. The wall can also serve as a screen for certain activities, for example, at times it will be possible to show sights of cultural life of the city while visitors are looking at the city itself through the glass wall, listening to the soft national music or the voice of a narrator telling the city’s history . At each level the speakers can be established, used for broadcasting musical programs, lectures, and for announcements on the system. When Visiting such tall iconic structures people often find special pleasure in walking to the highest points of those special places . Prior to this, a similar endeavor would have taken place on a steep stairway of a gloomy and dark corridor,, a physical activity that can be compared to an exercise on a fitness machine in a gym. But this is boring, and though effective from the training point of view, it is a conceptually outdated mode of access. The Flower Tower is taking physical exercise to a new level. A slow walk up or down convenient and well-lit stairs that can turn into the informative tour filled with charming stops for a view of a panorama of Dubai or simply a pause for conversation with the pleasant fellow traveller on cozy sofas, which are installed on every level. If, however, one tires of walking, one can discontinue the walk at any time, at any level. and use one of the two available elevators. In case of an emergency, visitors can use the fire-protected stairways to escape from the affected level. The disabled can use the fire-protected elevators they can access through the special vestibules. The cafe with the viewing platforms is situated at the top level (+151.200). It is equipped with the kitchen and toilets , including toilets for disabled persons. Areas for storage, and zones for deliveries, loading and unloading are situated at the level of underground parking (-4.050) All the technical equipment zones, including generators are situated below the parking level. The areas of these zones depend on engineering calculations and will be considered at a more detailed phase of the design. In a structure are also provided: Main Spiral stairs (walking and viewing galllery) Two panoramic elevators for 8 persons each Main stairs: connecting enrance zone (level ±0.000 with cultural activities zone(level +5.400) The ramp: provides access to the parking (level -4.050) for employeers, deliveries, loading and unloading Two panoramic elevators for 8 persons each The freight elevator which is provided to service all the floors of tower and also for evacuating the disabled individuals if necessary.The freight elevator is equipped with a fire suppression system independent of other systems in the building, with ventilation and smoke removal system and is connected to the floors through the fire-protected vestibules that are also equipped with independent fire suppression, ventilation and smoke removal systems. Fire-protected staircase equipped with a fire suppression system independent of other systems in the building, with ventilation and smoke removal system. It is also connected to the floors through the fire-protected vestibules

Structure: The core of the structure is a hollow cylinder partially filled with rods elastically bound together. This makes the constrictions simultaneously rigid and elastic. Though one can expect relatively large fluctuations and distortions inevitable for the tall structure, this engineering solution allows it withstand and tame the breaking force. In addition, the core contains the infrastructure that supplies utilities to the tower, such as electricity, water, sewage and the hoist for the waste of the cafe kitchen. The core is connected with the external frame of the structure on the level of each floor, with sufficient rigidity. Those connections are concealed inside each floor. It makes the structure rigid but elastic at the same time, which allows it to withstand strong gusts of wind and seismic fluctuations without breaking. The external structure is a cylinder of rigid metal rods rigidly bound together crosswise, bound in each floor level with the internal cylinder by armored plates – floors. Armor consists of a belt binding the internal cylinder and a belt binding the external cylinder that are, in turn, bound together every three meters lengthwise by the radial (ray-like) connections concealed within the vertical dimension of the floors. The system of cables holds the structure in the vertical position, controls overturning, while adding a visual effect of the spontaneity, the force of growth striving to reach the sky. The podium level petals serve as the additional support for the stem of the Flower Tower.

Power supply: Air-conditioning and power supply in the Flower Tower are carried out by means of energy received using solar powered batteries and wind turbines. Solar batteries are located on the roof of the lower petals of the Flower Tower and occupy a huge space that allows high capacity development of energy. This power generation array is capable of providing energy not only for the Flower Tower itself (illumination, air-conditioning, work of elevators, kitchens, dynamics, projectors), but also the surrounding landscape. The wind driven turbines also play an important role in the power supply of the complex. The system of wind turbines is located in the top part of the Tower behind the lattice structure that allows air streams to pass through. The position of each turbine varies automatically in several dimensions depending on wind loading that allows the control of resistance.

The Flower Tower does not resist the forces of nature, it coexists with them, it is harmonious with the ecosystem.