15 eco-conscious structures envisioned for green Dubai
EcoFriend
Dubai,the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates, has recently servedarchitects as a unique canvas where their dreams can be painted toperfection. Be it the Burj Al Arab, The Palm Island or The WorldIslands, the fantastic dreams of extraordinary architecture has alwaysfound place in Dubai. With many dreams already realized or taking finalshape, architects are also envisioning next-gen green structures thatwill not only make Dubai a loved tourist destination, but will alsomake it a leading example in green design. Here is a list of 15 suchecofriendly structures envisioned for Dubai:
• O-14 by RUR Architecture:
The22-story 300,000 square-foot development, dubbed O-14 is designed to beperched on a two-story podium in Dubai’s Business Bay. The architecturewill consist of a exoskeleton composed of more than 1000 holes, whichwill allow the façade to deliver shade, light and air apart from thestunning views on the outside. The holes will be built using advancedcomputers that will numerically cut polystyrene forms into a reinforcedsteel mesh matrix. The holes are modulated according to sun exposureand luminosity. These precisely cut holes will let in light during mostparts of the day but block heat during the hottest times.
• Food City by GCLA Architects:
TheFood City is an off-the-grid structure designed to make people live thegreenest possible life. Taking modern architecture to its utmostlimits, the Food City is designed to feature green walls, aquaticfarms, artificial roof landscapes and renewable energy generation at ascale no one has ever tried before. The metropolis will generate allthe electricity it needs using concentrated solar collectors, towersdraped in photovoltaic modules and piezoelectric pads in all pedestrianareas. Additionally, the complex will extract methane from sewage tanksfor days when the sun isn’t shining.
• Vertical Farm by Studiomobile:
Thisvertical farm design will make use of seawater to cool and humidifygreenhouses and convert the humidity back to freshwater to irrigate thecrops. The air going in the greenhouse is first cooled and humidifiedwith seawater, providing necessary conditions for plant growth. As thisair leaves the growing area it is mixed with warm dry air, making itmore humid and hotter. This warm and humid air is then condensed, againusing sweater, until condensed drops of fresh water appear. These dropsare then collected in a tank and used to irrigate the crops.
• Rotating Tower by Dynamic Architecture:
Designedby Dr. David Fisher, the Rotating Tower design will harness wind energyas it rotates, thereby producing 10 times more energy that it uses.Each floor of Dynamic Architecture’s wind-powered rotating skyscraperis a single apartment with the ability to rotate independently, givingresidents the ability to choose a new view at the touch of a button -quite a party trick. Wind turbines between each floor will generate avast surplus of electricity capable of powering the whole surroundingneighborhood.
• Palm Tower by Sybarite UK:
Thistower design boasts 60,000-square-meter of usable space ranging fromoffices to restaurants, gardens, cinemas and luxury. The windows aretriple-glazed, heat reflective and constructed from solar electricglass (BIPV-building integrated solar photovoltaic), making the edificeextremely energy efficient. The centrally located vertical circulationand services core results in completely uninterrupted floor plates,allowing great flexibility in the floor-plans and use of space.
• Anara Tower by Atkins:
This125-story building will stand about 700 m tall and will be ranked asone of the tallest man-made structures on the planet. Apart from skygardens after every 27 floors, the building will have offices, shops, aluxury hotel with 250 rooms, 300 residential apartments, and a placefor exhibitions and auctions. The apartments, which are expected to bethe most expensive in Dubai, will have luxuries like exclusive swimmingpools, exclusive elevators and views of the beautiful coastline ofDubai. This tower will conform to LEED certification requirements of atleast silver rating, by maximizing water and energy efficiency and willalso include some form of renewable energy generators for its monstrouspower needs.
• ZPO Tower by XTEN Architecture:
TheZPO (Za’abeel Park Observation) Tower is designed to showcase therichness of Islamic art in a form that is suitable for the environmentas well. Apart from serving the purpose it is actually designed for,the base of the tower carries four distinct landforms that providespace for parking, conference center, children’s library and serviceareas. The architects envisioned the observation tower to be built withzero-energy characteristics, which was accomplished by installingseveral hundred square meters of photovoltaic systems that convert thetop of the tower into a renewable energy powerhouse.
• Ziggurat by TimeLinks:
Covering2.3 square kilometers, this enormous structure by design firm TimeLinkswill cater to the requirements of 1 million inhabitants. Thepyramid-shaped structure will have a resourceful public transportationsystem running horizontally and vertically, and have its own ability togenerate power by utilizing wind, steam and other natural resources forthe necessary energy to run it.
• Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower by LAVA:
Thetower will be 59 stories high and draws its inspiration from theconsistent and accurate lines that Schumacher’s Ferrari took in hisacclaimed career. While the tower sports a unique design with a basethat is wide to ensure stability, its lavish and luxurious interiorsare built for the select few. The structure, though, incorporates a fewgreen features with ample natural lighting, good air circulation and awonderful water management structure.
• Waterfront City by Rem Koolhaas:
Thisecological masterpiece is the 1.5-billion-square-foot Waterfront Citydesigned by Rem Koolhaas, an entire self-contained city resting atop anartificial island that mixes inspirations from ninth-century mosques toKoolhaas’s own ideas about the THX 1138-esque generic city. The tallesttowers are concentrated along the project’s southern edge to shield theinterior blocks from the blazing sun. The gigantic sphere is placedprecariously at the water’s edge, setting the entire ensemble artfullyoff balance. The spiraling tower stands just across from it, on anarrow spit of land that forms a barrier between the island and thegulf.
• Utopia One by Cesar Bobonis-zequeira, Ivan Perez-rossello and Teresita del Valle:
TheUtopia One is an elevated tower that not just presents a unique designbut also uses the similar materials employed in a smooth sculptural,erected earlier in the park. The structure makes use of Nano-celltechnology in the exterior skin of the building provide (a portion ofthe) energy to run the elevator systems, HVAC systems and electricalsystems. The ‘Utopia One’ also includes heat sensitive glass to controlthe heat in the glassed surfaces, while making use of recycled greywater for irrigation and the HVAC systems, courtesy advanced watermanagement.
• Wave Tower by Studio A-Cero:
Theproject is designed to be built in the Madinat Al Arab District, a zoneunder development that is expected to become the new downtown andcentral business district of Dubai. When built, the Wave Tower willbecome the highest tower designed by Spanish architects. Theskyscraper’s silk-screened glass skin helps in solar control, itcomprises of a double skin facade made of silk screened glass. Theskyscraper houses a water purification plant, which will desalinate andpurify the surrounding sea water, which will be used for landscapingand sewage.
• Burj Al-Taqa by Eckhard Gerber:
TheBurj Al- Taqa will stand a whopping 322 meter high and will producezero emissions and use the natural source of sun, wind and water tocreate its own energy. The 68-story structure will use natural airconditioning which is based on Iranian wind towers. The utility ofthese wind towers is to bring in wind into the cool interiors of thestructure. Gerber’s intricate cylindrical design sees the involvementof this principle to ventilate the tower. The overall structure alsoincludes a central atrium which will help provide the tower with freshair flow. This inflow of air will be pre-cooled with the seawater,dispersed throughout the exterior of the building and ventilatedthrough a double-skin glass facade.
• Almeisan Tower by Robert Ferry:
Thetower design was submitted in a recent competition to design a tallemblem structure for Za’abeel Park, in Dubai. The structure is capableof generating a whopping 600KW of solar power using 224 largeheliostatic mirrors that track the position of the sun throughout theday. The energy generated by the solar array is used to power thebuilding and the neighboring Za’abeel Park.
• Aerohotel by Alexander Asadov:
Designedby Alexander Asadov, the Aerohotel features an elegant floating islandthat sits atop an equally stunning support system. The support systemof the structure ensures that tons of gravel doesn’t disrupt thepeaceful aquatic sea life. The 200 meter wide circular island is heldin the air by three arms that are tethered to the bottom of the site.Apart from a hotel the Aerohotel will also house restaurants, cafes andwinter gardens. The Aerohotel will be made from transparent materialsto ensure maximum natural lighting and minimum environmental impact.
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