me architect - nov 2009

THE VEIL REDUCES GLARE AND DIFFUSES SUNLIGHT LANDSCAPED ROOFS

AND TERRACES CREATE A MICROCLIMATE THAT ENHANCE DAILY INTERACTION WITH NATURE

WATER CONSERVATION

GREY WATER RECYCLED FOR NON-POTABLE USE

OPENINGS IN BUILDING MASS ALLOW BREEZE TO PERMEATE INTO COURTYARDS

FRESH AIR IS PASSED BELOW GROUND, COOLED USING THE EARTH’S SUBTERRANEAN TEMPERATURE AND SUPPLIED INTO THE CENTRAL COURT RESULTING IN A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT

VENTILLATION: WARM AIR INLET

INCIDENT DAYLIGHT

PV CELLS INCLINED FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE HARVEST SUNLIGHT TO GENERATE ELECTRIC POWER

VENTILATION: WARM AIR INLET

GROUND COUPLED AIR HEAT EXCHANGE

VENTILATION: COOL AIR OUTLETS

An ITP Business Publication

NOVEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 11


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n ITP Business Publication

NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC

CHANGING THE GAMENorr Group’s new design could revolutionise architecture in the Middle East

INTERVIEW DSA Architects’ Floris Smith FEATURE Green communities are more than just green buildings SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW GEZE, Mapei, VE Solutions, AHEC & Architectural hardware POST-SHOW REPORT Cityscape 2009

001 www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

CONTENTS NOVEMBER

November 2009 ISSUE 11 VOLUME 321

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16

07

27

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07 12

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WHAT’S ON THE WEB MEA keeps you in touch with the latest news from the industry with a synopsis of Construction Week online

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS A roundup of some of the industry’s biggest stories and product launches from October ‘09

SHOW REPORT: CITYSCAPE POST SHOWMEA brings you feedback from architects, engineers, developers and organisers from Cityscape Dubai ‘09 FEATURE: GREEN COMMUNITIESExploring how best to build green communities rather than focusing simply on green buildings

COVER STORY: THE HABITATNorr Group’s Yahya Jan presented a new typology at Cityscape. It may end up revolutionising architecture

Q&A: FLORIS SMITH DSA Architects’ newest director of architecture goes on the record with MEA editor Jeff Roberts

SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW MEA finds out why architects need to pay attention to suppliers GEZE, Mapei, AHEC and VE Solutions FEATURE: ARCH HARDWARE Selina Denman catches up with six of the industry’s architectural hardware suppliers

SKETCHBOOK: ALL SAINTS ACADEMY Abu Dhabi newcomer Stride Treglown gives readers a preview of the types of projects Gulf clients can expect

SKETCHBOOK 2: D17Qatar’s Focus Design Partners gives MEA exclusive access to sketches for Energy City

47

48

002 MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com

ONLINE

COLUMNS & FEATURES

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT

US $2.65bn UPTOWN BAHRAIN SHELVEDThe US $2.65 billion Uptown Bahrain devel-opment has been shelved indefi nitely and may never be built accord-ing to a senior source at Fortune Investment House (FIH).

ARE YOU LEEDing THE INDUSTRY ON?The preservation of our environment is quickly climbing up many people’s agendas and green building products can contribute, in a big way. Construction Week delves into the issue.

the online home of:

IN PICTURES

For more columns & features, go to: www.constructionweekonline.com/comments

For more galleries, check out: www.constructionweekonline.com/in_pictures/

• UK asks UAE to pay construction firms• High rise fire in Sharjah• In the budget• Sustainability still mostly ‘green wash’ • New project director for Tiger Woods Dubai

• Contractor detained over deadly roof collapse • Single business tower due four months early • US $2.65bn Uptown Bahrain shelved• Green buildings are ‘sensible’ and ‘logical’• The culling of transparency

37.5% A government official. I want to know what leaders think.

37.5% A contractor. I want to know what’s happening on the ground.

25.0% A developer. I want to hear about upcoming projects.

To vote in spot polls, go to:www.constructionweekonline.com

For breaking news, go to:www.constructionweekonline.com/news/Stories selected October 25-31, 2009

5 MOST POPULAR

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Stories selected October 25-31, 2009

POLL: Who do you want to see interviewed next?

GLASS TOWERS WILL ALWAYS BE ICONICThe move to sustainability will not sound the death knell for iconic buildings in the region, according to VE Solutions founder Arkady Siterman and director of development Eugene Siterman.

CAN THE GCC REALLY GO GREENRepresentatives from the UAE Ministry of En-vironment & Water, UN University, Arab Media Group and LG Electron-ics Middle East signed the Greenomics Confer-ence 2009 Protocol.

The fi rst F1 track in UAE history. In a word, it is amazing. The hotel is state-of-the-art. The venue is pristine. The

stands, snack bars, restrooms and relaxation space are all integrated seamlessly within the seating structure.

And the track...ah the track...it is at once a testament to engineering pre-eminence and aesthetic brilliance.

T 00 971 7 244 74 64 F 00 971 7 244 74 62 P 34132 R A K , U A E

EDITOR’SLETTER


Last month I had the opportunity to visit Abu Dhabi for the fi rst F1 race in UAE history. In a word, it is amazing. The hotel is state-of-the-art. The venue is pristine. The stands, snack bars, restrooms and relaxation space are all integrated seamlessly within the seating struc-ture. And the track...ah the track...it is at once a testament to engineering pre-eminence and aesthetic brilliance. Even before the fi nal race, as I write this article, drivers and pundits around the world are singing the praises of its design and sporting genius.

Like me, you’ll probably recall hearing about this particular piece of architecture about 18 months ago. The fi rst F1 track interwoven with a hotel, they said. The longest straightaway on the F1 circuit, they boasted. The fi rst F1 track to feature underground pit lanes, they extolled. All of this is true and, from a spectator’s point of view, it lived up to its original bill-ing. But, in a few short hours, the F1 will have come and gone and all that excitement will have given way to an important question: Now what?

After an 18-month build up to an event that, I suspect, has been both musically and fi nancially successful, what happens now? Sure, the F1 will come back in 12 months but until then, what happens? For anyone who’s traversed the new Sheikh Khalifa Bridge or had the chance to visit the F1 race, you know Yas Island is unfi nished. Big time.

I mean no disrespect to Hani Rashid, designer of the Yas Island Hotel, but after this event, who is going to want to stay in a hotel on the middle of an island that is itself one big construction site? This week would have been fun with the races and the concerts but, believe me, Yas Island will be a much different place after the drivers and divas have gone home.

Furthermore, I have nothing but respect for renowned circuit designer, Hermann Tilke, who accepted the challenge 1001 days from the fi rst green light and created a racetrack under ridiculous pressure, which now has the entire industry talking. But, again, you can’t run people, motorcycles, camels, horses or dogs on this track, so did Mubadala seriously invest £15 billion to have it sit dormant for 361 days of the year?

Kyalami Grand Prix in Gauteng, South Africa, doubles as a business park, featuring commercial, hospitality, conference and public meet-ing space. The Singapore Grand Prix weaves through a mix of modern, historic, public and government buildings. Casinos, hotels, marinas and restaurants bespeckle both the Monaco and Montreal F1 locations. But what is to become of the Abu Dhabi site?

The Grand Prix track in Bahrain and the Aspire Tower complex in Doha (which was also built amidst great fanfare for the 2006 Asian Games) are two regional examples of smallish markets that took on big events before their time and sit largely vacant for most of the year. Like many projects in the Gulf, form has supplanted function as the primary concern in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Circuit and it’s a shame. It’s often said that with the gar-gantuan budgets and tiny chances for success, one of the most fi nancially futile investments one can make is to run an F1 team. Perhaps the same can be said for building an F1 track in the middle of a construction site.

FORM SWALLOWS FUNCTION

Receive Middle East Architect every month! To subscribe to the magazine, please visit: www.itp.com/subscription

THE VEIL REDUCES

GLARE AND DIFFUSES

SUNLIGHT LANDSCAPED ROOFS

AND TERRACES CREATE A

MICROCLIMATE THAT ENHANCE

DAILY INTERACTION WITH NATURE

WATER CONSERVATION

GREY WATER RECYCLED FOR

NON-POTABLE USE

OPENINGS IN BUILDING

MASS ALLOW BREEZE TO

PERMEATE INTO COURTYARDS

FRESH AIR IS PASSED BELOW

GROUND, COOLED USING THE EARTH’S

SUBTERRANEAN TEMPERATURE

AND SUPPLIED INTO THE CENTRAL

COURT RESULTING IN A COMFORTABLE

ENVIRONMENT

VENTILLATION:

WARM AIR INLET

INCIDENTDAYLIGHT

PV CELLS INCLINED FOR

OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE

HARVEST SUNLIGHT TO

GENERATE ELECTRIC

POWER

VENTILATION:

WARM AIR INLET

GROUND COUPLED

AIR HEAT EXCHANGE

VENTILATION:

COOL AIR OUTLETS


NOVEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 11


NEW

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, AN

ALYSIS A

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STRATEGIC

INSIG

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R ARC

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2009 | VO

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NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC

CHANGING THE GAMENorr Group’s new design could revolutionise architecture in the Middle East

INTERVIEW DSA Architects’ Floris Smith FEATURE Green communities are more than just green buildings SUPPLIERS YOU

SHOULD KNOW GEZE, Mapei, VE Solutions, AHEC & Architectural hardware POST-SHOW REPORT Cityscape 2009 Cover image: The Habitat courtesy of Norr Group Consultants

Cover Design: Lucy McMurray/ITP

Jeff Roberts, Group Editor

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DOHA, QATAR // Three years

after it was awarded the proj-

ect, KEO International Con-

sultants is fi nally allowed to

release its design for Barwa’s

Financial District Project in

Doha, Qatar. The jaw-drop-

ping 700,000m² mixed use

development aims to create

a new business community

for Qatari professionals and

a prestigious landmark for

Doha proper.

KEO GIVEN GO AHEAD TO RELEASE DESIGNS FOR DOHA’S NEW FINANCIAL DISTRICT

According to KEO, the

project features an outer ring

of six offi ce towers ascending

in a clockwise direction from

20 to 35 storeys in height

as well as an inner ring of

towers, comprisingw three

offi ce towers and a hotel

tower ascending in a counter-

clockwise direction from 31

to 50 storeys in height. The

placement of the nine offi ce

towers and their opposing

The Financial District was designed to capture both tradition and modernity

movement of heights help

maintain maximum views

as well as ensuring that all

the buildings have access to

natural light.

Raj Patel, principal de-

signer at KEO, describes the

design concept: “It represents

two nautilus forms spiraling

in opposing directions which

create a dynamic fl ow of mass

and space. The opposing

spiraling geometry builds up

the movement of the towers

to create the pinnacle at the

southwest corner of the site

creating a landmark tower

visible from the West Bay

Area as well as the road arter-

ies west of the site.”

The offi ce towers are

connected by a two storey en-

closed atrium lined on either

side with retail space on both

the ground and fi rst fl oor to

create an intimate and lively

boutique mall.

In an effort to capture both

tradition and modernisation,

the glass and terracotta tow-

ers emerge from a solid plinth

clad in travertine. The glass

curtain walls are protected

from direct sunlight by a

metal screen inspired by the

mashrabiya of traditional

Arabian architecture.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS

www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 007 Image © KEO Int’l Consultants

INDUSTRYHIGHLIGHTS


ABU DHABI, UAE // In an effort

to expand its global presence

and offer Middle East clients

state-of-the-art education

and healthcare facilities,

multidisciplinary UK fi rm

Stride Treglown, established

an offi ce in Abu Dhabi in

early October.

In the UK, the London-

based fi rm is recognised for

its portfolio of public sector

buildings, its reputation for

safety and its burgeoning

design excellence—all attri-

butes it hopes to transfer to a

Middle Eastern context.

Utilising its 270-person

design team in the UK as

well as its documentation

STRIDE TREGLOWN TO BRING HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES TO UAE CAPITAL

specialists in Vietnam, Stride

Treglown aims to add “fi ve

or six” architecture practitio-

ners on the ground in its Abu

Dhabi branch offi ce.

Led by UK-based director

Richard Philipson and UAE

general manager, Nathan

Hones, Stride Treglown is

focusing on building connec-

tions in the UAE and forming

joint venture arrangements

throughout the region.

While the Stride Treglown

announcement for expansion

was unexpected—given that

the fi rm has never held an of-

fi ce outside the UK—Philip-

son was quick to point out

that the move was strategic.

“We reviewed a number of

global locations for our fi rst

step into the international

market, and after a couple of

adventures in the Caribbean

and Europe, we determined

that the UAE provided the

greatest opportunity for us,”

explained Philipson.

“The inspirational vi-

sion of the Plan Abu Dhabi

2030…presented to us the

kind of market in which

Stride Treglown likes to do

business,” he added.

Industry response to

adding one of the UK’s

most reputable fi rms to

Abu Dhabi’s growing pool

of architectural talent has

been positive and appoint-

ing Hones, an architectural

veteran of the Middle East,

to manage the offi ce was a

crucial step for Philipson.

“We’ve had a really

positive response from other

consultants and potential

clients,” said Philipson.

“Nathan’s knowledge of the

region and experience is

proving invaluable…. We

also just liked the look and

feel of Abu Dhabi today – it

has heart and soul.”

Despite the timeliness

of its expansion, Stride

Treglown isn’t just another

international fi rm looking

to capitalise on Abu Dhabi’s

veritable gold rush of devel-

opment. The fi rm’s regional

focus will be on designing

and building facilities for

education and healthcare—

something sorely lacking in

Abu Dhabi’s largely commer-

cial/retail skyline.

“We are focusing on our

strengths in education from

early years through universi-

ties to lifelong learning and

healthcare,” said Philipson.

“Our capabilities in master

planning, commercial, offi ce

and hotel design will also be

available,” he added.

(Check out this month’s Sketchbook for examples of work from Stride Treglown)

DUBAI, UAE // In her presenta-

tion to Cityscape’s World Ar-

chitecture Congress, Melkan

Gürsel Tabanlioğlu, second

generation leader of decorat-

ed Turkish architecture fi rm

Tabanlioğlu, urged architects

throughout the region to try

to focus more on the ‘people’

aspect of projects.

“You’ve got to know the

end-user,” said Tabanlioğlu.

“If a building is sellable, as

an architect, you are success-

ful, but the ‘people’ function

is crucial,” she added.

Her recommendation for

the future of Gulf architec-

ture consisted largely of

the same message.

“Open

‘PEOPLE FUNCTION IS CRUCIAL’, SAYS TABANLIOGLU PARTNER

communication between

developers, end users and

architects is the only way to

achieve a truly successful

building,” said Tabanlioğlu.

“If you don’t know anything

about the people or culture

you’re building for, how can

the project be considered a

success?” she asked.

Three of the fi rm’s most

anticipated projects are

the Turkish Chancellery in

Berlin, the Baku Crystal in

Azerbaijan and

Kazakhstan’s

Abay Business

Centre.

The University of Reading’s Carrington Building illustrates ST’s core skill set

“If you don’t under-stand the people or

culture, how can the project be a success?“

Imag

e ©

Stri

de T

regl

own

ABU DHABI, UAE // Abu Dhabi’s

Mosque Development

Committee (MDC) recently

announced that it will issue

a new set of guidelines for

the planning and design of

mosques in early 2010.

The guidelines will

cover the development and

management of all new and

existing mosques undergoing

renovation throughout the

MOSQUE DESIGN GUIDELINES TO BE ISSUED IN 2010emirate of Abu Dhabi. All

mosques that fall into these

categories will be expected

to adhere to the soon to

be unveiled planning and

design guidelines specifi ed

by the MDC.

“Mosques are important

public facilities that play a

crucial role in everyday life

in Abu Dhabi. The adherence

to the MDC guidelines will

not only defi ne the urban

character of the city, but will

also preserve Abu Dhabi’s

Emirati, Arab and Islamic

identity,” said MDC chair-

man Falah Al Ahbabi in a

prepared statement.

Al Ahbabi continued:

“Owing to the population

growth and urban expansion

witnessed by the emirate

recently, the importance of

planning, locating and de-

veloping mosques based on

community needs has gained

paramount importance and

the MDC guidelines are a

step in that direction.”

Not surprisingly, the MDC

guidelines will closely follow

Abu Dhabi’s Estidama sus-

tainable building principles.

Urban planning, build-

ing, construction, safety and

security will be considered in

the guidelines, according to

the statement from the MDC.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS

www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 009

The MDC’s guidelines will closely follow Abu Dhabi’s Estidama

INDUSTRYHIGHLIGHTS


ABU DHABI, UAE // Multidis-

ciplinary architecture and

interior design fi rm, design

world partners (dwp), re-

cently announced a contract

from aabar Investments to

provide the architecture,

environmental and inte-

rior design services for a

41-storey luxury residential

tower in the Saraya district

of Abu Dhabi.

The Saraya 1 project

site—located within Sorouh

Real Estate’s 120,000m²

dwp LOOKS FOR LEED GOLD IN ABU DHABI

master plan—overlooks the

Abu Dhabi Corniche and lies

adjacent to the Lagoon Pre-

cinct. The project presented

dwp with an opportunity to

design for a highly distin-

guished living experience

that promises “uninterrupted

vistas of the waterfront and

foreshore districts.”

In its design, dwp’s UAE-

based design team, led by

Toufi c Zaidan, aimed to

reduce operational energy

demands and carbone emis-

sions on the building as well

as ensure maximum comfort

for investors and end users.

“The smooth and slim

undulating tower echoes the

water it faces. Its curvilinear

facade will vary in colours

and shades according to the

sun’s location and intensity,”

said Zaidan. “This intensity

of climate has also made us

look at energy effi ciency and

sustainability in its design.”

In order to maximise

energy effi ciency, dwp used

DUBAI, UAE // Yahya Jan, direc-

tor of design for Norr Group

Consultants, urged archi-

tects, students and govern-

ment offi cials to “question

conventional wisdom” in his

speech at Cityscape’s World

Architecture Congress.

The crux of Jan’s argu-

ment was how the rapid

transformation of urban

centres, which began in the

early 20th centrury, brought

tremendous socioeconomic

change to both developed

and developing cities.

While the urban centres of

the West experienced unpar-

alleled growth and prosper-

ity, according to Jan, urban

‘QUESTION CONVENTIONAL WISDOM’, URGES NORR DIRECTOR

centres in the developing

world experienced scarcity of

resources, poverty, squalor

and low-rise urban sprawl.

“While some cities have ex-

perienced a boom as a result

of rapid population growth,

most have only succeeded

in creating a huge chasm

between the haves and have-

nots,” said Jan.

The point that was

reiterated several times

throughout his presentation

was clear: Urban centres,

whether developed or devel-

oping, are in grave danger

unless design profession-

als and governments make

density a priority.

“Any project that calls

itself ‘sustainable’ includes

planned density,” said Jan.

In an impassioned plea

to the industry, Jan pointed

to the vast slums of Rio

and Karachi as examples of

what can happen when the

environmental, economic

and social need for density in

urban centres is ignored.

“Population growth will

place ever-increasing de-

mands on scare resources. If

we don’t start thinking about

these issues creatively, the

world we leave our children

will be much worse than this

one,” he said. “In my opin-

ion, it’s going to get worse

before it gets better.”

Jan’s fi nal message was an

encouraging one. While he

acknowledged that govern-

ment offi cials are gener-

ally positioned to make

these ideas a reality,

he also tried to en-

courage the ar-

chitects in the

room. “Early

simple design

decisions can have

an enormous impact,”

he said. “Start smart and

spend the necessary time

at the front of the design.”

(For an illustration of, check out this month’s case study on pp. 29-32)

state-of-the art glass curtain

walls with thermal insulation

and low-VOC building mate-

rials. It also used the location

of the site to determine a de-

sign context that considered

orientation and boundary

and, ultimately, defi ne the

building’s shape.

Adopting an environmen-

tal and ecological balance

was important for the

developer. dwp’s own brand

of sustainable consciousness

has developed a design that

will aim for a Gold-rated

LEED certifi cation.

Indoor air quality im-

provement with air fi ltra-

tion systems and natural

ventilation, waste reduction

and recycling strategies; the

design of the structure and

use of materials are all incor-

porated into the architectural

DNA of the building.

The Saraya Abu Dhabi dis-

trict will ultimately consist of

30 towers and is aiming for

completion in 2013.

Saraya Abu Dhabi is aiming for completion in 2013

Poverty, squalor and urban sprawl are by-products of unplanned density, says Jan

Imag

e ©

dw

p

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CITYSCAPE 2009 POST-SHOW REPORT

012

CITYSCAPE POST-SHOW REPORTGetting some perspective

As Day Three of Cityscape Dubai

kicked off, I published an editorial

piece suggesting that Cityscape

Dubai might reclaim its place among the

largest and most infl uential trade shows in

the industry. (http://www.construction-weekonline.com/article-6555-cityscape-is-back-if-only-for-a-day/) I waxed optimis-

tic about the potential for it to be the spark

that would ignite the fl ame of creativity

throughout the industry and the region.

In that article, I pointed to the buzz that

had returned to Dubai’s International Ex-

hibition and Convention Centre along with

the queues of curious visitors and savvy

businesspeople looking to steal glances of

the latest project launches.

A month later, as I wait patiently for the

offi cial post-show report to be released, it

is clear to me that Cityscape is not back.

It wasn’t a failure, but it’s certainly not

back. In fact, I’m not sure if this particu-

lar show in this particular city will ever

experience the circus-like atmosphere it

achieved in 2006 and 2007. I’m not sure if

this exhibition will ever garner the gaudy

numbers—81,162 in 2008—that have come

to defi ne it since its inception. Despite how

that sounds, it’s a good thing.

Regardless of where they are positioned

in the building cycle, few in the industry

would ever agree that the pace and fervour

of pre-credit-crunch Dubai was either

healthy or sustainable. In fact, despite the

overfl owing coffers of the boom years, I

never met one architect or engineer that

honestly enjoyed working at that break-

neck pace. If the 2009 Cityscape did noth-

ing else, it reaffi rmed that the industry is

regrouping and preparing to traverse the

largely unfamiliar path of stability and

achievability in its projects.

Unoffi cial reports claim visitor numbers

for 2009 were down 50% (38,000) from

2008 and exhibitors were down from 340

to 218 over the same period. If those num-

bers are accurate—and I suspect they’re

not far off the mark—pundits and jounal-

ists across the land will be looking to stick

their proverbial forks in Dubai because, as

the saying goes, “it’s done”.

Call me overly-optimistic or even naïve

but I’m not so sure that’s the case. “We

saw a shift back to market fundamentals

at Cityscape Dubai this year,” explained

Rohan Marwaha, managing director of

Cityscape Dubai. “The speculators and

other amateur investors were conspicu-

ous by their absence as were any hint of

unrealistic or dazzling developments. The

mood was sober and professional.”

Well said Mr. Marwaha. What he didn’t

have a chance to explain was that interna-

tional participation actually increased as a

year-on-year percentage, with stands from

Sudan, Angola, Paris, and companies from

Canada and Australia, complemented by a

healthy regional presence which extended

across the GCC and Iraq.

Feedback from the industry has been

similarly positive. Even in Cityscape’s very

obvious move away from an architecture

50%Fewer visitors at Cityscape 2009 than in 2008

Cityscape 2009 was about showcasing fi nished or ongoing projects


013 013 www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

THE SPECULATORS AND OTHER AMATEUR INVESTORS WERE CONSPICUOUS BY THEIR ABSENCE AS WERE ANY HINT OF UNREALISTIC OR DAZZLING DEVELOPMENTS. THE MOOD WAS SOBER AND PROFESSIONAL. ROHAN MARWA

and design focus, some of Dubai’s big play-

ers were pleasantly surprised by the show.

Floris Smith, director of architecture

at DSA Architects—also profi led in this

month’s Q&A—found Cityscape “quite

amazing”. He said: “The number of enqui-

ries we got from around the UAE was actu-

ally quite stunning. We also got four or fi ve

enquiries from developers in Syria.”

Matthew Becker, director of operations

for Perkins Eastman UAE, was also sur-

prised. “We expected something similar to

that encountered at Cityscape Abu Dhabi

– an absence of clients and an abundance

of job-hungry consultants poaching off

each other. Cityscape Dubai surprised us

by evidencing a very decent quantity of

clients, representing a broad geographic

area, including Africa and Asia, who dis-

cussed real projects.”

Rami Nasser, director of sales and com-

mercial leasing for Aldar Properties, was

similarly impressed with what he consid-

ers the “preeminent real estate show in the

region”. Like many of the region’s large

developers, the Aldar strategy focused on

showcasing nearly fi nished projects and

delivery and maitenance of existing ones.

“This year’s event was a good opportu-

nity for us to showcase…the fi rst Formula

1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,”

said Nasser. “We also featured Al Raha

Beach, our major waterfront development

where delivery of the fi rst districts (Al

Bandar, Al Muneera and Al Zeina) will

Donald Trump Jr gave the keynote address at Cityscape ‘09. In it, he urged patience and persistence

Visitors were down at this year’s event, especially on Day 1

Cityscape never fails to attract high profi le visitors and local heads of state



begin in 2010 and Trust Tower, a Grade A

commercial offi ce building in the heart of

our Central Market re-development in the

heart of Abu Dhabi.”

Perennial big player Nakheel also put

its efforts into showcasing its handover

and management capabilities as Palm

Jumeirah, Al Furjan and 33 islands on The

World made up the lion’s share of what

was on offer on its stand.

“Nakheel demonstrated its role as an

industry leader in the fi eld of master-

planned communities this year at

Cityscape 2009. We focused on exhibiting

our prime communities that are close to

completion…,” said a spokesperson from

the Dubai-based developer.

Despite a tumultuous 2009, Nakheel

left Cityscape quite optimistic about what

the rest of the year will bring and where its

main efforts will be focused. “We have an

extremely active fourth quarter ahead of us

and our attendance highlighted our com-

mitment to delivering units and services to

existing investors and residents.”

Egyptian developer SODIC was pleas-

antly surprised by what it considered

a clear lack of “fl uff” and enjoyed the

attention it received as the only Egyptian

contingent at Cityscape. “As a company

we feel our expectations were met,” said

SODIC PR professional Esmat Elnahas.

“We felt a marked interest in our projects

and received a lot of media attention.”

Mohamed Fahmy, vice president of

EHAF Consulting Engineers, approached

Cityscape Dubai with a healthy dose of

clarity and perspective. “Cityscape is not

only a real estate show. It is a gathering

place for professionals who are interested

in real estate products,” said Fahmy. “We

use it to meet people, friends and clients

from the GCC. It expands the business

network and reveals potential projects. For

us, this is important.”

While Fahmy seemed very clear about

what Cityscape is, perhaps more impor-

tantly, he understands what it is not. “We

don’t expect to sign deals in such shows,

unless it is planned ahead. We expect to

expand our business network and explore

new opportunities with developers.”

Despite reports of 472 cancelled or

shelved projects in the UAE and a lack of

‘high-profi le’ project launches at Cityscape,

Marwa remains unfazed. He is bolstered

by the Cityscape Intelligence study that

reported US$ 900 billion worth of ongoing

projects in the country.

In fact, Marwa insists that the Cityscape

strategy for the foreseeable future will be

driven by principles that were prevalent

this year: realism and transparency. “We

will continue to tailor this event to meet

the requirements of real estate profession-

als, whether locally, regionally or interna-

tionally,” he said.

1352Number of ongoing projects—residential, hospitality, commercial, retail—in the UAE

(source: Proleads)

[CITYSCAPE] IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR PROFESSIONALS INTERESTED IN REAL ESTATE PRODUCTS. WE MEET PEOPLE, FRIENDS AND CLIENTS FROM THE GCC. IT EXPANDS THE BUSINESS NETWORK AND REVEALS POTENTIAL PROJECTS. FOR US, THIS IS IMPORTANT. MOHAMED FAHMY

Large-scale urban planning seems to be

the focus for future Gulf cities

FEATURE GREEN COMMUNITIES

MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 11.09 | www.constructionweekonline.com016

FEATUREGREEN COMMUNITIES

017

GREEN COMMUNITIES IN THE UAE: FACT OR FICTION?By Jeff Roberts

Day Three of last month’s World

Architecture Congress—which ran

alongside Cityscape Dubai—was

coined ‘Green Day’ and it witnessed a bevy

of architects, developers, engineers and

sustainability pundits waxing intellectual

about everything related to the region’s

growing green building conundrum.

Throughout the day, professionals and

practitioners from every corner of the

industry addressed ‘community’, con-

struction best practices, energy saving,

As green credentials and bizarre acro-

nyms fl ittered and fl uttered throughout

the conference, one particularly interesting

session—Delivering Green Communi-ties, Not Just Green Buildings—brought

together designers and developers to talk

about how to actually deliver the level of

greenness being touted for the region.

CONCEPT OF COMMUNITYGeoff Sanderson, Dubai veteran and

principal of Green Concepts Landscape

“It’s diffi cult to establish a community

[in the UAE] because of the transient na-

ture of society here. If we’re depending on

a stable community, we’re struggling,” said

Sanderson. “End users [tend to be] largely

self interested persons with no concern

whatsoever for the UAE’s sustainability

beyond their own contract period. Sadly,

there are too few people like Habiba Al

Marashi to make a big enough difference

in the UAE’s green debate.”

DECISIONS FROM THE TOPMike Lewis, senior associate director at

Benoy, is of the opinion that change needs

to come in the form of clear and universal

green legislation. Rather than fi ght the

good fi ght from the bottom, he sees little

point in expending the effort unless the

true decision makers are on board.

“My particular concern is the fi ght dur-

ing the project brief. We need a large-scale

change in attitude at the decision maker

level,” says Lewis. “It’s sad but true. It

takes someone to stand up with a torch

and say ‘enough’,” says Lewis.

“Decision makers need to make it hap-

pen. We have a responsibility to clients to

educate them and make recommendations

but that’s from the bottom up. I’d love to

walk into a briefi ng and be told ‘We will be

doing a LEED Gold building’,” adds Lewis.

Never one to buy in to altruism within

the building industry, Sanderson suggests

change will only come when legislation

dictates that material gain is available

for those willing to implement green

strategies. “We should devise a system to

combine regulation with reward,” says

Sanderson. “If rewards were very attrac-

tive fi nancially for developers and users,

THERE IS SIMPLY AN ABUNDANCE OF THEORY WITHOUT A SERIOUS UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPOSEDLY EXIST HERE.

GEOFF SANDERSON

fi nancing, green legislation and regulation,

facilities management, life-cycle costs and

new ‘green’ materials and products.

Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the

Emirates Environmental Group and board

member of the UN Global Compact, began

the day with a sobering—albeit refresh-

ingly honest—sentiment.

“A 100% mindset change will be neces-

sary to reduce carbon emissions and

encourage best practices industry wide,”

said Al Marashi. “Right now, it’s not just

political will that is necessary. Leader-

ship should be taken by the private sector,

which is one sector [ in the UAE] that is

currently lagging far behind.”

Architects (GCLA), began by directing

the discussion toward the fundamental

concept of community. “Without defi ning

‘community’,” said Sanderson, “it is im-

possible to really get to the heart of what

constitutes a ‘green community’.”

Sanderson rightly pointed out that many

of the speakers, and in fact visitors to

Green Day, ply their skills and specify their

products in regions other than the Middle

East. He criticized the conference’s will-

ingness to apply external experiences in

the UAE without truly understanding the

nature of the professional design commu-

nity, the contractor community or the end

users that acutally live and work here.


FEATURE GREEN COMMUNITIES

A 100% MINDSET CHANGE WILL BE NECESSARY TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS AND ENCOURAGE BEST PRACTICES INDUSTRY WIDE. IT’S NOT JUST POLITICAL WILL THAT IS NECESSARY. LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH IS ONE SECTOR THAT IS CURRENTLY LAGGING FAR BEHIND. HABIBA AL MARASHI

it would create some impetus. Unless

that happens soon, I don’t think we’ll see

anywhere near the amount of change [in

the UAE] that we’re expecting.”

VALUE OF MASTERPLANNINGMark Grundy, sustainability & environ-

ment manager for Abu Dhabi-based

Aldar Properties PJSC, suggests that

sustainability at the community level will

only come when master plans are designed

with the health of the individual in mind.

“In Mexico City,” explains Grundy, “the

average person spends 2.5 hours per day

in their car. It stands to reason, then, that

the city also has the highest rate of obesity

and diabetes in the world. That’s just one

illustration of how smart master planning

can actually be the frontline of healthcare.”

Sanderson, on the other hand, rejects

the idea that the mere presence of build-

ings begets communities. He uses a Mum-

bai example to illustrate a strong, vibrant

community that thrives without a collec-

tive reliance on the build environment.

“In the modern Middle East, there is too

much emphasis on buildings, structures

and planning,” says Sanderson. “Some of

the closest communities in the world are

located in the slums of Mumbai. Devising

a common interest or shared experience

throughout the community is what brings

it together and creates a bond.”

WHAT COST SUSTAINABILITY?As it often does during discussions of

sustainability, the session moved into

an analysis of the fi nancial benefi ts and

detriments of green technology in build-

try to really push the envelope; when you

try to build something that is really cutting

edge or ground-breaking, that’s when the

big [technology] costs come in.”

LOOKING AHEADAccording to Jimmy Grewel, co-founder

of UAE-based Pulse Technologies, there

is no time like to present to innovate and

set new eco-friendly building standards

for the region. “If there’s ever a time to do

this, it’s now,” he says. “Everyone around

the world is looking at what [the region]

has done, what has been fi nished and what

types of projects are going to come next.”

While it’s encouraging that the debate

about building green communities is hap-

pening, Sanderson is pessimistic about the

amount of talk surrounding the issue. Ex-

perience tells him that this level of airplay

generally sees little or no follow through

in the region. “I have attended so many

sustainable conferences that I doubt I can

cope with another,” he says.

For Sanderson, the issue remains one of

fundamental misunderstanding. “There is

simply an abundance of theory without a

serious understanding of the communities

that supposedly exist here.”

Sanderson concludes: “There will always

be individuals in any residential area—I

avoid the term ‘community’—who express

a keenness to support sustainable endeav-

ors. However, unless there is a history and

serious community depth and commit-

ment as exists in Europe, Japan, North

America and Australia, such sustainable

communities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are

no more than fi ction.”

ings. One point on which everyone—both

speakers and audience alike—agreed is

that green technology is generally more

expensive initially but when taken over a

building’s entire lifecycle, it ends up saving

signifi cantly in terms of energy consump-

tion and, therefore, outright cash.

The fi nancial discussion only got

interesting when a woman from the audi-

ence asked—given the fi nancial state of

the building industry—what methods or

techniques could be employed to achieve

sustainability free of charge.

Echoing the popular sentiment that ar-

chitects alone can single-handedly achieve

LEED Silver just through smart design,

Lewis pointed out the importance of con-

tinuing professional development.

“There are things designers can do that

are free but that’s down to education,” says

Lewis. “We’ve got to make sure the older

architects are using the new tools as well.”

From the perspective of landscaping and

public realm space, Sanderson doubts the

idea that the onus of education lies solely

on architects. “Amongst the design com-

munity, very few architects, fewer engi-

neers and even fewer clients, recognise the

role of landscape architecture or other site

design issues in the sustainable equation.

For Sanderson and landscape architects,

the formula is quite simple: “In terms of

landscaping, we can reduce the cost of

buildings by up to half, just through smart-

er and more effi cient maintenance.”

Grundy quickly brought the conversa-

tion back to earth when he reminded

everyone that there is a limit to what can

be achieved through design. “When you


019www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT

Organised by

11.00 - 22.00 daily23-26 November 2009

Dubai World Trade Centre,Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.thebig5exhibition.com/visit

11.00 - 20.00 daily

AN EXPERIENCE WHICH IS TRULY...‘BEYOND EXCEPTIONAL’

021

THE HABITAT

The ‘Habitat’ project is a theoretical attempt at ad-

dressing the challenge of high-density development

within the contemporary urban condition.

Located somewhere in the Middle East, this model for

urban living challenges the all-too-familiar and conven-

tional typology for multi-use development: point towers,

segregated by use, rising from a shared support podium.

The Habitat idea is predicated on a somewhat dif-

ferent premise: Inside, a variety of uses are massed as

interlocking and interconnected elements that allow for

accidental relationships and celebrate shared land-

scaped public realm spaces.

This model for density addresses critical questions

and opens doors for further study in the reinterpretation

of traditional urban structures. It responds to its social

and environmental context and it proposes an alterna-

tive matrix for sustainable development.

REGIONAL CASE STUDY THE HABITAT by NORR GROUP

The Habitat challenges the conventional typol-ogy for mixed-use developments

By Yahya Jan & Norr GroupA theoretical model for dense living

URBAN SPRAWL, TYPICALLY SQUALID AND LOW IN DENSITY, PRESENTS A CHALLENGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONGER TERM.



THE NEED FOR A NEW TYPOLOGYThe impetus behind the research and

development of the Habitat model is the

observation of the less than satisfactory

trends in urbanism over the past century.

The tremendous strains faced by rapidly

urbanizing societies, especially in the de-

veloping world, necessitate an integrated


Norr Group has addressed the need for landscaped spaces by

creating ‘parks in the sky’.

response that addresses the needs of the

population and those of the changing

natural environment.

Throughout the 20th century, the

great urban centers of the Western world

witnessed an unprecedented transforma-

tion in the form and density of their built

environment. During this period, social,

economic and political forces aligned to

create high density city centers that, over

time, have come to symbolize the achieve-

ments of the developed world.

In contrast to these historic develop-

ments, the urban centers of the developing

world witnessed a somewhat different

transformation of their own: Mass migra-


023

tion and high population growth. Scarcity

of resources within developing countries

also resulted in the emergence of ‘mega

cities’, or expansive urban centres featur-

ing populations of 10,000,000 or more.

The physical form of these cities is often

comprised of low-rise buildings spread

over vast areas, which is evidenced by the

sprawl that has come to typify cities such

as Cairo, Calcutta, and Sao Paolo.

In a timeline analysis of urban growth,

perhaps the most disconcerting of all

trends is the inability of society to ad-

equately address the need for infrastruc-

ture and support services for a rapidly

growing population. Urban sprawl, typi-

cally squalid and low in density, presents a

challenge to infrastructure growth that is

not sustainable in the longer term.

A NEW MODEL FOR DENSITYWe believe the more recent emergence of

higher density communities within Asia

and the Middle East presents a unique

opportunity to reconcile the best of urban

design thinking from the past century

while improving on aspects that have been

less than successful.

Perhaps the most obvious areas for

improvement are the need to develop a

new model for dense living and the need to

create a sense of community centered on

shared public and landscaped spaces.

The Habitat model, seen within this

framework, proposes a unifi ed and

integrated approach to urban planning,

architecture, engineering and landscape

design. This model includes residential,

offi ce, hotel, and retail spaces that chal-

lenge conventional or traditional developer

solutions for these types of projects.

As a response to the dire need for

landscaped public and private spaces

within cities of the Middle East, we have

proposed ‘neighborhood parks in the sky.’

These shared spaces have the potential to

act as catalysts; creating identity for the

building while also helping to establish

small group or community identity within

a larger living space as a whole.

LOOKING FORWARDWe believe the challenge for public and

private enterprise is to question conven-

tional wisdom and the currently formulaic

approach to high density development.

This belief is based upon a collection of

accepted realities. First, high-density verti-

cal communities are the most sustainable

living solution for the future. One need

023

A variety of uses are massed as interconnected and interlocking elements

Energy consumption inside the matrix is shown to be signifi cantly less than an average tower complex

www.constructionweekonline.com | 11.09 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT


AS A RESPONSE TO THE DIRE NEED FOR LANDSCAPED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACES WITHIN THE CITY, WE HAVE PROPOSED ‘NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN THE SKY’.

only to look to certain sections of New

York City, Tokyo, Chicago or London to

see real-world examples of sustainable

density in action.

Second, throughout the developing

world, rapid population growth will inevi-

tably place increasing demands on scarce

resources including food, clean air, water

and land. If left unmet, these demands

for basic human needs will lead to death,

disease and destruction on a much larger

scale than current fi gures suggest.

Third, societies and governments will

need to fi nd innovative ways to provide

acceptable living standards and eco-

nomic opportunities for their citizens if

they want to move their countries from

‘developing’ to ‘developed’. This shift will

become increasingly diffi cult as popula-

tions continue to increase faster than

infrastructure can support.

THE CHALLENGE FOR GOVERN-MENTS, DEVELOPERS, DESIGNERSIt is incumbent upon governments, devel-

opers and design professionals to question

conventional wisdom and the formulaic

approach to high-density development.

This group must work together to identify

creative ways to respond to environmental,

economic and social forces of change.

Decision makers need to be open to

the development of new archetypes in the

form of buildings, cities and master plans.

It is absolutely essential that they encour-


NORR Design Team on the HabitatBruno CantaleChris PalChristina YesudhasJafar OwainatiRobert El HabreRowena SamsonSofia RodriguesYahya Jan

age the exploration of new and appropriate

technologies that have the potential to give

birth to these new archetypes.

Put simply, if this response does not

happen on a large scale government level,

and we as design professionals don’t start

thinking creatively about these issues, the

world we leave our children will be much

worse than this one. This is an issue that

promises to get worse before it gets better.

Without the screen

PV panels will be integrated throughout the exterior screen

The screen protects from glare and direct sunlight

The Habitat is a fully integrated community

This pattern is the inspi-ration for the PV panels on The Habitat

Norr’s design chal-lenges the conventional

defi nition of density

027

Smith knew he wanted to be an architect since he

was 15 yrs old

FLORIS SMITHExamining the differences between streets and roads & the similarities between a city and a home

Even as a young boy on his grandfather’s

Johannesburg farm, DSA Architects’ newest

director of architecture, Floris Smith, knew he

wanted to be an architect. A fascination with

practical pieces of machinery and a talent for freehand

drawing combined to show him the architectural light at

the tender age of 15. Mentored by people like Aldo van

Eyck and Edmund Bacon at the University of Pennsyl-

vania, where he attained his Masters degree, Smith re-

turned to South Africa to become a young partner—and

eventual chairman—of the prominent South African firm

of Meyer Pienaar & Partners.

That was in the 1980s, when contextualism in archi-

tecture was a relatively new discovery for South Africa.

Smith admits to us that that was when he realised build-

ings were part of a larger urban fabric and that built

space and public space required thoughtful integration.

The lessons he learned under the careful tutelage of

Penn’s architectural greats were invaluable then and

continue to serve him in his work today. He gave Middle East Architect an hour of his time.

Q&AFLORIS SMITH



may be defined by the client, the archi-

tect or the public. All those things have

to come together. Really good architec-

ture satisfies all three of those parts of

the equation: client needs, public needs

and architect needs.

Critics say contemporary Ara-bian architecture is an exercise in kitsch. Your thoughts on that? FS: I think its fair criticism and I think

it would apply to many projects in the

region. We’re involved in a number of

private villa projects where the cli-

ents want to express them in a sort of

Andalusian or Moorish style. We accept

that as a directive but before designing

anything, we study the principles in that

architecture very carefully.

It’s too easy to just take a building and

slap a style onto it. That’s like wallpaper

architecture. At DSA we go beyond that.

Because of our research-based approach,

we consider ourselves like a radio: You

can put us on any station and we’ll play.

A colleague of mine once told me,

‘There’s no such thing as bad architec-

ture, there’s only bad architects’. In the

hands of a good architect, a building can

achieve any style. Just by giving it the

right proportions, balance and composi-

tion, you can elevate it to a much higher

level. It all depends on the talent of that

particular designer.

What do you see in the archi-tecture of the Middle East? FS: Well, from an urban design or

‘macro’ level, there seems to be a consid-

erable lack of care for the public realm. I

read a good analysis recently that talked

about the difference between ‘roads’ and

‘streets’. Dubai is very much a city of

roads. The street is the traditional public

Who inspired you? FS: Louis Kahn. He played a massive

role in the development of South African

architecture. During the late 1950s and

early 1960s a number of South African

students did their Masters degrees at

the University of Pennsylvania in Louis

Kahn’s studio. Two of them happened to

be my erstwhile partners: Willie Meyer

& Francois Pienaar.

Kahn was a great architect. I really

admire his work. He built fantastic

buildings. So he was a great inspiration.

That was also the reason why I followed

in their footsteps and went to Penn.

There was a tradition in the firm.

Aldo van Eyck, the Dutch architect,

came from a different direction but he

espoused similar values in architecture,

which had to do not with the form, but

with the underlying principles. If I de-

sign an office building, it’s not merely an

office building; it’s a place of work. The

design of any building is simply the final

expression of a fundamental realisation

about what that building is really about.

When you sit down to design a new project, what are the fi rst issues you consider? FS: First, it’s to realise what you’re

actually working with in an archetypal

sense. If you do a school or university,

you’ve got to understand, in a spiritual

sense, what that’s all about.

Then you’ve got to consider the site.

You’ve got to relate the building to

where it is on the planet so you’ve got to

consider climatic and ecological issues

as well. Then, you’ve got to understand

the client’s objectives. I see design as

a process through which you achieve

clearly stated objectives. The objectives

Q&A FLORIS SMITH

Designs for the Al Qasr Hotel in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah

Johannesburg art gallery

Nelson Mandela Square South African Reserve Bank

029

Q&AFLORIS SMITH

0029

realm of most cities, with squares and

piazzas et cetera, and you simply don’t

find that here. There seems to be a lack

of concern about what happens at street

level at the foot of all these towers.

Very often, it’s almost a standard pat-

tern here where you’ve got a podium en-

closing four or five levels of parking and

the tower sitting on top of them. The

interface of that podium at street level

is completely dead; completely blank.

It’s a pattern that is being repeated all

the time and, unfortunately, the result of

that, once all the buildings are finished,

is that the street level will remain com-

pletely dead. To me, that is an aspect

that is neglected here.

In Dubai in particular, I find an

incredible lack of walkability. Although,

when I bring that up in discussions, peo-

ple tell me ‘Dubai is an extreme climate.

You have to internalize everything’. I

don’t agree with that. From October to

April, it is very pleasant outside. I think

the buildings, particularly at street level,

could provide more shaded colonnades,

arcades and pedestrian-friendly edges.

Architecture-wise, I’m shocked to

see how glass buildings are still being

perpetrated all over the place. First of

all, every client wants his building to

be an ‘icon’. So you’ve got a place that’s

bristling with icons to such an extent

that nothing stands out anymore. Now, a

building stands out if it’s not an icon.

It’s a bit of a pity. Architects and

clients don’t seem to want to learn from

the lessons of the region. The traditional

architecture of the region had limited

openings on external walls; any glass

is inset to keep the sun off of it;

the walls are generally thick

and well-insulated; courtyard

solutions are used extensively.

This emphasis on high-rise buildings

in itself is a question I have. I’m not

sure why we don’t build more medium-

rise courtyard fabric throughout the

city. There’s certainly no shortage of

land around here. Everything is pushed

upwards. I guess, in a desert landscape,

if you build high, it’s seen easier. A

tall building makes a visual statement.

Personally, I tend to concentrate more

on making environments than making

objects. To me, it’s more about the space

and the experience than the object.

What’s your take on the re-cent focus on ‘green’ architecture? FS: I started practicing in 1977, which

was shortly after the oil crisis in 1975. In

South Africa, energy was very expensive

so from the outset I was always forced to

limit the amount of glass in the external

wall. Early on, we applied early prin-

ciples of orientation and protecting the

glass from direct sunlight.

Sustainability seems to be the flavour

of the month in the region. But for me,

sustainability is like having good morals.

I’ve practiced it for 30 years. It’s not a

new thing; it is orientation, aspect, light,

ventilation and other basic principles.

There are two parts to sustainability:

There’s sustainability in a biological or

scientific sense, but also in a psychologi-

cal sense too. I think sometimes we push

one at the expense of the other.

What I mean is, as an architect, I’m

interested in what makes people react

positively to the environment as well

as ecological sustainability. I think the

psychological aspect is often neglected.

One of my professors at Penn once

said: ‘there are certain things that cost

nothing per square foot: light, air, pro-

portion. They’re free. Use them’.

What are some examples of your favourite projects? FS: One of my favourites was the South

African Reserve Bank in Johannesburg.

That was almost the pinnacle of my work

in South Africa. We were selected from a

shortlist of 50 architects and we landed

this very prestigious project.

Another one is Nelson Mandela

Square. There was a large shopping

centre in a particularly affluent part of

the city, but it had no heart. So, the local

authority appointed us to come up

with a heart for the district. It’s

almost the size of St. Mark’s

Square in Venice.

The square itself is

underpinned by 2,000

car park spaces below;

it contains a bridge into

the shopping centre

and a lot of retail and

F&B at square level. It

has the 5-star Michelangelo

Hotel at one end and at the

other is the Council Cham-

ber and Library Building.

It’s become a very popular

meeting place.

FROM AN URBAN DESIGN OR ‘MACRO’ LEVEL, THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSIDERABLE LACK OF CARE FOR THE PUBLIC REALM... THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF CONCERN FOR WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STREET LEVEL OF ALL THESE TOWERS

FLORIS SMITH


Smith’s biggest inspirations were Louis Kahn, Aldo van

Eyck and Edmund Bacon

In Australia, I was a partner in a

smaller firm and worked on several

harbour-front mansions, commercial

headquarters and industrial buildings.

That taught me a lot of very good les-

sons because the work was much more

commercial in nature. I came from the

luxury of designing public buildings and

had to learn very quickly how to design

buildings that could actually make

money for clients.

You’ve taught at universities in South Africa and Australia. What lessons can you teach MEA?FS: When you think about designing cit-

ies or smaller scale buildings, you’ve got

to remember that a house is a tiny city

and a city is a large house. You’ve got to

think about what that implies for city

and residential planning.

Like a house, a city has to have a clear

definition of public/private space. It has

to have a living room, which is like a

public square; it has to have a kitchen,

which is the industrial component; it

has to have suburbs, which is like the

bedrooms where the kids stay. There is

a fascinating relationship between large

and small in both types of projects.

What inspires you? FS: Travel. I’ve got to always be go-

ing somewhere. In my spare time, I’m

studying for my PhD at the University of

Sydney. I’m looking at the philosophi-

cal climate around Louis Kahn and Aldo

van Eyck and why, at one stage, their

buildings were very similar. That’s just

a hobby of mine. When I’m not doing all

this other stuff, I’m busy with my thesis,

which should be completed in another

three or four years.

Favourite building? FS: I’ll give you two—both by Louis

Kahn. One is the Salk Institute in La

Jolla, California. The other is the Kim-

bell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

They’re fantastic buildings. They’re new

and old at the same time.

My favourite urban space in the world

is the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome,

which was designed by Michelangelo.

Rockefeller Center is another wonderful

example of integrated urban design.

What do you love? FS: My family.

What do you despise? FS: Hypocrisy. Double standards. Also,

I don’t like any sort of fanaticism.

What three words describe you best as an architect? FS: Passionate. Committed. Hard-work-

ing. And, I think, reasonably humble.

Q&A FLORIS SMITH


In Australia, Smith learned how to design commercial spaces that needed to make money for the clients

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PRODUCT SUPPLIER YOU SHOULD KNOW


032

MALLY CLARKEa pedestrian has passed through the door.

By their very nature, doors prevent the in-

gress of hot air or the escape of cooled air.

4. How does GEZE reconcile the lack of building standards in the UAE and around the Gulf? MC: Building standards in the region are,

in most cases, up to international stan-

dards. International architects, designers

and contractors are active here and import

the standards from their home country

into designs and concepts.

However, approvals are needed on

a case by case basis which is very time

consuming. I would like to see the Gulf

countries giving a blanket acceptance of

one set of standards, whether this would

be European on British standards.

1. What is the GEZE vision? MC: The GEZE vision is to be the supplier

of choice to all high quality developers,

architects and engineers active in world

construction markets.

We value recommendations from

satisfi ed clients as the goal whenever we

partner with construction leaders. We are

a family business with almost 150 years of

history to support us. Our clients can take

comfort from this experience.

2. How comprehensive is the range of GEZE products and solutions? MC: GEZE has one of the widest portfolios

of window and door control solutions in

the industry. One hundred forty six years

in business has given us an unrivalled

depth of knowledge to assist engineers,

architects and design professionals.

3. When energy-use is in question, people often turn to windows and doors as the culprits. How do GEZE products deal with this? MC: The usual culprit in excessive energy

usage and or waste is often attributed to

the high levels of glass used in modern

buildings. Door and window controls, by

their very nature, are designed to minimize

the time doors and windows are open.

From the simple door closer to the so-

phisticated revolving door, all are designed

to close doors as quickly as possible after

CREATING A MODERN BUILDING IS LIKE A TOP CHEF MAKING A WORLD CLASS MEAL. HE USES THE VERY BEST INGREDIENTS AVAILABLE TO MAKE HIS MASTERPIECE. ONE INFERIOR INGREDIENT CAN SPOIL THE WHOLE MEAL. IT IS THE SAME FOR THE ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER.

marketing manager, GEZE

5. How closely do GEZE personnel work with architects and engineers to meet design specifi cations? MC: GEZE staff work with architects from

the concept stage through to installation

and commissioning of our products. We

work with contractors throughout the

building phase to either train his techni-

cians how to professionally install our

products or, agree a suitable time for

GEZE technicians to install our products.

Architects and designers provide solu-

tions to access needs. This creates the

demand for our products. Design profes-

sionals are central to our core business.

6. If I’m an architect or engineer, why would I specify GEZE? MC: Architects and engineers are trained

to exceptionally high standards. They want

GEZE products are fi t throughout London’s

Wembley Stadium

“The client doing a small project today could be executing next year’s largest”

PRODUCT SUPPLIERYOU SHOULD KNOW


7. What is the biggest/smallest installation GEZE can handle? MC: GEZE has been the supplier of choice

on some of the largest projects in most of

the markets of the world. The list of proj-

ects where our products are used is long

and distinguished.

Some of the more recognizable projects

for Gulf consumers are the Emirates

Stadium in London; Heathrow Terminal

5; Wembley Stadium; Madinat Jumeirah;

Down Town Burj Dubai – Souq Al Bahr;

Business Bay Park; Limitless HQ and

the F1 circuit on YAS Island.

We are able to handle any size of

project and treat each with the same

respect. The client doing a small

project today could be executing

the next year’s largest project. Cus-

tomer satisfaction is what drives

our business.

8. What GEZE innovations can architects, engineers and de-

signers expect to see in 2010? MC: At GEZE, innovation is

constantly occurring.

From design

improvements

to existing

products to

the launch

of com-

pletely new

products, scarcely a day goes by without

news of a new technical advancement or

state-of-the-art product launch.

Recently GEZE was awarded the reddot

design 2009. The reddot award, as you

know, is one of the largest and most re-

nowned design competitions in the world,

which was founded in Germany in 1955.

9. What is the GEZE strategy post-credit crunch and for the future? MC: Like most companies GEZE needs to

see the end to the credit crunch. Market

conditions in the construction industry are

still very diffi cult. Liquidity remains the

greatest problem. No matter what product

or service is supplied to the construction

industry, getting paid is what keeps every-

one in business.

Getting paid allows us to keep innovat-

ing, never mind paying our staff and our

material suppliers. We are very fortunate

to work with industry leading clients who

share the same business ethics that we do.

10. Bottom line: How can GEZE help architects do their jobs better? MC: GEZE ensures that architects are

presented with the latest designs and

solutions available internationally. We also

provide continued professional develop-

ment programs and seminars to architects

to ensure they remain fully appraised of

product innovations.

to create buildings to the highest interna-

tional standards. This can only be achieved

if ALL of the products used in the building

are of the highest international standards.

Creating a modern building is like a top

chef making a world class meal. He uses

the very best ingredients available to make

his masterpiece. One inferior ingredient

can spoil the whole meal. It is the same for

the architect and engineer.

They too need the very

best materials to

create their mas-

terpiece. GEZE

have been in

business for

146 years. Our

customers

rely on our

experience and

innovation to

keep them at the

very top of their

profession.

GEZE also fi t out Abu Dhabi’s F1 circuit

GEZE was awarded 2009’s reddot award



034

TARANA DAROOGAR

those required under most of the world’s

sustainable building assessment tools or

environmentally friendly programmes.

4. How does Mapei deal with the region’s lack of building standards? TD: One of the biggest challenges has al-

ways been the mixed use of standards and

specifi cations in this region particularly

with architects and engineers designing to

codes and standards they are more famil-

iar with from their own countries.

Obviously, these standards and speci-

fi cations are sometimes not the most ap-

propriate for this part of the world.

However, one recent and very positive

development has been the adoption by the

Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) of the

ISO 13007 standard for tile adhesives and

grouts. To our knowledge this step rep-

resents the fi rst unifi ed building standard

in this region and will go a long way in

eliminating some of the confusion associ-

ated with this type of activity.

Mapei’s adhesive products and grouts

are already manufactured to comply with

ISO 13007, therefore we are in a good

position to help the market in both under-

standing the new standard and to ensure

that products supplied locally are compli-

ant with those supplied internationally.

5. How closely does Mapei work with architects and engineers to meet design guidelines? TD: Mapei typically has very strong rela-

tionships with architects and engineers.

We have been requested by a number of

practices to run workshops where we ex-

plain how to specify the most appropriate

technical services manager, Mapei

1. What is the Mapei vision? TD: Put simply, the Mapei vision is to be

the leading supplier of adhesive and build-

ing solutions in the region, mirroring that

which has been achieved by our parent

company throughout the world.

2. Tell our readers about Mapei’s ‘total building solution’...TD: Products are usually selected from

different sources with the consequence be-

ing that liability in the case of any disputes

is diffi cult to resolve. Mapei’s philosophy

is to provide a system based approach

where all products are compatible and the

client has only one source of liability.

With the exception of the actual fi nish-

ing item i.e. the ceramic tile, wooden fl oor,

marble and natural stone, Mapei is able

to provide a full installation system which

includes the appropriate substrate primer,

a screed or self leveler—which could be

rapid setting/rapid hydrating where re-

quired—and the most compatible adhesive

and colour matched grouts and sealant.

3. How can Mapei products help architects or developers gain LEED, BREEAM or Estidama points? TD: Mapei invests more than 70% of its

R&D budget (approximately 90 mil-

lion Euros for FY 2008) in the

development and production

of products which are envi-

ronmentally responsible.

As a result, we have over

120 products in our range

which are considered

‘green’. Where projects

require certifi cation such as

LEED, Mapei’s products

can help to contribute

in a number of different

ways for example local

production which en-

ables sourcing within

800km of the jobsite

(LEED MR Credits

5.1 and 5.2) and also

the GEV Emicode

certifi cation,

which ensures

VOC emissions

are lower than

systems in particular adhesives comply-

ing to the new GSO ISO 13007. We are

also involved in detailing work located in

particularly diffi cult site situations such

as wet/marine areas and fi nishes which

incorporate the use of sound insulation.

6. If I’m an architect, engineer or designer, why would I use Mapei?

TD: Apart from being a world renowned

leader, Mapei’s local team is made up of

professionals who are experts in the fi eld

of adhesives, and the other associated

building activities.

Our aim is to resolve design issues on

the drawing board rather than leaving

them to be issues at site. This helps both

the designer and the owner and enhances

the durability of the installation.

We also provide a lot of aesthetic value

through our range of ‘Ultracolor Plus’

coloured grouts and ‘Mapecil AC’ matching

sealants (26 standard colours) and some of

our more innovative products such as ‘Ker-

apoxy Design’ and ‘Mapeglitter’.

These products have proven to be very

popular with designers as they give the

opportunity to compliment or contrast the

colour of the grout and sealant with the

selected tile in a unique way.

7. What is the biggest/smallest installation Mapei can handle? TD: There really is no restriction for Ma-

pei. We supply and service jobs as small

as a bathroom in a villa to whole shopping

malls and major mixed-use developments.

Part of our service includes on-site

technical support where we advise on such

aspects as substrate preparation, correct

OUR AIM IS TO RESOLVE DESIGN ISSUES ON THE DRAWING BOARD RATHER THAN LEAVING THEM TO BE ISSUES AT SITE. THIS HELPS BOTH THE DESIGNER AND THE OWNER AND ENHANCES THE DURABILITY OF THE INSTALLATION.



material selection, mixing and applica-

tion to ensure that the fi nal fi nish is to the

highest standard it can be.

8. What Mapei innovations can the industry expect to see in 2010? TD: Mapei will continue to innovate in

2010 and introduce products which save

time without compromising quality.

We will be introducing our ‘Ultraplan’

range of self leveling compounds which are

able to provide sound and level substrates

with thicknesses ranging from 1-30mm

in a single application, with compressive

strengths in excess of 30N/mm2 and on to

which can be applied most type of fi nishes

including parquet after only 24 hours.

This range is completely unique in the

UAE market but will go a long way to

minimizing some of the substrate prepara-

tion issues often associated with such

applications.

9. What is the Mapei strategy mov-ing forward, post-credit crunch? TD: The feedback we have received from

the market post-credit crunch is that

developers are now improving quality of

fi nishes on many projects as the end user

client base has become more discerning.

Additionally installers are now taking

more time to study the material and ap-

plication techniques to minimize snagging

activities which are both profi t and time

consuming. Therefore, Mapei’s strategy

is basically to continue doing what we do

best which is providing the best product

and support for each project with which

we are associated and/or specifi ed.

10. Bottom line: How can Mapei help architects do their jobs better?TD: By providing a system based solution

for whatever type of fi nish is being speci-

fi ed. This is particularly relevant as many

fi nishes have evolved e.g. increased use

of resin agglomerate stone, ever thinning

tiles or different substrates such as build-

ing boards, plywood and composites.

Mapei provides peace of mind by offer-

ing a range of products which keep up with

the changes in fi nishes and substrates and

backing this up with the highest level of

technical support in the industry.

Mapei has heard that end users have become much more discerning post-credit cruch

One of Mapei’s specialties is fi nding solutions for diffi cult

or marine projects

The adoption of GSO ISO 13007 for adhesives and

grouts is a step in the right direction for Mapei



036

RODERICK WILESThe ‘green building’ concept is generating

waves of interest and action around the

world and as the call for sustainability—

the primary tenet of the ‘green’ con-

cept—continues to become the watchword

for natural materials, wood is the solution

to which builders can turn to for a more

sustainable built environment.

There are many sources of non-certifi ed

wood around the world – from well man-

aged forests and many countries. There are

also several forest certifi cation schemes,

recognised internationally by professionals

and by governments, which provide as-

surances to users that wood is grown and

harvested sustainably.

Two of the more widely accepted

schemes include Forest Stewardship

Council (FSC); an independent, non-

governmental, not-for-profi t organisation

established to promote the responsible

management of the world’s forests. Estab-

lished in 1993, FSC is regarded as one of

the most important initiatives of the last

Simple fact: wood is the only con-

struction material on the planet

that is naturally renewable and

recyclable. It leaves a lighter footprint than

any other building product and has been

found to save energy from its production

stages up to construction—regardless of

whether the project is a multibillion dollar

development or simple home furniture.

These results are due to the fact that

wood’s embodied energy is equivalent to

only a fraction of the energy required to

produce almost any other building mate-

rial. Wood is also carbon negative, and

takes only 1.47 kilograms of carbon dioxide

on average and gives off 1.07 kilograms of

oxygen to grow a kilo of this material.

Furthermore, the thermal insulation

properties of wood save energy in heating

and coooling and thus save carbon emis-

sions throughout the life of a building.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HARD-WOOD & THE ‘GREEN’ MOVEMENT

Consultant for international markets, American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)decade in promoting responsible forest

management throughout the world.

The other is the Programme for the En-

dorsement of Forest Certifi cation schemes

(PEFC); an independent, non-profi t,

non-governmental organisation founded

in 1999 to promote sustainably managed

forests through independent third party

certifi cation.

AMERICAN HARDWOODThe American hardwood industry has a

wealth of experience in processing the na-

tive hardwoods of North America. Growing

more temperate hardwood species than

any other region of the world, the USA is

among the few countries that can boast of

high level success in sustainably managing

its hardwood forests.

Due to the intensive application of Best

Management Practices (BMP), the hard-

wood forests of America represent thriving

ecosystems. They support a vibrant and

healthy standard of timber, a diverse

The European Union’s Veterinary & Food Of-fi ce in Dublin, Ireland

The restoration of a 17th century barn in Herefordshire, UK



design professionals and manufacturers

of furniture, fl ooring, cabinets, interior

mouldings, panelling and joinery.

WOOD FOR DESIGN & INTERIORSHardwoods offer specifi ers, manufacturers

and end-users around the world a great

variety of colour, grain and character; from

the warm, darker tones of walnut, red al-

der, elm, cherry and red oak to the lighter

hues of white oak, maple and ash.

Many of these species also have interest-

ing colour contrasts between the sapwood

THE ‘GREEN BUILDING’ CONCEPT IS GENERATING WAVES OF INTEREST AND ACTION AROUND THE WORLD AND AS THE CALL FOR SUSTAINABILITY…CONTINUES TO BECOME THE WATCHWORD FOR NATURAL MATERIALS, WOOD IS THE SOLUTION TO WHICH BUILDERS CAN TURN TO FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

and heartwood, with species such as

hickory, sapgum and tulipwood display-

ing exciting colour variation within their

heartwood as well. The physical properties

of some species—oak, hard maple, ash,

walnut and hickory—make them ideal for

fl ooring and myriad other applications.

AHEC STUDY Responding to increasing demands for in-

dependent assurances that US hardwoods

derive from legal and sustainable sources,

the American Hardwood Export Council

(AHEC) commissioned a report titled

Assessment of Lawful Harvesting and

Sustainability of U.S. Hardwood Exports.

The report, which was commissioned

by AHEC but prepared by independent

consultants, provides confi rmation of the

legal and sustainable status of American

hardwood forest management. To review

report and for more information, check

out: www.americanhardwood.org.

population of wildlife, clean rivers and

streams and various forms of recreation.

As the world faces up to environmental

change, the net volume of hardwood grow-

ing stock in the USA has increased from

184,090 million ft³ in 1953 to just under

400,000 million ft³ in 2007 (Source: Plan-ning Act Assessment 2007).

Generally speaking, American hardwood

lumber is sold from the United States to

importers around the world, who then

distribute the wood to manufacturers and

specifi ers. The majority of users include

The ribbon will guide visitors down to bed-

rock level

American volume of hardwood growing stock has reached 400,000 million ft³ in 2007Castellon Auditorium, Spain

SERVICE PROVIDERYOU SHOULD KNOW


VE SOLUTIONS

positive impact. We are not here to criti-

cise and say you did it wrong. We are not

trying to supplant the professional team.

We complete the circle....”

Eugene emphasises that “cost manage-

ment is not cost cutting.” Therefore it

is crucial to integrate value engineering

consultants right from the beginning of the

process, so it becomes more ‘harmonious’.

“It is a mindset change. Designers spend a

lot of time on a design, and then we come

to the table and tell them to do something

different. It is human nature to reject this.

However, it is still easy to change when it

is pencil and paper. When the job is done

and you have to redesign, that is when

people start to resist the process.

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT“The impact of value engineering, if

brought to bear at the end, is still signifi -

cant, but not as maximised if it had been

introduced upfront. Nonetheless, with

most of our jobs we are brought in towards

the end. We hope this will change as value

engineering becomes more acceptable, and

when developers start to appreciate the

value it adds. The reality is that at the end

of the day the designer simply cannot do

everything,” says Eugene.

Arkady says there are two main issues

VE Solutions founder Arkady

Siterman and director of develop-

ment Eugene Siterman attended

Cityscape 2009, and Middle East Architect caught up with them during their whistle-

stop visit. The New York-based company

was established in UAE in 2008, during

which one of its high-profi le projects was

the 62-storey Trump International Hotel

& Tower. Ironically, Donald Trump Jr.

recently revealed that the project could be

resurrected “within two years”.

Eugene says that one of the company’s

aims is to correct the general misunder-

standing around the concept of ‘value en-

gineering’. “We feel that the defi nition has

been misunderstood in the marketplace.

The fi rst thing one thinks of is a cost-

cutting exercise, but this is exactly what it

is not. Our defi nition is the art of applying

engineering principles to achieve utmost

value with the least possible resources.”

Arkady comments that the total project

savings achievable through such a process

are signifi cant: “Basically what we have

seen on all projects is that a 10% to 15%

cost saving and a 20 % to 25% energy

reduction can be effected in terms of value

engineering.” The biggest scope for savings

lies in oversized systems, which present

problems in terms of consolidation of

equipment and ineffi cient layout of engi-

neering communications. Such systems

have often not been designed in accor-

dance with the prevailing local climatic

and market conditions.

OVERSIZED SYSTEMS“Some people think oversized systems are

better in a hot and humid climate. Actu-

ally the opposite is true: when a system is

oversized, you cannot control the humidity

effectively,” explains Arkady. This not only

impacts on MEP, but on architectural and

structural aspects as well. “Oversized sys-

tems require more space for equipment,

and more space in the ceiling for ductwork

and piping. It impacts everything.”

Eugene acknowledges that, “in a perfect

world, there would be no need for value

engineers. But having us as part of the

team helps keep them on their toes. It is a

Optimising MEP systems reduces cost by up to 15%, energy consumption by up to 25% and plays a critical role in getting developers to revisit shelved projectsBy Gerhard Hope

associated with value engineering: design

functionality and design constructabil-

ity. “Basically we coordinate both. We

analyse the design and introduce systems

that are easily installed and operated, so

it improves the fi nal quality. The simpler

a system is, the easier it is to install and

operate. We cannot control the installation

quality itself, but reducing complexity goes

a long way to mitigate this.”

The company also recommends suppli-

ers and manufacturers with a reputation

for reliability and quality. “This is a big

plus for those people who have to maintain

the equipment after the construction has

been completed,” says Arkady. Another

corollary of value engineering is that it

allows developers to be creative and con-

tinue to tackle iconic projects, even in the

current market constraints.

“We are of the opinion that the glass

tower, and iconic buildings in general, will

always be there, as these bring character to

a city. The point is not to avoid glass totally

to reduce energy consumption, but to re-

spond to the engineering challenges posed.

Working with architects and developers

can help overcome the potential negative

impacts. That is how a lot of technology

evolves, through human desire to go be-

yond and achieve something more.”

Eugene and Arkady Siterman of VE Solutions of New York.


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London | Hong Kong | Kuala Lumpur | Abu Dhabi | Dubai

For quality, style and value

TRIED AND TRUSTED ARCHITECTURAL HARDWAREQuality engineered ironmongery, successfully type-tested to BS EN Standards, Warrington Certifi re and now by you. Now available from stock in the Middle East.

For a perfect fi nish

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TM

FEATURE ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE


Good design is judged in the detail.

Often, it is the smallest, least-

conspicuous components of a

space that speak of its true calibre. The

difference between a remarkable project

and something mundane, banal, or even

pastiche, one can sometimes lie in the least

obvious of places – in door controls, locks,

lever handles and hinges, to name a few.

This month, Middle East Architect is

looking at the architectural hardware

industry, inviting key players to introduce

themselves and highlight recent develop-

ments at their company. Architectural

hardware is the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a space,

the bits that hold it together and that you

can’t do without. But the industry is be-

coming increasingly design-orientated too.

More and more companies are coming up

with solutions that are functional, durable

and technically-advanced, but aesthetically

appealing as well.

Häfele, for example, is on the verge of

launching a new range of luxury handles

called The Platinum Series, which was de-

signed by Paolo Pedrizzetti and enhanced

with Swarovski crystals. The designs are

highly contemporary and are available

in a range of fi nishes, as well as different

coloured crystals.

The technology behind the products

is also evolving rapidly. Dorma recently

launched the latest version of its automatic

sliding door operator, the CS80 Mag-

neo, which features ‘SoftMotion’ safety

features. Meanwhile, Häfele has created a

new ‘economy’ version of its Dialock Hotel

Locking Range, which features touchless

card reading and has been used in many of

the region’s fi ve-star hotels. The new line

offers features created specifi cally to suit

three- or four-star hotels.

Find out more about new launches, lat-

est technologies and enhanced aesthetics

over the next few pages.

ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE THE NUTS & BOLTS OF DESIGN

by Selina Denman



Company background: ASSA ABLOY is

a global leader in door opening solutions,

dedicated to satisfying end-user needs

for security, safety and convenience. Yale

is the brand name behind locks of every

design and function in over 125 countries,

and is a part of the ASSA ABLOY Group.

At ASSA ABLOY, we believe that freedom

enriches people and that fear makes us

poorer. To realise freedom, we must fi rst

feel safe and secure. That’s why the ASSA

ABLOY Group is committed to creat-

ing high-quality door opening solutions.

Abdul Aziz & Saad Mohammed Al-Moajil

is a KSA-based company with 70 years of

trading history in this region. It is the sole

distributer of Yale products in the GCC.

Locations: Yale Security Point, Alkara-

ma, Dubai, Tel: +971 (0)4 3355587.

Who to talk to: Younis Ali, business

development manager.

USPs: All over the world, people are

actively securing all that they care about

– their home, their family, their personal

belongings or their businesses – with the

name they trust the most, Yale.

Best sellers: Among the wide range of Yale

products, door solution items like handles,

door cylinders and closers are a favourite

with our dealers and solution providers.

The quality, service and professionalism

that we offer are the main reasons behind

our continued success.

News: We are proud to announce the

launch of our digital door lock, Yale Gate-

man. Yale Gateman is a unique hybrid

of digital technology, cost-effi ciency and

luxurious fi nishings. Being integratable,

smart and fl exible, Yale Gateman has

no limitations. You can integrate it with

any automation system and then control,

communicate and automate it easily. To

keep our business integrity and meet client

needs, we are providing a free-of-charge

installation, a toll-free based service and

an expandable one-year guarantee for our

new product. Please visit our security cen-

tre in Dubai or visit www.yalegateman.ae.

ASSA ABLOY

Company background: A fascinating

journey of 100 years of history, start-

ing from a humble factory in Germany

in 1908, to a current 71 wholly-owned

companies in 47 different countries, 6,600

employees and a turnover of EUR882 mil-

lion (fi scal 2008/2009, June 30). Dorma

products are grouped under fi ve divisions:

Door Controls, Automatic, Glass Fittings

& Accessories, STA (Security, Time and

Access) and Moveable Walls, backed by a

service and maintenance team.

Location: The Middle East operations

are controlled from DORMA Gulf FZE, the

regional headquarters in Dubai’s JAFZA,

with a purpose-built showroom displaying

the latest products. In addition, there are

branch offi ces in Abu Dhabi and Al Quoz.

Offi ces in KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan

ensure effi cient service at a local level.

Who to talk to: Ahmed Sameer in the

marketing department.

USPs: DORMA provides solutions for

literally every opening in a building, with

the right balance of aesthetics, functional-

ity, convenience, safety and security.

Best sellers: The slide channel cam-

action door closers in the Contur design;

the KTV Atrium Glass revolving doors; the

Moveo sliding and folding acoustic parti-

tions; and the Beyond swing and sliding

door fi ttings for frameles doors.

News: Dorma provided the new Dual

Drive FST automatic sliding doors for all

the Metro stations in Dubai, the security

and access control products for Dubai’s

Terminal 3, the Tornado Glass atrium

feature and transparent facades for Mall

of Arabia in Jeddah, and the huge Varifl ex

acoustic sliding folding partitions for the

exhibition halls in ADNEC Abu Dhabi.

Our latest product is the CS80 Magneo,

the automatic sliding door operator, with

‘SoftMotion’ safety.

DORMA



Company background: Häfele is a

privately-owned company that has been

in existence since 1923. It has subsidiaries

in over 30 countries, as well as 40 sales

offi ces linked to its headquarters

in Germany.

Locations: Häfele Middle East has been

operational in the UAE for 25 years and,

more recently, has opened direct sales

offi ces in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Who you should talk to: Adam Taylor,

general manager.

USPs: One of Häfele’s greatest assets is its

staff. The company employs a number of

highly-qualifi ed and experienced employ-

ees who are experts in the joinery fi eld and

are able to support the designers of large

construction projects. Häfele is a member

of the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI)

of the USA, as well as the Guild of Archi-

tectural Ironmongery in the UK.

Best seller: The Dialock Hotel Lock-

ing Range, which features touchless card

reading and has been used in many of the

region’s fi ve-star hotels. A new economical

line was recently introduced with fewer

features, to suit three- or four-star hotels.

The Startec brand of hardware for doors is

also popular among specifi ers.

News: Häfele will be returning to Big 5

in November, where it will be launching a

new luxury range of lever handle designs

called The Platinum Series.

Häfele GCC is also pleased to introduce,

as part of its Luxury Collection, a range of

products enhanced by Swarovski crystals.

Designed by Paolo Pedrizzetti for the

Italian manufacturer Manital, the designs

are practical and contemporary, and are

available in different fi nishes as well as

different coloured crystals.

In a separate development, Häfele Bah-

rain is to supply the architectural hard-

ware for the new Sofi tel Zallaq Resort and

Spa in Bahrain. The handle design selected

for the project is called Barocco, which is

also manufactured by Manital.

HAFELE

Company background: Eurospec was

established in the UK in 1997 to meet the

demands of the specifi cation and commer-

cial ironmongery sectors, where proven

performance and certifi cation are essen-

tial. Eurospec Middle East was launched to

support the growing number of direct sales

in the GCC, with a region-specifi c product

range available from stock, and techni-

cally-experienced staff on hand to offer

expert advice. As a designer, manufacturer

and distributor, we ensure that behind the

aesthetics lies a functional and durable

product that will keep performing for the

next 25 years or more.

Locations: We have representatives all

over the GCC, as well as head offi ces and

warehouses in Dubai and the UK.

Who to talk to: Angus Grant, general man-

ager ([email protected])

USPs: With our ‘contract’ and ‘architec-

tural’ ranges we have products to meet

differing specifi cations without compro-

mising on quality or performance. We

are proud members of the UK’s Guild of

Architectural Ironmongers and Master

Locksmiths Association and we invest

heavily in BS EN and Warrington Certifi re

product testing so that you know you are

specifying a product you can trust. We also

understand the urgency of sample and

project mock-up requirements and are

fully equipped to satisfy these specifi ca-

tions with next-day delivery.

Best sellers: The ‘Easi-T’ lock range, with

its patented latch reversal system, and the

‘Enduro’ hinge range are the best sellers

in the region. We’re also very proud of

our ‘Steelworx’ range of high performance

levers which have been specifi ed on some

of the region’s most prestigious projects.

News: The new Middle East range bro-

chure is now available. Request your copy

by visiting www.eurospec.co.uk.

EUROSPEC



Company background: Sliding hard-

ware systems from Hawa have been at

home all over the globe for more than 40

years. The company from Mettmenstetten,

which is near Zurich, is renowned interna-

tionally as a specialist in sliding systems

and a leading manufacturer of state-of-

the-art sliding hardware.

The Swiss company offers a high-quality

solution for virtually any requirement,

any material and any door weight. From

sliding doors for furniture and buildings to

sliding shutters and highly complex sliding

wall systems, Hawa has an answer.

Locations: Hawa AG has had a subsid-

iary in Dubai since 2005: Hawa Middle

East FZE, Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Who to talk to: Adeeb Ghazal, regional

sales director.

USPs: Designers and installers alike

appreciate our simple design ability,

convenient installation, high functionality

and quality. Over 60 international patents

show just how resourceful Hawa techni-

cians are when it comes to developing new

sliding hardware solutions.

Best seller: The HAWA-Junior sliding

hardware with plastic rollers and sliding

bearings today belongs amongst the best-

selling sliding hardware systems, thanks to

continuous development and additions to

the programme.

News: Hawa has launched the HAWA-

Purolino 80, a puristic designer hardware

system for all-glass sliding doors, with

concealed suspension for surface-mount-

ing onto walls or ceilings, or integrated

ceiling installation.

Hawa will shortly introduce another

two innovations as part of its furniture

programme: HAWA-Concepta 25/30/50,

the sophisticated hardware for effortlessly

pivoting and sliding in doors made of

wood and glass; and HAWA-Antea 50-80/

VF, hardware for glass and wood sliding

doors running in front of the cabinet body.

HAWA

Company background: has been ac-

tive in the Middle East since 1996 as a

regional offi ce in Amman, Jordan. For

more than seven years, GEZE Middle East

has established a solid network of business

partners, distributors and dealers.

In January 2003, GEZE Middle East

moved to Jebel Ali Free Zone Area in

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The move

has helped it to improve its customer ser-

vice ability of providing shorter delivery

time & better technical support.

Its offi ces are well equipped and well

staffed to meet market demands. GEZE’s

warehouse maintains adequate stock of

all its products to meet the immediate re-

quirements of our client. GEZE exports to

every country throughout the Middle East.

Its staff are trained to offer technical sup-

port and have conducted several in-house

seminars and training sessions to the great

satisfaction of its clients.

Who to talk to: Mally Clarke, sales man-

ager ([email protected])

USPs: GEZE’s quality management

system constantly optimises the satisfac-

tion of our customers and product quality.

The fulfi lment of ISO 9001 is a matter of

course for us. The TÜV SÜD Management

Service GmbH confi rmed our extremely

effi cient management system and awarded

us an internationally recognised certifi cate.

News: GEZE launches the new Perlan

140 design sliding door system with the

SoftStop entry damping system. The new

automatic sliding door system Slimdrive

SL NT from GEZE is, with a construction

height of just seven centimetres, ideally

suited for glass facades in which large and

heavy door leaves are moved with force

and all of the construction elements need

to appear slim and subtle. GEZE GmbH

was voted one of the 100 most innovative

small/medium enterprises in Germany.

GEZE Middle East

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Page69

Page45

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ALL SAINTS ACADEMYClient: National Academies FrameworkLocation: Cheltenham, UKArchitect: Stride Treglown Ltd.Website: www.stridetreglown.co.uk

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D17Client: Qatar Finance HouseLocation: Energy City, Lusail, QatarArchitect: Wissam Mansour & Velina Mirincheva (Focus Design Partners)Website: www.focusdp.com

me architect - nov 2009

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