Architecture in the Middle East

Architecture in the
Middle East
Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

The Middle East:
Presumptions and
Preconceptions

Questions ?
 What is the Middle East?
(geography, history, economy, politics, society, culture, … )
 What is the state of architecture in the Middle East?
 What are the forces that influenced and are
influencing architecture in the Middle East?
(economy, globalization, politics, identity, …)
 Who were and are its important architects in the
Middle East?
 What is the impact of globalization on the future
architecture in the Middle East?

Themes
 Ethnic vs. Religion vs. Geography vs. History vs. …
 Traditional vs. Contemporary
 Global  Regional  City  Urban  Architecture
 Globalization vs. Localization
 Global + Local = “Glocal”!
 Colonialism vs. Independence
 Identity: Individuality vs. Collectivity
 Imitation vs. Authentication
 Formal vs. Informal

Books
►Planning Middle Eastern Cities: An Urban
Kaledioscope in a Globalizing World
►Editor - Yasser Elsheshtawy
►Publisher: Routledge (10/30/2004)
►The Evolving Arab City: Tradition,
Modernity and Urban Development
►Editor - Yasser Elsheshtawy
►Publisher: Routledge (27/05/2008)

Books
►Contemporary Architecture in the Arab
States: Renaissance of a Region
►by Udo Kultermann
►Publisher: McGraw-Hill 1999
►Al Manakh
►by Rem Koolhaas (Editor), Ole Bouman
(Editor), Mark Wigley (Editor)
►Publisher: Columbia University GSAPP /
Archis (September 1, 2007)

Definitions
The Middle East
North

Definitions
The Middle East
► The Middle East is a subcontinent with no clear
boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near
East, in opposition to Far East.

Definitions
The Middle East
► The term "Middle East" was popularized around 1900 in
the United Kingdom; it has a loose definition
traditionally encompassing countries or regions in
Western Asia and parts of North Africa.

Far EastMiddle EastNear East
North Africa
Europe
Asia
UK
South East Asia
India
Africa
North
America
South
America

Definitions
The Middle East
Middle EastNear East
Far East

Definitions
The Middle East
Arabian Peninsula
North Africa
Iraq
Persian Plateau
The Levant
Sub-Saharan Africa
Europe
Horn of Africa

The Middle East
Geography - Territories and regions
1. North: Turkey, Lebanon, Syria,
Jordan, Palestinian Authority and
Israel
2. East: Persian Plateau - Iran,
Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan
3. South: Arabian Peninsula -
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, U.A.E.,
Oman, Yemen and Bahrain
4. West: North Africa - Algeria,
Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia

Definitions
The Middle East
Middle
North

Definitions
The Middle East
Muslim Expansion until A.D. 661

Definitions
The Middle East
The Umayyad Empire A.D.750

Definitions
The Middle East
The Late Abbasid
Caliphate A.D.900

Definitions
The Middle East
Almoravid, Saldjuk,
and Ghaznavid
Expansion A.D. 1100

Definitions
The Middle East
The Muslim World A.D. 1300

Definitions
The Middle East
The Muslim World A.D. 1500

Definitions
The Middle East
Confllict
Oil
Straits
Traffic

The Middle East
The Middle East

Definitions
The Middle East
Confllict
Oil
Straits
Traffic
Unrest

The Middle East
Traditional Architecture

Architecture in the Middle East
Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Beirut, Lebanon

Tehran, Iran

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Cairo, Egypt

Dubai, UAE

Abu Dhabu, UAE

Kuwait

The Middle East – 2007 Statistics
Country Area (km²) Population Density (per km²) Capital GDP (Total) Per capita
Persian Plateau:
Iran 1,648,195 71,208,000 42 Tehran $753 billion (2007) $10,600 (2007)
Iraq 437,072 24,001,816 55 Baghdad $102.3 billion (2007) $3,600 (2007)
Arabian Peninsula:
Kuwait 17,820 3,100,000 119 Kuwait City $130.1 billion (2007) $39,300 (2007)
Bahrain 665 656,397 987 Manama $24.5 billion (2007) $32,100 (2007)
Oman 212,460 3,200,000 13 Muscat $61.6 billion (2007) $24,000 (2007)
Qatar 11,437 793,341 69 Doha $57.7 billion (2007) $80,900 (2007)
Saudi Arabia 1,960,582 23,513,330 12 Riyadh $564.6 billion (2007) $23,200 (2007)
United Arab Emirates 82,880 4,496,000 30 Abu Dhabi $167.3 billion (2007) $37,300 (2007)
Yemen 527,970 18,701,257 35 Sanaá $52 billion (2007) $2,300 (2007)
The Levant:
Israel 20,770 7,029,529 290 Jerusalem1 $185.9 billion (2007) $25,800 (2007)
Jordan 92,300 5,307,470 58 Amman $28 billion (2007) $4,900 (2007)
Lebanon 10,452 3,677,780 354 Beirut $42.3 billion (2007) $11,300 (2007)
Syria 185,180 17,155,814 93 Damascus $87 billion (2007) $4,500 (2007)
North Africa:
Algeria 2,381,740 33,333,216 14 Algiers $224.7 billion (2007) $6,500 (2007)
Egypt 1,001,449 77,498,000 74 Cairo $404 billion (2007) $5,500 (2007)
Libya 1,759,540 6,036,914 3 Tripoli $74.8 billion (2007) $12,300 (2007)
Morocco 446,550 33,757,175 70 Rabat $125.3 billion (2007) $4,100 (2007)
Tunisia 163,610 10,102,000 62 Tunis $77 billion (2007) $7,500 (2007)
Horn of Africa:
Djibouti 23,200 496,374 34 Djibouti $1.641 billion $2,070
Eritrea 117,600 4,298,270 37 Asmara $4.471 billion $1,000
Somalia 637,661 9,588,666 13 Mogadishu $5.26 billion $600
Sudan 2,505,813 39,379,358 14 Khartoum $107.8 billion (2007) $2,552 (2007)
Autonomous region:
Palestine:
Gaza Strip 360 1,376,289 3,823 Gaza
$5 billion (includes
West Bank) (2006)
$1,100 (includes
West Bank) (2006)
West Bank 58,602 25,000,003 4322,3 Ramallah

The Middle East - Statistics
Area (km²)
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
1,800,000
2,000,000
2,200,000
2,400,000
2,600,000
2,800,000
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
SaudiArabia
UnitedArabEmirates
Yemen
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Djibouti
Eritrea
Somalia
Sudan
GazaStrip
WestBank

Population
0
10,000,000
20,000,000
30,000,000
40,000,000
50,000,000
60,000,000
70,000,000
80,000,000
90,000,000
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
SaudiArabia
UnitedArabEmirates
Yemen
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Djibouti
Eritrea
Somalia
Sudan
GazaStrip
WestBank

Density (per km²)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
SaudiArabia
UnitedArabEmirates
Yemen
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Djibouti
Eritrea
Somalia
Sudan
GazaStrip
WestBank

GDP 2007 Billion $
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
SaudiArabia
UnitedArabEmirates
Yemen
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Djibouti
Eritrea
Somalia
Sudan
GazaStrip&West
Bank

Per capita (2007)
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
$80,000
$90,000
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
SaudiArabia
UnitedArabEmirates
Yemen
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Djibouti
Eritrea
Somalia
Sudan
GazaStrip&West
Bank

The Middle East Contemporary Culture
Is it West vs. East, Global vs. Local, Non-Muslim vs. Muslim, … or what?

Is it Foreigner vs. Native, Modernity vs. Traditional, English vs. Arabic, … or what?

Dubai is “SOLD”!

The city as a “text”.
► “Meanings and
symbols are ascribed
to the physical
environment, and it
becomes a
‘representation’, an
‘imagined
environment’
construed from the
particular vantage
point of each
observer.”
(Donald, 1996)
Ross Von Rosenberg - I am The City

Fast Food  Instant History
Merry Fuhrer - Fast Food

Fast Food  Instant History
► This trend is exacerbated and amplified through
the current universalization (or globalization)
discourse.
► Traditional readings of the ME city:
 Isolated entity
 Disconnected from developments occurring elsewhere in
the ‘civilized’ world.
 Heritage
 Tradition
 Culture
 Divorced from the surrounding reality.
 The “ISLAMIC” perspective.

The “ISLAMIC” perspective.
► Framework through which the
“Moslem” city emerged and
developed.
► Religious text.
► 1980’s and 1990’s
conferences legitimized this
approach.
► The revival of the “Arab” city
“glory” by tying it to its
cultural/religious roots.

Orientalism
► Edward Said makes the claim that the
whole of Western European and
American scholarship, literature, and
cultural representation and stereotype
creates and reinforces prejudice
against non-Western cultures, putting
them in the classification of Oriental
(or "Others").
► The heart of the matter in
understanding Orientalism is this
power relationship and how the
Occident has used and continues to
use and understand the Orient on its
own terms. Edward Said

A comparative perspective
► Gulf region calls for a comparative perspective
both grounding urban settlements within their
regional contexts and studying the ‘specificity’ of
each – thus moving away from the ‘static ideal
type’ of the ‘Islamic city.’
► There is an emerging body of research which
examines Gulf cities from socio-political
perspective, showing that the urban forms
developed in response to unique contemporary
conditions.

The Dual-city
► The Dual-city construct
► Traditional settlement
and a European one
► Freezing the image of a
society in time and
space
► Maintaining a physical
differentiation between
the colonizers and the
colonized

Globalization
► Globalization and the Middle East
► Probably no area in the world resists--at
least explicitly--globalization to an extent
equaling that of the Islamic Middle East.
► The majority of regimes, opposition
movements, and intellectuals in the
region are consciously anti-globalization.
► How can this extremely important
phenomenon be explained?

Globalization
► Globalization:
► 1- Globalization refers to the spread throughout
the globe of ideas, customs, institutions, and
attitudes originated in one part of the world. At
present these are usually Western in origin.
► Thus, it is easy to see globalization as largely
equivalent to Westernization. Nationalism comes
dramatically into play when certain aspects of
Westernization are seen as challenges to a nation's
ethos.
► (Regions like North and South
America, Europe and Africa, and
even Asia to a lesser extent are
more open to Westernization
and globalization, in part
because they have considerable
Western components already.)

Globalization
► Globalization:
► 2- Much of globalization is
related to what historically is
called modernization, a set of
behaviors and beliefs that
challenge traditional society.
► Thus, Globalization is seen as a
major threat to tradition. Where
religion is far more traditional in
its practice, the defense of
religion also conflicts with the
acceptance of modernization.

Globalization
► Globalization:
► 3- The two factors that supposedly
make globalization attractive are
those of benefits and cultural
synthesis.
► Benefits: If globalization makes life
better, raises living standards,
strengthens the society, and
stabilizes the existing order (or helps
replace it with an order its citizens deem to
be better), people will prefer to
accept more globalization.

Globalization
► Globalization:
► The concept of cultural synthesis means that the
society's existing or traditional ways can be
blended with new and foreign ideas to make a
stronger hybrid. (The modern history of Japan, for
example, shows how such a synthesis can be constructed.)

Globalization
► Globalization:
► The society is also
selective in choosing
what it wants to accept
and reject, with those
values or institutions
most destructive of
tradition being blocked.

Globalization
► Globalization:
► Ultimately, then, globalization is accepted if and
when it is perceived not as destroying the local
society but helping it to survive and flourish in a
partly new form.

Globalization
► Globalization
► 4- Even the most extreme explicit rejection of
globalization does not mean that globalization fails
to infiltrate into the society. (In Iran, where the Islamic
republic has attempted to block many foreign cultural and
intellectual influences, it has often not succeeded.)
► These concepts have been taken up by an
opposition enjoying support from a majority of the
population. (Leaders of this opposition, notably President
Muhammad Khatami, explicitly speak of the need for cultural
synthesis, while suggesting that globalization is a two-way
street and the West can also learn from their society.)

Globalization
► Arab cities have been part of modernization efforts
from the nineteenth century to the present.
► While being subjected to colonialism, they
nevertheless were able to grow, develop and
contribute to architecture/urban design.
► Urban forms, unique to each city were developed,
responding to larger ‘global’ issues.
 Ex. Ebenezer Howard “Garden City” – Cairo, Kuwait
 French architecture – Tunis

Globalization
► The exclusive “Islamic”
reading of such cities is
outdated and
counterproductive.
► Heritage and culture are
visual issues, but they
should not be the sole,
or dominant, factors
through which the
middle Eastern city is
studied and analyzed.

Globalization
► Existing literature tends to simplify the trends in
the ME city by having a very string historical focus.
(AlSayyad 1991, Basim Hakim 1986, Jamel Akbar 1988).
► Some scholars employed a postcolonial
framework, examining the impact of colonialism
on ‘traditional’ societies, transformations due to
national movements, and the construction of
identities.
(Case studies, specific events, buildings, …)

Globalization
► Janet Abu-Lughod
► Abu-Lughod was one of the first to
criticize the ‘monolithic Islamic city
model’, finding great similarities
between this model and cities in
medieval Europe and arguing that
similar economic factors led to
specific city forms. (Abu-Lughod,
199)
Janet Abu-Lughod

Globalization
► Stefano Bianca
► An attempt to establish a
religious basis for the urban
form in the Arab world.
► 4 case studies; Mecca,
Baghdad, Fez, and Aleppo.

Globalization
► Establishing a Religious
Undercurrent to the Spatial
Structure of Arab-Moselm
Cities is in fact a recurring
theme.
► The mere notion that the
Arab/Moselm could be capable
of producing contemporary,
modern structures, which do
not necessarily have to be
reflective of any illusive
traditional concepts but are
unique responses to
contemporary conditions, is
nowhere to be found.

Globalization
► Despite disagreement over the Islamic city model, it
is undeniable that Islam, as a socio-religious
system, has had a significant impact on the
morphology of cities where it predominates.”
► Linking the Religious and the Secular, an attempt to
ascribe to a religion some planning guidelines which
were never intended to be there in the first place.

Globalization
► A much more useful model would be to examine
contemporary social, political, and economic factors
operating at a global level and to understand the
extent to which they have shaped the Middle
Eastern city.
► Impact of Capitalism
► Impact of socialism
► Impact of Global
economy; free flow
of goods, people
and ideas.

Globalization, Cultural Hybridity
and Polarization
► Globalization, Cultural Hybridity and Polarization
 End of 20th century and the beginning of 21st century
 Loss of place
 Identity and character
► “Cities throughout the world are becoming shapeless entities
with a haunting sameness.”
 “Universalization”

and Polarization
► Globalization, Cultural Hybridity and Polarization
 Western hegemony
 Edward Said “Orientalism”: Colonial discourse analysis
► “There is a ‘culture of imperialism’ in which the West is
trying to superimpose its values and beliefs on the East.”
(Said, 1979)
 Jane Jacobs
► “Such approach led to the creation of a new analytical
language in which such constructs as ‘hybridity’, ‘diaspora’,
‘creolization’, ‘transculturation’, etc.”
(Jacobs, 1996)
 Nezar AlSayyad
► “In cities throughout the world globalization led to creation
of ‘third places’, in between spaces of ‘spatial reconciliation
of incommensurable constructions of subcultures.”
(AlSayyad, 2001)

and Polarization
► Globalization does not in and of itself lead to loss
of identity/heritage.
 “Globalization does not signal the erasure of difference
but a reconstitution and revalidation of place, locality,
difference.” (Jacobs, 1996)
 “The history of the world demonstrates a movement
toward cultural differentiation and not homogenization
and urbanism will continue to be an area where one can
observe the specificity of local cultures and their attempt
to mediate global domination.” (AlSayyad, 2001)

New Trends
 The relevance of the nation-state is
questioned.
 City governments are emerging as the
new centers of the ‘new’ global economy.
 Transactions between multi-national
corporations, financial centers, and
cities.

New Trends
► New Trend
 Cities are assuming a
powerful role.
 Cities are viewed as a
“product” that needs to
be marked.
 Attracting headquarters
or regional branches of
international companies
and staging of ‘mega-
events’.

New Trends
► New Trend
 Luxury housing, dining
establishments and
entertainment amenities
to attract professional
personnel required to
operate these global
activities.
 Urban projects: trade
centers, conference
centers and hotels to
encourage investment
and tourism.

New Trends
► New Trend and Architecture
 Architecture is used as a “tool” to create ‘eye-catching’
impressions.
 The Bilbao effect:
► The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao was used to revitalize a
‘stagnant’ city.

New Trends
► The “dual-city”
 Social polarization - Saskia Sassen
 Due to the presence of these high-profile projects there is
an influx of a highly skilled, and paid, workforce.
 Low-wage employees are needed who form the backbone
of corporate and financial activities.

New Trends
► Geographical/Spatial division
 Areas with a high concentration of poor labor
 Enclaves housing the very rich
► Resentment, Social instability and conflict
► Mega projects don’t necessarily lead to happiness
of the cities

New Trends
► Visible aspect of globalizing cities is the
‘quartering of urban space”
 Sharper division between rich and poor
 Distinct residential cities
 Protected enclaves of the rich
?

New Trends
► Gated communities, private, high rise
condominiums with heavy security
► Expensive apartments in favorable locations
► “Wall some in and keep others out.”

New Trends
► The Middle Eastern city has strong potential for
examining these issues for a variety of reasons:
 Colonialism in the 18th and 19th century.
 Strategies at the urban and architectural levels
 Attempts were made to wipe out the past and “join” the
civilized west. (The case of Kuwait master plan)
 Modernity; History was abandoned in favor of ‘embracing’
a new age.
 Impact on the spatial structure of many cities in the
region. (Kuwait)

New Trends
► These are strong similarities to the
political climate present today.
 “Colonialization” has been replaced by
“Globalization”!
 Globalization: Free flow of goods,
people, and information
 Domination: political, social and cultural

New Trends
► A paradigm shift
► A ‘New Architecture’ and ‘Urbanism’
 Contemporary advances in information technology
 Global communications
 Technological and artistic advances at the beginning of
the 21st century revolutionized people’s sense of space
and movement.

Do Arabs still exist?
► Do Arabs still exist?
 Doom and hopelessness
 Colonialism
 Symbols of Arab identity
► Negative stereotype:
 Arabs not contributing to
science, literature and the
arts.
 Recipients, consumers,
and proponents of
extremist ideologies.

► There is a growing
conservatism sweeping
the Arab world, even in
formerly liberal and
cosmopolitan cities.

► How is this related to
cities?
► Baghdad and Beirut:
Sites of struggle and
contestation
► Dubai and Doha: “New
Arab Metropolis” by
opening up to global
capital adapting
western models forms
and planning models.

Gulfication & Dubaization!
► There is a divide in the
region between newly
emerging cities and the
traditional centers.
► New centers are
influencing and shaping
the urban form of
“traditional” cities.
Emaar Tunis - Cedar
village

The Struggle
► Struggle for modernity:
trying to ascertain one’s
place in the 21st
century.
► Determining the
region’s direction.

Global City Theory
► Exclusion discussed by:
 John Friedmann
 Gotez Wolff
 Saski Sassen
 Peter Marcuse
► Newtworking:
 Cities are conceived as
lying on a network
 Level of connectivity
Space of flows vs. Space of Places
(Manuel Castells)

Global City Theory
► Saki Sassen
► Impact of
network
infrastructure on
city form.
► Fragmentary
nature of
contemporary
urban structure.

Global City Theory
► Marginalized Cities
► Certain cities are
offered as a model
to which other cities
must aspire to if
they are to emerge
from “off the map”
or otherwise be
marginalized!
Marginalized City
Global City

A New Middle East
► “A New Middle East”!

Gulf Countries
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Dubai, UAE
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Rem Koolhaas at the exhibition Dubai next

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai in 1990

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The same street in 2003

The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai is said to currently have 15-25% of all the world's cranes.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The Dubai Waterfront. When completed it will become the largest waterfront
development in the world.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
the future of Dubai's waterfront

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The Palm Islands in Dubai. New Dutch dredging technology was used to create
these massive man made islands. They are the largest artificial islands in the
world and can be seen from space. Three of these Palms will be made with the
last one being the largest of them all.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The World Islands. 300 artificially created islands in the shape of the world. Each
island will have an estimated cost of $25-30 million.

The ‘Burj Dubai' is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai. when
completed in 2009 it will be the tallest man made structure in the world.
It was designed by Adrian Smith who worked with the building's architecture and
engineering firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill until 2006.
On September 12, 2007, it passed Toronto's CN tower to become the world's tallest
freestanding structure.
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'burj Dubai'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubailand. Currently, the largest
amusement park collection in the
world is Walt Disney World Resort in
Orlando, which is also the largest
single-site employer in the United
states with 58,000 employees.
Dubailand will be twice the size.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubailand. Currently, the largest
amusement park collection in the
world is Walt Disney World Resort in
Orlando, which is also the largest
single-site employer in the United
states with 58,000 employees.
Dubailand will be twice the size.
Dubailand

Zaha Hadid' dancing towers are
planned to be located in Dubai's
business bay development area. The
plan consists of three buildings which
rise up from the ground bending and
intertwining with each other to create
fluid animation of the forms.
The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - Zaha Hadid' dancing towers

'opus' is another Dubai building designed
by British architect Zaha Hadid.
The 235 million GBP development was
designed for the business bay for
Omniyat properties.
It stands at 20 stories located next to the
towering burj Dubai.
Hadid's concept was to have the building
open onto the city, framing the views.
It is currently underdevelopment and is
planned to be completed by 2010.
The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - 'opus' is designed by Zaha Hadid

Dubai - 'dubai renaissance' designed by OMA
The Middle East
Future Architecture
'Dubai renaissance' was designed by
architects Rem Koolhaas and Fernando
Donis of OMA for the business bay
development competition.
Their entry lost to Hadid's dancing
towers.

Dubai - 'dubai towers'
The Middle East
Future Architecture
'Dubai towers' is the centerpiece
for the large 'lagoons'
development.
The buildings and the
development were all conceived
of by TVS.
The four towers range in size
from 54 to 97 floors and were
inspired by the flames and
movement of candlelight.

Dubai - 'arabian blade'
The Middle East
Future Architecture
The 'Arabian blade' is a mixed-use tower
designed by Claudio Catalano.
The building was inspired by plant forms and
combines several volumes into one unit.
It will contain residences, a hotel and commercial
space.

Dubai – ‘grand pyramid'
The Middle East
Future Architecture
'Dubai grand pyramid' obviously
derives its form from the Egyptian
pyramids, with a modern twist.
This pyramid will be a multi-use
space and will be flanked by two
smaller pyramids housing the
developer Falconcity's offices and
commercial space for a theme park.

Dubai - 'da vinci rotating tower'
The Middle East
Future Architecture
Architect David Fisher is the designer of the 'da
vinci rotating tower', one of the most innovative
an unique buildings to be built in Dubai.
The 250 meter tower will allow each floor to
rotate freely allowing the building to shift its
shape.
In between each floor horizontal wind turbines
will allow the building to produce energy.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - Jebel Ali
Royal Haskoning architects were invited by
Nakeel development to create a master
plan design for pal Jebel Ali, off the coast of
Dubai. Their winning design includes sports
facilities, housing, retail and office space.
The design also features an iconic bridge
connecting to the main towers.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - 'tameer towers'
‘Tameer towers' was proposed as a
sustainable skyscraper, designed by
Gensler architects.
The development will include six 72
story towers with a diamond shaped
base.
Set to be complete in 2011, the towers
will be shaded by a series of
landscaped terraces. inside,
apartments, hotels, shops and office
will fill p the space.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - 'the burj al alam'
‘The Burj Al Alam' or world tower is a 108
story, 501 meter high skyscraper currently
being constructed in Dubai's business bay
area.
Designed by Nihon architects, the building's
form is based on the form of a flower. when
complete it will be among the tallest building in
the world.
The top of the building will be finished with a 6
story Turkish bath and sky garden, when
construction is completed in 2010.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - Hydropolis - underwater resort
Hydropolis is a company who produces
underwater resorts in places all over the
world, including Dubai. its 220 suites
will sit 66 feet below the Persian gulf.
Cost issues and concerns over the
project's environmental impact have
halted the project which was originally
expected to be completed this year.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - 'the apeiron hotel'
‘The apeiron hotel' will be a 7-star hotel built on
an island off of Dubai.
The arched 185 meter tall hotel will cost 500
million USD.
It will have 350 luxury suites that will only be
accessible by yacht and helicopter.
Designed by sybarite-uk, the hotel features its
own lagoon, beaches, cinemas and at gallery.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Dubai - 'the palm tower'
jumeirah village
‘The palm tower' is as its name implies,
inspired by the trunk of a palm tree.
It is located in the center of Jumeirah
village.
It measures 150 meters tall holding
offices, retail space and gardens.
Designed by sybarite-uk, it contains
60,000 square meters of interior space.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Rem Koolhaas's OMA architects
'porsche towers' in dubai's
Rem Koolhaas's OMA architects collaborated
with Porsche design to create the 'Porsche
towers' in Dubai's business bay.
The two building complex features a
cylindrical tower and a hallow slab which is
glassed in the center.
The project is currently under construction.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'the cloud' is a speculative design for a resort city elevated 300
meters in the air above Dubai and supported on slanting legs
resembling rain. it is designed by Nadim Karam of Lebanese
architect atelier hapsitus. it is a horizontal presence on an
elevated platform, an antithesis to the sum of skyscrapers
spreading over the entire region.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'Dubai hub one' is a design proposal for a cultural hub, serving the UAE. Designed by
studio nova, the space has been created to work in much the same way as a shopping
mall, except for the consumption of culture instead of goods. Its forms have been
generated using algorithms and special programming scripts creating a dense structure
of spaces.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'0-14 tower' was designed by Resier and Umemoto and Rur architecture pc along with
Dubai developer, Shahab Lutfi. The building was designed for Dubai's business bay and
features 22 floors covered in a double skin facade that's outermost skin is constructed
from 40c, thick perforated concrete. the one meter space between the skins creates a
chimney effect, cooling the building.
Dubai - '0-14 tower'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The Al Burj. This will be the centerpiece of the Dubai Waterfront. Once completed it
will take over the title of the tallest structure in the world from the Burj Dubai.
Dubai - Al Burj

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's 2.4 kilometers
tall Dubai City Tower.
Dubai - City Tower

The Middle East
Future Architecture
This art deco inspired building will house a hotel and residences. 'the burj Dubai lake
hotel' stands at 306 meters next to the Dubai mall and the burj Dubai lake.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Named the 'G tower', this building was designed by
YOO, a design company owned by Philippe Stark
and john Hitchcox.
Its geometric and grid-like exterior is set to be
complete this summer.
It is located in the city of Arabia, just outside Dubai.
Dubai - 'G tower',

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Madrid's a-cero architects led by Joaquin Torres
has designed a new tower for the city of Dubai.
‘The wave tower' is a high-rise proposed to be
installed on the city's waterfront, the first
skyscraper to do so.
The tall tower, which appears to float in
the sea, is connected to land by a gently curved
bridge which mimics the waves of the gulf sea.
The building is under development and will be in
the Madiant al Arab district.
It will stand at 370 meters and have 92 floors
wrapped in a double skin glass facade.
Dubai - 'the wave tower'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'the pixel tower' by light architecture is on
the palm jebel ali overlooking the lagoon
and bay.
The building's twisted core gives it a light
and flexible appearance.
The 45 degree twist allows the uppermost
apartments to have optimal views, despite
the buildings footprint.
Dubai - 'the pixel tower'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Real Estate mogul Donald Trump is also part
of the architectural plans of Dubai,
along with Nakheel hotels he plans to build a
255 meter 'trump hotel' on a man-made
island in Dubai.
With 60 stories, the 5 star hotel will also
house some luxury apartments. the building
has been designed by Atkins architects.
Dubai - 'trump hotel'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'the infinity tower' is designed by Skidmore
Owings and Merrill and is located directly on
Dubai's waterfront.
When complete it will be the world's tallest tower
to feature a 90-degree twist.
It will be used for luxury apartments and services,
with all sides of the building featuring optimal
views.
The building's interior structure will feature a
concrete column, shaped like a helix. each floor
has a slight 1.2 degree twist to compose the full
90 degrees.
Dubai - 'the infinity tower'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'Dubai promenade' is another project developed by Nakheel. located in between Dubai
marina and palm Jumeirah, this wheel shaped five star hotel is built on a man-made
peninsula. it will be accompanied by a series of sister towers that will create 2,000
residential units.
Dubai - 'Dubai promenade'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
‘The Oval Tower' is located in the
business bay area and features 19
floors of office space and a luxury
deck with a gym.
Divided into the tower and the
podium, the project also holds
retail space.
It is designed by Atkins architects.
Dubai - ‘The Oval Tower'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
‘Ocean Heights' is another tower located at Dubai
marina. it measures 310 meters tall and contains
82 floors.
Each side is twisted to maximize the views over
the water when the building is completed this
year.
Dubai - ‘Ocean Heights'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
‘Tijara United' is a pair of office tower located
near the financial district in Dubai.
Its multi-colored facade features branch like
structural components.
The two buildings are joined at the base with
a glass atrium.
Dubai - ‘Tijara United'

The Middle East
Future Architecture
‘Synergy' is another
building designed by
India's Sanjay Puri for
Dubai's business bay area.
The 20-story building was
designed to appear like a
stack of cubes that were
fluidly merged.
One side overlooks the
promenade in front while
the other side faces a lake.
The facade is punctured by
a decorative motif
derived from Islamic art.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
‘The Emaar towers' are located at the entry point to the Burj Dubai development, right
across from the Burj Dubai tower.
The towers are 42 and 34 stories each and will mostly house offices. An articulated skin
covers the buildings and recalls the layers of traditional Islamic architecture.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Inspired by the 'Q1', the world's tallest residential
tower, the 'D1 tower' is designed by Sunland
architects.
It combines middle eastern tradition with modern
technology.
It measures 284 meter tall with 80 stories, located
on Dubai creek cultural and artistic district.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Atkins architects also designed 'the lighthouse'
a new tower located in the middle
of Dubai's financial center.
The 400 meter tall office tower which hopes to
set a new standard for sustainability among
Dubai's towers.
It plans to reduce its total energy consumption
by 65% and its water consumption by up to
40%.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Architectural model of the 'Dubai opera house' by Zaha Hadid and Patrik
Schumacher.
‘The only opera house in the entire middle east', Dubai opera house is set on its own
creek in the seven pearls
district of the architecture hotbed that is Dubai.
The landmark will encompass an auditorium with room for
2,500 people, a 5000m2 art gallery, an 800-seat playhouse, a performing arts school
and a hotel.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Jean Nouvel submitted this proposal for the Dubai
opera house.
The futuristic building is meant to differentiate
itself from 'the vulgar hotels and office buildings'
of Dubai.
Its design resembles a cliff face or a waterfall and
is capped with a giant dome featuring a semi-
permeable skin.
Dubai - opera house

July 14, 2008
DUBIOTECH: New Largest Green Building in Dubai
The new headquarters of Dubiotech, is set to be one of the world’s largest green buildings. The LEED certified 22-story headquarters
and laboratory buildings will be home to the center of excellence for biotechnology education and research, with two connected
buildings oriented to maximize day-lighting and views while minimizing solar gain. It will also integrate a 500,000 sq ft animal reserve
for indigenous conservation and wildlife protection. The design comes form design firm CUH2A, and is scheduled for completion in
2009. Conceptually, the architecture represents DNA migration in an agarose gel as seen during electrophoresis. (Electrophoresis is
the movement of charged molecules under the influence of electric current.) This truly reflects the kind of research that will be
conducted in the laboratories of DuBiotech and what this park is all about. The 60,000 sq ft headquarters, designed by CUH2A, the
firm renowned for designing of facilities for science and technology institutions, won the Design and Sustainability Honour Award from
the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey Chapter. Dr. Abdulqader Alkhayat, Executive Director of DuBiotech said,
“DuBiotech’s initiative to develop sustainable buildings matches its commitment to be a socially and environmentally responsible
organization.” The DuBiotech park, set up under the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, would be built on an area of
300-hectare with an estimated cost of about Dh130 million for the infrastructure, and Dh600 million for the lab and headquarters
buildings. Dubiotech works with the objectives of nurturing biotechnology education, encouraging innovation, offering state-of-the-art
infrastructural facilities both to the academia and industry, and would consist of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, drug
manufacturers and suppliers. In order to broaden the horizons of biotechnology in the UAE, it would be partnering, in addition to
industries, with universities, medical institutions, and other biotechnology parks. It is expected to create some 20,000 jobs.

July 14, 2008
O-14 GREEN DUBAI TOWER
Form truly follows function when it comes
to the façade of the lean green O-14
(pronounced “oh-14″) office tower which
broke ground this December 2006 in Dubai.
At 22 stories tall, the 300,000 square-foot
commercial tower’s most unique feature is its
façade, which is made of 16″ thick concrete
containing over 1,000 circular openings.
Designed by RUR Architecture, the building’s
façade perforations serve as a solar screen,
letting in light, air, and views through to the
interior occupants. The one-meter space
between the façade and the building’s glass
surface also yields a chimney effect causing
hot air to rise, creating an efficient passive
cooling system. The façade also serves as a
structural exoskeleton, absorbing all of the
tower’s lateral forces and acting as a physical
barrier for the building’s window wall. The
Architects Jesse Reiser and Nanoko
Umemoto of RUR Architecture designed O-14
in collaboration with developer Shahab Lutfi.
The result was a fruitful relationship between
developer and architect- both Reiser and
Umemoto comment on the significance of
their working relationship with Lutfi, with
particular regard to his outlook and
enthusiasm for innovative architecture. Dubai
is fast becoming the global leader of bizarre
upscale developments — for more interesting
Dubai architecture, check out the rotating
solar tower, and the floating mosque and
floating communities which are currently
being developed.

July 14, 2008
Rotating Wind Power Tower to begin construction in Dubai
Dubai has garnered much attention in recent years with a
never-ending supply of architectural wonders being built, or
proposed, at a head spinning pace. Mostly these towering
structures are grand and tall, but some are also green. David
Fisher’s Rotating Tower, self-sufficient, sun and wind powered
design is making headlines once again as the Italian-Israeli
architect has just unveiled the latest design for his twirling
tower, and construction is set to begin this month! The
Dynamic Architecture building has been aptly named Rotating
Tower as the floors would be capable of rotating around a
central axis. It will be continually in motion, changing shape
and giving residents the ability to choose a new view at the
touch of a button. The form of the building would constantly
change as each floor rotates separately giving a new view of
the building as it turns. According to Fisher, the building
ensures a very high resistance to earthquakes as each floor
rotates independently. The new tower is the first building of its
size to produced in a factory. Each floor, made up of 12
individual units, complete with plumbing, electric connections,
air conditioning, etc., will be fabricated in a factory. These
modular units will be fitted on the concrete core or spine of
the building at the central tower. The 59-floor building will be
powered entirely by sun and wind energy. And, the architect
claims that the building will generate 10 times more energy
than required to power it, thus making it a positive energy
building. Solar panels will be fitted on the roof to harness
sunlight, and a total of 48 wind turbines will be sandwiched
between the rotating floors, placed so that they are practically
invisible. Each wind turbine could produce up to 0.3 megawatt
of electricity, and it is estimated that 1,200,000 kilowatt-hours
of energy would be generated every year. Construction is
going to start soon, with an official launch later this month,
and plans are also afoot to build a similar tower in Moscow.

July 14, 2008
CELEBUTECTURE:
Brad Pitt to design 5-star Eco Hotel in Dubai
Brad Pitt is once again trading the silver screen for green building, as he recently announced a collaboration with LA-based
architecture firm GRAFT to design a 5-star “green resort” in Dubai. We’re not sure if “Dubai” and “green” really belong in the same
sentence, and we’re also skeptical about the project oxymoronically being called both “socially-conscious” and “an 800-room luxury
hotel and adjoining leisure complex,” but we’ll wait to see how it unfolds. No details or location have been announced yet, but we can
only hope that given Brad’s friendship with Frank Gehry and his commitment to Global Green, it’ll be as beautiful and green as the
superstar claims. The undeniably handsome star has an ongoing interest in architecture, helping to rebuild 150 homes after
Hurricane Katrina, and collaborating with friend Frank Gehry from time to time. The face of Global Green, Brad has also committed to
building green, so we’re curious to see how the Dubai project follows his values. The hotel was announced by developers Zabeel
Properties on Monday. Between the upcoming birth of his and Angie’s twins and all the design charrettes in his future, we’re guessing
Mr. Pitt won’t be getting much sleep any time soon.

July 24, 2008
Dubai Museum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
UNStudio create futuristic design for first Dubai Museum of
Middle East Modern Art
Dubai is set to embark on a cultural journey as the realisation of UN Studio's
Museum of Middle East Modern Art begins, the Ruler of Dubai, Sheik
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced this week. It will be the first
museum of its kind in Dubai and will be located on the banks of Khor Dubai in
Culture Village. The futuristic, elegant form created by UN Studio's design is
sleek and bold in its massing leaning over passers-by as though it were the
bow of an enormous ship. Dubai Properties Group are to develop the
Museum's design which was commissioned by His Highness Sheik
Mohammed following the establishment of the Dubai Culture and Arts
Authority and the launch of Khor Dubai which is designed to celebrate cultural
diversity in the UAE. In addition to the Museum the UAD 50 billion Culture
Village will hold 40 million sq ft of land and will include an amphitheatre, an
exhibition hall and smaller museums.

Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Abu Dhabi – Aldar Central Market 2006- Foster + Partners; Co-architects: Planar
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Abu Dhabi – ‘convention centre’
The Middle East
Future Architecture
RMJM architects have designed
this building for Abu Dhabi
convention centre.
The structure features an
organically shaped office tower,
which blends seamlessly into the
horizontal convention space
below.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Abu Dhabi - 'stellar tower'
The 255 meter 'stellar tower'
was designed by London-based
architects, Make.
It was commissioned to Honour
the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan
Al Nahyan.
Located on Ittihad square, the
building features a geometric,
dress shaped exterior which will
house offices, a hotel and
commercial space.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
'the REEM media building' is also
designed by light architecture and
is located in Abu Dhabi. it was
designed to reflect traditional arab
architecture, focusing around the
patio and pool. the facade
features an immense 34 by 9
meter projection screen which can
be seen from the city's coastline.
the building is also able to be
dismantled and reconstructed on
another site.
Abu Dhabi - 'the REEM media building'

Ultra-Green Abu Dhabi Project
Desert buildings that produce more energy than they consume
may no longer be the stuff of mirages. Chicago-based Adrian
Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture recently won a competition
to design Masdar Headquarters, a 1.6-million-square-foot,
zero-waste, zero-carbon facility that it predicts will generate
not only enough power to run itself, but also surplus
energy to help fuel buildings surrounding it. Masdar is
Abu Dhabi’s multi-billion dollar initiative to further the
development and commercialization of sustainable energy.
The headquarters building will be the heart of Masdar City, a
2.3-square-mile city masterplanned by Foster + Partners
just outside Abu Dhabi.
Smith and Gill’s design features a sprawling canopy lined
with photovoltaics, resting on 11 massive glass
hyperboloids. Underneath the canopy, a series of
interconnected volumes, topped by green roofs, provide
space for offices, retail stores, and residences. The
hyperboloids serve as cooling chimneys that exhaust
warm air while also creating interior courtyards with
water gardens; they are sculpted to bring diffuse daylight
into the facility and prevent the glare of direct sunlight.
The design even aims to reduce energy consumption
during construction. “It was designed so that the canopy,
photovoltaic roof, and cooling tower structures could all go in
first and shade the workers while the they’re building the rest
of it,” says Smith, noting that they will use energy from the
photovoltaics for construction. “Our philosophy is to really
understand the way that buildings are made,” adds Gill.
“We’re looking closely at the construction process, and
anything that we can do from a sustainable standpoint to
help that process, we’ll work into the concept and design
of the building.”

The Masdar Initiative: Going Green in the UAE
In 2006, Abu Dhabi launched the Masdar Initiative, a $15bn project that seeks to “embrace renewable and sustainable energy
technologies.” One of the ways that Masdar Initiative hopes to do this largely through the construction of Masdar City, a zero-
emissions, zero-carbon, zero-waste city with a target population of 50,000.
According to VentureBeat:
Although much of that money will go toward construction and infrastructure requirements, Masdar is also becoming a significant force
in fostering new technologies. The Masdar Clean Tech Fund has already sunk $250 million into cleantech ventures from its first fund,
and is in the process of raising more capital for a second.
The investment dollars are going in large part to ideas for energy generation. The planned power supply of Masdar is to be split
between several sources, with solar providing the majority; a 500 megawatt solar thermal installation a 100MW solar concentrator
project (which funding has not yet been announced for) are in the works. Research is going into thin film, and the city will play host to
a solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant.
However, another 500MW will come from a plant fueled by hydrogen, Al Jaber said in his speech. The new city will provide a rare
opportunity to test out utility-scale use of hydrogen, which is estimated to be decades away in this country.
The initiative has also launched an eponymous Masdar Clean Tech Fund that seeks to invest $250mm.

The Masdar Initiative: Going Green in the UAE

The Masdar Initiative: Ultra-Green Abu Dhabi Project

Abu Dhabi – Saadiyat Island
The Middle East
Future Architecture
An island sanctuary off the coast
of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat, which
translates as ‘island of
happiness’, is one of TDIC's
flagship developments.
Occupying 27 square
kilometres the entire project is
due for completion by 2018 and
is created around an eco-
sensitive philosophy with a
special low density masterplan.
A premier island destination as
well as a modern, integrated
residential community, Saadiyat
will eventually be home to an
estimated 160,000 residents with
a full complement of leisure and
tourism facilities, as well as civic
and cultural amenities.

Abu Dhabi – Saadiyat Island
The Middle East
Future Architecture

A Vision in the Desert
Abu Dhabi, UAE
FIFTY years ago this modest slice of the
Persian Gulf coast was a sleepy settlement
of palm-front huts and Bedouin
encampments, its few thousand inhabitants
mostly subsisting on fishing and the pearl-
diving trade. Oil changed all that of course,
and since the 1960s Abu Dhabi has morphed
into a modern capital of hotels and high
rises, fulfilling the economic vision of the
United Arab Emirates’ ambitious former
leader, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan.
Now the city is on the verge of another
audacious leap. Over the next decade or so
it aims to become one of the great cultural
centers of the Middle East: the heir, in its
way, to cosmopolitan cities of old like Beirut,
Cairo and Baghdad.
This latter-day Xanadu, as envisioned in a
glittering multimillion-dollar exhibition in the
lobby of the opulent Emirates Palace Hotel
here, would boast four museums, a
performing arts center and 19 art pavilions
designed by celebrated architects like Frank
Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Jean Nouvel. The
development could include leading cultural
lights of the West, from the Guggenheim to
the Louvre to Yale University.
Planned for a 670-acre cultural district in Abu Dhabi: Above, from left, a Guggenheim Museum by
Frank Gehry, a classical museum by Jean Nouvel, a performing arts center by Zaha Hadid, a
maritime museum by Tadao Ando. Also envisioned are a national museum and 19 arts pavilions
bordering a canal.

Abu Dhabi, UAE
Just one component of a $27 billion
residential, office and hotel development
planned for Saadiyat Island (Island of
Happiness), the 670-acre cultural district is
still in the nascent stages. Most of the major
cultural institutions have yet to sign on
officially, and the Guggenheim, for one, is
well known for chasing unrealized dreams.
Some will dismiss this kingdom of culture as
a mere tourist development in which art,
history and regional identity are reduced to
marketing commodities. But those who view
it as an exercise in global branding or as a
feel-good story about an Arab country willing
to embrace the values of Western modernity
are missing the point.
With once-proud cities like Beirut and
Baghdad ripped apart by political conflict
bordering on civil war, Abu Dhabi offers the
hope of a major realignment, a chance to
plant the seeds for a fertile new cultural
model in the Middle East.
It’s easy to be skeptical. But judging by the
designs released so far, the buildings
promise to be more than aesthetic
experiments, outlining a vision of cross-
cultural pollination.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
In addition to the proposed opera house in
Dubai, Jean Nouvel is also currently working
on the design for the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The museum's new location will be located
on Saadiyat island (the happiness island)
right next to the new branch of the
Guggenheim museum.
Nouvel's Louvre features a giant sun shade
which hangs ominously over the island. it is
planned to be completed by 2012 at a cost of
83 million Euros.
Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Louvre Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE
For Abu Dhabi’s tourist and development
authority, mapping out a mix of marinas and
beachfront resorts seemed straightforward
enough. But when it came to the cultural
master plan, the agency decided to call in
Thomas Krens, director of the Solomon R.
Guggenheim Foundation, known for his
campaign to open a dozen Guggenheim
branches in places like Singapore, St.
Petersburg and Rio de Janeiro (few of which
have been built).
He began by pulling together a list of famous
architectural talents. For the Guggenheim Mr.
Gehry was enlisted to replicate his success
in Bilbao, Spain. Mr. Nouvel was offered a
“classical” museum that could house visiting
exhibitions from the Louvre, Ms. Hadid a
performing arts center and Tadao Ando a
maritime museum. (Each building is
expected to run into the hundreds of millions
of dollars.)
Mr. Krens worked with Skidmore Owings &
Merrill to revamp the original master plan,
adding a canal flanked by a string of 19
pavilions that could be used to present art
and architecture biennials — a not-so-subtle
knockoff of the highly successful Venice
Biennale.

Abu Dhabi, UAE
Meanwhile the development authority began
a series of conversations with Yale University
about creating an arts institute —
encompassing art, architecture, music and
drama — directly across the performing arts
center. Next on the agenda is a competition
to design a national museum.
In some ways this array suggests the
market’s insatiable appetite for novelty rather
than a cohesive vision. In the early stages
the various cultural institutions will rely
mostly on art loans from foreign museums
and performances by touring companies. For
the time being Abu Dhabi has no opera
company or orchestra that would use the
performing arts center as a permanent home.
And the exhibition at the Emirates Palace
Hotel comes across as an extravagant
marketing pitch to the country’s rulers, who
have yet to give the project final approval. A
chunk is devoted to the Guggenheim Bilbao,
a blunt reminder of how architecture has
been used as a marketing gambit. A wall text
unabashedly projects figures on the income
the cultural hub could generate through new
tourism.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
As mentioned, Saadiyat island will also be home to
New York's Guggenheim museum designed by
Frank O. Gehry.
The new branch will provide 30,000 square meters
of space in typical Gehry fashion.
A series of interconnected forms will make up the
buildings structure on the island.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Abu Dhabi - performing arts centre by
Zaha Hadid
the design for Abu Dhabi's performing arts
centre was conceived of by Zaha Hadid.
The building is meant to house music,
theatre and dance, located on Saadiyat
island along with the new Louvre
and Guggenheim museum's.
The island was intended to be a 'beacon for
cultural experience and exchange' by Abu
Dhabi's ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al
Nahyan.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Abu Dhabi - performing arts centre by Zaha Hadid

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Abu Dhabi - Ando’s Maritime Museum
Ando’s Maritime Museum concept takes its
inspiration from Abu Dhabi’s natural
surroundings, landscape and maritime
traditions. It has a reflective surface visually
merging sea and land. Its ship-like interior
has floating decks which guide visitors
through the exhibition space.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Abu Dhabi - Ando’s Maritime Museum

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Sorough real estate is planning a
grouping of large buildings in Abu Dhabi
for their 'gate development'.
The complex will house a number of
unique structures including the 83 story,
379 meter tall 'sky tower'.
When complete, it will be the 15th tallest
residential tower in the world.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
dbi design created this 5 tower project dubbed ‘The Ethiad Towers'.
The project is located on a the waterfront in Abu Dhabi, near the business district.
The 5 towers range in size from 55 to 77 stories.

Ras al Khaimah, UAE
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
This death-star like sphere is a design
proposal for the RAK convention and
exhibition centre in the new city
development, Ras al Khaimah.
It was designed by rem koolhaas and
reiner de graaf of OMA architects.
The building is made of glass and steel
constructed in a giant sphere and
located beside a long and low
exhibition space next to it.
Ras al Khaimah

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Conceived of as a gateway to the
city of Dubai, Norway's Snohetta
architects designed this cobra like
building complex.
The project was commissioned by
Sheik Saud and Rakeen of Ras al-
Khaimah.
The design is meant to create an
icon to serve as an entry point to
the city.
Covering over 300,000 square
meters of land, the building will
house a congress center, exhibition
space, shopping center and 3
hotels.
Rakeen of Ras al-Khaimah

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Located in the emirate of Ras al Khaimah,
‘Jebel al Jais mountain resort' is a tourist
resort designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA
architects.
The project features an inhabited dam,
bridge and vertical village built right into the
cliff.
Ras al Khaimah

Ajman, UAE
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Designer/architect: a-lab in
collaboration with migrant
(urban planning), ZINC
(interior designers) and 13.3
Landscape architects
Multiconsult
Date/expected year of
completion: 2009
Status of project (spring
2007): Design development
Firm website: www.a-lab.no
Photo credit: 3d-model by
Placebo Effects, plans and
sections by a-lab
Ajman Municipal Headquarters, Ajman, United Arabic Emirates

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The Norwegian architectural
practice a-lab, in
collaboration with migrant
(urban planning), ZINC
(interior designers) and 13.3
Landscape architects
Multiconsult, won the 1st
prize in the international
competition for the design
project of the new Municipal
Headquarters in Ajman, UA,
which was awarded to the
Norwegian consortium by
H.H. Sheikh Rashed bin
Humaid Al Nuaimi, the
Chairman of Ajman
Municipality and Planning
Department.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The project ambition is to create a public landmark in Ajman and creating an icon of public service.
The brief’s 15000 m2 are divided between a sixteen storey high-rise building housing the municipality administration, and a
single storey public building with reception, public service plaza, exhibition, conference hall, and caf facilities grouped around a
courtyard, an inner garden with water, trees and palms. A line of open counters, meeting rooms and offices in the back,
function as service stations and become the interface between the public and the different departments.
A sail-like curved screen binds the project together, serving to shade both the entrance forecourt area and the sunny side of the
building. The space between the screen and the high-rise building is planted to create 'hanging' gardens. The screen itself
derives its pattern from traditional Arabic decoration.
Water levels in the ground are high and easy accessible. Interior water canals connected to the exterior ‘moat’ separate
different public functions. The facades around the courtyard are 'clad' in screens of flowing water, modulating both the interior
and exterior light.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
The sail construction
The canopy provides shelter from the sun over the entrance plaza. Sun is filtered through it to dramatize light. It also gives direction
to the lobby, curving up and covers the other side of the tower, leaning outwards before curving slightly over the roof, providing
semi-covered space for balconies, hanging gardens etc.
The effect transforms through the day, - a sail in the sunrise, a green mesh in daylight, ablaze when illuminated from inside at night,
with greenery filtering light through the mesh. The architecture of the office tower is distinguishable from all angles.
The “sail” will be formed as a dia-grid structure, - the individual elements being made of advanced structural membranes with
varying properties of translucency, transparency, colour and reflectivity.
These membrane materials are highly durable and have been successfully used by Hightex over several decades in projects
worldwide and in all types of climates; this includes several notable projects in the Gulf region. Fluoropolymer membranes have
excellent longevity and are very inert, making them particularly resistant to sunlight and other extremes of weather.
With the use of these state of the art materials, individual areas of the sail can be designed to have different properties of light
transmission, shading and thermal characteristics in order to give the required optical and thermal environment beneath.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Ajman is a small island
territory 20 km outside
of Dubai, which is also
the United Arab Emirates
smallest state.
A large master plan is
under way to transform
the city's waterfront.
Existing elements will be
added onto and a series
of new buildings will also
be constructed. The
whole plan cover 26
hectares of land area.
Ajman

Doha, Qatar
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Qatar Foundation is headquartered in a unique Education City, a 2,500-acre campus on
the outskirts of Doha which hosts branch campuses of some of the world's leading
universities, as well as numerous other educational and research institutions.
Supported by abundant residential and recreational facilities, Education City is
envisioned as a community of institutions that serve the whole citizen, from early
childhood education to post-graduate study. Moreover, Education City is envisioned as a
hub for the generation of new knowledge -- a place that provides researchers with
world-class facilities, a pool of well-trained graduates, the chance to collaborate with
likeminded people and the opportunity to transfer ideas into real-world applications.
Qatar - Education City

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Qatar - Education City – Liberal Arts and Science Building

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Qatar - Education City – Medical College

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Qatar - Education City – College of Engineering

July 3, 2008
The Education City Convention Center, Doha, Qatar
The Education City Convention Center on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar,
designed by Arata Isozaki, includes a giant structure resembling two
intertwined trees to support the building's exterior canopy. Used
in lieu of vertical columns, the 250-meter- (820-foot-) long, doubly
curved steel tree structure forms the signature entrance to the
convention center, currently under construction. The ten-square-
kilometer (3.9-square-mile) Education City development houses the
headquarters of the Qatar Foundation and a number of branch
campuses of some of the world's foremost universities. The
convention center depicts not just any kind of tree, but
specifically the sidra tree, a multifaceted cultural symbol. This
evergreen, also known as the lote tree (Ziziphus spina-christi), is
mentioned in the Quran as a symbol of knowledge of the divine.
The foundation, which takes the sidra as its logo, cites the tree as a
shady haven for scholars, a source for traditional medicines, and a
symbol of life in the desert. The international engineering firm Buro
Happold was called upon to design and engineer the sidra tree project
for the entrance to the convention center. Arata Isozaki used computer
generated models to optimize the lowest-weight structure that could
support the roof. Sidra tree structure was a result of an optimization
program. The conception of such a size and complexity was only the
beginning. The design team faced the Herculean task of transforming
the architectural vision into technical realities. Buro Happold’s SMART
(Software Modeling Analysis Research Technologies) team was
summoned and didn’t disappoint. The structure that they came up with
has a dual layout: an outer curved complex form and underneath a
structural core of octagonal cubes.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Doha, Qatar - office tower
designed by jean nouvel
Due for completion later this year, this 43 story
office tower was designed by jean Nouvel.
The building is located in Doha, Qatar. the exterior
is made from glass covered in a metal skin that is
designed based on a traditional Islamic pattern.

Saudi Arabia
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Snøhetta Wins ‘King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and
Culture’ Competition in Saudi Arabia
In competition with some of the world’s greatest architects, Snøhetta has won the competition about designing Saudi Arabia’s new Cultural
Center. Saudi Aramco – the world’s largest oil company – is the client. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz set the cornerstone for the Cultural Center
which will house a museum, library, theater, cinema and more. The building reflects the history of oil in Saudi Arabia and is different from the
country’s architectonic traditions with its abstract and spectacular form. Along with five other internationally know architect offices, Snøhetta
participated in the competition and was chosen in preference to famous names as Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas.

The Middle East
Future Architecture
Al-Birr Foundation Office Tower, Riyadh, KSA, Architects: Perkins+Will
Al-Birr Foundation headquarters and office building. An intriciate and symbolic yet practical approach to an office tower that
responds to a harsh environmental climate. Perkins+Will reinterpreted the typology of an urban tower in the spirit of Le
Corbusier’s explorations of the brise-soleil, calibrated to the extreme solar exposure and heat conditions of the microclimate
of Riyadh. The design employs innovation in elevation and section, rather than plan, as the generator for functional solutions
as well as symbolic analogies to Saudi historical precedents—the minaret, the garden, and the mashrabiya—all emblematic of
the Foundation’s altruistic mission to protect, replenish, and speak for needy children and families. Completion: 2010
Area: 590,000sqft, Award: 2007 AIA New York State : Design Award of Merit

Bahrain
The Middle East
Future Architecture

A benchmark Kuwait office development, short listed for
prestigious award
An Atkins Bahrain project, the Al Sharq office complex,
has been short listed for the 2007 MIPIM Architectural
Review Future Projects Award - Offices category. The
180m tower will cover an area of 56,400sq.m.
Commissioned by Al Mar & Aqar, the complex combines
work and leisure, internal and outside spaces, and offers
a variety of scenarios for business within a sustainable
and environmentally responsible design. Hovering above
a glass fronted entrance is a podium with a sky garden
food court. Office spaces are hung from a pairing of
parallel blades topped at roof level with a gym, spa, health
club and pool. Floating above this pool deck is a
suspended high-panoramic views. Solar panel cladding
contributes to the green building’s energy needs while the
foliage camouflage provides office workers a place to step
outside and recharge.

Arab Countries
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Jordan
The Middle East
Future Architecture

Zaha Hadid & Delugan Meissl Assossiated Architects Win
‘Darat King Abdullah II’ Competition in Amman
The Greater Amman Municipality as the promoter of the ‘Darat King
Abdullah II’ architectural competition credited two design proposals
with the first prize. The winning offices are the Austrian architects
Delugan Meissl Assossiated Architects and the British architect
Zaha Hadid. The Norwegian architecture office ‘Snøhetta’ became
third. The competition was initiated following the directives of His
Excellency King Abdullah II supported by a selected group of
qualified advisers of the Hashemite Royal Office early last year. The
aim was to establish a cultural centre in Jordan, called ‘Darat King
Abdullah II’. The premium city center site at Ras Al Ain on the other
side of the Al-Hussein Cultural Center was chosen for the new venue
of Jordan’s performing arts. The Municipality decided to organize an
international architectural competition with top-class architects
experienced in theater and opera planning, in order to achieve the best
and most appropriate design for this cultural landmark. The selection
committee short-listed the six teams amongst 30 applicants, because
they achieved the requirements of the Municipality. The others did not
fulfill the expectations in terms of the required experience. The building
will be designed to be the center of various art activities and
associations, including the Amman Symphony Orchestra, the
National Institute of Music, the National Folklore Group and the
Amman Municipality Group of Folk Art. The ‘Darat King Abdullah II’
will additionally provide facilities and room for concerts, dance and
theatre performances for local and international groups. This new
venue will consist of a large theater, accommodating 1600 persons
and a small theater with 400 seats available both equipped with highly
sophisticated audio systems. Training areas and public facilities, as a
restaurant and a café will also be provided. The development will
require a certain level of flexibility in terms of its design, construction
and operation to accommodate large events and experimental
workshops. ‘Darat King Abdullah II’ will arrange local community
events and become the cultural hub for artistic programs and activities.
The building will also offer space for learning programs, supporting
education and training courses for children, youth and adults in various
disciplines.
1st Prize
Zaha Hadid Architects, London/UK
1st Prize
Delugan Meissl Associates, Austria

Egypt
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt

Syria
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Contemporary Architecture in Syria
Great (Umayyad) Mosque

Iraq
The Middle East
Future Architecture

The Middle East
Contemporary Architecture in Iraq
Great (or al-Mutawakkil) Mosque

Architecture in the Middle East

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