The central bus terminal is one of the main sites of the ongoing Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
The central bus terminal is one of the main sites of the ongoing Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
The central bus terminal is one of the main sites of the ongoing Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
The central bus terminal is one of the main sites of the ongoing Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi

Public art project to restore Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal mezzanine to former glory


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

The Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal is a landmark in form and function, and several works commissioned as part of the capital’s first public art biennial reflect the structure’s history and importance.

Designed by architect Georgi Kolarov and built in 1989, the terminal’s clean, modernist aesthetic stands out among the surrounding buildings in Al Wahdah.

The building remains as busy as the day it opened. Today, the terminal’s main halls are often bustling with commuters, as well as those shopping for groceries and eating at its cafes. Yet, there is one area in the terminal that is abandoned and dilapidated: the mezzanine level.

Its state of disrepair is particularly tragic considering its festive and bustling past. The mezzanine was used as a wedding hall in its heyday, an aspect of the terminal's history many may not be aware of.

A render of Al Mahatta, the renovation project by Atelier Aziz Alqatami of the terminal's mezzanine level. Photo: Atelier Aziz Alqatami
A render of Al Mahatta, the renovation project by Atelier Aziz Alqatami of the terminal's mezzanine level. Photo: Atelier Aziz Alqatami

Atelier Aziz Alqatami, an architecture studio in Kuwait, will be refurbishing the mezzanine level so that it can once again be a communal space. Though weddings may not be part of the programming, the restoration will transform the vast abandoned level into a public space, complete with a cafe, gallery and even a film screening area.

The project is dubbed Al Mahatta, or the station, and is scheduled to be completed by January. “When we were invited to participate, we were going through different parts of the city, and the bus terminal captivated us,” Alqatami, founder of the studio, says. “It has beautiful traffic, and there’s a lot of potential programmes to be developed there. We saw this abandoned mezzanine level, and we saw the potential.”

The original floor plan, structure and layout will be preserved. However, the space will be segmented across multiple designations. The main hall will become a reception area and cafe, whereas the kitchen will be transformed into workshops, a gallery and the film screening area.

Much of the original floor plan, structure and layout will be preserved in the renovation. Photo: Atelier Aziz Alqatami
Much of the original floor plan, structure and layout will be preserved in the renovation. Photo: Atelier Aziz Alqatami

“We're trying our best to be sensitive to the site because we understand that this is a renovation project, but at the same time we’re introducing a new programme,” Alqatami says. “The surgery that needs to be done needs to be very delicate. We want to utilise the wooden booths. We're keeping the maximum of the walls, and the tiles in the kitchen, which we’re trying not to touch, just clean.”

The design will also accentuate the horizontal nature of the space, while mindfully blending natural and artificial light. “One of the charms of the space is that it's a bit of a low ceiling space,” Khalid al Gharaballi, a partner at Atelier Aziz Alqatami, says. “We wanted to kind of underscore the horizontal feature, but also give the space its grandness.”

Alqatami adds: “Right now, there is a transition, different flooring in different parts, we’re thinking about unifying the floor, so you can see it as a unified space."

While the atelier is honouring the terminal's history and function, Emirati artist Zeinab Alhashemi is paying tribute to its design.

Even after decades of development in the area, the terminal remains distinct in its architecture. Its rigid geometry, with its slanted roofs and angular edges, is tastefully broken with unexpected curves. Due to its hard lines, the structure is often designated as Brutalist, referencing the aesthetic that came about in the West after the Second World War. Yet, there is an undeniable local twist to the terminal's architecture, namely with its arches and, of course, its vibrant teal colour.

The bus terminal is a landmark in Abu Dhabi, both for its striking form and vibrant teal colour. Victor Besa / The National
The bus terminal is a landmark in Abu Dhabi, both for its striking form and vibrant teal colour. Victor Besa / The National

Alhashemi has taken several design cues from the structure for her work at the biennial. Equilibrium comprises two identical sculptures presented just outside. Each sculpture is composed of a pair of concrete slabs that slant upward and are hoisted by a base with an arched design – a smaller facsimile of the form that looms behind it.

The terminal, Alhashemi says, has fascinated her since she was a child, seeing it “as a big green building". As she progressed in her career as an artist, she began wondering whether the structure was actually meant to be painted, or whether it was intended to remain bare, much like the brutalist architecture it was evidently inspired by.

“It is interesting because I think that maybe on this side of the world, we want to beautify things,” she says. “We want to give colour to things.” Nevertheless, Alhashemi says she wanted to pay tribute to the structure’s apparent Brutalist heritage. Her sculptures reflect the form of the terminal, but instead of being painted in a similar teal, Alhashemi left the concrete bare and covered its surface in grass.

Equilibrium by Zeinab Alhashemi. Razmig Bedirian / The National
Equilibrium by Zeinab Alhashemi. Razmig Bedirian / The National

Equilibrium neatly falls into Alhashemi’s body of work, which often contrasts industrial and natural elements. "I always try to dominate my materials over nature,” she says. “We can call it modernisation but I prefer to call it human interference. I think we always try to mimic nature, but in a way, we try to dominate nature.”

Alhashemi was adamant about using real grass as part of the work, saying astroturf would have defied the philosophy of the work, even if it would have been easier to maintain.

“The grass is still fresh and it will grow,” she says. “There were concerns about trimming the grass, but I said let it grow. There is no problem with trimming it once every other month. It doesn’t need to be trimmed perfectly.”

The grass, she says, is also meant to obscure the function of her sculptures. In fact, she is even wary of labelling the work as a sculpture, saying it may keep people from engaging with it, sitting down on its concrete ledge or lying on its grass. “I don't want to call it art," Alhashemi says. "I don't want to call it a bench. I don't want to call it a sculpture. It could be just camouflaging with the space. You could possibly notice it as art, and you might not think of it as art."

Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
%3Cp%3EThe%20fielding%20side%20shall%20be%20ready%20to%20start%20each%20over%20within%2060%20seconds%20of%20the%20previous%20over%20being%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20electronic%20clock%20will%20be%20displayed%20at%20the%20ground%20that%20counts%20down%20seconds%20from%2060%20to%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20clock%20is%20not%20required%20or%2C%20if%20already%20started%2C%20can%20be%20cancelled%20if%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09A%20new%20batter%20comes%20to%20the%20wicket%20between%20overs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09An%20official%20drinks%20interval%20has%20been%20called.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20umpires%20have%20approved%20the%20on%20field%20treatment%20of%20an%20injury%20to%20a%20batter%20or%20fielder.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20time%20lost%20is%20for%20any%20circumstances%20beyond%20the%20control%20of%20the%20fielding%20side.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20third%20umpire%20starts%20the%20clock%20either%20when%20the%20ball%20has%20become%20dead%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20previous%20over%2C%20or%20a%20review%20has%20been%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20team%20gets%20two%20warnings%20if%20they%20are%20not%20ready%20to%20start%20overs%20after%20the%20clock%20reaches%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09On%20the%20third%20and%20any%20subsequent%20occasion%20in%20an%20innings%2C%20the%20bowler%E2%80%99s%20end%20umpire%20awards%20five%20runs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

Specs

Engine: 2-litre

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 255hp

Torque: 273Nm

Price: Dh240,000

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Updated: November 25, 2024, 3:10 AM`