From Azerbaijan to Abu Dhabi: 36 stunning photographs capture concrete creations around the world


Hayley Skirka
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A photograph of a Zaha Hadid designed building in Azerbaijan has won first prize in a global photography contest.

More than 10,000 images were submitted to the second annual Concrete in Life global photography contest by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA).

Aiming to showcase the role of concrete in people's daily lives around the world, the contest ran from October to December and was open to both professional and amateur photographers.

Photographer Nurlan Tahirli was crowned the overall winner after capturing a striking picture of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.

“I am hugely honoured to be the winner of Concrete in Life 2020. The photo I took was at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. I was struck by the building’s unique and unusual look – its stunning design with simplicity of lines, single colour and complexity of structure," said Tahirli.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi crowned for concrete use

Nishar Mohammed's image of Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Courtesy GCCA
Nishar Mohammed's image of Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Courtesy GCCA

The UAE topped two of the six award categories and featured in several finalist images.

A picture snapped in Dubai won first place in the Concrete Infrastructure category for professionals. The aerial image of Dubai's Defence Roundabout Intersection on Sheikh Zayed Road was taken by photographer Nishar Mohammed.

"450,000 vehicles enter Dubai on an average every day from other Emirates, with the city welcoming 40,000 vehicles in the morning peak hours every day. It’s concrete enabling people to conduct their daily lives," explained Mohammed.

A photograph of Delma Park in Abu Dhabi topped the Concrete in Daily Life category. It was captured by Christopher “Tawpee” Comeso and shows a child playing inside a concrete maze.

Dubai's Burj Khalifa peeks out from the shadows in this finalist image. Courtesy GCCA
Dubai's Burj Khalifa peeks out from the shadows in this finalist image. Courtesy GCCA

Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Dubai skyline featured in finalist photographs in the Urban Professional category, and a sunset Dubai city shot was another finalist in the Daily Life Amateur category.

Other subject matters in the shortlist of finalists included an image of a parking space in Amsterdam and one of children playing in a cemetery in the Philippines.

The overall winner of the contest is awarded $10,0000, while category winners each get $2,500.

Click through the gallery above to see all the shortlisted entries.

Jawan
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Venom

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rating: 1.5/5

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

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The%20Afghan%20connection
%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
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  • 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
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