The twin towers under construction on Al Saada merge an ancient Islamic architectural form with state-of-the-art technology to create one of Abu Dhabi's most advanced "green" developments.
The 25-storey glass towers, which will serve as headquarters for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), will feature what the project architect Peter Oborn calls a "translucent veil" wrapping the east and west faces. The surfaces are a homage to mashrabiya, the traditional complex wooden lattice screens found in many Middle Eastern buildings.
But there is a modern twist: as the sun moves across the sky, each of the 2,000 geometric pieces will operate like parasols, opening and closing to shade the surface of the buildings.
This will be the first time movable facades have been used on this scale, says Mr Oborn, the deputy chairman of Aedas.
The result will be a 50 per cent reduction of the sun's impact on the building's skin, according to the company. That means less air conditioning needs to be used and less need for tinted glass, allowing more natural light into the offices, producing a "significant reduction in electrical energy consumption".
The project, dubbed Al Bahr, also creates a new icon for the entrance to the island at a time when the emirate is eager to establish itself as a leader in green development.
"I hope history will show this building as being reflective of a point in time in the evolution in sustainability in the Gulf region," says Mr Oborn.
Aedas, based in London, is one of the world's largest groups of architects and won a 2007 competition to design the headquarters. At the time, the general charge from the ADIC was simply to create two "landmark" towers, with few specific guidelines other than to incorporate the region's "architectural heritage".
Aedas chose to move away from the more bulky designs popular in the UAE. "We didn't want to produce another monster," Mr Oborn said.
Almost every element of the exterior was developed with the sun in mind. The designers incorporated circular forms, which naturally reduce direct exposure and the roofs were slanted at an angle to maximise the efficiency of sunshine-gathering photovoltaic cells to produce electricity.
The top and bottom of the towers are sculpted in such a way as to increase the floor space in the centre while reducing the number of surfaces directly facing the sun. To further minimise the effects of solar rays, room was created on the upper floors for gardens, resulting in open-air areas for tenants to enjoy.
Researching the traditional architecture of the region, the designers settled on mashrabiya, a feature dating from the Middle Ages. Known for their intricate carvings, mashrabiya provided both privacy and cooling.
But the designers soon realised mashrabiya alone would not achieve their goals.
"Initially we thought of using fixed shading devices but it would have to be fixed for the worst case," says Mr Oborn.
In other words, the mashrabiya would provide too much shade, blocking views when there was little direct sun. From there, the idea of electronic mashrabiya was born.
"The beauty of this is its simplicity," Mr Oborn says.
Sensors will constantly measure weather conditions, directing the movement of the mashrabiya. Instead of set schedules, the elements will open and close depending on each day's weather, adjusting for occasional storms or cloudy days.
Those within the towers should barely notice the changes, which will happen gradually throughout the day.
"It will be a bit like having the blinds drawn," says Mr Oborn.
Once the designers determined the system could work on a large scale, the challenge was to figure out how much it would cost to manufacture. To help keep prices down, small, mass-produced motors commonly used in aircraft were incorporated in the design. And existing management software will control the action.
Each of the 2,000 elements will operate individually; and are easily replaced if they break down.
Earlier this year, a prototype was built and installed to demonstrate the system to ADIC officials.
"The mock-up proved the design was robust," says the project director Bryan Hamilton, resulting in what he describes as his moment of "biggest relief".
"We didn't have to change the design at all after the mock-up," he adds.
If the mashrabiya achieve the expected energy efficiencies, the system could provide a model for future developments in the UAE. Last month, the Department of Municipal Affairs moved to restrict developers from building glass towers unless they can develop methods to conserve energy.
Construction crews expect to begin attaching the brackets for the mashrabiya on Al Bahr in about six weeks, with installation of the apparatus starting a few weeks later. The entire complex is scheduled to open in 2012.
The hope is that the project "reflects the aspirations of the UAE and integrated architecture in a new way, in a new vernacular", says Mr Oborn.
kbrass@thenational.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Race card:
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; 2,200m
7.40pm: Conditions; Dh240,000; 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 2,000m
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed; Dh265,000; 1,200m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; 1,600m
10pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 1,400m
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
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
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
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McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
The%20pillars%20of%20the%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Strategy
%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A