National Pavilion UAE wins Golden Lion Honorary Award
The National Pavilion UAE was awarded the Golden Lion Award for best National Participation at La Biennale Architettura 2021 at an awards ceremony in Venice on 30 August 2021. The Golden Lion award is the Biennale’s top honor.
Curated by Wael Al Awar and Kenichi Teramoto, Wetland, the National Pavilion UAE’s tenth exhibition at La Biennale Architettura, was selected by the Biennale jury for being “a bold experiment that encourages us to think about the relationship between waste and production on a local and global scale, and opens us to new construction possibilities between craft and high-technology”, Kazuyo Sejima, President of this year’s jury said at the ceremony.
Laila Binbrek, Coordinating Director of the National Pavilion UAE, said: “Following ten exceptionally thought-driven and creative exhibitions at the Venice Biennale, National Pavilion UAE is honuored to be chosen for the Golden Lion Award for best National Participation out of 60 national pavilions. This is a testament to the work we have been doing to contribute to the UAE’s evolving art ecosystem, and a recognition of our continued efforts to tell the UAE’s untold stories in a globally relevant way. Winning this award also coincides with a milestone participation for us, as well as the UAE’s landmark 50th anniversary this December. Wael and Teramoto have put forward a notable contribution at the heart of a global conversation surrounding sustainable building, which makes us very proud that Wetland demonstrates yet another exemplar untold story from the UAE.”
Curator and architect, Wael Al Awar, who accepted the award on behalf of the Pavilion at the ceremony said: “Marking a tenth successful participation for National Pavilion UAE in Venice, we are honored to accept this award. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the National Pavilion UAE team, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and Youth and all our cross-discipline collaborators who have enabled us to bring Wetland to life with their continued support. We are very proud and humbled as we continue to spotlight potential solutions to global issues and move towards the future.”
Wetland presents a prototype of an environmentally friendly salt-based cement alternative from recycled industrial waste brine, which could reduce the impact the construction industry has on the environment.
The exhibition, which will remain on display until November 21, 2021 also celebrates the UAE’s Sabkhas (salt flats), which inspired the research for the development of the renewable building material, through large-scale images of the UAE’s UNESCO World Heritage Site-nominated sabkhas (salt flats) created by New York-based Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi.
The curators worked with specialist teams at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Amber Lab, the American University of Sharjah’s Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, and the University of Tokyo’s Obuchi Lab and Sato Lab to develop the chemical formula for the cement.
A publication titled The Anatomy of Sabkhas, written by urban researchers Rashid and Ahmed bin Shabib and co-edited by Wael Al Awar and Kenichi Teramoto, accompanied the exhibition, and explored the ecological and socio-economic significance of these natural phenomena in detail based on case studies, personal essays, and photography. A supplementary volume edited and written by Aga Khan Award-winning architect Marina Tabassum details the journey of Wael and Teramoto’s research for the Wetland exhibition.
The news marks the region’s second ever country pavilion to win the Golden Lion, following the Kingdom of Bahrain which was awarded the Golden Lion for the best national participation at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition in 2010.
The National Pavilion UAE is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The current exhibition, Wetland, is curated by Wael Al Awar, Principal Architect and founding partner of waiwai, an award-winning multidisciplinary architecture, landscape, graphic and urban design studio, and architect Kenichi Teramoto who was a founding partner of waiwai and recently founded the Office of Teramoto in Japan.
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Grimshaw’s mangrove tree-inspired design wins Shenzhen transport competition
A design consortium led by Grimshaw, alongside Mott MacDonald, China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (AVIC CAPDI) and Beijing Urban Construction Design and Development Group (BJUCD) has been selected as the winner of an international competition for Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub. The multi-disciplinary design team also includes schlaich bergermann partner (sbp), Atelier Ten, and Gross Max.
Sponsored by China National Railway Corporation Limited and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the project is undertaken by Shenzhen Metro Corporation Limited as the tenderer. The Grimshaw team was announced as winner following an assessment by a bid evaluation committee of 13 experts in urban planning and design, architectural design, aviation, railway, urban rail, and integrated transportation.
The brief called for an aspirational vision to create an integrated intermodal transport hub to act as a new urban gateway and landmark for the Greater Bay Area. It also set out the need to be safe, green, intelligent and humanistic, integrating the latest technologies to set a new benchmark for similar projects around the world.
The winning proposal will improve the journeys of thousands of daily commuters– providing effortless transfers between high speed rail and other public transport modes. The hub will also provide connections and terminal facilities for passengers travelling to and from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, making it one of the most integrated transport interchanges in the world.
The transport interchange will be a catalyst for the transformation of the whole east terminal area into a vibrant, people oriented new commercial and cultural district for Shenzhen. The master plan has been designed to promote active travel through provision of intuitive routes, active frontages and enriching landscape features. Passengers will enjoy breath-taking arrival and departure experiences as they transit through the hub where the flowing architectural forms and naturally daylit spaces will help to guide people on their journeys through the interchange.
The design takes its inspiration from the Mangrove, a tree that has special significance for the city of Shenzhen and is one of the planet’s most effective carbon absorbers. The team developed a strong set of design principles enabling a harmonious and unique development delivering operational, experiential and ecological excellence.
The natural form of the tree’s diverse root eco-system, which thrives where waterways converge, inspired the journey passengers will take, both above and below ground, landside and airside, while its bio-diversity will be in harmony with the hub’s exciting mix of uses
Jolyon Brewis, Grimshaw partner, says: “We are often inspired by the transfer of geometries and forms from nature into architecture. We have applied this approach to the master plan and interchange design at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport which is directly inspired by the mangrove tree. Not only does this have symbolic value as an important tree to Shenzhen, but it has led us to a solution for the building that is highly efficient. It will also be a wonderful place for people to occupy and travel through. We hope it will lift the spirits of millions of Shenzhen citizens, as well as those who visit this incredible city.”
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The Address Beach Resort by Killa Design wins Hospitality Project of the Year award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021
Killa Design picked up the Hospitality of the Year award for their The Address Beach Resort project.
The Address Beach Resort occupies a prime location on Dubai’s JBR beach and distinctly marks the end of Dubai Marina. The 77-storey tower is located on a multi-levelled landscaped podium and has a large central void extending over 50 floors.
The tower reconnects on higher floors by a sky-bridge which holds, the largest and most prominent apartments, restaurants, spa and gym and a rooftop sky-club with lounge and pool, positioned almost 294m above ground, making it both the highest infinity pool in the world as well as the highest inhabited skybridge in the world, all with unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf, sunsets and the shoreline of Dubai.
The initial design brief called for a twin tower design; analysing the highly fragmented skyline of the Dubai Marina, we realized the importance of creating a pure, simple and timeless building form. Introducing a large dynamic void within the mass of the tower, opens the building to its surrounding context and increases daylight intake, while creating a distinctive gateway project for Dubai Marina.
The site offers an opportunity to locate the tower close to the beach and beyond the skyline of the remaining JBR beach; the building is therefore placed right at the setback limitation. The building is furthermore turned to not only offer direct views to Bluewater’s and Palm Jumeirah, but also offering excellent views along the beachfront itself.
The twin towers are orientated exactly on the East West axis as a first principle passive design sustainable measure to reduce solar gain on the façade of the building.
This singular design measure reduces the solar gain on the building by up to 40% whereby reducing the cooling and energy demands for the development.
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Joe Tabet from JT+Partners wins Visionary Leader of the Year award at Leaders Architecture Awards 2021
Joe Tabet lifted the Visionary Leader of the Year award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021. Tabet is the managing director and founder of JT+Partners, he manages the growth of the business in the UAE and Beirut and is heavily involved in recruiting the right people. He firmly believes that his team is the key to the continuing success of JT+Partners, and ensures that the latest technology and software are always available to them.
On receiving the award, Tabet said: “I am extremely happy to receive this prestigious award. We are looking ahead into the future with a clear vision backed by definite plans.”
A firm believer in gender balance within the workplace, Tabet also encourages his team to maintain a proper balance between work and family life. Whether a hotel development, residential project, commercial tower or an entire master plan, Tabet’s success lies in the ability to conceive unique concepts with, of course, the help of his talented team.
Tabet is committed to delivering environmentally and socially sustainable communities in addition to cultural and aesthetic sensibilities. His balanced, holistic approach to environmental, social and economic considerations of each project ensures that the full potential of every opportunity is realised in a sustainable manner, all the while exceeding his clients’ expectations. An inspiration to designers and architects in the region, he has proven how an architect wearing different hats can achieve success.
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Grimshaw Architects wins Sustainable Project of the Year award for Terra-The Sustainability Pavilion
Grimshaw Architects wins Sustainable Project of the Year award for Terra-The Sustainability Pavilion
Terra-The Sustainability Pavilion by Grimshaw Architects was declared as the Sustainable Project of the Year.
Matthew Utley, principal at Grimshaw Architects, said: “We are very honoured to win the Sustainable Project of the Year award for Terra-The Sustainability Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai. It’s a group effort between the consultants and client team.”
Drawing inspiration from complex natural processes like photosynthesis, the dynamic form of the Pavilion is in service to its function, capturing energy from sunlight and freshwater from humid air. The relationship of building to the site, and its physical and cultural contexts is critical, as the facility’s strength lies in its capacity to demonstrate a new way of living sustainably in a challenging desert environment.
Sited in a prominent location, the Pavilion structure works in tandem with the considered landscape of demonstration gardens, winding pathways and shaded enclaves to create an aura of magic punctuated by the sights, smells and tactile opportunities of nature. The gardens are both experiential and functional, setting the stage for the exhibition contents within and creating shaded gathering areas that will manage and distribute crowds while providing retail, food and beverage opportunities.
When creating a building with the goal of generating its own energy and water in a harsh climate, the solution cannot be driven by a single aspect of the design. To achieve net-zero, the design required a series of technologies, building systems and design solutions to act in unison. This self-contained, micro-ecosystem resulted from a combination of strategies: optimizing the natural conditions inherent in its location; working with and within them to maximize efficiency, and supplementing them with pioneering sustainable technologies to create innovative solutions.
The Sustainability Pavilion is complemented by an installation of Energy Trees which contribute toward its goal of producing its own energy. Nineteen E-trees ranging from 15-18m in diameter are dispersed throughout the site and provide 28% of the energy required to power the building.
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DLR Group wins Emerging Architecture Firm of the Year at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021
Organised by BNC Publishing and Design Middle East, the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 acknowledged and rewarded the exceptional architects, projects, and firms in the region. The gala award ceremony took place on March 31 at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. There were 19 award categories that were given solely on merit and were awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.
DLR Group was awarded Emerging Architecture Firm of the Year trophy. The brand promises to elevate the human experience through design. The essence of that idea resides at the core of their integrated design teams.
Jamal Salem, regional director, DLR Group Middle East, said: “It feels amazing, this wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing team and support staff.”
Salem is responsible for design and client services throughout the Middle East, leading operations from the DLR Group Dubai office. He has practiced extensively in the Middle East, leading the successful delivery of high-profile projects in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
At DLR Group, the team is made of multi-disciplinary design professionals that bring highly specialized expertise to every project. These teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, value-based decision-making, proficient use of technology from project outset to close out, and continuous monitoring to optimise a building’s performance to further their practise of evidence-based design.
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SIEC wins Architecture Firm of the Year Award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021
Organised by BNC Publishing and Design Middle East, the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 acknowledged and rewarded the exceptional architects, projects, and firms in the region. The gala award ceremony took place on March 31 at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. There were 19 award categories that were given solely on merit and were awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.
These awards celebrate creativity and innovation in the field of architecture. One of the prestigious awards — Architecture Fim of the Year’ was won by SIE Consultants (SIEC).
SIEC was established in Dubai in November 2014, as a boutique design studio comprised of architects, planners, and project and development managers with vast experience in the region and industry. SIEC has already entered the market aggressively by winning high-profile projects due to its team’s experience, quality-delivery, and full-service offerings, providing front-to-end development solutions ranging from architectural designs, full in-house engineering, interior design, project management, and landscape design.
SIEC has a 4-star rating from the Dubai Municipality pre-qualification section for contractors and consultants. “It’s a great honour to receive this award. It’s evidence of the good work we do and our clients are really happy,” said Nima Elborz, executive director at SIEC.
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