“in the next decade, energy will be the
major factor that determines built form and
the form of cities,” points out Robert Powell,
former associate Professor of architecture
and Urban design at the national University
of singapore. “We should aim for buildings
that employ passive means of cooling and
are correctly orientated, that seek to use less
potable water and employ solar and wind
power, that are shaded, conserve resources
and seek not to damage the existing ecology
of dubai. sustainability and sensitivity to the
ecology of a place are fundamental to the
design of the 21st century city.”
A neW look
2cde, the atkins-
the exterior of the new atkins-designed
designed mixed-
2cde residential development, for example, use development,
will be able to withstand temperatures
reflects a new dubai,
according to shaun
above 40˚c during the summer months, by
killa of atkins: “dubai
incorporating electro-coating into its clear is becoming more
glazing. the coating reflects heat, but also
sophisticated in design
– more confident, but
goes one step further by allowing in natural
more subdued.”
light. this reduces the load on the internal
cooling system and diminishes the electricity
burden. shading technology, including a
“sun screen” wall will also counter solar
16 gain – vital in dazzlingly sunny dubai.
power towers
However, incorporating such designs isn’t
always easy. abu-Hijleh says that while
renewable energy techniques are beginning to
flourish, including these innovations “depends
on many parameters, including energy costs
and the speed and scope of new building
regulations in the region.”
nor is dubai the easiest place to work in,
due to dust and humidity, as well as past
construction practices. “High-density building
coupled with traffic congestion give rise to
problems of pollution,” says abu-Hijleh.
One element that dubai has to its great
advantage is the wind that comes in off the
gulf. it’s a subject that atkins’ design director
in dubai, shaun killa, is keen to exploit.
“Wind is not only cheaper than solar,
it is also very powerful,” he says. “Whenever
it is appropriate – there has to be the right
positioning – i will always use wind, because
in the future all buildings will need to be
zero carbon.” killa demonstrated this
commitment when he designed the Bahrain
World trade center, the first skyscraper in
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