Release date: 13/10/2011 |    

Abu Dhabi - Contemporary Architecture

Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates. Uncovering 10 percent of the world’s oil reserves on its doorstep in the late 1950’s delivered Abu Dhabi an overabundance of wealth and its provincial Bedouin past has quickly become a futuristic city.  

And yet, unlike its glitzy neighbour Dubai – a two hour drive north-east – Abu Dhabi has paced itself in becoming a specialised tourist destination.

In sporting terms, Abu Dhabi has marched ahead in recent times to host major prestigious sporting events creating continuous global resonance. The huge response by visitors to these sporting events is a means to promoting tourism growth in the emirate.

Amongst Abu Dhabi’s portfolio of hosted sporting events is the Formula One Grand Prix on Yas Island, (left: Night image of the complex) the Abu Dhabi World Golf Championships, and the Red Bull Air Race. 

The indoor theme park of Ferrari World is located on Yas Island. (below)   View Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

For the first time in 2011 the evolving city hosts the concluding round of the Global Champions Tour series at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort November 24-26.

Whist riders on the Global Champions Tour continue to bring their best international horses to Abu Dhabi and the Global Champions Tour builds the tour to greater heights, there is healthy competition for the cultural crown of the Arabian Peninsula in terms of architectural and structural renaissance.

Dominance of contemporary architecture in Abu Dhabi is one element that entices the sporting spectator to venture further afield than the sporting arenas.

Over 67,000 square kilometres of bright shiny skyscrapers provide an insight into how seriously the city takes its architecture. The structures are guaranteed to amaze.

Abu Dhabi is known as the land where extreme engineering is taking place challenging the rules of architecture. €200,000 million has been spent on developing the best business centre in the Middle East housing one of the most interesting constructions.

Capital Gate  

Capital Gate is one of the world’s most daring skyscrapers.  Linking the future with the past, the iconic building stands next to the Grandstand monument that has been used for many years for national celebrations.

With the spirit where anything is possible, international architecture firm RMJM was set the challenge to build an amazing building with the provision that it was not to be made taller than buildings in other gulf countries but needed to be extreme in another concept.

The Capital Gate construction spirals out of the earth and defies gravity requiring extraordinary engineering. Designed on the concept of wind swept dunes and waves of water prominent to the gulf area.

The gravity defying design meant extraordinary engineering as the design created issues around staying in the ground as it would create huge forces on the ground. Pioneering techniques had to be developed to ensure the base was superior.

The Capital Gate floor plates are stacked vertically up to the 12^th storey after which, they are staggered over each other giving rise to the tower’s dramatic lean. Due to its posture, the 35-story building has being constructed on top of a huge concrete base with a dense mesh of reinforced steel.  It has an 18-degree slope, compared with four degrees for the freestanding bell tower. The ‘leaning tower of Abu Dhabi’ is home to the five-star Hyatt hotel that takes the top 18 floors.

The slanted tower consists of a large internal atrium including a tea lounge and swimming pool suspended 80 metres above the ground which cantilevers from the side of the building with 270- degree views of the surrounding horizon.

It’s the furthest leaning building in the world, in fact – an achievement acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records when construction was completed in June this year. It leans nearly five times farther than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

The building will be officially opened in mid November 2011 just before the Global Champions Tour arrives in Abu Dhabi.

Emirates Palace  

Of equal architectural importance is the 220-acre Emirates Palace hotel complex. (images above) Sitting on 1.3 kilometres of private beach and cushioned by some 85 hectares of landscaped gardens, the Emirates Palace is an attraction in a league of its own. The complex showcases114 gilt domes, a 42 metre-diameter mosaic and a 20-kilogram solid gold finial.

Cultural District on Saadiyat Island (above)

Abu Dhabi has a strong emphasis on cultural tourism - the $US27 billion Saadiyat Island, is due to open in stages from 2012, and will feature branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim. (below) 

Indeed the natural splendours of Abu Dhabi continue to thrive, while the new phase of Abu Dhabi’s progress continues to inspire.

Image credits:

Emirates Palace Susanne Scheepers

Abu Dhabi Development