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Al Bahr Towers

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New MOVE
This chapter is in the book New MOVE
166The 25-storey twin skyscrapers of the Al Bahr Towers are among the most environmentally friendly towers in the Persian Gulf. Conceived as part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan and built in Abu Dhabi City, their design aims to make use of state-of-the-art tech-nologies while respecting the architectural heritage of the region.The overall form of the towers wraps around a cen-tral core and tapers gently towards the top and bottom. To provide sustainable energy, the build-ings are clad with photovoltaic cells at an optimum angle and the tops of the buildings are slanted to maximise solar yield. Enclosing the buildings on inside of the external skin is a honeycomb-like structural framework designed to optimally distrib-ute the loads acting on the buildings.The most striking aspect of the buildings, however, is an outer honeycomb-like structure that draws its inspiration from mashrabiya, the traditional lattice screens used to shield the interior of Arab dwellings against direct sunlight and to provide privacy. On the towers, the cream-coloured screens comprise 2099 individual translucent elements that act as a solar shading system. Wrapped around the west, east and south sides of the towers, the computer-controlled elements can open and close individually in response to the position of the sun.Each honeycomb cell consists of six movable ele-ments, each of which consists of six translucent triangular panels. The individual elements fold (and unfold) by means of a linear drive mechanism, caus-ing the screen to open and let light through. The opening and closing mechanism resembles that of an umbrella. The large number of honeycomb cells gives the towers a dynamically changing appearance.This facade solution has been able to reduce power consumption by 50 % compared with conventional high-rise buildings.Facade elements from insideOpening and closing motion of the facade elementsAl Bahr TowersAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 2012AHRExterior viewBuildings and building elements
© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Munich/Boston

166The 25-storey twin skyscrapers of the Al Bahr Towers are among the most environmentally friendly towers in the Persian Gulf. Conceived as part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan and built in Abu Dhabi City, their design aims to make use of state-of-the-art tech-nologies while respecting the architectural heritage of the region.The overall form of the towers wraps around a cen-tral core and tapers gently towards the top and bottom. To provide sustainable energy, the build-ings are clad with photovoltaic cells at an optimum angle and the tops of the buildings are slanted to maximise solar yield. Enclosing the buildings on inside of the external skin is a honeycomb-like structural framework designed to optimally distrib-ute the loads acting on the buildings.The most striking aspect of the buildings, however, is an outer honeycomb-like structure that draws its inspiration from mashrabiya, the traditional lattice screens used to shield the interior of Arab dwellings against direct sunlight and to provide privacy. On the towers, the cream-coloured screens comprise 2099 individual translucent elements that act as a solar shading system. Wrapped around the west, east and south sides of the towers, the computer-controlled elements can open and close individually in response to the position of the sun.Each honeycomb cell consists of six movable ele-ments, each of which consists of six translucent triangular panels. The individual elements fold (and unfold) by means of a linear drive mechanism, caus-ing the screen to open and let light through. The opening and closing mechanism resembles that of an umbrella. The large number of honeycomb cells gives the towers a dynamically changing appearance.This facade solution has been able to reduce power consumption by 50 % compared with conventional high-rise buildings.Facade elements from insideOpening and closing motion of the facade elementsAl Bahr TowersAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 2012AHRExterior viewBuildings and building elements
© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Munich/Boston

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter 1
  2. Contents 4
  3. Preface 7
  4. The poetics of movement 4.0 8
  5. Movement: Visions 12
  6. Urban mobility and urban structure 14
  7. A. Theory and planning
  8. 1. Movement in space and the movement of objects
  9. 1.1 Perfect skin – the fascination of new materials 18
  10. 1.2 CFRP structures: Uses in aviation – applications in architecture 22
  11. 1.3 Textiles in motion 26
  12. 1.4 Bio-inspired elasticity 28
  13. 1.5 Urban cable cars as dynamic elements in the city and as architecture 30
  14. A. Theory and planning
  15. 2. Movement and construction principles
  16. 2.1 Space on demand: Flexible architecture for changing cities 34
  17. 2.2 3D printing methods: “Replicate Architecture” 38
  18. 2.3 Active and transformable: Future movement strategies 40
  19. 2.4 Shape memory: Movement through shape memory alloys 42
  20. 2.5 Soft robotics: The deformation and movement of soft components 44
  21. B. Applications and functions
  22. 1. Changing and extending uses and functions
  23. 1.1 Flexible furniture 48
  24. 1.2 Adaptive by design 50
  25. 1.3 A typology of adaptive facades 54
  26. 1.4 Retractable roofs 58
  27. 1.5 Adaptable houses 62
  28. B. Applications and functions
  29. 2. Conserving and generating energy
  30. 2.1 Smart skins 68
  31. 2.2 Moving elements for active solar energy use in buildings 72
  32. 2.3 Robustness and autoreactivity: Temperature regulation using thermal actuators 76
  33. 2.6 Energy generation in the city of the future 80
  34. 2.7 Movable and adaptive thin glass applications 84
  35. B. Applications and functions
  36. 3. Interaction: Recognising, controlling and representing movement
  37. 3.1 Dynamic design with light: Media facades 90
  38. 3.2 4dTEX 94
  39. 3.3 Scissor linkages in the design of adaptive morphologies 98
  40. 3.4 Moving bridges 102
  41. C. Buildings and building elements
  42. Swivel / turn
  43. Livraria da Vila 108
  44. Sharifi-ha House 110
  45. Steirereck Gourmet Restaurant 112
  46. Cirkelbroen 114
  47. Scale Lane Bridge 116
  48. La Seine Musicale 118
  49. C. Buildings and building elements
  50. Rotate
  51. Dancing Pavilion 120
  52. MPavilion 2017 122
  53. Kielder Observatory 124
  54. Piscine Tournesol 126
  55. Moving Landscapes 128
  56. Odins Bro 130
  57. C. Buildings and building elements
  58. Slide
  59. Paperhouse 132
  60. Renault Symbioz House 33 134
  61. Theatre Tower on the Julier P ass 136
  62. Duke of York Restaurant 138
  63. Inderhavnsbroen 140
  64. Wembley Stadium 142
  65. C. Buildings and building elements
  66. Flap
  67. Aktivhaus B10 144
  68. MPavilion 2014 146
  69. Ballet Mécanique 148
  70. Villa Chardonne 150
  71. Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre 152
  72. Olympic Tennis Centre 154
  73. C. Buildings and building elements
  74. Fold
  75. Canary Wharf Kiosk 156
  76. Café-Restaurant OPEN 158
  77. Mokyeonri Wood Culture Museum 160
  78. Parliament Visitor Centre 162
  79. Centre for Paediatrics and Cardiology at the University of Innsbruck 164
  80. Al Bahr Towers 166
  81. C. Buildings and building elements
  82. Swing
  83. Windswept 168
  84. Wave Wall 170
  85. Curtain Door 172
  86. Mobile footbridge in Stalhille 174
  87. Lower Hatea River Crossing 176
  88. Merchant Square Bridge 178
  89. “La ville molle” 180
  90. C. Buildings and building elements
  91. Deform
  92. Kinetic Wall 182
  93. Bezier Concertina display 184
  94. IBA Soft House 186
  95. MegaFaces 188
  96. One Ocean 190
  97. C. Buildings and building elements
  98. Complex movements
  99. XXXX Sofa 192
  100. EvolutionDoor 194
  101. Fissured Living 196
  102. Scissor bridge at Jet d’Eau 198
  103. The Bund Finance Centre 200
  104. Institut du Monde Arabe 202
  105. Appendix
  106. About the authors and contributors 206
  107. Acknowledgements 214
  108. Illustration credits 216
  109. Sponsoring companies 219
  110. Sponsoring companies 220
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783035613629-058

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter 1
  2. Contents 4
  3. Preface 7
  4. The poetics of movement 4.0 8
  5. Movement: Visions 12
  6. Urban mobility and urban structure 14
  7. A. Theory and planning
  8. 1. Movement in space and the movement of objects
  9. 1.1 Perfect skin – the fascination of new materials 18
  10. 1.2 CFRP structures: Uses in aviation – applications in architecture 22
  11. 1.3 Textiles in motion 26
  12. 1.4 Bio-inspired elasticity 28
  13. 1.5 Urban cable cars as dynamic elements in the city and as architecture 30
  14. A. Theory and planning
  15. 2. Movement and construction principles
  16. 2.1 Space on demand: Flexible architecture for changing cities 34
  17. 2.2 3D printing methods: “Replicate Architecture” 38
  18. 2.3 Active and transformable: Future movement strategies 40
  19. 2.4 Shape memory: Movement through shape memory alloys 42
  20. 2.5 Soft robotics: The deformation and movement of soft components 44
  21. B. Applications and functions
  22. 1. Changing and extending uses and functions
  23. 1.1 Flexible furniture 48
  24. 1.2 Adaptive by design 50
  25. 1.3 A typology of adaptive facades 54
  26. 1.4 Retractable roofs 58
  27. 1.5 Adaptable houses 62
  28. B. Applications and functions
  29. 2. Conserving and generating energy
  30. 2.1 Smart skins 68
  31. 2.2 Moving elements for active solar energy use in buildings 72
  32. 2.3 Robustness and autoreactivity: Temperature regulation using thermal actuators 76
  33. 2.6 Energy generation in the city of the future 80
  34. 2.7 Movable and adaptive thin glass applications 84
  35. B. Applications and functions
  36. 3. Interaction: Recognising, controlling and representing movement
  37. 3.1 Dynamic design with light: Media facades 90
  38. 3.2 4dTEX 94
  39. 3.3 Scissor linkages in the design of adaptive morphologies 98
  40. 3.4 Moving bridges 102
  41. C. Buildings and building elements
  42. Swivel / turn
  43. Livraria da Vila 108
  44. Sharifi-ha House 110
  45. Steirereck Gourmet Restaurant 112
  46. Cirkelbroen 114
  47. Scale Lane Bridge 116
  48. La Seine Musicale 118
  49. C. Buildings and building elements
  50. Rotate
  51. Dancing Pavilion 120
  52. MPavilion 2017 122
  53. Kielder Observatory 124
  54. Piscine Tournesol 126
  55. Moving Landscapes 128
  56. Odins Bro 130
  57. C. Buildings and building elements
  58. Slide
  59. Paperhouse 132
  60. Renault Symbioz House 33 134
  61. Theatre Tower on the Julier P ass 136
  62. Duke of York Restaurant 138
  63. Inderhavnsbroen 140
  64. Wembley Stadium 142
  65. C. Buildings and building elements
  66. Flap
  67. Aktivhaus B10 144
  68. MPavilion 2014 146
  69. Ballet Mécanique 148
  70. Villa Chardonne 150
  71. Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre 152
  72. Olympic Tennis Centre 154
  73. C. Buildings and building elements
  74. Fold
  75. Canary Wharf Kiosk 156
  76. Café-Restaurant OPEN 158
  77. Mokyeonri Wood Culture Museum 160
  78. Parliament Visitor Centre 162
  79. Centre for Paediatrics and Cardiology at the University of Innsbruck 164
  80. Al Bahr Towers 166
  81. C. Buildings and building elements
  82. Swing
  83. Windswept 168
  84. Wave Wall 170
  85. Curtain Door 172
  86. Mobile footbridge in Stalhille 174
  87. Lower Hatea River Crossing 176
  88. Merchant Square Bridge 178
  89. “La ville molle” 180
  90. C. Buildings and building elements
  91. Deform
  92. Kinetic Wall 182
  93. Bezier Concertina display 184
  94. IBA Soft House 186
  95. MegaFaces 188
  96. One Ocean 190
  97. C. Buildings and building elements
  98. Complex movements
  99. XXXX Sofa 192
  100. EvolutionDoor 194
  101. Fissured Living 196
  102. Scissor bridge at Jet d’Eau 198
  103. The Bund Finance Centre 200
  104. Institut du Monde Arabe 202
  105. Appendix
  106. About the authors and contributors 206
  107. Acknowledgements 214
  108. Illustration credits 216
  109. Sponsoring companies 219
  110. Sponsoring companies 220
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