SYMBOLE DE DUBAI  dubaï eau

" La réponse à la problématique, posée par le prix Thyssen Krupp Elevator Dubaï 08, doit être plurielle dans sa portée symbolique, tant les facettes de Dubaï sont multiples et font parties intégrantes d’un fonctionnement global propre à cette cité. En effet, cette mégalopole contemporaine est issue d’une succession de cycles, dont l’enchaînement et l’articulation résultent d’efforts constants et successifs de la part des instances dirigeantes de la ville. Cette volonté de mutation continue, notamment sur le plan économique, a permis et permettra à la ville de Dubaï de conserver une place de premier plan au sein de la communauté internationale. 

C’est cela que doit représenter cette réponse, le fondement même de la ville de Dubaï, son âme. C’est pourquoi ce projet ne peut se résumer à symboliser le passé, le présent, l’avenir ou encore un des multiples visages de cette cité. Le projet qui vous est proposé ici, c’est Dubaï. "

 

" Le projet que nous proposons s’inscrit à la fois dans l’histoire de Dubaï, dans la représentation de sa dynamique de croissance propre, mais aussi dans une projection de ce que sera l’avenir de cette cité, continuité et évolution.

Le défi technique, que constituent la conception et la réalisation de cet ouvrage, participera, aux côtés de bâtiments emblématiques comme le "Burj Dubaï", à la volonté de Dubaï de s’inscrire dans une dynamique architecturale novatrice et futuriste. De plus, l’utilisation de diverses sources d’énergies renouvelables et de procédés naturels dans le projet inscrit ce dernier dans la dynamique actuelle et future d’une haute qualité environnementale d’un bâti qui respecte son milieu.

Le constant mouvement du projet symbolise et symbolisera l’évolution perpétuelle dans laquelle la cité de Dubaï s’est engagée depuis sa naissance, il y a environ 200 ans, sur les rives du Golfe Persique. Cette capacité à se réinventer constamment, en puisant dans ses origines sans oublier sa culture, le projet, dans ses différentes composantes en général mais dans sa mise en avant d’un mouvement vertical cyclique en particulier, la révèlera durablement aux yeux de la planète.

Une pérennité d’usage assurée par le perpétuel étonnement que suscitera l’ascension, dans le ciel de Dubaï, de cette sphère parfaite dont la position sera constamment différente, incitera le visiteur à revenir en ce lieu pour embrasser le projet dans sa totalité.

Tout comme la Tour Eiffel pour la ville de Paris, la Statue de la Liberté pour la ville de New-York ou encore l’Arche de Saint Louis, ce projet participera à l’identité de la cité de Dubaï, en tant que représentation fidèle et durable de ce qu’est cette dernière, une ville en perpétuelle évolution dans le respect de sa culture et de ses traditions. "

 

PERPETUAL MOTION  (English version)

" The project symbolizes of Dubai’s capacity to adapt economically, culturally and urbanistically. Dubai’s multiple facets are an integral part of the comprehensive workings of the city. Thus, a response to the challenge set forth in the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award Dubai 2008 must be plural.

This contemporary megapolis is the result of succeeding cycles linked and articulated through the continued efforts of the municipal authorities. Constant will to evolve and change particularly economically has meant and will mean that the city of Dubai maintains its position at center stage of the international scene.

Our response embodies the origin of the city, its soul. Therefore, the project cannot merely symbolize the past, present and future of Dubai. Nor can it simply concentrate on one of the many faces of the city. The project herein IS Dubai.

 

Pearl   [Beginning – Dubai’s origin – 1830]

Archaeological digs show that the current location of the city dates back 7500 years. However, the history of the Emirate of Dubai begins in 1830 when the Bani Yas tribe, led by the ancestors of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Ben Rashid Al Maktoum, founded the village of Shindagha, which would develop into the Dubai of today. Shindagha owes its beginnings to early Pearl Oyster divers and related trade. The implementation of the project will symbolize the historic moment at which Dubai’s illustrious development takes off. The artificial lake at the base of the project represents the Persian Gulf as it served as cradle to the city. This is symbolized by the perfect geometric shape of the 30 meters diameter sphere.

The main element of the project, the Pearl, is composed of an external skin and a central component. Future visitors move about freely and continually between these two elements in the city’s sky. Visitors enter through elevators that rise up from the lake bottom through a cable system. The length of the cables will be continually adjusted to the altitude. The ascension is just one of many sensations visitors experience during their visit.

The base of the Pearl, with panoramic view of Dubai and Za’abeel Park, serves as a lobby area. Moving sidewalks then transport visitors along the Pearl’s walls and around the central space. It houses all of the utility and maintenance spaces (restrooms, cloakroom, offices, kitchen, storage, fire safety spaces, and technical spaces) that serve the lower level and the upper level’s panoramic terraces and lounges. The former and the latter are in constant communication with the Pearl’s main space: the central bar. The Cafe is the point of arrival for the moving sidewalks. This space has a panoramic view that constantly changes with the project’s movements. Visitors can discover Dubai by night or by day as the space will be open twenty-four hours a day. The sphere is crowned with an open air space that serves as a terrace for special occasions. In this space, visitors will feel as if they are soaring over the city and project.

 

Movement   [1^st Cycle – Development of the business – 1870]

In the desert, on which the majority of the Emirate of Dubai is located, water is a precious resource. In this process of birth, it therefore represents the nourishing liquid in which the sphere – like the city of Dubai in the Persian Gulf – time and again replenishes itself. This original process is the beginning of a succession of more or less long cycles for Dubai. The fine pearls hunted in the Persian Gulf made Dubai a world-class trade platform around 1870.

Thus, the merchant city began its first cycle and consequently initiated a dynamic that still exists today.In the project, the perpetual renewal that the city of Dubai has shown it is capable of is symbolized by the lunar cycles. The pearl will ascend, phase by phase following the lunar rhythm and its different formations.

The phases correspond to the visible portion of the moon, which based on its orientation, is illuminated by the sun. All of these stages form a cycle of constant renewal similar to the functioning of the city of Dubai. The Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar on which the beginning of the month is set by the new moon. This is also the moment at which the sphere will be at its highest point.

Essentially these two elements lead us to base the Pearl’s vertical movements on the lunar cycle. Concretely, this requires the installation of a mechanical system that functions based on the Persian Gulf’s tidal range (difference in water level between highest tide and lowest tide). This is linked to the moon’s eight distinct phases: two, the full moon and the new moon cause high tides. Therefore, during these phases the pearl will be at its highest, i.e. 140 meters from the ground. Two other phases, the first and third quarters cause slack water: the pearl will be under the artificial lake’s water. The full lunar cycle – between two full moons – lasts around 29 days.

Therefore, for the span of this cycle, the visual of the project will always be different.

 

Perennity [2^nd Cycle – The gold as the element of transition – 1940]

During its ascent, the pearl will move through several transitional stages. Based on the moon’s phases, each stage will be different during a given cycle. In the 1940s, Japan developed artificial pearl cultivation methods, which caused demand for natural pearls, Dubai’s primary source of income, to plummet. Crisis could have struck, however trade in gold enabled the city to enter its second cycle. This period symbolizes to Dubai what the intermediary positions of the Pearl symbolize to the project.

The sphere, from the depths of the lake to its zenith, transits through various altitudes, all the while functioning thanks to a system of adaptable rail elevators. This is symbolic of how the gold trade allowed Dubai to maintain its world-class status as a commercial port and economic player.

Perennity of use is ensured through a continual interconnection between the Pearl and the casing (the underwater partitions of the artificial lake). Therefore, the sphere is accessible during all the lunar phases via the previously mentioned elevator system that will be further developed during research and development with ThyssenKrupp Elevator. The elevator system will be rooted in the Persian Gulf within an underwater structure incorporating the various competition elements. Visitors enter the project through the west corner on the same side as the main entrance to Za’abeel Park.

By cutting the site into parallel bands we create an interactive game of volumes that unify the project in its comprehensiveness. The entrance is at once discrete in its exterior appearance and impressive in how it’s been dealt with. The visitor is in front of a pure space completely free of any structural constraint. Moving sidewalks lead to a contemporary “hall of mirrors” located 10 meters below ground. From this space with a spectacular underwater view of the artificial lake, visitors can reach the library, auditorium and continue to make their way down to the elevator departure hall. This windowed hall, looking out onto the lake’s waters and situated at around 40 m below ground, is constantly connected to the Pearl through a group of elevators in which visitors will feel as if they are soaring above Dubai.

The Pearl’s constantly changing position and continual access mean that the project’s perennity is maintained through the ever-changing sensations the visitor experiences each time he or she visits this future symbol of the Emirate of Dubai.

 

Environment  [3rd Cycle – The fossil fuels – 1969]

Dubai’s oil reserves were discovered in 1966, but it was not until 1969 that exporting began. This is when the city embarked on its third cycle leading to the founding of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.

Around this time, the city began to look much like it does today: a fine balance between protecting tradition and economic, urban and technological progress. This progress inspired the leaders of Dubai to look into developing renewable energies for which its environment is particularly conducive: solar and wind power. 

Our project fits into this spirit of evolution by proposing solutions that highlight the use of alternative energy. We propose a very innovative use of an already well-known energy source. Indeed, the ascent of the Pearl follows the lunar cycle. This choice has not been made for mere symbolism. In fact, the mechanized system used to raise and lower the sphere will be cued by the tide through 5 meters variation in the lake’s depth. This alters the pressure exerted on the lake’s bottom by the water. This simple mechanism is our proposal for producing “clean” energy to power the ascent of the Pearl. This is how we will achieve this. A flexible fluid filled pocket will be placed at the bottom of the lake.

Changes in the water’s weight will exert varied amounts of pressure on this “balloon” sending fluid into a system of pistons located in the structural beams that support the five pillars. When this happens the pillars and sphere are elevated. The opposite happens during low tide: weight exerted on the “balloon” is at its slightest, the fluid remains in the “balloon” and the sphere and pillars are underwater. The variation in the lake’s surface level, based on the Persian Gulf’s tide and in-flows and out-flows will be continuous for the 29 days of the lunar cycle. Thus, the project remains as dynamic as the city of Dubai has always proven to be.

Dubai’s specific climate conditions inspired us to reflect on solar protection of the different elements in the program. With an arid subtropical climate, temperatures of up to 50° Celsius and a thermal solar gain up to 8 hours a day, we’ve chosen to use the artificial lake’s waters as a “solar filter”. In fact, the Cafe is located in the sphere, however, the underground parking facility and more importantly the children’s library and the auditorium are located within the under-water walls of the project. This choice guarantees constant light at all hours, lowers solar thermal gain, minimizes air-conditioning needs and offers exceptional under-water views.

As we have seen, reducing solar gain in the various spaces in the interior of the building is of particular importance in the city of Dubai. That’s why, the Pearl’s façade, which will be more often than not above water, has a special coating. Indeed, in order to maintain the Pearl’s smooth and shiny look, we’ve decided to use a double skin system in glass, based on similar systems as used in skyscrapers. This partition can be broken down into three different elements. Two glass façades, one on the interior the other on the exterior, the exact nature of which remains to be determined through further study during the development of the project, will protect a filter system for solar rays based on the Mashrabiya. The filter system, or third element, will be composed of assembled flexible water filled tubes. As the temperature rises and the water in the tube warms it expands thus naturally blocking the solar rays from entering the Cafe. When the temperature lowers, the water and tubes contract, naturally allowing more light and heat to enter.

Moreover, the water in the tubes is also used for warm water for sanitation purposes or to heat the interior of the building on cooler days. The light and heat that enters the interior of the structure is therefore controlled naturally, thus generating major savings in terms of operating costs and guaranteeing comfort for all visitors at all times.

 

Culture  [4^th Cycle – Culture and Tourism  – 2000]

Dubai has once again found a way to respond to today's global context: it has started a new transition phase to free its economy from fossil energy sources. Concretely, this means that Dubai has decided to develop its tourism industry, which is both traditional and innovative in order for the rest of the world to discover the city.

This project seeks to support the endeavour of the host city for the current edition of the Thyssen Krup Elevator competition to open up to the world of culture and ambition.

The Charia, the set of rules that Muslims abide by, is part of the everyday life of the Emirate of Dubai's inhabitants. This cultural, civil and legal commitment to Islam is symbolized in the project by the five pillars that allow the sphere to ascend, according to the moon's cycle. The five pillars refer to the five pillars of Islam which are: profession of faith, ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca. These five duties represent the foundation of Islam, Dubai's way of life, just like the five pillars of the project allow the Pearl to rise. The pillars are placed parallel to the shore and to Sheikh Zayed Road. The marine siliceous sponge Euplectella inspired the structure and graphic design of the pillars. The skeleton of this sponge is made up of very fine triaxons (spicules with three axes) which form an intricate latticework and which is very resistant whatever the external strains. This is why the morpholgy of the pillars is based on this structure, which will be built with an ultra high performance fibre concrete. This new generation of concrete offers unique mechanical resistance whatever the solicitation: traction, pressure or bending; aesthetic and structural (water-proofing, ability to withstand salt abrasion, etc.); longevity and lightness.

The facade of the Pearl, as explained previously, controls the provision of solar heat as well as the amount of light flowing in. However it also has another role: the outer layer of this perfect sphere which represents the city of Dubai refers to a major cultural and architectural element of Arab culture, the Mashrabiya. The Mashrabiya has two purposes: seeing without being seen and providing shade. The Arabic word is derived from the root š.r.b. which means to drink. The origin of the word comes from the fact that people used to drink in the Mashrabiya, sheltered from the sun, where porous water jugs (michraba) were stored to cool the water through evaporation.

Reference to the Mashrabiya can be seen through the technical principle described previously whereby the small wooden elements making up the traditional Mashrabiya are replaced by a network of pipes which control the amount of light flowing in according to the outdoor temperature.

The city of Dubai hosts a great number of skyscrapers of which some are about to become the highest in the world – the most telling example being the "Burj Dubaï" with its 800 meters or more. The site of the project is located near an air traffic lane thus limiting the structure's height to 170 meters. We therefore decided to rise to a different technical challenge in which height would not be the main element. In the framework of the competition organized by one of the major companies of elevating devices design, Thyssen Krupp Elevator, we decided to reflect on vertical movement.

This appoach is innovative by its form, its role and the techniques needed for such a project not only in the city of Dubai but worldwide. The project both complies with the Thyssen Krupp Elevator Dubaï 08 competition organizers' will to see a new kind of structure appear and with the city's desire to turn to tourism as one of the bedrocks of its current growth cycle. This double endeavour corresponds to the project's expectation which is to depict Dubai as a city capable of constantly surprising the rest of the world. The Pearl, in its highest position, will reach 140 meters: the view over Za'abeel Park and the city of Dubai will be breathtaking.

The urban integration of the project is based on two elements which are very present in the urban landscape. The project is to be built parallel to the shore and to Sheikh Zayed Road, the element which structures the city's development. The city's symbolic skyscrapers, which represent the Dubai of tomorrow, are being built along this road. For the sake of clarity, the project will be developed along 16-meter-wide strips parallel to these two landmarks.  We will then work on the volumetric aspect of the project to implement its different elements.

Za'abel Park will not suffer from the project's integration. Having set the limits of the site allows for better coherence which enables the visitor to better understand the whole structure. Our project has both a global and local scale, each with its own role to play. From a global standpoint, the project is an urban landmark which symbolizes Dubai – as asked by the competition's organizers. On a local scale, the project remains one of the components of Za'abeel Park: the ground of the park naturally sinks under the artificial lake out of which the pearl will emerge. Thanks to the treatment of the site's limits, there will be no rupture in the landscape. The existing structures (public toilet and maintenance shed) will be kept and used. The entrance of the project will be located in the prolongation of the park's main entrance thus guaranteeing a continuity of flow, paramount to the sustained use of the park. The current limits of the park will not be modified and only the 30-spaces employees’ only parking lot will have an independent and secure access from outside.

 

Future  [5^th Cycle – The Dubai of tomorrow]

Our project is rooted in the history of Dubai, in the representation of its own growth development but also in a projection of Dubai's future, embracing both continuity and change.

The technical challenge inherent to the design and realization of our structure, along with symbolic buildings such as the "Burj Dubaï", will illustrate Dubai's endeavour to participate in innovative and visionary architecture. Also, the use of various renewable energy sources and natural systems makes this project an example of today and tomorrow's high environmental quality building, which respects its environment. The constant movement of the project is and will continue to be a symbol of the perpetual change Dubai has been seeking since its creation 200 years ago on the banks of the Persian Gulf. The project will show the world that Dubai is able to constantly reinvent itself, by drawing inspiration from its origin and never forgetting its culture. It will manage to do so thanks to its different components, particularly its cyclical ascending movement. The vertical movement of the project will guarantee its sustainability: the visitor, incessantly amazed by the ascending motion of this perfect sphere will want to come back to see the project during all its different cycles.

This project will contribute to Dubai's identity, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis. It will be a genuine and sustainable representation of Dubai, a city which is constantly changing without shunning its culture or its traditions. "

 

 

 

 

 

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