10 BSBG projects that helped shape UAE architecture

Words by BSBG Media Team, Monday 19 December 2016

As the 45^th UAE National Day is now upon us, we’re also reminded that BSBG established itself just five years later, having celebrated its 40^th anniversary earlier this year. As one of the first architectural practices in operation in the newly formed UAE back in 1976, BSBG has contributed a great deal to UAE architecture as the nation has continued to emerge. Here we take a look at the 10 BSBG projects which have helped shaped the UAE architectural landscape, as well as contributing towards the establishment of certain sectors and some of the leading organisations and initiatives we see here today.

Emirates Golf Club | 1988

Perhaps the first truly iconic project BSBG designed was the Emirates Golf Club clubhouse, and the various other buildings situated across the expansive golf course. Since the original design and construction was completed back in 1988, BSBG returned in 2010 to complete an upgrade of the entire development, maintaining the traditional elements, but fusing these with contemporary features and flair. The clubhouse is instantly recognisable across the world, due in no small part to the Dubai Desert Classic, a golf tournament held each year consecutively since 1992, with TV pictures beamed to millions across the world. The tournament has been won by some of the most illustrious names in golfing history, including Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Dubai Festival City | 2004 onwards

Dubai Festival City is the largest mixed-use development in the Middle East, and BSBG has played several different roles throughout the ‘city within a city’. From zonal masterplanning, to the architecture and construction of the UAE’s first IKEA, the practice’s involvement is apparent from the start in 2004 up until the present day, as the entire masterplan edges nearer to 100% completion.

The Beach | 2014

The Beach development in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) is one of the more popular attractions in Dubai. The unique waterfront promenade was designed by internationally renowned studio Benoy, with BSBG tasked to deliver the entire project on a very tight schedule. The result is what we see now – a wonderfully vibrant and attractive meeting place filled with restaurants and retail, which attracts thousands of visitors each day and night.

Addax Tower | 2015

Situated in the City of Lights, Abu Dhabi, Addax Tower is a skyscraper located on Al Reem Island. At the time of writing, this tower is the sixth tallest in the entire emirate, and certainly takes on a commanding presence within the City of Lights. The tower is a 100% commercial offering, the only one of its kind in Abu Dhabi, and was completed by BSBG under a Design & Build contract with Brookfield Multiplex.

Masdar Headquarters | 2015

The Masdar HQ, also home to The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), is the United Arab Emirate’s first Four Pearl rated building. This sustainable building rating is awarded by Abu Dhabi sustainability programme, Estidama. The accomplishment of those working on the Masdar development to achieve this rating represents a pivotal moment for the UAE’s architecture of the future. Sustainability and green initiatives are now at the very forefront of building concerns for developers both internationally and across the UAE. The building itself is constructed primarily of locally sourced, sustainable materials, with the objective not only of minimising the carbon footprint involved in construction, but also making the most of the opportunity to conserve energy and water. This was accomplished with a number of innovative features that have been imitated in subsequent green developments in the UAE.

Dubai Production City | 2005

Dubai Production City, formerly known as IMPZ, is home to the UAE’s cutting edge media production, printing and publishing companies. BSBG led the project from concept, delivering a vibrant media hub that has attracted many of the world’s leading media outlets, helping to accomplish the vision of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This is now the regional centre for the media industry, which plays a fundamental part in the UAE’s push towards becoming one of the most creative and innovative countries in the whole world.

Emirates Training College | 1995

Before it would go on to become the world’s best airline (World Airline Awards 2016, voted for in the biggest ever customer satisfaction survey) and at this point the fifth largest, Emirates Airline needed a unique and innovative training centre to mould their new recruits; from pilots to cabin crew. It is of course these new recruits that have been central to upholding the values of the airline, something that has secured Emirates’ global position. BSBG designed and delivered the Emirates Aviation College, located near Garhoud Airport, which is still to this day one of the most recognisable buildings in Dubai. Although the project dates back to nineties, inside the building are state of the art classrooms and simulators used for the huge influx of new recruits each year (700 pilots and 5,000 cabin crew in 2016 alone).

Foremarke School | 2013

Foremarke School is a shining example of the importance placed upon the educational sector by the leadership of Dubai. The presence of Foremarke is the result of attempts to attract leading educational institutions to the UAE, so as both Emirati national and expatriate children can benefit from being given the very best opportunities from the earliest age. Foremarke is a leading English boarding school, which dates back to 1940. The Dubai school continues the strong tradition of inspiring excellence and nurturing the character of its young attendees, all set within the stunning architecture, reminiscent of the original Foremarke Hall in Derbyshire.

The Opus | Under construction

There are many reasons why The Opus is such an important, prestigious development within the world of Dubai architecture. Not only because of the free-form void which requires all sorts of engineering techniques that have rarely or never been implemented before, but because it is the first Zaha Hadid building to have been constructed in Dubai. BSBG is the Lead Consultant on this unique and awe-inspiring development, which is due for delivery in 2017. Even though the project is still on its way to completion, it is a sight to behold, and residents and tourists alike flock to the site with regularity, just to catch a glimpse of the progress for one of Dubai’s most readily anticipated buildings of all time.

ICD Brookfield Place | Under construction

ICD Brookfield Place will become a development quite unlike any other. Although construction has only recently begun, this tower represents a new breed of skyscraper in Dubai. It will become the most prominent building in the Dubai International Financial District, and, in collaboration with Foster + Partners, will become one of the BSBG portfolio’s standout projects.

With so many hugely innovative examples of modern architecture and engineering involved in the design and construction, it is hard to just pick one or two; but the crystalline façade that changes the appearance of the prismatic structure as the Sun moves across the sky would be one. Another is the fact that the 53-storey glass tower is also aiming to achieve the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating for building design and construction when it’s delivered.

Our contribution to UAE architecture

And there we have it; from creating the clubhouse for the first grass golf course in Dubai, building the first IKEA in the UAE, the first truly contemporary sustainable building and the first Zaha Hadid-designed tower, to helping Emirates Airline establish a base from where to train their exceptional staff and delivering the most popular beach development in the country, that’s just 10 of BSBG’s contributions to this fantastic nation thus far. We hope there will be many more to come…

Happy 45th National Day to the United Arab Emirates!

BSBG Media Team

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