5 OF THE MOST ICONIC UAE BUILDINGS INSPIRED BY FOREIGN ARCHITECTUREEHSAN BAYAT

5 OF THE MOST ICONIC UAE BUILDINGS INSPIRED BY FOREIGN ARCHITECTURE

Consistently admired for their striking skylines, the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi feature some of the most iconic buildings in the world. The spirit of innovation is a common driving force for real estate developers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The multi-tiered Burj Khalifa skyscraper, for instance, stands 160 stories tall and represents one of the greatest feats in the history of architecture. It is currently the tallest building in the world.

Development firms in the UAE appear to have occasionally turned to landmark architecture from other countries and cultures to inspire their designs. While some of the similarities are more subtle, such as the look of the Sydney Opera House and the Dubai Creek Golf Club, other comparisons are immediately apparent. The following list presents five examples of skyscrapers and iconic buildings in the UAE, along with the buildings in other countries that share some of their design features.

O-14 AND LIGHTMOS

Developed by the architects at Reiser + Umemoto, O-14 is a 22-story commercial tower with more than 300,000 square feet of office accommodations. The structure contrasts with neighboring towers in Business Bay, Dubai, because of its unique, perforated exoskeleton façade. This design provides aesthetic appeal and also strengthens the core tower by reducing the lateral force of the wind and providing some protection from the harsh rays of the sun. O-14 opened for operation in 2011.

O-14 mirrors the concept established by Architectkidd in their Lightmos building in Bangkok, Thailand. The exterior features a similar exoskeleton-like façade that appears perforated, but with smaller openings than the tower in Dubai. The façade also filters incoming light and heat and was inspired by the owners’ desire to adapt the building to the hot, tropical climate.

CAYAN TOWER AND TURNING TORSO

Opened in 2013, the Cayan Tower, reaching more than 1,000 feet into the Dubai skyline, ranks as the tallest twisting tower in the world. Each floor rotates roughly 1.2 degrees to complete a full 90-degree turn from base to top. Interestingly, the spiral design allows the structure to deflect dust and wind with greater capacity than a traditional tower of its size.

Although shorter than the Cayan Tower, the Turning Torso made history upon completion in 2005 as the first twisting skyscraper in the world. The building graces the Malmö, Sweden, skyline and still holds the record as the tallest structure in the Scandinavian region. In 2015, the Turning Torso received a 10 Year Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat for its impact on architectural design, both locally and internationally.

Image courtesy Adrian Curt Dannemann | Flickr

DAMAC PARK TOWERS AND 30 ST. MARY AXE DAMAC Properties finished the Damac Park Towers in Dubai in 2011,

and the mixed-use development features two 49-story buildings with apartments and a business center. Triangular glass panes cover the exterior of the rounded towers, and the alternating hues of blue reflect the Arabian sky. The buildings are home to one- to three-bedroom apartments, each with a balcony providing stunning views.

Winner of the 2004 Stirling Prize, 30 St. Mary Axe in London has received comparisons ranging from a vertical zeppelin to a pickle; the latter comparison gained traction and the tower is now nicknamed “The Gherkin.” 30 St. Mary Axe arguably inspired the Damac Park Towers, and its innovative design has allowed it to become an iconic symbol of London. Image courtesy Paul

Holloway | Flickr

DUBAI CREEK GOLF CLUB AND THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Opened in 1993, the Dubai Creek Golf Club stands as the most notable project completed by Godwin Austen Johnson. The innovative design of the facility led to it being depicted as a UAE landmark on the 20 dirham note. Sail-shaped canopies cover the clubhouse, which houses a dining and reception hall, a swimming pool, and terraces for relaxing by the golf course.

Finished 20 years prior to the Dubai Creek Golf Club, the Sydney Opera House is a world-renowned feat of architectural design and a national symbol of Australia. Danish architect Jørn Utzon designed the concert hall and submitted his idea to a contest held to find the winning design. The iconic white shells give the Sydney Opera House its timeless, organic look, and the internal acoustics impress opera and concertgoers alike. Image courtesy Manja Nelius | Flickr

THE GATE TOWERS AND MARINA BAY SANDS

Three 66-floor residential towers connected at the top by a 300-meter sky bridge comprise Gate Towers, one of the top-selling real estate developments in Abu Dhabi. Inside the sky bridge are 21 ultra-luxury penthouses. The design team at US firm Arquitectonica aimed to create a skyscraper that invokes a sense of history, and the result bears a resemblance to Stonehenge and the Pantheon.

Safdie Architects oversaw the development of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, a three-tower hotel connected at the top by a sky park large enough to accommodate nearly five jumbo jets. The development includes more than 2,500 luxury hotel rooms, and it launched with an original budget of $5.7 billion USD. In addition to the hotel, Marina Bay Sands houses a casino, two theaters, an art and science museum, and a convention center.