The Emirate of Dubai is a state-city, which has very specific traits among the Arab world, but also stands out from the rest of the world.

Dubai has the role of an important synapse in regional functioning, but her ambitions also work on a more international scale. This city, which enjoys a strong strategic position in the centre of the world, is home to emblematic projects and events of a very high level.

Primarily known for commerce and air transport, this cosmopolitan city aims to continuously maintain her position as an ahead of her time city thanks to the lucidity and foresight of her leaders. Dubai already strongly beholds a place in the centre of the world, and, could gradually turn to the universe.

Within the concept of an elevated structure, this tower is seeing as both emblematic and sculptural, due to its unexpected shape. Reduced to a strict minimum at ground-level, it unfolds generously to offer its main façade to the sky and stars.

Instead of rising endlessly, vertically towards the sky, the proposed structure gently unfolds itself horizontally, allowing a clear view of other architectural events of the city.

After careful analysis of the site, the structure is set up on its culminating point, an area of convergence between existing routes.

The presented structure is just as much a sculptural emblem in Dubai’s skyline than an international visual landmark when looked at from the sky. Whilst other towers are only recognisable when looked at from the ground, DubEye is just as identifiable from the ground than from the sky.

The structure offers lots of space that can be used for many purposes, allowing an important modularity of functions throughout the time. The settings that are currently offered are those imposed by the programme but they may well be transformed for other cultural activities or expositions.

The vertical nucleus is a hallway that unfolds into a superior part that includes many functional zones (bar, kitchen, bathroom, lift structure) but also a staircase giving access to the VIP bar which offers breathtaking views. Two large terraces are also accessible: one by the sea, the other overlooking the desert.

Dub’eye

Design by Michaël Bihain & Cédric Callewaert
Project Director: Pierre-François Gérard
Design Team: Anthony Graci, Xavier Delory

BIHAIN

Office_rue Nothomb 53, 1040 Brussels Belgium
Workshop_rue Troleu 11, 4141 Louveigne, Belgium
P +32(0)472.707.202
info@bihain.com
www.bihain.com

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting, hope to see you back again soon!

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 9:12 am and is filed under Architecture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.