Atlantis Hotel In Dubai...!

Water world .... the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai , one of the world's most anticipated hotels, finally opens its doors on September 24. Situated on 113 acres of the Palm Jumeirah, the hotel boasts over 1539 rooms.



Water bed ... the Neptune and Poseidon Suites are exclusive to Atlantis, with both bedroom and bath views directly into the mesmerising underwater world of the Ambassador Lagoon.



Sea view ... the Ambassador Lagoon is a window into the wonders of the ocean, and the centre-piece of Atlantis, with over 250 species of fish and sea creatures.



Fish surprise ... keeping with he water theme, the Lost Chamber is a maze of underwater halls and tunnels under the Ambassador Lagoon with over 65,000 fish.



See sea food ... Ossiano is home to a three-star Michelin chef, and offers gourmet seafood with views of the exotic marine life of the Ambassador Lagoon.



Big dipper ... Aquaventure is a 42-acre waterpark with the Zigguret Centerpiece that touts a 27.5m vertical drop.



Shark tank ... after the Ziggurat, you will emerge slowly through the lagoon at Shark Attack.



Shark proof ... you can also experience the Shark Tank from the dry, and more comfortable, viewing chamber.



Bar view ... sip cocktails in the oceanic space of Barazura and enjoy views overlooking Palm Jumeirah.



Grand view ... the Grand Lobby makes a colourful first impression.



Bath time ... the spa experience includes two hours of spa treatments, your own private time in a jetted tub and access to both indoor and outdoor relaxation areas.



Spa service ... the Royal Spa Suite offers treatments designed to individual needs, and a spa menu delivered byprivate butler service.



Grand designs ... each of the 1373 spacious guest rooms and 166 suites is designed with subtle oceanic and Arabic influences.



Cheers…

Forwarded email from Nur Ainy

A Study In Silver


From the archives: inside the library in the Institut du monde arabe in Paris, France, designed by Jean Nouvel.


The curtain wall features a photosensitive system of blinds that were designed to automatically let in different amounts of light depending on the conditions. This was an example of "smart" architecture. However, the blind system no longer works. It still looks pretty damn nice, though.

http://flickr.com/photos/

Santiago Calatrava L’Hemisfèric (Planetarium)

Valencia, SpainValencia, Spain


Photo: arcspace

L’Hemisfèric, the distinctive eye-shaped construction designed by Santiago Calatrava, was the first element to be opened to the public in the City of Arts and Sciences, in April 1998.

The building’s unique architecture comes alive as the lids of the colossal “Eye of Knowledge” opens up to reveal the fascinating setting.


Photo: arcspace

The globe of L’Hemisfèric (the Planetarium), which also houses the Omnimax theater, is roofed over by an elliptical shell structure and placed within an elliptical pod that cradles it like the pupil of an eye.

The L’Hemisfèric is set slightly below grade to avoid visual conflict with the Science Museum and Palacio de las Artes.


Photo: arcspace

The concrete socket of the eye incorporates elongated aluminium awnings that differ in length and fold upwards collectively, or as individual units, to form a brise-soleil roof that opens along the curved central axis of the eye shape. The concrete encasement has been extended upwards, and the brise-soleil narrowed and replaced by a system of slats mounted on each side of pivoting, to imitate the structure of a feather.


Photo: arcspace

The brise-soleil is moved hydraulically up the outside of the structure by telescoping cylinders.


Photo: arcspace

A set of stairs descends into the vaulted concrete lobby from an axial path that splices the City of Arts and Sciences in half. Translucent glass panels embedded in the path allow light into the underground spaces and demarcate the axis through the center of the Planetarium. The walkway also connects to the sunken gallery, formed by the prefabricated, concrete arches that support the transparent roof, which in turn houses ticket booths, a restaurant and other services.


Photo: arcspace

The IMAX theater’s spherical exterior is clad in Gaudiesque fragments of shattered tiles. The structural concrete and steel shell creates a weblike vault above the planetarium.


Drawing courtesy Santiago Calatrava
Longitudinal Section


Drawing courtesy Santiago Calatrava
Plan


Drawing courtesy Santiago Calatrava
Cross Section

Design dates: 1991-1995
Construction dates: 1996-1998


Photo: arcspace

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/calatrava/planetarium/

Songjiang hotel, Shanghai - Building Information Dec 2006 from Atkins

Atkins wins international design competition for Songjiang beauty spot hotel

Songjiang hotel
image © Atkins

Atkins has won an international competition to design a five-star resort hotel set within a beautiful water-filled quarry in the Songjiang district close to Shanghai in China. Its stunning concept designs inspired by the natural water and landscape features of the quarry captured the imagination of judges to quash competition from two other international firms.

Songjiang building
image © Atkins

The innovative design of the 400-bed resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 metre deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms. It will incorporate conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, a banqueting centre, restaurants, cafés and sports facilities. Sustainability is integral to the design ranging from using green roofing for the structures above the ground level to geothermal energy extraction.

An aquatic theme runs through the design both visually and functionally. Curved wings of the main body of the guestrooms enclose a naturally lit internal atrium, which uses the existing rock face with its waterfalls and green vegetation. This will be overlooked by guestroom balconies and contain restaurants and cafés at the base. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guestrooms facing a ten-metre deep aquarium. The lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports centre for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel.

Bristol-based Martin Jochman, who led the design team, says, "We drew our inspiration from the quarry setting itself, adopting the image of a green hill cascading down the natural rock face as a series of terraced landscaped hanging gardens. In the centre, we have created a transparent glass 'waterfall' from a central vertical circulation atrium connecting the quarry base with the ground level. This replicates the natural waterfalls on the existing quarry face."
The Songjiang district is a natural beauty spot close to Shanghai and an increasingly popular weekend and holiday destination for Shanghai residents and other visitors. The new resort hotel will help to meet growing demand and offer an additional attraction for this unique district.

The project is Atkins' eighth design competition win in China this year. It also reinforces the company's international reputation for exceptional hotel design. The design was the result of collaboration between Atkins' teams in Bristol and Shanghai. It was led by Martin Jochman in Bristol and involved Paul Rice, Hu Yali, Ding Fang, Zhang Jian and Vivian Chen from Shanghai.

Songjiang hotel, China: Building PR 20 Dec 2006 from Atkins, Architects

www.e-architect.co.uk

Welcome Future Top 9 Unique Structures

Top 9 unique structures should be built soon...

They are have construction technologies are advancing extremely quickly. Couple that with multi-billionaires / deep-pocketed companies trying to out do each other in the quest for the next standout design and you have a near-future filled with mile-high skyscrapers and buildings that no longer look like buildings.

Below are 9 strange and unique structures which have either been approved or are in the final stages of approval, some have already been partially constructed.

1.Aqua, USA


To be completed in 2009 in Chicago, from a distance this skyscraper, will seem quite traditional. It’ll only be when you get close and look up that you can appreciate the ripple/jelly effect created by variously sized balconies from top to bottom.

2. Chicago Spire, USA

The Phenomenal Chicago Spire, when completed in 2010, will be the world’s tallest residential building and the tallest building of any kind in the western world. Seemingly modeled on the image of a giant drill poking through the ground, the 609m structure will dominate the Chicago skyline.

3. CCTV Headquarters, China


At a modest 234m the cctv building isn’t going to stand out from a distance. However the design and shape is a crowd stopper to say the least and will be another incredible addition to Beijing ’s skyline in time for the 2008 Olympics. The shape, described as a ‘z criss-cross’ results in a very high, seemingly unsupported corner at the front. let’s hope there’s a glass floor up there.

4. Regatta Hotel, Jakarta


Taking on a nautical theme, the developers say the 10 smaller towers represent sailing boats whilst the larger building is ‘the lighthouse’. It’s the lighthouse that steals the show for me, possibly the most incredible looking structure I’ve seen for a long time. If it ends up looking anything close to these pictures I’ll be impressed.

5. Residence Antilia, India (Architects’ Website )


Construction has begun on residence antilia despite opposition from those who see it as an ‘excessive’ design in a city where more than 65% of the population live in slums. Politics aside and after you recover from the initial shock of seeing a skyscraper that resembles an Ikea CD rack, the building actually looks like it may succeed as a stunning, unique, green piece of architecture.

6. Russia Tower, Russia


Topped with an observation deck over the city of Moscow , Russia Tower will become the tallest building in Europe when completed in 2012 and twice the height of the Eiffel tower. Construction has already started on this angular beast which was designed by Foster & Partners, also responsible for the gherkin and spaceport America, currently in development.

7. Penang Blobal City Centre, Malaysia


Following months of speculation and sturdy opposition, this humungous project is in the final stages of approval and apparently construction will start very soon. Even so, due to the size of the plan it will take at least 15 years to complete. Resembling a sci-fi city, the area will be crowned by 2 x 200m towers and completely transform the small island of Penang .

8. Gazprom Headquarters, Russia (Architects’ Website )


This gigantic, 300m tall glass flame of a building will house the gazprom headquarters in St. Petersburg , dwarfing all structures in its vicinity. It will apparently change colour up to 10 times per day depending on the position of the sun. The building has already been nicknamed ‘corn on the cob’ by unhappy locals.

9. Burj Dubai, Dubai


This is the big one. When completed next year it will be the tallest man-made structure in the world and the tallest building by a long shot with a predicted height of 818m. Note: currently the tallest building on earth, excluding an antenna, is Taipei 101 in Taiwan which stands at 509m. The photo below is the building’s current state: the skyscrapers below the Burj Dubai used to look tall.

Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre by Zaha Hadid



Zaha Hadid Architects announce the design of the Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre a new cultural institution for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on behalf of the Tourism Development and Investment Company of Abu Dhabi (TDIC). Zaha Hadid unveiled the design of the new Performing Arts Centre at a press conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE today.

Hadid’s Performing Arts Centre concept, a 62 metre high building is proposing to house five theatres a music hall, concert hall, opera house, drama theatre and a flexible theatre with a combined seating capacity for 6,300. The Centre may also house an Academy of Performing Arts.

The Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre will be one of five major cultural institutions on the new 270-hectacre cultural district of Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi - developed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on behalf of the Tourism Development and Investment Company of Abu Dhabi (TDIC).

Zaha Hadid describes the design of the Performing Arts Centre as a sculptural form that emerges from a linear intersection of pedestrian paths within the cultural district, gradually developing into a growing organism that sprouts a network of successive branches.

www.yankodesign.com

COR Miami


A new hi-rise in miami’s design district takes green architecture to a new height. The residential/commercial space integrates the greenest in green: wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and solar hot water generation.

Designed by Chad Oppeheim

linearchitecture.com

What Would be the Urban Architecture in 2050?

Found a very good article on Web Urbanist listing 5 futuristic building designs for sustainable, ecological, and agriculture skyscrapers. Las Vegas is mentioned to be one of the first places where you can find the world’s first vertical 30-story farm. I’m pretty sure that we’ll see few of those in our lifetime as well.












www.dezinehq.com

Hydrogen Z.CAR with Speed Adjusted Wheelbase


The Z.CAR is a three-wheeled two-seat city car by prolific Iraki designer Zaha Hadid and it’s one of the most interesting new designs we have seen in a while, using the hinged rear suspension to facilitate a variable (speed adjusted) wheelbase so the car can be better at both country and city driving. In town, the drive-by-wire Z.CAR sits more upright to offer the driver a better view in traffic and to make parking easier - a shortened wheelbase requires less space. At higher speeds the pod lowers around 10 degrees, on the hinged rear suspension, lengthening the wheelbase for greater high speed stability, moving the car’s centre of gravity closer to the road for better handling and tilting the teardrop shape backwards for lower frontal area and improved aerodynamics. The lightweight carbon-fibre composite Z.CAR is hydrogen powered by design, but “there is a functional prototype in development with a British manufacturer, with the fruits expected to be unveiled within 7-12 months” according to inside sources. We think the Z.CAR is ready for prime-time, but not in hydrogen format – there are alternatives but let’s hope a path to market is negotiated because this vehicle promises much. The projected price of the Z.CAR is said to be approximately UKP35,000 (US$65,000). (Giz Magazine)

arabaquarius.blogspot.com

The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania


Trend Hunter has featured numerous designs by the talented Zaha Hadid. Here we present you with her latest design that won a competition to design the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania.


According to Zaha Hadid Architects, “The new centre for international art will house pieces from collections of both the New York based Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the St. Petersburg based State Hermitage Museum.”

Hadid said in a statement, “I am delighted to be working in Vilnius on the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. The city will be the European Capital of Culture in 2009 and has a long history of art patronage. With such an interest in the arts, Vilnius will continue to develop as a cultural centre where the connection between culture and public life is critical. This museum will be a place where you can experiment with the idea of galleries, spatial complexity and movement.”





arabaquarius.blogspot.com