Dubai is well-known as the desert city of UAE that has managed to produce some of the most amazing architectural marvels that the world has ever seen. However, apart from producing the most exquisite of building, Dubai’s skyline would also earn a reputation for producing great ‘green’ skyscrapers that are self-sufficient. Here are ten of Dubai’s most stunning eco-friendly architectural designs ever.
1. Dubai’s Swiss Cheese 0-14 building
The 0-14 building or the more famously known ‘Swiss Cheese’ building looks exactly like what its name suggests and is located in Business Bay, Dubai. This 22-floor high office tower is surrounded in a 40 cm-thick exoskeleton made out of white concrete with 1300 holes. This building was initially planned to create a unique and aesthetic design which later went on to serve another very important purpose as the unique exoskeleton was capable of reducing the internal temperature of the building. The exoskeleton of the tower can be said to look like the typical Arabian ‘Mashrabiya’ or lattice-work that helps in cooling the inside of a home by providing shade against the glaring desert heat. However, the novel design of the exoskeleton in which the architect has provided some space between the concrete outer skin and the main tower allows a vacuum to be created that filters the cool air through the holes in the outer wall. This vacuum forces the hot air to rise and go away from the inner building – leading to a reduction in electricity bills for cooling by a whopping 30%!
2. The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is said to be one of the most environmentally-friendly towers that are being constructed in Dubai. This massive project, commenced in 2008, will rise up to 1319 feet and is supposed to be over during this year and is located in the heart of the Financial Center of Dubai. The Lighthouse will be built on a land area of 140 thousand square feet and will have 66 storeys. However, the best part about the building is its eco-friendly architecture that will help the energy costs to reduce by 65% and the water consumption will also be reduced by a massive 45%! Furthermore, the building will make the most of solar and wind energy by making it a sustainable tower that will shine in Dubai’s expansive skyline!
3. Dubai Burj al-Taqa skyscraper
The Dubai Burj al-Taqa is another skyscraper that would soon be amongst the other skyscraper decorating Dubai’s skyline. This building is essentially designed with sustainable features so that it produces all the energy that it needs through the energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines. The top of the tower will be containing a 200 ft. wind turbine and also 200 solar panels that will be placed on islands as well. The skyscraper will also be surrounded with a sun-protecting shield made out of vacuum glazed glass that will have the capacity to absorb the harsh outside temperatures, leading to lesser need of air conditioning. The main mode of cooling the building would be a convection system, and the airconditioning would be provided by using seawater. This hi-tech building is a masterpiece in showing that architecture can be green and aesthetic too!
4. Anara Tower
This 125-storey massive skyscraper conforms to LEED certification and therefore the Anara Tower is undoubtedly Dubai’s ‘green’ tower. This fine building is 700 meters high and houses offices, a luxurious hotel, shops, big spaces for conducting exhibitions and auctions and residential apartments too. The Anara Tower also has the provision for having sky gardens every 27 floors. Complete with swimming pools and breathtaking views of Dubai, this glass structure will be conforming to LEED certification by making use of renewable sources of energy, energy efficient feature and water efficiency too!
5. Rotating Wind Towers
The Rotating Wind Towers would not only be a highly exclusive and luxurious building with great architecture, but would be equally great on the environmental front as it would have the capacity to generate ten times as much energy as it would actually require, Designed by Dynamic Architecture, the skyscraper would be utilizing wind energy for meeting energy requirements. Additionally the apartments in the building would have a rotating feature which means that the resident can select the view and change the position of the flat just like a Rubik’s cube! The energy produced by the building would be enough to cater to its own needs as well as the whole neighborhoods. Construction on this ambitious project would become soon.
6. Tubular skyscraper
The Za’abeel Park Observation (ZPO) Tower. would be the newest addition to the Dubai skyline also known as the Tubular skyscraper. This eco-friendly tower would be having solar panels on its roofs apart from roof gardens. The structure would also be given a geothermal ventilation and cooling feature to make it a ‘green’ building which has been conceptualized by the architects as a net zero energy tower. Water would be recycled within the building and the tower would also be made out of recycled building materials.
7. Helix Hotel
The Helix Hotel is another magnificent piece of green architecture that would truly make the desert environs of Abu Dhabi alive with greenery. The Hotel has been designed by Leeser Architects and the structure essentially looks like a corkscrew without any breaks in between. The structure would produce its own energy by using renewable wind and solar energy. The building would be covered with unique GROW panels that are totally made out of recyclable polyethylene and would be used to harness wind and solar energy for the tower. Apart from that, the atrium would be having a waterfall using seawater that would also function to keep under control the climate and humidity factors inside the building.
8. The Diamond
This 17-storey high building would be located near the beach with unobstructed views. The building is designed in a manner that it makes the most of solar energy with the help of a roof that moves according to the intensity of sunlight, thus, keeping the interiors cool during daytime. The building will be having residential spaces along with leisure gardens, outdoor eating spaces and also an outdoor spa.
9. One Central Park
The One Central Park would be located at the edge of Dubai’s Financial Center. This 80 storey high tower would comprise of mixed usage such as office space, restaurants and shops, luxury apartments, a health club and a pool. The orientation of the building is such that it protects it from the heat of the sun along with a sun shade mechanism along the southern reaches of the building. This would lead to reduced electricity bills.
10. Technosphere
The Technosphere is a proposal by James Law Cybertecture that has a great history of radical and dynamic architectural designs. The structure is in the shape of a giant sphere and is sustainable in nature. The structure would comprise of residential space as well as office and public areas. The water within the building would be recycled and solar energy would be used to provide the necessary power. The sky gardens would also help to shield the building from the sun apart from keeping the air clean and fresh.
