rgg architects challenges vertical urban density in dubai with permeable skyscraper

rgg architects proposes its first mixed-use skyscraper in dubai, united arab emirates. located at the center of marina district’s business hub and high-rise office towers, the ‘dubai nhabitat’ tower is conceptualized with an architectural approach that permits as transparent, perceivable and pluralistic uses as possible. the proposal is settled behind other business centers and high-rise office towers, competing with their heights, lined along the shoreline. the mixed-use tower, which reaches 310 meters above ground level, directs its facade to the sheikh ziyad road on the front side of the project site, while it provides the control of the pedestrian and vehicle network with the connection to the subway station located at ground level.

rgg architects proposes its first mixed-use skyscraper in dubai

turkish based firm rgg architects‘ ‘dubai nhabitat’ opens up the urban use by arranging the rear part of the building as walkable as possible, while linking the floor with the intensive transition distribution on the main road. the proposal, designed with a special reference system that denies the fast-growing eclectic architectural language of the region, creates its own micro-climate and vital design inputs through its permeability, different material and building tectonics. while the tower is being read like a single mass from bottom to top and top to bottom, each module that can be enlarged or shrunk according to the needs that the program creates, including different vistas with different angles, the private gardens within the modules and the use of outdoor space being balanced together with the building’s intensive form.

the building creates its own micro-climate and vital design inputs through its permeability

the ‘dubai nhabitat’ mixed-use tower, reaching a total of 140,000-square-meter construction area, is comprised of 300 hotel rooms and 450 residential units. on the ground and on the first floor, the hotel and residence blocks are detached from each other with an urban slit. the tower continues with different circulation schemes on the upper floors and the overall density of the mass is diminished by enriching it with the social activity spaces and the viewing terraces in the technical intermediate floors of the general plan. the building continues up to the 12th level with three circulation schemes and then with two circulation cores after that level. the pedestrian circulation is shortened by carrying some parts of the parking lots to the upper floors in the building.

the ‘dubai nhabitat’ mixed-use tower is comprised of 300 hotel rooms and 450 residential units

rgg architects’ proposal is designed to be constructed by using an algorithmic software program and to be constructed with a composite system, including steel and concrete. in this sense, the ‘dubai nhabitat’ is planned by minimizing its carbon footprint as much as possible, as well as considering dubai’s local ecosystem and reducing the environmental impacts of the construction. all modules, which can be produced by being enlarged or shrunk by an 8 m x 8 m gridded layout, utilize daylight as much as possible and are defined by windows and partly full surfaces opening through the module to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

the ‘dubai nhabitat’ is planned by minimizing its carbon footprint as much as possible

the ‘dubai nhabitat’, which addresses to the monolithic, solid and self-sufficient design principles of existing structures, and highlights their monumental ‘form-production’ mechanism, will be the new landmark of dubai. rgg architects’ latest design will also make an important contribution to the sustainable housing development policies of the region with its utilitarian and outward-oriented architectural language. the tower is proposed as a new hybrid housing model that is independent of low-rise island development strategies and the concept of ‘isolated vertical urbanism’, which allows people the possibility of shaping and managing their natural environment by absorbing the vital elements of the housing concept.

rgg architects’ latest design will contribute to the sustainable housing development policies of the region

the ‘dubai nhabitat’ will be the new landmark of dubai

floor plans — level 0 to level 5

floor plans — level 6 to level 17

floor plans — level 0 to level 17

sections and perspective view

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edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom