Waterfront City - Dubai, UAE
2008
New city for 1.5 million new inhabitants on the border of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Waterfront City is a square island measuring 1310 m x 1310 m at its outset surrounded by an artificial body of water created by the removal of existing ground allowing the sea water to enter. Surrounding this body of water there are four more areas which form part of the total that is considered the Waterfront City. Starting on the North side and moving clockwise these areas are Madinat Al Soor, the Boulevard, the Marina and the Resorts.
The island and the four areas surrounding it form 5 separate precincts that all have their own distinct character. The result is a city centre that is diverse in the urban conditions that it provides.
Island
The island is the defining element of the design of Waterfront City. A square piece of city surrounded by water on all sides not only stands out as an icon, it allows for a rational
and efficient design approach for what is perhaps one of the most complex design tasks conceivable.
In square meters the amount of residential program is equal to the amount of office program. This means that there are a lot more people working on the island than people living there but theoretically it also means that there are as many buildings occupied at day and at night. This guarantees that the city remains lively 24 hours a day. With this balance between office and residential program there will be a substantial amount of people both living and working on the island therefore reducing the overal need for roads and increasing the amount of pedestrian movement.
Boulevard
Around the Southern and Eastern edges of Waterfront City’s edges runs a ring road that deflects not bound for the island around it. This road is lined by high rise office and residential building overlooking the water towards the island. These high rises can be accessed from a secondary road known as the boulevard road. Driving along the boulevard road offers a dynamic view ont o three sides of the island. Between the road and the waterfront is Waterfront City’s largest public park; the Boulevard Park.
With its organic lines and landscape the Boulevard Park offers a contrast to the rest of Waterfronts City’s rational, man made design. Everywhere else in Waterfront City the edges to the water are hard quay walls but in the Boulevard the water edge is soft with the Landscape sliding into the water. The design for the Boulevard Park exploits the possibilities of this soft transition from land to water; at times there is a beach, at times there are mangroves and on several occasions a pier reaches out over the water. Along these piers are various buildings that are surrounded by water on all sides. The piers also make landings for water taxi’s making it possible to access the Boulevard by boat.
Although the Boulevard Park is public there are private plots inside of it. These plots find themselves in the unique condition of being surrounded on all sides by park and having a view towards the water and the island.
The Boulevard provides a mix of different use and density. It ranges from office, residential, and hotel towers to mid-rise culture, retail, and civic amenities to low-rise retail and restaurants. Additionally, the Boulevard contains a large plot that can be used to build stadium or a large cultural institution.
Madinat Al Soor
Madinat Al Soor is both a popular destination and a unique place to live in. Designed to provide for a traditional Arabic setting, the masterplan attempts to revitalize the valuable qualities of historical settlements without forgetting the immediate presence of one of Dubai’s most prestigious urban centres. The character of a vibrant community is as sought after as the creation of a stimulating environment. In its intricate composition of built form, deriving directly from the Arabic vernacular, privacy is embraced while public interaction is encouraged.
The name Al Soor, The Wall, originates from the development’s most prominent structure: a large inhabited wall element on the western tip of the site. The rich urban fabric of building clusters and irregular street and pedestrian path patterns integrates the wall with the other significant moments in this small town. It is onl y a short walk away from the beachfront resorts, the intrinsic town souks, the serene canal sides and the spectacular waterfront walks with the most privileged views of the two nearby iconic buildings, The Spiral and The Sphere. It is the concentration of all these particular places so close to each other that distinguishes Madinat Al Soor as one of the most attractive places to visit in this region of Dubai.
Resort
This area is located to the North West of the development, overlooking both: the gulf to the North and the island to the South. It is sought to define a resort destination within the CBD. It will provide three large plots to accommodate hotels and resorts. The architecture of this area should provide a great sense of simplicity, sustainability, and luxury.
The area will also host one of the icons: the Spiral. The Spiral will consist of offices, retail, residential areas and hotels.
Most of the open space of this area will be focused within the resorts and hotels providing intimate areas for its residents and pool side activities.
Marina
The Marina hosts a main marina within Waterfront City, giving it a very special marine character. In addition it also hosts a series of high rise, mostly residential, towers. The juxtaposition between the marina at the street level and the high-rise sense of residential towers postulates the opportunity for a unique street life; one that is enriched by the flow of visitors frequently coming to the marina, and the subtlety of the residential towers of this zone.
FACT SHEET
Status:
Development Guidelines – Design Control Regulations
Client:
Frank Konings for Nakheel Properties
Location:
Dubai
Site:
Adacent to Palm - Border Dubai and Abu Dhabi – next to new airport
Program:
Mixed Use Masterplan
CREDITS
Partners in charge:
Reinier de Graaf, Rem Koolhaas
Director Operations:
Iyad Alsaka
Project Manager:
Barend Koolhaas
Team
Phase 1:
Adam Frampton, Alexandria Algard, Andreas Kofler, Chun Yue Chiu, Francesco Moncada, Jimenez Lai, Joana Da Rocha Sa Lima, Jung Hwan Park, Kengo Skorick, Lorenzo Marasso, Luca Astorri, Marianna Rentzou, Marie Wastiau, Pieter Janssens, Ravi Kamisetti, Samir El Kordy, Santiago del Hierro, Silvia Sandor, Soren Martinussen, Stephanie Edwards
Phase 2:
Adam Frampton, Ahmed Tawakol, Alexander Giarlis, Andreas Kofler, Anne-Sophie Bernard, Anne Madsbjerg, Charles-Antoine Perreault, Christopher Parkes, Chun Yue Chiu, Francesco Moncada, Guilherme de Bivar, Hannes Gutberlet, Luis Abbud, Marianna Rentzou, Martin Hejl, Nancy Chidiac, Pieter Janssens, Ravi Kamisetti, Remy Turquin, Samir El Kordy, Silvia Sandor, Stephanie Edwards
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