DUBAI // Nothing was left to chance by Norman Foster + Partners. The pavilion architect’s team photographed sand dunes in the UAE to recreate the complexities of their ripples on the pavilion walls.
These photographs were used to make a series of computer-generated moulds so that eventually visitors to the UAE pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 could relive the experience of walking in a real desert city.
The planners and architects blended storytelling and creativity with the construction to make it an authentic moment.
The giant sand walls across the 140-metre site realistically capture dune ridges, creating a winding, canyon-like path for the expo audience.
“I hope that it will inspire visitors by evoking the magnificent natural landscape that unites the Emirates and give a sense of walking around an ancient desert city,” said Gerard Evenden, senior executive partner at Foster + Partners.
“The scale of the project and curvature of the walls means that the shape of each panel has to be very precise to fit with the next.”
The cladding material for the golden drum section is similar to that used for euro coins. A steel frame supports the glass-reinforced concrete panel walls. These can be easily dismantled and reconstructed in November at the end of the world fair when the pavilion moves to its permanent home in Masdar.
“The design reflects our investigations into the form of ancient cities and our appreciation for the desert landscape,” said Norman Foster, chairman of the architecture firm.
“Our challenge has been to design for two climates.”
The high dune walls provide shade, much like the narrow streets in old villages and towns in the UAE. This makes the dramatic curving ramp and oasis areas of the pavilion cooler than the exterior sections.
The 12-metre high walls are made of 903 individual glass reinforced concrete panels.
Visitors walk up a gentle ramp towards a state-of-the-art auditorium contained within a golden drum at the heart of the site.
Irrigation aqueducts that have supported agriculture in the region are digitally introduced to the visitors as they walk along the route.
“The pavilion is unique for its representation of the desert landscape and planning traditions of the Emirates,” Mr Evenden said.
“In terms of climate and water scarcity, the UAE is experiencing today what the world will experience tomorrow. Our design highlights the challenges of sustaining life in a desert climate.”
The digital sessions explain how the country’s solutions to tackle scarce resources are based on local needs and could have a global effect since other parts of the world are tackling similar challenges.
Visitors learn about green energy technologies through interactive stories that bring the UAE’s history to life to explain how a harsh desert was transformed into a source of water, food and energy for a growing population.
“The aim is also to educate visitors about some of the exciting sustainability initiatives in the UAE. We have addressed the theme of ‘Feeding the planet’ in different ways – the journey starts by exploring the challenges and presenting possible solutions, before looking at the future,” he said.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Fixtures
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
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Fight card
- Aliu Bamidele Lasisi (Nigeria) beat Artid Vamrungauea (Thailand) POINTS
- Julaidah Abdulfatah (Saudi Arabia) beat Martin Kabrhel (Czech Rep) POINTS
- Kem Ljungquist (Denmark) beat Mourad Omar (Egypt) TKO
- Michael Lawal (UK) beat Tamas Kozma (Hungary) KO
- Zuhayr Al Qahtani (Saudi Arabia) beat Mohammed Mahmoud (UK) POINTS
- Darren Surtees (UK) beat Kane Baker (UK) KO
- Chris Eubank Jr (UK) beat JJ McDonagh (Ireland) TKO
- Callum Smith (UK) beat George Groves (UK) KO
LAST-16 EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm