Burj Khalifa – a 'true icon'

Burj Khalifa – a 'true icon'

World's tallest building and Downtown Dubai take top honours at
Cityscape Awards for Real Estate in the Middle East and North Africa

Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world which forms the iconic centerpiece of Downtown Dubai, has been named the winner of the mixed use project award in the prestigious Cityscape Awards for Real Estate in the Middle East and North Africa.

The awards were made during a gala dinner at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday 18 April 2010 attended by senior executives and personalities from the international real estate industry. The awards are held in conjunction with Cityscape Abu Dhabi which runs until 21 April 2010 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and provide a valuable insight into current and future projects in the region.

Burj Khalifa is part of the two-square kilometre flagship development by Emaar called Downtown Dubai and, on completion, was named in honour of President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Burj Khalifa, Dubai's new urban masterpiece and the world's tallest man-made structure at 828 metres, is surrounded by hotels, the region's biggest shopping mall, a world of entertainment options, as well as commercial and residential developments that make up Downtown Dubai.

In their comments on Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai, the panel of international and regional judges said: “True to the notion of iconic, this development encompasses everything good in a mixed use development - a pleasant commercial working environment, a range of excellent hospitality venues, world class shopping and a beautiful residential integration.”

Chris Speller, Group Director of Cityscape, added: “Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai have given the world of real estate a new point of reference for modern living and are clear and worthy winners of this prestigious award.”

Other awards for unique projects that exemplify the remarkable real estate development made by both the private and public sectors throughout the Middle East and North Africa region went to:

Mixed Use Future - Al Nasseem, Al Ain, by Al Qudra Real Estate, a project to turn Surooj Park into a unique residential and wedding destination including a hotel, sports, and leisure and health complex.

Residential Built - Loft 1, Istanbul, Turkey by Akfen Holding. “Less is more,”said the judges. “The simplicity and clarity of loft-like, generous duplex units with double height areas always convinces.”

Residential Future - Baniyas/South Wathba Revitalisation, Abu Dhabi by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. “A most relevant initiative to revitalise, upgrade and grow Arabian neighbourhoods with an authentic and systematic typological strategy,” said the judges.

Commercial, Office, Retail Built - Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi, by Aldar Properties. “An amazing development, that not only adds to the brand the region is creating but has been finished to extremely high standards and meets the needs of visitors and guests,” the judges said.

Commercial, Office, Retail Future - Yas Island Development, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi by Aldar Properties. The judges' comment: “The uniqueness of this project on an international scale, edges out Al Raha Beach HQ. It will again build to the brand of the region.”

Sustainability - King Abdullah International Gardens, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Dr Ibrahim Aldjain. “Education for future generations about the importance of sustainability, as well as the sheer number of people it will attract to learn about this,” said the judges.

Architecture, Best Urban Design and Master Planning - Framework plan for the Eastern Harbour, Alexandria, Egypt by Emaar. “The proposed framework plan provides a well integrated and coordinated approach connecting the key elements through a bold urban gesture,” said the judges.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs were associate sponsor for the Cityscape Awards for Real Estate in the Middle East and North Africa with headline sponsors Boomerang Automated Parking and Self Storage, Gaggenau, Signature Kitchen and Jotun Paints.

Headline sponsor of Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010 is Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality. Platinum sponsors are Al Qudra Real Estate, Al Maabar and Aldar Properties. Associate sponsor is the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs.

For more details about Cityscape Abu Dhabi and links to other Cityscape events please visit www.cityscapeabudhabi.com

Photo caption: winners of the Cityscape Awards for real estate in the Middle East

Director of Architectural Heritage shines in UAE Cultural Heritage category at Cityscape Awards

Director of Architectural Heritage shines in UAE Cultural Heritage category at Cityscape Awards

Dubai Municipality Director honoured for two restoration projects
and revitalising public open spaces in historical Bastakia district

Rashad Bukhash, Director of the Architectural Heritage department at Dubai Municipality, picked up a cultural award during the Cityscape Awards for Architecture in the Emerging Markets, held at The Grand Hyatt Dubai hotel last night.

He was honoured for restoring Mohamed Sherif Sultan Al-Olama House and the House of Traditional Architecture in Dubai, and revitalising the public open spaces in the historic Bastakia district.

Suha Ozkan, one of the judges and founder of the World Architecture Community, said Rashad excelled not only for the restoration works, but the innovative use of public spaces. “Dubai was a large village in the 1950s before all the development and Bastakia now stands as a great monument to the city’s cultural heritage,” he said.

The awards received a record 300 entries this year and were judged according to quality, innovation and environmental response by a panel of five experts.

Other regional winners included Woods Bagot, which won the Commercial/Mixed Use Built category; RMJM, which collected the Special Award – Islamic Archictecture for their work on Al-Asmariya University, Zliten, in Libya; and Kuwait’s Bernard Khouri, which won the Leisure Future category for The Oberoi Resort at Al Khiran.

Two awards were given under the Tourism, Travel & Built category – Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority, for the Dubai Metro, and Turkey’s Melkan Gursel & Mural Tabanlioglu for their work on the Libertas Rixos Hotel.

“We felt it was right the Metro should gain an Award,” added Ozkan. “It is not only the hardware which is impressive, but the stations, which are designed as landmarks.”

European companies were also among the accolades, with Spanish-based Agi Architects winning Commercial/Mixed Use Future; Denmark’s BIG Architects scooping the Community Future Award; and London-based John McAslan excelling in the Community Built category for their work involving Malawi schools.

Chan Krieger Sieniewicz waved the US flag, picking up the Special Award – Master Planning category for the Bund Waterfront project.

And further afield, Australian-based Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) won the Special Award – Environment for their involvement with the MASDAR masterplan in Abu Dhabi, while Shatotto Architecture for Green Living and Lebanon’s Nabil Gholam Architecture & Planning won the Residential Built and Residential Future categories respectively.

Four young architects, all students from Sharjah, were also recognised for their potential, Momna Arshad, Reihaneh Ramezany Mahonaky, Tahereh Rajabi and Ahmed Hosny. “.

“They all showed striking creative ideas,” said Ozkan. “They experimented with new forms and spaces, and their buildings are not just shells but places where you can interact.”

Rohan Marwaha, Managing Director, Cityscape said: “In keeping with the exhibition itself, this year’s Awards had a truly international flavour and recognised the best architectural and planning practices globally.”

Photo caption: Winner of the Cityscape Awards 2009

Cityscape Awards for Architecture in the Emerging Markets 2009 winners

Residential Built: Shatotto Architecture for Green Living
Residential Future: Nabil Gholam Architecture & Planning
Commercial/Mixed Use Built: Woods Bagot
Commercial/Mixed Use Future: Agi Architects
Commercial/Mixed Use Future: Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Special Award – Islamic Architecture: RMJM
Special Award – Master Planning Category: Chan Krieger Sieniewicz
Community Built: John McAslan + Partners
Community Future: BIG Architects
Cultural Heritage: Rashad Bukhash
Leisure Future: Bernard Khouri
Tourism, Travel & Transport Built: RTA
Tourism, Travel & Transport Built: Meikan Gursel & Mural Tabanlioglu
Young Architect: Momna Arshad, Reihaneh Ramezany Mahonaky, Tahreeh Rajabi, and Ahmed Hosny

Visit Hall 3 to see the Cityscape Awards stand.

For full details of Cityscape Dubai 2009 and its events, please visit: www.cityscape.ae