ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Dubai Financial Market in United Arab Emirates by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsNovember 27th, 2011 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Zaha Hadid Architects Articulated through a series of ‘petals’, the Dubai Financial Exchange building makes a powerful architectural statement at the heart of the new waterfront business bay. Comprising a heavy sculptural solid ‘floated’ above a lighter volume of glass, the building successfully accommodates both broker ‘shop fronts’ and a central trading floor area.
The new Dubai Financial Market building forms a strong sculptural element, prominent from both the waterfront and, through its distinctive roof form, when viewed from the adjacent Signature Towers and high rise developments across the business bay. The structure is lifted above ground level – a heavier solid hovering above a lighter volume of glass. Within, a large perimeter of broker ‘shop fronts’ and a substantial single trading floor area are accommodated, by articulating a series of petals, each engaged with the site in a different way. Now as entrance area. Now as extension to the waters edge. Within, this petal form creates a strong communal central space, while also establishing more private areas for trader’s lounges as well as a women’s trading area. For the stockbroker’s offices the focus is inward towards the trading and the action. cantilevering over the waterfront, or connecting back into the retail centre. Each office has a glazed shop front on the trading floor and an overlook from its mezzanine level. On the upper level the administrative and back of house offices also feature balconies looking down into the trading area. Balconies and bridges on the first and second levels form a continuous ribbon skimming the perimeter of the space, emphasizing the large number of shops sharing the single space. Stock tickers are projected horizontally along balconies facing directly into the trading space, further emphasizing the main trading floor. To bring light into this unbroken perimeter of space a series of domed skylights draw light in from the roof. These large oculi shine over the main trading space through the course of the day, flooding it with light from the east with the first rays of morning at the opening of trading, closing the day with the sun’s last light from the west. Contact Zaha Hadid Architects
Tags: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Categories: Commercial Building, Offices, Zaha Hadid |