The Desert Rose // Bee'ah Headquarters
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©Zaha Hadid Architects
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©Zaha Hadid Architects
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As humankind is driven to create a better world for generations to come, it is each one’s duty to embark on this journey while honoring this vocation. BEEAH group, focused on sustainability and digitalization, fulfilled this calling when launching their new headquarters in Sharjah.
Zaha Hadid Architects designed BEEAH’s latest milestone to achieve net-zero emissions and serve as a blueprint for tomorrow’s smart, sustainable cities. As explained by the architects, “the design echoes the surrounding landscape shaped by prevailing winds into concave sand dunes that become convex when they intersect “.
The landscape concept is inspired by the sand dune formations that make up the desert fabric, which result in dynamic ground print and patterns.
The landscape of the Bee’ah headquarters is, as a matter of fact, an extension of the building outer layer, a series of dunes are imprinted, wrapped and spread throughout the landscape.
The visitor is greeted by grand reflective water features that reflect the façade and seem to connect the earth and sky. The tailored landscape consists of an organic grid of pathways that transport the visitor from the main gathering area onto an educational journey from the headquarters, and allows them to walk the landforms created through the reuse of demolition waste collected by the Bee’ah waste management facility.
The function and make-up of these dunes is numerous including the solar dunes carrying photovoltaic canopies that store solar energy and illuminate the project during the evening hours. This process will help in creating a sustainable system or cycle that will reduce the environmental damage and energy consumption. Moreover, these dunes are a symbol of modern ecological methods and a reflection of sustainable living.
Engineered Dunes which are distinguished by the presence of solar panels on them will be displayed and spread over the golden landscape, in order to capture and store energy during day to be used to illuminate the project during the night. This process will help in creating a sustainable system or cycle that will reduce the environmental damage and energy consumption. Moreover, these dunes are a symbol of modern ecological methods and a reflection of sustainable living.
Green Dunes act as a mean of stabilizing the sand dunes; native grass species are planted in order to hinder the dunes from moving against the wind. These green dunes add color and life to the golden landscape creating microclimates and will ensure a cooled and refreshed passage for pedestrians to enjoy.
Concrete dunes function as outdoor rooms/functional spaces, some of which will be punctured by light wells to allow natural light in, while others will be closed and cooled in order to allow a prolonged stay in these concrete shells where educational activities can take place and explanatory projections can be displayed for the students on the facade. Other dunes will exhibit and demonstrate different waste material and landfill layers.
The visitor will also be transported to an amphitheater area, described as a carved concrete dune which can be used for gatherings, events, and awareness campaigns held by the headquarters. The concrete dunes function as outdoor rooms/functional spaces. Other dunes found on site will demonstrate the use of different waste material and landfill mediums including metals, stone, rubber, demolition waste and other mediums collected by Bee’ah are utilized as building material.
During the journey the user is transported along the pedestrian path in both above and below ground shaded spaces and discovers oasis niches distributed across the trail. The green dunes distributed on the outskirts of the main activity area act as a means of stabilizing the sand dunes; native grass species are planted in order to hinder the dunes from moving against the wind. These green dunes add color and life to the desert landscape.
Through intervention we aim to activate the site by greening, collecting energy, reusing recycled materials, connecting spaces, and creating vibrant spaces aiming to generate awareness on the importance of sustainability.
The Bee’ah Waste Management Plant Provides recycled material for commercial re-use or sales. This is an opportunity to showcase the by-products within the landscape.
A cohesive palette of materials, textures and finishes are proposed for environmental sustainability, to reduce life-cycle costing and to reflect Bee’ah’s philosophy.
The proposal of introducing new materials into a landscape integrated with advanced methods of using recycled materials supports the educational and interpretive role of the site, turning it into an energy producer rather than a consumer.
Whenever possible, the use of regional materials, materials with recycled content, rapidly renewable materials and certified wood, is encouraged throughout the project.
Similarly, the softscape strategy promotes the biodiversity of the native plant community. Using native plants to restore the landscape can help to reverse the trend of species loss. In the long run, they will, in most cases, form self-sustaining plant communities that do not require much maintenance. Because they are adapted to a local region, they tend to resist damage, drought and common diseases. Native plant species provide the keystone element for ecosystem restoration. Apart from adding beauty to the landscape, their use will help in the stabilization of sand dunes.
The tree distribution strategy is based on the use of four major species that are native to the region. These include Acacia tortilis, Cercidium sp., Parkinsonia aculeata and Phoenix dactylifera. They will be spread in clusters along the dunes to green the space and create shade canopies along the promenade. The palm trees (Phoenix) will be mainly scattered around the oasis features. The Acacia will form around 60% of overall tree species. This choice is made as its canopy has an umbrella shape that melts well with the building and dunes forms. The tree distribution is allocated in a way that when getting in or out of the site, the trees will not obstruct the building.
The landscape language and treatment reflect the practices and principles sought after by Bee’ah headquarters aiming to transform thoughts, attitudes and behaviors resulting in positive sustainable growth. This unique landscape will be considered as a landmark for the community of Sharjah and will be used as a precedent and case study for similar future developments.
// Sharjah - U.A.E
Zaha Hadid Architects designed BEEAH’s latest milestone to achieve net-zero emissions and serve as a blueprint for tomorrow’s smart, sustainable cities. As explained by the architects, “the design echoes the surrounding landscape shaped by prevailing winds into concave sand dunes that become convex when they intersect “.
The landscape concept is inspired by the sand dune formations that make up the desert fabric, which result in dynamic ground print and patterns.
The landscape of the Bee’ah headquarters is, as a matter of fact, an extension of the building outer layer, a series of dunes are imprinted, wrapped and spread throughout the landscape.
The visitor is greeted by grand reflective water features that reflect the façade and seem to connect the earth and sky. The tailored landscape consists of an organic grid of pathways that transport the visitor from the main gathering area onto an educational journey from the headquarters, and allows them to walk the landforms created through the reuse of demolition waste collected by the Bee’ah waste management facility.
The function and make-up of these dunes is numerous including the solar dunes carrying photovoltaic canopies that store solar energy and illuminate the project during the evening hours. This process will help in creating a sustainable system or cycle that will reduce the environmental damage and energy consumption. Moreover, these dunes are a symbol of modern ecological methods and a reflection of sustainable living.
Engineered Dunes which are distinguished by the presence of solar panels on them will be displayed and spread over the golden landscape, in order to capture and store energy during day to be used to illuminate the project during the night. This process will help in creating a sustainable system or cycle that will reduce the environmental damage and energy consumption. Moreover, these dunes are a symbol of modern ecological methods and a reflection of sustainable living.
Green Dunes act as a mean of stabilizing the sand dunes; native grass species are planted in order to hinder the dunes from moving against the wind. These green dunes add color and life to the golden landscape creating microclimates and will ensure a cooled and refreshed passage for pedestrians to enjoy.
Concrete dunes function as outdoor rooms/functional spaces, some of which will be punctured by light wells to allow natural light in, while others will be closed and cooled in order to allow a prolonged stay in these concrete shells where educational activities can take place and explanatory projections can be displayed for the students on the facade. Other dunes will exhibit and demonstrate different waste material and landfill layers.
The visitor will also be transported to an amphitheater area, described as a carved concrete dune which can be used for gatherings, events, and awareness campaigns held by the headquarters. The concrete dunes function as outdoor rooms/functional spaces. Other dunes found on site will demonstrate the use of different waste material and landfill mediums including metals, stone, rubber, demolition waste and other mediums collected by Bee’ah are utilized as building material.
During the journey the user is transported along the pedestrian path in both above and below ground shaded spaces and discovers oasis niches distributed across the trail. The green dunes distributed on the outskirts of the main activity area act as a means of stabilizing the sand dunes; native grass species are planted in order to hinder the dunes from moving against the wind. These green dunes add color and life to the desert landscape.
Through intervention we aim to activate the site by greening, collecting energy, reusing recycled materials, connecting spaces, and creating vibrant spaces aiming to generate awareness on the importance of sustainability.
The Bee’ah Waste Management Plant Provides recycled material for commercial re-use or sales. This is an opportunity to showcase the by-products within the landscape.
A cohesive palette of materials, textures and finishes are proposed for environmental sustainability, to reduce life-cycle costing and to reflect Bee’ah’s philosophy.
The proposal of introducing new materials into a landscape integrated with advanced methods of using recycled materials supports the educational and interpretive role of the site, turning it into an energy producer rather than a consumer.
Whenever possible, the use of regional materials, materials with recycled content, rapidly renewable materials and certified wood, is encouraged throughout the project.
Similarly, the softscape strategy promotes the biodiversity of the native plant community. Using native plants to restore the landscape can help to reverse the trend of species loss. In the long run, they will, in most cases, form self-sustaining plant communities that do not require much maintenance. Because they are adapted to a local region, they tend to resist damage, drought and common diseases. Native plant species provide the keystone element for ecosystem restoration. Apart from adding beauty to the landscape, their use will help in the stabilization of sand dunes.
The tree distribution strategy is based on the use of four major species that are native to the region. These include Acacia tortilis, Cercidium sp., Parkinsonia aculeata and Phoenix dactylifera. They will be spread in clusters along the dunes to green the space and create shade canopies along the promenade. The palm trees (Phoenix) will be mainly scattered around the oasis features. The Acacia will form around 60% of overall tree species. This choice is made as its canopy has an umbrella shape that melts well with the building and dunes forms. The tree distribution is allocated in a way that when getting in or out of the site, the trees will not obstruct the building.
The landscape language and treatment reflect the practices and principles sought after by Bee’ah headquarters aiming to transform thoughts, attitudes and behaviors resulting in positive sustainable growth. This unique landscape will be considered as a landmark for the community of Sharjah and will be used as a precedent and case study for similar future developments.
// Sharjah - U.A.E