Credit. phillipus.
Above: Gate Towers in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Below, Aldar HQ Building. Set on an elevated peninsula with spectacular city and sea views, this is Arabia's first circular building. Thanks to its innovative design, visual impact and functionality, the 23-storey, 110-metre-high structure has been named One of the World's Most Dazzling Corporate Offices by international building organization, Emporis. It was also awarded Best Futuristic Design at the 2008 Building Exchange Conference. Designed by MZ Architects, the innovative semi-spherical building comprises two circular convex-shaped facades linked by a narrow band of indented glazing. This iconic and fully glazed structure is entirely circular in elevation and curved in all other directions. The project was developed in line with the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. It is one of the first eco-friendly official buildings in Abu Dhabi, featuring recyclable materials including steel, concrete and glass. It also includes a district cooling plant as well as efficient lighting and water systems. The building maximizes natural light, with meeting areas and offices spread around the perimeter of each floor. A first-of-its-kind subterranean automated vacuum-waste collection system is also incorporated to reuse all the building's waste products, with the system sucking rubbish directly to a local waste transfer station for recycling and compacting. The building's efficiency is classed by LEED as 82 per cent, making it one of the most efficient designs for its floor area.
butenkow-stock.adobe.com
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