Dubai, Abu Dhabi's sun sensitive twin towers

Al Bahar Towers marry old and new technology in a clever and culturally appropriate way We must admit, our eye was initially drawn to these cocoon-like towers in the Persian Gulf purely because of their unusual shape. However, closer inspection reveals that they are in fact an innovative and technically far-reaching feat of sustainable engineering. The searing heat in Abu Dhabi obviously means that shade and air-conditioning are two of the key elements of any new build, with the latter obviously eating up energy. Traditionally, middle-eastern buildings would use a technique called mashribiya, where complex wooden-lattice screens reduce heat from the sun. With 25 stories to protect, Aedas architects came up with an innovative take on the traditional screening technique for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council’s HQ. The south-facing roof of each tower incorporates photo-voltaic cells, generating approximately five percent of the total required energy from renewable energy sources. A solar-responsive dynamic shading screen further decreases solar gain. In this case the ‘Mashrabiya’ acts as a secondary, moveable skin that mediates daylight and reduces glare. The system is driven by renewable energy derived from the photo-voltaic panels. Visual And Edit By Jabir SADATH Samsung Grand Prime