Archive for January, 2016

Sandoval Gardens

Posted by dConsult55

Sandoval Gardens is a self-contained, mid-market residential development of 165 apartments and 26 townhouses, situated in the southern zone of Jumeirah Village Circle near Al Khail Road.

Diar Consult designed Sandoval Gardens in 2006, providing lead consultant services to private developer Bavaria Gulf LLC. Two rows of three-storey townhouses provide lively street façades on each side of a five-storey apartment building containing 64 studios, 76 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments, and 10 two-bedroom duplex units. An exclusive and secure central courtyard helps to regulate the influences of a harsh desert climate and provides a point of cultural and social interest, incorporating a fitness centre, a swimming pool, recreation grounds, a children’s playground and games room.

The design aims to break the monotony of typical apartment buildings, which can appear institutional. The geometry breaks down the scale of the development to a sensitive human level and the irregular-shaped courtyard allows for random changes in direction, and provides landscaped terraces and recreation areas that encourage interaction and foster the sense of community for the residents.

In contrast, the approach to modulation of the facades is very disciplined, relying on the use of simple cost effective finishes such as laminated wood wall cladding panels which give a sense of rhythm to the facade.

The contemporary architectural style has proven to be very popular and contributed to the project’s recognition by Ellis Don, a project management company, as one of the top 10 designs in Jumeirah Village.

Dream City

Posted by dConsult55

Dream City is the largest project ever undertaken by Diar Consult. It is a pioneering township for 60,000 inhabitants, planned over 1 million m² in the city of Pune, India. It is a unique destination, that will provide an integrated community for all age groups to live, work, learn and play in a safe, dynamic, sustainable and landscape-rich environment.

Diar Consult was appointed in February 2013 by a well-established developer, namely D.S. Kulkarni Developers Ltd., to undertake concept and detailed master planning, urban design and landscape design, as well as the full architectural design and interior design of the buildings.

Dream City comprises four distinct elements: education/knowledge village, sports village, residential neighbourhoods and a cultural village all interconnected by an efficient transportation system that includes trams, cycle paths, water taxis and battery-powered shuttle buses.

Publicly accessible parks, theme parks, linear gardens and botanical gardens provide breathing spaces within the communities. These open spaces are complemented by a series of canals and lagoons, which provide opportunities for boating and water sports, ultimately leading to the dancing fountain lagoon in the cultural and social heart of Dream City. Here the fountains will provide entertainment for the public who will frequent the shopping centre, hotels, museum, sports centre, offices, artists’ park and the bay view bridge overlooking the lagoon.

The mandatory green spaces of the township will be offered as sports fields for cricket, hockey and football. Aimed ultimately at preparing future Olympians, the sports village will foster 38 sporting activities for the residents of Pune and beyond.

Construction work related to roads, landscape and sports grounds started in May 2014 and on the first residential parcel, the Waterfall Residences in Feb. 2015. As a precursor of future communities in Dream City this parcel is setting trends. For the Indian subcontinent it is set to establish a new benchmark standard in terms of the quality of both the architectural product and the cultural and socio-economic sense of balance and harmony in the community.

Project team

Saraya Tower

Posted by Rachel Galloway

In 2008, Diar Consult was invited by a private investor based in Abu Dhabi to prepare a concept design proposal for a plot in the Saraya master planned development area of Sorouh, along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The result is a 26-storey office tower with a multi-storey car park incorporated in the podium. The top floor of the podium is dedicated to a fitness centre, cafe, business centre and management offices, fostering a community feel for the offices.

The tower massing is characterised by a vertically curved facade with a high degree of transparency to capture the sea views. The plan form that results from the curve varies from one floor to the other, allowing a range of incrementally sized floor spaces to be offered for rent.

Waterfall Residences

Posted by dConsult55

Waterfall Residences is the first neighbourhood in Dream City to break ground, and comprises eight residential towers varying in height from G+P+17 to G+P+25 storeys, offering a total of 1044 apartments in a mix of one, two and three bedrooms, with penthouses in the most prime locations.

Master planning, architecture, interior design and landscape design was carried out by the Diar Consult as well as post contract administration service.

The towers are designed in a contemporary style, with house community amenities and support services at ground floor level as well as activity centres for senior citizens. Two separate clubs are provided for children within this community, one for those aged under 12 and the other for teenagers. Hence all age groups are catered for within the territory of the neighbourhood.

The 2.6km of canals in Dream City terminate at Waterfall Residences ensuring connectivity for residents throughout the township.

Efficiency, spatial economy and the use of modern methods of construction contribute to ensuring the affordability of the accommodation. As a precursor of future communities in Dream City this project is setting trends. For the Indian subcontinent it is set to establish a new benchmark standard in terms of the quality of both the architectural product and the cultural and socio-economic sense of balance and harmony in the community.

Al Salam City

Posted by dConsult55

Al Salam City is a new township created in the inland desert environment of the emirate of Umm Al Quwain.

Diar Consult was retained by Tameer in association with Surbana, acting as global master planners, to prepare the detailed physical master planning, provide urban design concepts and architectural studies for the various districts and residential precincts. The master plan’s residential component comprises detached and semi-detached villas, townhouses and clusters of apartment buildings which were intended to be the start-up parcels undertaken by the developer to ignite and initiate the first sales campaigns of Al Salam City. They provide economic sustainability and viability for the project in a market and location that was distinctly deprived of good quality residential offerings.

Hence the designs evolved with total cost awareness, focusing on economies of scale and variations on the same theme approach, to generate variety and interest from investors. The clusters were planned with a fair degree of standardization throughout the pedestrian spine, interrupted by community parks and community hubs repeated in a variety of configurations between the clusters. The variety of the six, seven and 16 storey building clusters establishes the scale and dynamics of the neighbourhoods, such that they can become self-contained communities at the initial stages of the city development, but capable of expanding to embrace further components of the city as it develops over a planned 15-year development programme.

Meydan

Posted by dConsult55

In January 2008 Diar Consult was approached by a UAE real estate developer to prepare concept design for a mixed use development on a plot in the Meydan master planned community of Dubai. The development comprised a 35 storey tower, primarily for residential use, but also incorporating some retail and office spaces. The design was led by Tange Associates Japan, who presented two contemporary design concepts. Both options are reliant on technologically advanced and intricately designed facade solutions.

The first option is a geometrically articulated tower with a series of stepped sky gardens created through a shifting of the floor plates. These elevated terraces and gardens are cut out of the facade planes, alternating on all four facades of the tower.

Nebula Waterfront

Posted by dConsult55

Diar Consult was approached by a UAE real estate developer in February 2008 to prepare a concept design proposal for the Nebula Development, located on an amalgamation of five plots within Nakheel’s Madinat Al Arab development along the Waterfront in Jebel Ali, in one of the prime locations where a manmade canal meets the sea.

The project comprised five elements: a 38-storey commercial office tower, a 47-storey residential tower that cascades down to a 23-storey residential tower, a 17-storey building of serviced apartments and a seven-storey five-star hotel. Magnificent views of both the Arabian Gulf and the manmade canal are maximized.

Diar Consult had already established a strategic alliance with Tange Associates of Japan, so that they could partner on significant projects in the UAE and the Middle East. Due to the size and scale of this project, it presented an ideal opportunity to use the arrangement. Tange Associates led the concept design, and Diar Consult acted as associate architects. The design aimed to create a unique destination and vibrant environment with a sense of identity and unity, giving the residents, workers and visitors a sense of belonging. Sustainability and respect for nature were major drivers of the design, using natural energy sources of wind, water, sunlight and greenery to create a human architecture.

The concept design was completed in May 2008 when the developer had intended to launch the project on the real estate market. However the project was not developed further due to the worldwide financial downturn.

Sama Tower

Posted by dConsult55

This design won first prize in an international design competition in 2004, in which Diar Consult made a joint submission with architects SOM from Chicago, USA. The design called for a 77-storey, mixed-use tower that was predominantly residential, on a prime site on Sheikh Zayed Road in the centre of Dubai.

The concept design, led by SOM, has a triangulated footprint that dynamically changes from concave to convex along the facade on each side of the triangle. Dramatic elevated sky gardens are created through which the residential units and the gardens become vertical neighbourhoods, efficiently linked together by a vertical transportation system. The form and geometry reflects fluidity, and the dynamic form emulates the free shapes of a sand dune. The triangulated form captures stunning views of city skylines and the sea. The design did not progress beyond concept stage because of the client’s changing development strategy.

Palm Jebel Ali, Plots E24-29

Posted by dConsult55

This project comprises residential and retail components on six plots in Zone E (plots E-24 to E-29) of Palm Jebel Ali’s eastern crescent.

Diar Consult was appointed by Nakheel in June 2008 to prepare feasibility concept proposals for this mixed-use project. Due to the project size, Diar Consult partnered with Tange Associates Japan which led the pre-concept feasibility proposals, while Diar Consult acted as associate architects. With its wave-like curved podium, the design aims to create a resort image and feel. The staggered layers of the buildings create a dramatic appearance. The promenade front of the podium integrates duplex townhouses, situated above the retail floor.

While the proposals were completed in August 2008, the Palm Jebel Ali project was put on hold owing to the global financial downturn.

Tameer Towers

Posted by dConsult55

Tameer Towers is a mixed-use development for Tameer Holding Investment, a major private property developer in the UAE and Gulf region. Located on the prestigious Reem Island Abu Dhabi, this project is one of the main anchor landmark developments and comprises a commercial tower and four residential towers ranging from 42 to 62 storeys and resting on a podium of stepped garden townhouses. Additionally, there is a five-star hotel component flanking the development to the southwest, and a vibrant canal promenade.

Appointed in 2007 by Gensler UK, the internationally renowned lead design architects, Diar Consult was the architect of record responsible for design review and code compliance (all disciplines) as well as all permitting and local authority licensing for this iconic project.

Construction started on the first phase of the residential component in 2010, but is currently on hold.

Mainland Development

Posted by dConsult55

In May 2002, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Co. approached Diar Consult with a view to master planning a new waterfront development along the Mussafah canal. Diar Consult then collaborated with HHCP USA, which took the initial lead in the development of the concept master plan. Diar Consult prepared the detailed master plan and concept design of the individual components of the project. This was one of the earliest projects assigned through international partnering by Abu Dhabi National Hotels Co.

The master plan comprises a private residential community of 170 units (townhouses and villas), creating secure defined neighbourhoods structured around a cul-de-sac system. All the residents enjoy access to the connected linear parks and recreation areas of the development directly from their lots. A manmade internal water creek was introduced into the development to demarcate clearly the territory of the residential zone, separating it from the commercial and public zones; and to create a dramatic and organic integration of land and water bodies. The separately accessible public domain includes retail, a hypermarket and cineplex, a four-star hotel and boutique offices as well as a country club for the residents and the general public.

The project was cancelled in July 2005 due to a complex legal issue related to land ownership. However, it provided a recognised benchmark and standards for this client to build on for their subsequent projects.