‘Dubai Frame’ to take shape by 2013 end

Visitors and residents will be able to watch Dubai’s iconic buildings and skyscrapers from atop a 150-metre-high glass bridge by the end of 2013 with the government approving the construction of a much-awaited project on Thursday. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has directed to implement the Al Berwaz Tower project ‘Dubai Landmark’ at Zabeel Park, Wam reported. The Berwaz or the Frame Tower is popularly known as the “Dubai Frame,” a window-shaped 150X105-metre structure, the concept model of which won the ThyssenKrupp Elevator International Architecture Award in 2009. Meant to add more sparkle to the new urban face of the emirate, and promote tourism and other recreational, scientific and cultural activities, the tower’s design aims to build a “vacuum” frame overlooking the developments and the current and future changes taking place in Dubai. With a total cost of Dh120 million, it is a promising tourism project and expected to attract about two million visitors and tourists, Wam quoted Director-General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah as saying. After briefing Shaikh Mohammed about the project, Lootah said the project’s work will start within four months and will be completed by the end of the next year. Also present were Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; andShaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group. The conceptual design proposal of the tower by Fernando Donis of the Netherlands was among 926 entries for the 11th ThyssenKrupp Elevator Award and had won $100,000. Established in 1988, the award is an international architecture competition which takes place every year in a chosen city. The Dubai Municipality, which hosted the award, is supervising the design, implementation and management of the project, which will be a new addition to the distinctive Dubai landmarks. As per the conceptual plan, the proposed building will have facilities to host cultural activities, exhibitions and conferences on the ground floor. Each side shaft will have lifts that will take the visitors to the top of the structure where a cafe will offer breathtaking 360-degree view of the entire city. The cross beam is designed to have a glass bridge with an observation deck. The Mexican-born architect has also designed London Gate, a large door frame for the London Olympics, based on a similar design in Dubai.