DUBAI, ARABIAN CANAL, INLAND DEVELOPMENT
PHASE 1 – LOCK ISLAND BRIDGES
We were invited by Limitless LLC to join a pool of world-wide architects selected to design bridges crossing the new 75km long Arabian Canal planned for Dubai. This is our concept design for Phase 1 - Lock Island Bridges in Dubai, which were “to address the symbolic quality of the design and respond to the Canal and urban environment,(…) the bridge is to be modern, safe, economical and beautiful”.
Our design responds to the climate of Dubai offering a shaded retreat from the hot sun, and shelter from the occasional rain. It also responds to the intense high-rise urban environment and through its form ‘stands up’ to it visually, and it has the ‘5th elevation’ to be viewed from the tall buildings nearby. It is based on the well-known and economic structural principle of a tied arch. The main outward inclined paraboloidal arches spring from points set back from the Canal. Secondary circular arches provide counterbalance for the main arches and support to the inner edges of the double skinned glass canopies.
- Bridge engineers :
- Prof Jiri Strasky + Halcrow
- Art :
- Dr Ahmend Moustafa
- Lighting :
- DPA Lighting
