The Symbiotic Towers: A New Paradigm in Sustainable Architecture

Revolutionizing Mixed-Use Development with Environmental Integration

The Symbiotic Towers draw inspiration from the formation of a desert oasis and a voronoi pattern found in natural systems. The design aims to create a symbiosis between the architecture and Dubai's natural environment. This is achieved by minimizing sun exposure and providing a comfortable shaded environment inside, reducing reliance on air-conditioning systems.

The development consists of three towers connected at the ground level by a double-deck pedestrian shopping plaza. The lower deck serves as a lush green oasis, packed with trees and water to provide gathering zones during the hot summer season. The towers' geometry and skins were developed in response to Dubai's climatic conditions. Radiation data from the hottest seasons were mapped into the geometry and used to shape the form and orientation of each tower.

The design was realized using parametric design techniques to develop the form and the best orientation to minimize sun exposure. This data was then remapped to generate parametric gradient balconies depth and skin openings. As a result, apartments exposed to high radiation have deeper balconies and smaller skin openings, while those exposed to less radiation have shallower balconies and larger skin openings.

The towers vary in height between 47-58 stories, with floor plates area varying between 1,800 - 2,450 sqm. The plot dimension is 293m x 574m with a total area of 168,182 sqm. The project consists of a residential tower, a hotel, and an office building, all connected by a double-deck shopping plaza.

Intensive research was conducted to collect environmental data related to temperature and wind direction in Dubai. This data was used to create a micro-climatic condition in the plazas and to derive the towers' forms with varied balconies depths and skin openings. The challenge was to use this data to generate sustainable architectural and urban solutions, integrating these contextual environmental data into a synthesis of forms, skins, and public spaces tailored to Dubai's environment.

The Symbiotic Towers project has been recognized for its innovative approach to sustainable architecture, winning the Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.