December 28, 2013
Abu Dhabi has held a place close to my heart for many years since I had the privilege of working on two major projects in the Emirate during my time at Foster and Partners. En route to my hotel from Dubai, I stopped by the first phase of Masdar City. This project had the aspiration to be the worlds first zero carbon city.
With many technical and physical design elements contributing to low energy consumption, it is truly well on it’s way. From dense building areas, to a wind tower which creates “natural” air conditioning in the streets, it’s great to see an example of how we can build better low carbon communities.
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| Desert-Living creates a huge strain on traditional electrical supplies, even when oil is in abundance! Masdar aims to be at the forefront of low-carbon energy solutions. |
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| Model of the Development |
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| Automated Personal Rapid Transport (aka PRT) |
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| No tracks, the mini-cars charge at the docking stations, and take you to your chosen destination. |
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| Narrow streets create shade, reducing the amount of air-conditioning needed. |
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| Terracotta Screens with Arabic Patterns create a beautiful new vernacular for the city. |
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| Striking Buildings, beautiful textures and patterns are characteristic of the development. |
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| Wind Towers are an integral part of traditional Abu Dhabi houses. Here they have created a large scale version, which catches the wind and channels it through the streets, in the same way air is moved around the house. |
