The first design illustrations of the new 550 metre Burj Jumeira were published at the end of January and its a stunner.
Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has now released new details of the project which is expected to complete its first phase in 2023.
Located directly between the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel and the Sheikh Zayed Road, SOM says that Burj Jumeira will become the new focal point in the Dubai skyline and in the Jumeirah neighbourhood.
The firm, which is providing both architectural and structural services, says that features of the tower will include upper storeys offering world-class dining, active programming, and multiple observation decks with 360 degree views of the surrounding city.
The reflecting pool at the base of the tower can be reconfigured into a staging structure for a premier space to host cultural events. A new retail destination, which SOM promises will seamlessly flow into the surrounding neighbourhood, is also being built on the periphery of the central structure.
SOMs New York office led a collaborative approach that created that Burj Jumeiras unique branching, or bifurcated shape, and the firm says the geometry of the exterior bracing is optimised to strengthen the tower against lateral forces with the buildings form aerodynamically mitigating wind loads.
The building’s panelised metal facade system is intended to seamlessly blend into the structural system, with a central void creating the space for Burj Jumeiras panoramic views. According to SOM, the towers flowing design is inspired by the regional dunes and oases of the UAE, while its spherical observation deck is evocative of the native gulf pearl.
Burj Jumeira is bold, elegant, and dynamic, said SOM Design Partner Mustafa Abadan. It will tower over Jumeirah as the centerpiece of the neighbourhood, and will feature a synthesised arcitectural and structural design.
The tower will be the centerpiece of the surrounding Downtown Jumeira with SOM designing the master plan for the district.
The firm describes it as: A highly walkable, mixed-use community that will include residential, commercial, and hospitality functions. The district will be yet another asset to Dubais tourism industry, while also increasing connectivity and providing additional amenities for the surrounding areas.
