Zaha Hadid's dunes for the desert in UAE’s eastern district

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Press release set

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Bee'ah Headquarters, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

In the middle of the Sharjah Desert in the United Arab Emirates, a futuristic building is currently being constructed according to the plans of Zaha Hadid. As inspiration, the famous architect used nothing more than sand dunes. PERI is supporting this ambitious project with an individually-designed planning solution, project-specific formwork elements as well as by providing comprehensive support through its local team of experts.

After completion, around 7,000 m² of usable space will serve as the headquarters of the award-winning Bee'ah company which has made a name for itself in the environmental and waste management sector. The complex complies with state-of-the-art technology in all aspects. The shape of the structure mimics dunes crossing each other thus provid a permanent reference to the surrounding natural environment. The dome shape of the roof offers a number of advantages: in addition to the exceptional spatial perception, the architecture impresses with its reduced energy and resource consumption. Furthermore, the entrance hall is also optimally supplied with natural daylight. Last but not least, the area of glass surface subjected to direct exposure to the desert sun is reduced. As a result, the shape of the building provides optimum protection against the shamal wind that occurs several times a year in the region.

Design brought to fruition

The dome above the entrance hall is 23 m long and 17 m wide, and plays a central role in the design concept of the project. Through the use of proven formwork and scaffolding systems, the PERI team created a very efficient solution for constructing this huge vaulted section.

As shoring for the slab formwork, the modular PERI UP Flex Scaffolding System provides a cost-effective solution. The continuous 25 cm or 50 cm system grid as well as the possibility of combining with SRU Steel Walers taken from the VARIOKIT Engineering Construction Kit, allows the load-bearing construction to be optimally adapted to different geometries and loads. In the centre of the dome, the steadily increasing height of the shoring reaches its maximum height of 15.30 m.

Futuristic-shaped

The entire dome is realized in four formwork sections. The demands placed on the architectural concrete quality are very high and the tolerance in terms of joint pattern, anchor points and screw heads remained extremely low.

PERI engineers therefore precisely adapted the formwork solution to accommodate these planning specifications: Both the positioning of the anchors as well as the formation of the formwork joints were defined in great detail. For the load-bearing substructure of the individual segments, primarily VARIO GT 24 System Components, SLS Heavy-Duty Spindles and SRU Steel Walers are used. Realization of the high-quality plywood formers and panels was achieved using a customized production process in each case and correspondingly adapted to match the arched slab dimensions. In addition, the tailor-made formwork solution takes into account all required recesses.

Thanks to the well-coordinated cooperation between the entire planning and assembly teams along with the jobsite crew, an excellent architectural concrete result has been achieved in the course of the execution of the work that fully complies with the strict architectural requirements.

Safely erected

The very latest technological and safety options have also been the focus of attention during the construction work. The PERI UP Scaffolding System has been used to create safe working platforms in various areas. The metric system grid and the possibility to change the direction of the decking allows the modular scaffold to be easily adapted to suit all local conditions and geometries. In addition, the self-locking ledger connections on the rosettes and the integrated protection to prevent the decks from lifting allow the PERI UP Flex to be mounted extremely quickly. The modular scaffolding also offers a high level of safety during use as the end-to-end guardrails, yellow toe boards and non-slip decking ensure high degree of workplace safety.

Everything from a single source

In addition to the planning and engineering services, PERI is also providing Bee'ah Headquarters with a comprehensive range of other services during the construction phase. This includes a PERI supervisor to support the jobsite team to make sure that the PERI system equipment is used efficiently and safely right from the start. Moreover, a PERI project manager has ensured the optimized coordination of the formwork and scaffolding planning as well as the management of on-time material supply. In this way, the quantity of materials can be continuously adjusted in order to match the actual construction progress. This individual on-site project management not only guarantees complete transparency and planning reliability but also increases the cost-effectiveness.

The documentary

The National Geographic television station is making a documentary about the Bee'ah Headquarters in UAE’s eastern district. A team from the station visits the site every month and keeps track of the progress made in this special project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkr1x-hUsrw