Project
NEBULA COMPLEX

Location
DUBAI, UAE

Type
Competition

Area / Size
126 ha

Ground unfolds and rises above Sheikh Zayed Road forming a gate between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The relatively compact massing is formed by two ascending volumes inclined toward each other in the form of a “Mastaba”.

Road network and transport hub is integrated with building infrastructure, linking the complex to the city of Dubai. The highway crosses though the building, rendering the invisible visible through a reversal of solid and void and revealing its internal structure.

Overlapping structural grids that define the shell, form an intricate steel geodesic truss. This constellation or steel members underlines the internal structure, creating a pattern that corresponds to the force distribution diagram. The tessellated pattern defined by the structural members is inextricably linked to the performance of the whole. The project builds upon these interlocking polygonal primitives and furthers the concept through a study of the spatial and experiential relationships.

Fabric formations cover the exterior and shade the exposed surfaces of the building, while promoting natural airflow. At night, light projections create a beacon and materialize the fabric, while animating the elevations with a Nebula color spectrum.