World Trade Center

Notes

In the 1970s, the United Arab Emirates underwent a period of rapid development. Dubai’s first two masterplans, drawn by John R. Harris, initially proposed a city expansion in a concentric manner around its creek. The construction of the Dubai World Trade Centre, however, ushered a new phase of development well beyond the city’s initial bounds. As Dubai aspired to become an international trade hub with the construction of an airport, free zones,
and harbors, a World Trade Centre quickly became a necessity. The initial project that consisted of a low-rise complex was redesigned to become a tower of 39 levels, making it the highest in the region at the time. It was also the first of the high-rise towers which progressively sprouted along the Sheikh Zayed Road. The facades were built with precast concrete elements, which produced an elaborate honeycomb texture, offering sun protection and a human scale to the openings. Originally designed to display the grey color of exposed concrete, the facades were soon after painted white. (George Arbid)

Sources

George Arbid, Heritage of Urban and architectural modernities in the Arab world, Kuwait: Unesco World Heritage Center and Arab Center for Architecture, 2015, pp. 38-39

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