Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has released design for a supertall skyscraper for Dubai, 550-meter tower will be located in the Al Sufouh area of the popular Jumeirah neighborhood of Dubai.

Dubbed Burj Jumeira, the skyscraper, developed by Dubai Holding, will be one of the tallest buildings in the world. The first phase of the tower is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

The skyscraper, drawing attention with its rippled form, is inspired by "the harmonious ripples of the UAE’s desert sand dunes and its flowing oases." The tower comprised two oval volumes and the two volumes are interconnected each other with sky bridges on the air.

The tower’s façade has been designed as dynamic skin to show digital displays that can be utilized for various occasions and celebrations, further reinforcing the tower’s role at the heart of Dubai’s community activities.

Located directly between the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel and the Sheikh Zayed Road, Burj Jumeira will become the new focal point in the Dubai skyline and in the Jumeirah neighborhood. Its upper stories will feature world-class dining, active programming, and multiple observation decks with 360 degree views of Dubai. 

SOM designed a reflecting pool at the base of the tower and it has been designed for reconfiguration into a staging structure, which will provide a premier space to host cultural events. At the periphery of the tower, a new retail destination will seamlessly flow into the surrounding neighborhood.

The base of the tower is designed in the outline of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s fingerprint, and is planned to accommodate various social, cultural and artistic events and activities. 

The base will also be home to numerous entertainment options, including water fountains, a terraced outdoor amphitheater, and is designed to host interactive lighting and fireworks displays. Surrounding the base of Burj Jumeira will be a fully integrated and vibrant retail component.

"Burj Jumeira is bold, elegant, and dynamic," said SOM Design Partner Mustafa Abadan. "It will tower over Jumeirah as the centerpiece of the neighborhood, and will feature a synthesized architectural and structural design."

"Burj Jumeira’s impressive height and unique, bifurcated shape were made possible by a collaborative design approach, led out of SOM’s New York office," said SOM.

Presented as a singular structure, the skyscraper will be a high-performance architectural and structural design since its geometry is strengthen against lateral forces. The geometry of the exterior bracing is optimized and the building’s form aerodynamically mitigates the wind loads. 

By using a panelized metal facade system that seamlessly blends into the structural system, the central void creates the space for Burj Jumeira’s panoramic views. The tower’s flowing design emulates the regional dunes and oases of the United Arab Emirates, while its spherical observation deck is evocative of the native gulf pearl.

In addition to providing architectural and structural services for Burj Jumeira, SOM is also designing the master plan for the surrounding Downtown Jumeira. 

"The tower will be the centerpiece of this new urban district: a highly walkable, mixed-use community that will include residential, commercial, and hospitality functions," added SOM.

The district will be yet another asset to Dubai’s tourism industry, while also increasing connectivity and providing additional amenities for the surrounding areas.

According to CTBUH's annual report, 13 skyscrapers were completed in the UAE and Burj Jumeira’s will be one of the added to the skyline of the desert. 

UAE is one of the top three countries completing 143 buildings over 200 meter high in 2018. China has maintained its reign once more with 88 tall buildings completed in 2018, and second place is held by the United States with 13 completions. 

All images courtesy of Dubai Holding

> via SOM/Dubai Holding