Human potential – How far will it take us? Every day, technological advancements break new grounds, solve new mysteries and broaden new horizons to an unimaginable dimension. As technology alters our life, human potential has managed to create something extraordinary. A landmark in Sharjah that makes us question the past, present and future. It is an architectural wave which sweeps across the desert whilst thriving in sustainability.
The BEEAH Headquarters, a Net-Zero project comprising futuristic structures, is possibly the greatest manufactured thing since sliced bread!
It’s not difficult to recognise the impeccable collection of architectural projects by the late Zaha Hadid, for she was renowned for her radical deconstructivist designs. Her ideology of making a difference in this world is non-negotiable. The most recent BEEAH Group Project by Zaha Hadid Architects, a nearly-30,000 square-foot brand new headquarters, is based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
View this post on Instagram
Zaha Hadid will always remain an institution for architecture and design. This article will provide deeper insights into the BEEAH headquarters, a passion project for 9 years. However, before we delve deeper, let’s take you through Zaha Hadid’s timeless legacy.
| DID YOU KNOW? Queen of the Curves Zaha Hadid influenced international architects and Hollywood filmmakers alike! The sets of Black Panther were influenced by the stunning architectural styles of Zaha Hadid. “An iconic film deserves iconic architecture”, was quoted by its filmmakers themselves. |
Table of contents
Zaha Hadid Architects: A Glorious Timeline
View this post on Instagram
Highly influenced by artist Kazimir Malevich, Zaha was charmed by suprematism, an abstract art movement in Russia during WWI, and an investigative principle to decipher her style. “I was very fascinated by abstraction and how it really could lead to abstracting plans moving away from certain dogmas about what architecture is.”
She was described as “Queen of the Curve” by the Guardian, which opened the door for international recognition.
Here’s the timeline of some of her notable creations over the years:
- Vitra Fire Station – One of her first clients was Rolf Fehlbaum, the then President-Director General of Swiss furniture company Vitra. In 1993, her radical design made of raw concrete and glass was composed of sharp diagonal forms, colliding together in the centre. She brought her idea “freeze the movement of work” to life with marvel.
View this post on Instagram
- BMW Administration Building – In 2002, Hadid got the chance to design a new administrative building for the BMW factory in Leipzig, Germany. Her building stood as an entrance that she also gave a name to – the “nerve centre” of the complex. Being the iconic Zaha, she skipped traditional designs to create a spectacular parking lot for the company.
View this post on Instagram
- Bergisel Ski Jump – Formerly constructed in 1926, the old ski jump in Innsbruck, Austria, formerly was utilised during the Winter Olympics. As per the 2003 plan, this landmark had to include a ski arena and a cafe with 150 seats, offering a 360-degree view of the breathtaking mountains. She completed the tedious project just one year before the next game. She described it as “an organic hybrid”, designed 48 metres high resting on a base of 7×7 metres.
View this post on Instagram
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza – Built in 2009, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza is among the most prominent buildings in Seoul, South Korea. The complex is 86,574 square metres long, consisting of an exhibition space, a design museum, conference rooms, and other facilities. It also includes the bureaux and a 24/7 marketplace for designers. The “Great East Gate” also features many ecological features, including double layering, solar panels and a system to recycle water.
View this post on Instagram
- London Aquatics Centre – Zaha Hadid Architects created this centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Inspired by the fluid geometry of water in movement, the structure covered three Olympic-size pools and seating for 17,500 people. At 269 million Euros, the complex cost three times the original estimate.Since it was also appreciated by Rowan Moore (The Guardian), who stated “the roof floats and undulates” and “Olympics most majestic”, all the investment proved to be worthy in the end.
View this post on Instagram
- Heydar Aliyev Centre – Created in 2012, this gigantic cultural and conference centre is nestled in Baku, Azerbaijan. Hadid described the interiorscape as “its fluid form emerges from the folds of the natural topography of the landscape and envelops the different functions of the centre.” The shape of this building was wave-like and won Zaha awards such as ‘Design of the Year’ Britain’s most prestigious award in architecture.
View this post on Instagram
- Port Authority – Throughout her career, Zaha Hadid designed only one government structure, i.e. the Port Authority Building in Antwerp, Belgium. Completed in 2016, it is a ship-like structure made of glass and steel and resembles Antwerp’s role as a major diamond market in Europe.
View this post on Instagram
| DID YOU KNOW? The Port Authority building was one of the last projects of Hadid, who passed away at the age of 65 on 31st March 2016. The square hub in front of the building was renamed “Zaha Hadidplein” in her honour. |
see also@ Fall in Love with Bridgerton’s Swooning Architecture
The Net-Zero Project: BEEAH Headquarters
BEEAH Group, a local public-private partnership company, primarily focuses on environmental conditions and waste management. The new headquarters of BEEAH in Sharjah, UAE, opened on 30th March 2022. The ideology behind the architecture was to reflect the objective of the company, creating a massive space that opened roughly after a decade of signing the project.
View this post on Instagram
The BEEAH headquarters is a milestone, a future-critical industry that demonstrates how technology can bridge the gap between sustainability and increased carbon footprints.
Exemplifying these principles, the structure’s design responds to its environment through interconnecting dunes shaped to optimise local climatic conditions.
Situated in Sharjah’s Al Sajaa desert, the BEEAH Headquarters resembles its surrounding landscapes. Through the force of prevailing winds, the concave sand dunes become convex as they intersect.
View this post on Instagram
The space provides ample daylight whilst protecting the indoors from exposure to the harsh desert sun. The glass-reinforced fibre panels reduce solar gain from entering the dune, while the glass slabs regulate interior temperatures for excellent comfort. On-site water treatment filtrates the wastewater to make it useful and minimise scrap. Moreover, the solar farms charge the Tesla batteries to meet the headquarters’ energy demands 24/7.
Adhering to the pandemic protocols, the interiors include contactless pathways, a virtual concierge and a companion app that automates day to day tasks for the workers. Indeed a futuristic way of living in the present! Depending on the space occupancy, an automated management system controls the lighting and temperature of the building.
View this post on Instagram
The structure’s two primary ‘dunes’ include the management, public and administrative buildings connected by a central courtyard. This space showcases an in-built oasis essential to its natural ventilation strategy.
The rooms are equipped with remote and hybrid workspaces to meet everyone’s needs.
A public entrance beneath the 15-metre high dome promotes natural ventilation and allows the passage for passive sunlight. The headquarters is inclusive of a courtyard, open office plan, smart conference rooms, a visitors centre and an auditorium.
see also@ How is Net-Zero Architecture Shaping The Future?
The 9,000 square metre area of the BEEAH headquarters is eco-friendly at its core, with locally produced materials used in its construction. It is also equipped with high-tech and futuristic technologies to ensure operations at the LEED Platinum standards with net-zero emissions and minimal energy utilisations.
Quit Predicting, Start Creating
Sustainable structures are the building blocks of a greener planet. It is essential to reduce carbon footprints to cultivate a future that stems from eco-friendly ideologies. The buildings created by the Zaha Hadid Architects are a prodigious testament that technology and sustainability can together help future generations. The BEEAH headquarters in Sharjah, one of the most innovative AI-integrated offices, promotes a new era of workspace.
Zaha’s designs can’t be wrapped under one architectural style since the Queen of Curves always thrived with out of the box ideas. Rooted in sustainable architecture, the BEEAH headquarters stands as a beacon of hope to make the world a better place.
