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Real estate development giant Emaar Properties is used to building megaprojects. The developer of the Burj Khalifa has cemented its status as a city builder by executing some of the tallest and most ambitious skyscrapers in the world. Perhaps their most impressive and comprehensive development to date is the massive Dubai Marina district, which is an entirely manmade canal city marked with supertalls in all directions. As the waters of the Persian Gulf flow into the site, brand new prime waterfront land is created.
Boasting a cluster of supertalls collectively identified as the "tallest block in the world," Dubai Marina is currently home to six of the top ten tallest residential towers on the planet. The tallest, up until the completion of New York City's 432 Park Avenue in late 2015, was the Princess Tower. The 414-metre building set the precedent for supertall residential living when it opened in 2012 with a design by Eng. Adnan Saffarini. Borrowing elements from traditional Islamic architecture, the tower's bowed balconies and rounded crown are its most striking exterior features.
Following in the footsteps left by the Princess Tower is the under-construction Marina 106 designed by the National Engineering Bureau. With its 104 floors rising to a height of 445 metres, the super-slim building will be topped by a large circular aperture. Below this defining feature, two swimming pools and a grouping of palm trees mark the luxurious amenities reserved for residents of the exclusive sky villas.
Just 20 metres shorter is Marina 101, another tower by the National Engineering Bureau. Serviced apartments and the Middle East's first Hard Rock Hotel will be housed within an Art Deco-style building capped by a 45-metre pointed pinnacle. The tower's granite base provides heft to the streetscape, while the facade of the upper levels is expressed through two-toned aluminum and double glazing to reduce solar heat gain.
Hafeez Contractor's 23 Marina is one of the older towers in the district, having celebrated completion in 2012. The 392-metre, 88-floor building is octangular in shape, maximizing the far-reaching views. Vertical strips of white concrete converge at the top and create a dramatic pointed roofline and spire. A waterfall sculpture greets residents and visitors upon their entry to the lobby, which borders an outdoor swimming pool at ground level. Other amenities include a health club, running track, and a spa.
Also completed in 2012, with a similar lavishly adorned roof, is Elite Residences. Rising 87 storeys to an apex of 381 metres, the building contains 15 floors of dedicated sports and recreational facilities, including swimming pools, a fitness centre, a games room, a multi-function room, a children's play area, and retail space. The Eng. Adnan Saffarini-designed tower is the fourth tallest completed residential building in the world.
The Torch, at 352 metres tall, is yet another creation by the National Engineering Bureau. Housing 676 apartments and six retail units, the building concludes with a swirled sculptural top reminiscent of a flame. In a cruel twist of fate, a grill located on a balcony sparked a major fire in February 2015 that charred the building's cladding above the 50th floor. Tenants of damaged apartments were offered free lodging elsewhere until repairs could be made.
The blade-like DAMAC Heights by Aedas has assumed its 335-metre form as construction nears completion. Curving in towards the tower's seamless glazed summit, with expansive balconies providing additional architectural texture, each elevation of the building is unique. The elliptical shape of the skyscraper ensures that residents have soaring views of the neighbourhood and the nearby Palm Jumeirah development.
The impactful interplay between DAMAC Heights and its immediate neighbour, the twisting Cayan Tower, have given way to one of the most interesting vistas in the marina. The 306-metre building by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill implements a helical configuration, the construction of which took seven years to complete. The tower's innovative twisting profile provides shading for interiors while the facade's metal panels and high-performance glass diffuses natural light and minimizes glare. Since completion in 2012, it has quickly become one of the most photographed buildings in the area.
The sleek geometric glassy form of Ocean Heights has provided contrast against some of the traditional-style architecture following its 2010 opening. As the 310-metre building rises, the contorted tower's floor plates reduce in size, leading to a slanted rooftop. The building's overall silhouette and facade are similar to DAMAC Heights, which institutes a design by the same architect.
Last but certainly not least is the highly anticipated Pentominium Tower, which has been stalled since August 2011. The Aedas-designed tower, a portmanteau of 'penthouse' and 'condominium,' would be the tallest building in Dubai Marina at 516 metres. It would feature a series of cantilevered sky gardens on one elevation and a smooth curtain wall design on the opposite side. Construction crews had only completed 22 of the 122 concrete floor plates before financier Trident International Holdings fell behind on loan payments, halting the project indefinitely.
Filling in the gaps between the skyscraping supertalls that together comprise one of the world's most modern and spectacular skylines are a number of highrise residential towers, retail complexes, and vibrant public spaces. Modelled after the Concord Pacific Place development in Vancouver, Dubai Marina has become a must-see destination in a city of must-sees by incorporating an energetic mix of uses on a previously nonexistent landform. With Dubai continuing to extend the physical boundaries of the city by reclaiming land and building to unprecedented heights, the Emirate metropolis is fulfilling its adopted role as a testing ground for visionary and groundbreaking ideas.
Additional images and information about the above projects can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum threads or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
