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Like other lofty landmarks in Dubai, an under-construction development in the Middle Eastern city is grabbing hold of an engineering record: the world's longest cantilever. One Za'abeel by Irtha Dubai is a mixed-use project featuring a multi-storey horizontal deck connecting two rectilinear towers.
The tallest tower in the complex, rising 330 metres and 67 storeys, will contain office space. At 235 metres and 57 storeys, the shorter tower will house residential and hotel functions. When stood upright, the 227-metre-long elevated bridge that links the two towers would be a skyscraper of its own. Suspended 100 metres above the ground, this signature space will be home to a variety of attractions, including restaurants, lounges, a fitness centre, a banquet hall, a pool, an observation deck and a rooftop terrace.
Japanese architecture studio Nikken Sekkei was responsible for the design of the project. It also features a verdant podium rooftop that hugs a major highway. The towers climb on opposite sides of the road, with the bridge shadowing traffic below.
The bridge and cantilever are now being constructed on the podium. It will take up to four days to lift the 8,250-tonne structure into place.
The development will include a total of 37,000 square metres of office space, 263 residential units, 12,000 square metres of retail space and 497 hotel rooms. Targeting LEED Gold design, the project employs effluent water for irrigation and water-to-water heat pumps for centralized domestic hot water systems. Smart technologies will also be used to enable automation and energy optimization.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
