Doc. No. 999586.06.2013en
Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi / UAE
Sun. Light. WAREMA.
Construction project
Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi / UAE
Contractor
Oger Abu Dhabi / UAE
Developer
Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure
Abu Dhabi / UAE
Architects
Goettsch Partners Inc., Chicago / USA
Completion
December 2011
jut out from its broadsides and occupy
Sustainable design
supplied to the buildings by the sun. As
areas, WAREMA custom-manufactured
almost the entire facade. Each of the
Abu Dhabi has a sub-tropical climate:
soon as the natural light is no longer suf-
motorised external venetian blinds to fit
alcoves slopes downwards and at one
the summers are hot, the winters remain
ficient, the sensors ensure that the right
the dimensions of the windows. In ad-
of its top corners. On the underside, a
warm, and there is no autumn or spring.
level of artificial light is switched on.
dition, OK.O.04 roller blinds discreetly
On one of Abu Dhabi’s islands, the new Central Business District is
barely perceptible glass construction
Light intensity is also high. In order to
emerging in the form of Sowwah Square with its landmark exchange
incorporates the ground plan lines and
obtain the sought-after LEED Gold cer-
Effective sun shading system and
on all sides provide the option of
building and highrise office towers.
encloses a light lobby area.
tification despite these external condi-
enclosing black-out blind
shading the offices individually. The
tions, the designers had to make effec-
The towers are designed purely as of-
selected anthracite-coloured screen
Light and shading in the East
A new district of Abu Dhabi is emerging
Partners Inc. beat off international com-
The bridge-like new stock exchange
tive arrangements: 2,500 square metres
fice space with additional lobby and
fabric with a transparency of 10 percent
on Al Maryah Island, formerly known as
petition to win the project.
building forms the centre of the complex:
of photovoltaic elements were inte-
utilities areas. Within the double skin
allows a glare-free view outside. In the
a trapezoid-shaped, fully-glazed cross-
grated into the roof of the stock
facade, the narrow sides are pro-
sloped areas on the underside of the
Sowwah Island. The master plan of this
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integrated into the facade construction
114 hectare natural island, situated at the
Sowwah Square is situated at the tip of
bar – raised to a height of 27 metres by
exchange building, elements which
vided with sensor-controlled, perforated
alcoves, ceiling roller blinds are used
midpoint between Abu Dhabi’s existing
a bay and is surrounded by four glass
four stone pier constructions. The piers,
benefit from the abundant supply of
WAREMA E 100 AF external venetian
and in many areas incorporate special
downtown and new residential districts,
high-rise office buildings. Their corners
which house the utilities, tower from a
solar energy. On the narrow sides of
blinds with aluminium flat slats and
shapes – also subject to the dimensions
includes plans for mixed-use: residen-
are positioned to open up the vista to-
circular water basin with a diameter of
the towers, double skin facades provide
cable guidance for shading – sub-
of the window.
tial, retail, leisure, hotel and commercial
wards the sea and close off the rest
49 metres. The fact that the crossbar is
the buildings with natural ventilation.
ject to the changing levels of light and
developments. Sowwah Square, the
of the island. This effect is enhanced
also glazed underneath creates a glim-
The condensation from the cooling
heat supplied to building. The external
The stock exchange building has
hub of the district, comprises four office
by the fact that the two 36-storey rear
mering mirror effect that evokes a des-
ceilings is collected and stored in a water
venetian blinds reflect a large amount
special requirements in terms of sun
towers, a landmark exchange building,
towers are six storeys higher than the
ert oasis and blurs the boundaries be-
basin underneath the stock exchange.
of the sunlight to the outside. This
shading systems, as the rooms should
a luxury hotel and a 33,000 sqm retail
towers located at the sides. In all other
tween the inside and outside. This effect
A key aspect is the control of light and
enables them to guarantee pleasant
also be able to be blacked out as well
precinct that connects the entire mixed-
respects, the four towers are identical.
was deliberately chosen by Goettsch
shading: with the aid of light sensors,
climatic conditions and optimal indoor
as shaded. For this reason, almost all
use development to the waterfront. The
Their main element is a narrow, tower-
Partners Inc. and is continued in the
the shading elements are brought into
illumination even in extreme outside
of the rooms are fitted with two large
American architecture firm Goettsch
ing building block. Large glass alcoves
highly-transparent lobby envelopes.
action when excessive light and heat is
temperatures. For the sloped facade
WAREMA roller blinds placed one
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behind the other and with special
Sun shading system
Control systems
“A primary goal at Sowwah Square was to deliver flexible office environments
awning fabrics: one is used as glare
4,700 E 100 AF external vene-
LonWorks® control with LONMSE
appropriate for the extreme desert climate of Abu Dhabi. Interior comfort and
control, the other as a black-out blind.
tian blinds with perforated slats in
6M230 in the special housing in
day-lighting is achieved through a high performance enclosure with dynamic
They are also installed in the highest
RAL 9006; approx. 10% in special
the suspended ceiling
shading. Goettsch Partners chose Sowwah Square for the location of our re-
storey in the overhead glazing. The
shapes
delicate rails that are subtly adapted
to the facade construction ensure that
Effective sun and glare control
the roller blinds are guided correctly.
Optimal indoor illumination down
The sun shading system in the stock
exchange building is controlled using
LonWorks® technology – a decentralised bus system that comprises weather sensors, actuators and operating ele-
gional branch office and appreciates the benefit of this shading technology in
Individual, manual operation via
to the lower section of the room
Enhanced comfort at the workplace
our own workplace.”
radio remote controls
Remote access via IP for main tenance purposes
Control of up to 6 sun shading
drives
Improved performance
Optimised energy costs due to a
ments, and is connected to the building
reduction in cooling require-
control system. The sun shading system
ments and artificial light sources
For more information, please visit
www.warema.com
is controlled depending on the time of
day and radiation intensity. It can also
15,400 OK.O.04 object roller blinds
be operated manually – for example,
with screen fabric; approx. 10% in
you can choose simply to shade the
special shapes
room when giving presentations. The
system is operated using touch panels
and EWFS hand-held transmitters.
Matthew Berglund,
Goettsch Partners, Inc.,
Chicago
Visual contact with the outside is
retained
No annoying reflections and
glares at the workplace
Flame resistant
Very good rolling properties
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Art.-No. 877210
WAREMA Renkhoff SE · Hans-Wilhelm-Renkhoff-Straße 2 · 97828 Marktheidenfeld
www.warema.com · [email protected]