28.04.2012 Masdar Green Building Tour

Masdar Green Building Tour21.4.2012 - 27.04.12  MoscowA group of curious green builders set off from Moscow on a week-long fact-finding mission to the United Arab Emirates, led by RuGBC’s Guy Eames. The visit was organised by the Green Development Forum, a partner of RuGBC. The visit included visiting the Region’s largest green building exhibition - World Eco Construct at the Abu Dhabi Expo centre, where the representatives were guests of the ESTIDAMA green building certification authority, the Emirates Green Building Council and partner BASF. ESTIDAMA was introduced only 2 years ago as a mandatory standard for all new buildings. Delegates discussed the impact of the programme and its operation & development.

One day was spent entirely at Masdar City - a futuristic sustainable city under construction. As guests of the MIT partner Institute the group were not only given an engineering tour but were also treated to a tour of the Institute, which researches alternative energy, desalination amongst others. Finally architects Sheppard Robson presented the new Siemens HQ for the Middle East - which is being erected on the site.

The history of Dubai, architecture and the Creek was another important theme with a trip to the old town and museum, ride along the creek was in contrast to the  high-rise, new Dubai where we spent much of our time. Interestingly old engineering features like winf towers have resurfaced as new green cooling solutions - as was demonstrated in Masdar on a large scale.

The group were presented various building modelling techniques by local sustainable architects engaged in master-planning and building design in the UAE, Qatar and Iraq. Transport was not left off the agenda - a visit on the sleek metro - the most advanced and arguably comfortable in the world (with its business class!) turned into several repeat rides. Electric driverless cars were seen in Masdar.

Being able to tour some of the world’s most impressive buildings is even more meaningful if you met the management team of the developer! Therefore we really enjoyed touring the Al  Khalifa building (world’s tallest man-made structure) as well as the nearly completed Infinity Building. Other sustainable developers met were Aldar with their famous iconic Aldar HQ headquarters. Aldar are a beacon for the industry.

The Jebel Ali hotel’s green hotel programme was well received - guests relax knowing that the hotel uses less power and grows its own food, acting as demonstration to the local community. In fact we were lucky to be able to track down enough local sustainable architects, developers, engineers, construction companies to really say we have made contact between the emerging Russian and UAE green building communities! We all look forward to building on the relationships established and return visits to Russia from the partners!