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- Project: Bee’ah Headquarters, UAE
- Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
- Principal Architect: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher
- Area: 9,000 sq. m.
- Year of Completion: 2022
- Photography: Hufton+Crow
The Bee’ah Headquarters, Zaha Hadid’s final masterpiece completed in 2022, seamlessly blends into the Al Sajaa desert landscape near Sharjah, UAE. This 9,000-square-metre management and administrative centre stands as a testament to sustainable architecture.
Upon winning the 2013 international design competition, BEEAH commissioned Zaha Hadid and her team at Zaha Hadid Architects to design their new headquarters. The goal was to achieve net-zero emissions and set a new standard for employee convenience by integrating cutting-edge technologies and innovative office spaces.
Spanning over eight years of design and construction, the project reflects the firm’s unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility. Beyond its striking aesthetics, the headquarters meets LEED Platinum standards, setting an exemplary benchmark for future workspaces. This milestone structure allows the Beeah Group to introduce global innovation while serving as a base for expansion into new industries.
Mimicking the Dunes
The building appears to be an extension of its surroundings, drawing inspiration from the adjacent dunes. These interconnected dune volumes house various functions, including administrative zones, public spaces, and management departments. A central courtyard unites these spaces, creating an oasis that facilitates natural ventilation. The network of dunes is strategically oriented and structured in a concave form, such that it protects from the harsh weather conditions of Al Sajaa.
Design Ingenuity
Visitors are greeted by a 15-meter-high dome that floods the interior with natural light. The structure features an open office layout, smart meeting rooms, and an auditorium. The stark white interiors create a serene minimalist canvas, perfectly complementing the warm, earthy tones of the desert landscape beyond the glass fa?ade.
The overall layout is designed strategically to have natural light and ventilation throughout the building, requiring a minimum expanse of glass. Aside from the dome, the courtyard and the sculptural central staircase are the key features that bring an exceptional touch of uniqueness to the design.
The structure incorporates innovative workplace technologies to enhance the employee experience, such as contactless walkways, virtual concierge assistants, and an app to automate daily tasks. The smart building management system automatically adjusts lighting and temperature according to occupancy and time of day. Additionally, the office spaces are designed to facilitate remote and hybrid work arrangements, enabling seamless collaborations through video conferencing.
Sustainability at its Core
Contributing to sustainable architecture, the headquarters utilizes a significant amount of locally produced materials and is equipped with cutting-edge technologies to support operations at LEED Platinum standards with net-zero emissions and low energy consumption. The exterior cladding of Glass-reinforced fibre panels reduce solar gain, while slab and glass cooling regulate interior temperatures for optimal comfort. On-site wastewater filtration minimizes consumption, and a solar farm powers Tesla battery packs to meet the building’s daily energy requirements. The interiors are well-lit and take advantage of scenic views while minimizing direct sun exposure through strategic glazing placement.
Zaha Hadid Architects states, “The new headquarters is an important achievement for BEEAH Group, signalling its growth from a company founded to proactively tackle environmental issues in Sharjah, UAE, to an international group with businesses in industries that are critical to realizing a sustainable future.“
The headquarters serves as a blueprint for innovative office spaces, contributing to the development of smart and sustainable cities. Rising from the desert with a beautiful composition of form and function, the structure aims to be resource-efficient, eco-friendly, and inspire architects to think differently, incorporating modern design elements while positively impacting the environment.
Zaha Hadid Architects further emphasizes, “BEEAH Group’s headquarters stands as a pivotal milestone, encapsulating the organization’s evolution from a regionally anchored environmental crusader to a global force spanning industries intrinsic to forging a sustainable future.“
Collaborative Efforts
This project was a collaborative endeavour involving expert sustainability engineers and consultants. Project managers Matthews Southwest, construction contractor Al Futtaim Construction, MEP engineers Al Futtaim Engineering, and sustainability engineers and consultants Atelier Ten and Buro Happold worked together to bring the building to life. It also features clever smart building technologies from Microsoft, Johnson Controls, and BEEAH’s own digital venture, EVOTEQ.
Sources
- https://www.archdaily.com/979479/beeha-headquarters-zaha-hadid-architects/6245a1513e4b311eaa000012-beeha-headquarters-zaha-hadid-architects-elevations?next_project=no
- https://parametric-architecture.com/beeah-headquarters-a-futuristic-workspace-completed-by-zaha-hadid-architects/
- https://www.architectureplusdesign.in/architecture/designed-by-zaha-hadid-architects-the-beeah-headquarters-in-sharjah-uae-draws-inspiration-from-the-deserts-dunes/
- https://www.dezeen.com/2022/04/01/beeah-headquarters-zaha-hadid-architects/
- https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/beeah-headquarters-sharjah-uae/
- https://bluprint-onemega.com/beeah-headquarters-a-dune-shaped-sustainable-masterpiece-by-zaha-hadid-architects/