Dubai's next architectural opus

A surrealistic cube of 3 commercial towers with a distinctive ‘void’ at the centre, The Opus is a development that has incited a lot of interest much prior to its inception & launch. Developed by the premium real estate brand, Omniyat Properties on an island plot at Business Bay, Dubai, The Opus defies architectural conventions, radically altering existing notions of working environs & space.

It is very much a symbiotic mix of art and technology; a structure that radiates life, in addition to conjuring up an illusion of oneness & continuity.

“The Opus represents a new era for commercial development which will become the most prestigious and iconic project in Business Bay, in terms of its premier location, state of the art design and revolutionary form,” says Mehdi Amjad, CEO, Omniyat Properties. According to the complex’s creator, visionary architect Zaha Hadid, it “is a building that challenges traditional concepts of office space. Not only will it be visually stunning, it will also be a workable space, and a place that allows every occupant to experience a better quality working environment. All facets of the project have been meticulously designed to provide optimal use of the space, with materials sourced to provide durability and efficiency.”

Architecture & architect

As opposed to earlier tenets, workplaces are now viewed as extensions of workers’ psyche that are vital for boosting productivity; spaces that inspire them to research & explore. An airy, light-infused working environment is certain to nurture and foster creative flow, rather than curtailing it.  

The Opus houses office space that embraces this philosophy. The units here are an arresting combination of light, air, space & views, instilling in users & visitors alike a sense of fluidity. The complex, clearly inspired by principles of Organic Morphology and topologies, has been conceptualized as an organic entity that is both dynamic & continually evolving.

“I can’t actually explain what the Opus’ underlying philosophy is all about. But you could discern glimpses of geometry, archeology & organic morphology in its design. I believe in challenging the norms, defying the odds. Designs & ideas spring from how you see and interpret a situation,” adds Zaha Hadid, while explaining her design ethos.

Strictly speaking, The Opus is composed of 3 towers that are conjoined by The Void, which is essentially public space that serves a convergence pad for all. The Void is a distinctive facet of The Opus and is being treated as a volume in its own right. It transcends the physical boundaries of the structure, and comes with fully engineered curved glass curtain wall systems, allowing stunning views into its core. The glass façade has reflective patterns in the form of pixilated striations to provide a degree of reflectivity and materiality, while reducing solar heat inside the building.

3 floors of The Opus are dedicated to retail, food & beverage. Hadid’s experiments with space and light extend to the building’s retail design as well, creating a unique shopping and dining experience of exquisite style and sophistication.  At night, a fully-lit Opus would resemble a giant piece of molten lava suspended on the tranquil waters of Business Bay.

In 2004, Zaha Hadid became the first female recipient of Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. She has consistently pushed the boundaries of architecture and urban design and is a genuine artist who abjures stereotypes. Her work encompasses all fields of design, ranging from urban scale through to products, interiors and furniture. Some of Hadid’s famous creations include The Peak Club in Hong Kong (1983), the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales, Vitra Fire Station, Land Formation-One, Bergisel Ski Jump, Strasbourg Tram Station and Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati.

Hadid studied architecture at the Architectural Association from 1972 and was awarded the Diploma Prize in 1977. In addition, she was made Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture and Commander of the British Empire, 2002. She is currently Professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria and is the Eero Saarinen Visiting Professor of Architectural Design for the Spring Semester 2004 at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Zaha Hadid’s artistic sensibility has apparently been moulded by her long sojourn in London and also by her Arab roots. “As an Arab, I follow the happenings in the Middle East with interest; the whole region is undergoing an extraordinary makeover. It would indeed be exciting to design more projects here, as I am deeply influenced by the local landscape, both natural and man-made.”

By: Mini Sreenarayanan

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