Al Nahda Grand residential building project is the eighteenth article on projects from practice. This project’s architectural design was completed in 2003 and construction was completed after two years. The project is a multistory residential building in one of the UAE cities. It is composed of a basement floor, a ground floor, twelve typical floors, and a gym and pool-level floor. The architectural design is from the modern style of architecture in terms of external form. I took the responsibility of architectural design and coordination with other team members to complete the architectural design phase in 2003. I managed the construction issues on site with the site supervision team till the completion of the project. This area, Al Nahda was a newly planned area by authorities and most of its plots are rectangular and narrow plots. The area land use is planned for residential use and there are no other land uses in this building plot area. Main roads have a mixed-use plot where the roads are more than 60 ft wide. The area is at the boundary of an industrial zone which is less attractive to high-income people. See Figures 1 and 2 external photos of the project from the front road and backside road.
As apparent from the two project photos, the building’s architectural design is similar and identical on both sides. The area population is moderate and low-income people making this project less revenue if compared to other areas of the city.
The basement floor is designed to fulfill the requirements for the car parking lots. Every 750 Sqft of the residential area should have one parking lot. The basement and large areas of the ground floor were designed for that requirement. The basement floor included some requirements for civil defense. The water tank reservation for firefighting is on the basement floor. See Figure 3 basement floor plan.
Most of the service functions preferred that the consultant design it on the ground floor. As a general regulation, all setbacks should not include any function or building. In this project, as the regulation permits the electrical substation and LV room were located in the setback adding to that the ramp going to the basement floor. The municipality allows residential land use to have a watchman flat or owner office for renting and management of the building and that exists on the ground floor. See Figure 4, the ground floor plan showing all the service functions.
The typical floors, 12 floors, are identical in architectural design. The typical floor is symmetrical in two directions, the x and y direction, and minor change in the area of vertical circulation. One side of the building has two sets of elevators while the other has only one. The elevator and car lift circulation calculation output gave three elevator requirements. The typical floor plan has six apartments of which two are one-bedroom apartments and the others are two-bedroom apartments. Every living room in each flat regardless of its type has a balcony for external use and view. See Figure 5 the typical floor plan of the project.
The common practice to include in the architectural design of any residential project, if allowable, a gym and a swimming pool level floor. In the gym and pool floor, there are two separate gyms for ladies and gets with all facilities. And a Jacuzzi and sauna baths. The pool deck is connected to the service rooms. See Figure 6 the gym and pool level floor plan.
The front elevation shows the entrance and services functional design within the elevation design. The clear architectural language of the external face of the service rooms is presented in aluminum louvers shown in the elevation design drawing as well as the main entrance and parking entry. The simple and clear functional indications in the elevation give easy access to the building for tenants and visitors. The front elevation is identical to the rear elevation and its symmetrical type. See Figure 7 the front elevation of the project.
The project section shows various architectural design matters. The floor height required for the ramps for the basement, the air well and its required dimensions, the pool level and its structural design requirements and sitting with relation to architectural design, the gym floor and its architectural design and relation to the roof floor. See Figure 8, the project section.
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