Architecture firm Calatrava strengthens focus on UAE market

Calatrava International, an architecture and engineering firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, is strengthening its focus on the UAE market through its regional hub office in Dubai. At the helm of operations in the region is Micael Calatrava, son of starchitect, Dr Santiago Calatrava.

Dr Santiago and Micael Calatrava at Dubai Creek Tower site

Among the company’s upcoming high profile projects in Dubai is the design of Dubai Creek Tower, located in one of the most ambitious developments in Dubai by Emaar Properties PJSC, Dubai Creek Harbour - a smart and sustainable city of the future. Its several enthralling observation decks will offer 360° views of Dubai Creek Harbour and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Inspired by the lily flower and traditional minarets, the column is also accentuated by more modern architectural lines.

The other high profile project is the falcon-inspired UAE Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020, which is a 500-acre exhibition area that will be exposed to around 25 million visitors during Expo 2020. Nine architectural firms competed over the project for seven months and the National Media Council (NMC) handed the project to Calatrava.

Micael Calatrava, the CEO at Calatrava International LLC, said: “Dubai is known for its multicultural society and its modern and futuristic-looking buildings. We think Calatrava’s unique style of combining nature and technology will be appreciated by both the citizens and tourists of this city. We are already making an impact with our two upcoming high profile projects, Dubai Creek Tower and UAE Pavilion at Dubai World Expo 2020, and we have other projects in the pipeline as well.”

Dr Santiago and Micael Calatrava both recently spoke at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) in Dubai and the company’s leading engineer, Gerd Birkle, is slated to speak at the Innovating Structures Conference on the 13th of November, 2018.

Calatrava’s accomplished works include the World Trade Centre Transportation Hub in New York, Calgary Peace Bridge, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, the Turning Torso Tower in Malmö, and Museum of Tomorrow, which since its opening in 2015, has become the most visited museum in Brazil and has been recently awarded by the Leading Culture Destination Awards 2018.

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