State of the art interior for luxury office tower

Sunday, 7 May, 2006 State of the art interior for luxury office tower by Charlotte Butterfield

Launched in 2003 as the first office tower to offer freehold office space to both GCC nationals and expats, the Saba Tower 1 is now ready to open its doors to customers. All 360,000 sq ft has already been sold to investors who plan to rent out the offices. As this is the first building in the Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) to be available, there is no previous rental history for the area. However, judging by the amount invested in the interior of the tower it seems guaranteed that rent will not be cheap. Designers have fitted out the tower with the latest hi-tech facilities and internationally recognised brands including high speed elevators from Mitsubishi Electric of Japan, Comtuer wooden design doors, kitchen and bathroom fittings from Grohe, Dorma ironmongeries and CES brand of locks and cylinders from Germany; Legrand supplied the electrical accessories and Alter luminaries from France, Danogips false ceilings were from Holland, Polycor marble and granite from Canada and Arabian Aluminium Company � a major regional supplier provided the aluminium and glass for the project. UK based consultants Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall (RMJM), one of the world’s leading architectural and engineering firms was responsible for the Tower’s construction while US design consultants, Hirsch Bedner Association (HBA) � currently involved in designing the interior for the 60-storey 5 star hotel Dubai Pearl � took control of the interior design. The company, who has been responsible for providing interior design consultancy to over 500 top end hotels and resorts globally, opened its Dubai office in 2000 with a 3 member team, led by experienced interior designer Sylvia Gagnon. There are currently 20 employees, who worked to bestow the Saba Tower with a contemporary and inviting look for the interior. It is clear that the designers were out to impress. The main entrance area of the building, for example, has been fitted out with a stylish café shop, visible via a transparent glass wall, available to use for both visitors and residents. A particularly striking design feature has been installed in the main lobby in the form of a floating sphere, made entirely of Belgium black granite. The 5000-pound ball, measuring 4.4 feet in diametre has been engraved with a map of the world. The ball floats in a stone base into which water is forced under pressure. An innovative technology called Aqua Planning allows the ball, weighing several tons to be set in motion with a single touch. The speed at which the offices were sold suggests that the level of luxury in the design and fittings may have set a precedent for future office developments.

	Marble MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS This standard includes general information on the characteristics and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems associated with the material. INTRODUCTION Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite (CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed, is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds react differently with marble and produce various by-products, which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration. Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red, yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition. TYPICAL USES Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage to which marble is susceptible.