DUBAI
Soaring ambition
The Cloud is a breathtaking glimpse of the heights the emirate might achieve
While it may never see the light of day, it’s a scheme that shows how unlimited imaginations are when it comes to designing the region’s future environment. The Cloud is a 20,000 square metre translucent structure – comprising a lake, gardens, auditorium and sports ground – built 300m up in the air. Designed by Nadim Karam of Lebanese architects Atelier Hapsitus, access and structural support for this island-in-theair is disguised as “rain.” A pool at ground level reflects these inclined columns, which are the main engineering challenge to this pie-in-the-sky project achieving lift-off. But engineering consultancy Arup has its “advanced geometry unit” working on the project, and it is in Dubai, so the sky’s the limit. |
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