Park emblem deadline set

Architects who wish to enter a competition to create a tall emblem structure for Zabeel Park in Dubai must submit designs by August 31, Dubai Municipality has said.

“So far 959 teams from 88 countries have submitted entries,” said Roxy Binno, an architect with the municipality. “And 31 teams from Dubai have submitted proposals.”

The winning architect will receive a Dh370,000 prize and may see his or her design built subject to the approval of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The competition to find the best design is being run jointly by the municipality and international lift manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Elevator. The brief asks architects to develop an iconic tall emblem structure for a two-acre site in Zabeel Park.

“The building will symbolise the new face of Dubai as well as promoting tourism, recreational and cultural activities,” said Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality. Javier del Pozo, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East, said: “Dubai has one of the most impressive skylines in the world and is already an extraordinary destination for business, commerce and travel. We have invited Dubai to play host to our international Architecture Award competition to promote the new work.”

The award was launched by ThyssenKrupp Elevator as a way to engage professionals in producing outstanding ideas for major cities undergoing important transformations.

The scheme is being organised under the auspices of the International Union of Architects. The jury comprises Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, Engineer Lootah, del Pozo, Jaume Duró y Pifarre, former Chairman of the International Union of Architects and architects including Rafael de la Hoz Castanys, Dalila ElKerdany, Nabil Gholam, Zaha Hadid, Imad Hassan, Josep Luis Mateo, Tarek Naga, Antonio Ortíz García, Alfonso Vegara, Cino Zucchi and the municipality’s Binno.