Comments on: Masdar Institute campus by Foster + Partners

By: johnny

johnny — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:45:55 +0000

What is going on at Fosters, this is extremely ugly. What is the point in making a campus sustainable when that is only one part of architecture, beauty is another aspect; currently absent.

By: design21

design21 — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:48:50 +0000

No theorizing, just a question: Does anyone know exactly what the large scale (seemingly metal) screen material is or who the manufacturer is in the 4th and 6th photos from the top?

By: Gerard

Gerard — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:08:02 +0000

The curvatures are appealing and the screens create a personal space cponcept and shade as well. These are not new concepts in Middle eastern design, just look at any old Mosque and market area.

Remember the temp is 40+ much of the year. Whatever one does it rarely gets cool and the winds are ghastly ( shamaal ). Good on the city for trying solar and trying to innovate but it is still prototype. Some of the coolest buildings I have been in were old solid mud type structures with lots of cool wind flow and shade.
The new buildings of the Arab nations mostly built on petrodollars look to the west for too much inspiration rather than looking at their rich heratige.

Think of the money this place cost. Once the pertro wave is gone who is going to bankroll this kind of grandeur. Think of the future and look at the greatness of the Arab worlds past. But full marks for the balls for trying.

By: S Jay

S Jay — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:11:45 +0000

Screens are great. They work well with the silver of the cladding. I read they are made from palmwood, a product from coconut trees.

By: ali

ali — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:50:02 +0000

Those renderings you mention weren't done for the Masdar Institute, they were for the Masdar masterplan concept. A completely different part of the city. The original images for the Institute are actually very comparable if you take the time to research it properly.