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BrandonJXN
Jan 20, 2008, 10:00 PM
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1426/futureofdubaisatellitemrl7.jpg

Nakheel - Masterplanners of The Universe
- Stunning island reclamation project unveiled
- Historic Port Rashid to be redeveloped

Dubai, 20 January 2008: Nakheel, one of the world’s largest privately-held property developers, has announced two major new projects at their initial concept stages - The Universe, a reclaimed island development which draws its inspiration from the wonders of the solar system, with islands in the shape of the sun, the moon and the planets; and the redevelopment of Port Rashid, with Nakheel announcing its plans to preserve and expand the area which has played a central role in Dubai’s development.

The Universe, which was previewed at a VIP event to announce Nakheel’s new Blue Communities initiative, will take shape off Dubai’s coastline close to The Palm Jumeirah, inshore from The World. The Universe is a further indication of Nakheel’s pioneering approach to waterfront developments and will provide a stunning new addition to Nakheel’s groundbreaking and iconic coastal developments The Palm trilogy, The World and Waterfront. The development will create new luxury living space, commercial opportunities and additional coastline – playing a role in the continued economic growth and success of Dubai as a global business and tourism destination.

The Universe was being launched at its initial concept stage and will evolve following engineering, feasibility and environmental studies that are already underway. Once these studies have been conducted, a full masterplan will be created. The Universe will be a flagship development of Nakheel’s recently launched sustainability initiative Blue Communities, reflecting a firm commitment to creating a truly sustainable community. Blue Communities seeks to fund research and development activity, and promote active engagement with international experts on the issues of sustainable development, construction, management and governance of coastal communities around the world.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, Nakheel, said:
“With the completion of phase one of The World and the successful progress of the Palm Trilogy and Waterfront, we are delighted to announce the concept of The Universe to reveal Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for the new era of waterfront development. Waterfront living is an aspiration for many; a growing number of people from the region and from around the world would prefer to live, work, and entertain in coastal communities and that is why coastal communities are among the fastest growing communities around the globe.

“Dubai has always been a city that looks forward and the planned development of The Universe will satisfy the future demand for further waterfront investment opportunities and development in Dubai. The real estate market is driven by the dynamics of demand and supply - The Universe will be a phased project that will evolve to meet future demand.”

The second concept project is the redevelopment of Port Rashid. Given the change in the market, port dynamics, and the rise of Jebel Ali Port, port operations are moving from Port Rashid to Jebel Ali Port. Nakheel is committed to preserving and expanding this site of historic importance with a new urban waterfront that will create real estate, generate jobs, attract tourism and help drive economic growth for Dubai and the UAE.

Redevelopment plans are underway, which involve the expansion of the existing Port Rashid land area through land reclamation. The proposed development is a vibrant mixed use urban waterfront set in Port Rashid’s strategic waterside location and proximity adjacent to Bur Dubai. The estimated residential population will be 200,000.

Port Rashid will continue to operate as the main port in Dubai for tourist and cruise vessels and this will be integral to the redevelopment. Most port operations are being transferred to Jebel Ali as a result of increased customer demand for its state-of the art facilities.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem added:

“Nakheel takes great pride in Dubai’s heritage – as well as in building its future. The redevelopment of Port Rashid will be sympathetic and pay homage to the maritime history that helped shape the success of the emirate.


The development will include a maritime museum, and we will ensure that the importance of the site and the people who have worked and lived there since its creation are preserved for future generations.”

:yuck: :yuck: :yuck:

PeterG
Jan 20, 2008, 10:08 PM
It all just looks like one big mess - they've gone too far with it. Too cluttered.
And can someone please tell me why Dubai is so obsessed with building out to sea, rather than use common sense and build inland?

Down_Under_the_El
Jan 20, 2008, 10:14 PM
^ so that everyone that wants it can have a beach front property without being too far away from the downtown.. and it looks cool.

I don't know why people need some great reason for development in Dubai.. if people want to build something stupid, cheesy, whatever and other people want to pay for it, why not?

Lecom
Jan 20, 2008, 11:22 PM
Last night I was just wondering what the next Dubai offshore project is going to be, now that Nakheel is wrapping up reclamation of its current projects. So far I'm not a big fan of this one, but I'll wait to pass my judgement till more info is available. Besides, most offshore projects eventually differ quite a bit from the initial renders, and hopefully the same will be the case here.

malec
Jan 21, 2008, 12:12 AM
BTW just so you know, I don't think anyone understands the sense behind this:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=17842437#post17842437

WilliamTheArtist
Jan 21, 2008, 3:14 AM
Looks like a mess. Would anyone really care what the shape or "theme" of the island you were living on was? Other than the fact that it would seem kind of dorky to say, "I live on the island of Uranus. Want to meet there for dinner?" Just put some islands out there and be done with it.

Down_Under_the_El
Jan 21, 2008, 3:17 AM
^ I think uranus is prime real estate ;)

navyweaxguy
Jan 21, 2008, 3:31 AM
I'm waiting for the to build the death star and space elevator

Lecom
Jan 21, 2008, 6:02 AM
I'm waiting for the to build the death star and space elevator
Rem Koolhaas design for Ras al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre

http://arkimia.nireblog.com/blogs/arkimia/files/sky-bar-night-with-death-star-updated.jpg
http://arkimia.nireblog.com/blogs/arkimia/files/sky-bar-night-with-death-star-updated.jpg

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/deathstar.jpg
http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/deathstar.jpg

The Cloud, a 300 m/1000 ft tall proposal for Dubai
http://www.thedubailife.com/images/cloud7.jpg
http://www.thedubailife.com/images/cloud7.jpg

http://www.thedubailife.com/images/cloud4.jpg
http://www.thedubailife.com/images/cloud4.jpg

Death star and space elevator? Careful what you wish for.

BnaBreaker
Jan 21, 2008, 6:44 AM
Those developments look cool from the sky, but I hear they have really destroyed the under sea ecosystem there.

navyweaxguy
Jan 21, 2008, 1:19 PM
Wow..... Maybe I need to move to Mars.... In 20 years Dubai will be a life size sound stage for all the futuristic movies. Amazing.

Via Chicago
Jan 22, 2008, 9:38 PM
It all just looks like one big mess - they've gone too far with it. Too cluttered.?

that was my initial reaction as well. it looked nice with just a couple island "themes", but its starting to get to be overload...everything looks crammed in without any cohesion.

urbanlife
Jan 23, 2008, 12:41 AM
dubai is the new shanghai.

Calrissian
Jan 23, 2008, 12:54 AM
I've supported just about every one of the Dubai developments, but this Universe thing....

Utterly ruins 'the world' development, and taints the nearby Palms.

If they really wanted to build it, why not further along the coast a bit ? This is a crazy idea, and I hope its not made.

*I wonder what the creator of 'the world' thinks of this. He must have taken ages to develop his concept, and now its going to be possibly ruined by a real hash of a concept right on the worlds' doorstep.

Awful.

LoverOfDubai
Jan 23, 2008, 3:21 AM
.......*I wonder what the creator of 'the world' thinks of this. He must have taken ages to develop his concept, and now its going to be possibly ruined by a real hash of a concept right on the worlds' doorstep.

Awful.

That is the problem. The creator of both The World and The Universe is the same company: Nakheel.

Brian.
Jan 23, 2008, 4:29 PM
It's not in my backyard so go ahead and knock yourself out Dubai. Test the boundries of construction because we get the benefit from learning from your mistakes.

I first heard about this project on the radio and had an idea of what it might look like. Now that I see it I was WAY off. It's interesting and cool but from the ground level point of view it's just another bit of sand in the sea.

PeterG
Jan 23, 2008, 4:59 PM
My point about it being cluttered has been misunderstood, I think.
What I mean is at first there was just one of these developments, The Palm Jumeirah(?) in the middle there, and it looked iconic and very differerent from anything else in the world. It was special.
Now that Dubai has decided to litter their entire coastline with bigger and bigger versions, it's lost everything that the first one was about.
Now, at sea level, there will be no distinction between the developments because they're all so close together. They may as well have just built loads of big islands out there.

The problem is that Nakheel obviously made a handsome profit from the first project, and they thought "let's just build more of them, but bigger".

As for the Ras al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre - I love it.
I doubt The Cloud will ever be built. Dubai may have solved many engineering challenges, but surely that is defying the laws of physics.
If all the stilts are angled in the same direction, the stresses would be astronomical.

alex1
Jan 25, 2008, 5:57 AM
I can't say I've ever agreed with this type of development from an environmental POV but this is the first one from a formalistic perspective that's just plain goofy.

Scruffy
Feb 7, 2008, 7:07 AM
the beaches on the natural coastline of dubai must suck now with all the new islands, they just get standing water pretty much. no real circulation

Cypherus
Feb 7, 2008, 7:57 AM
Can someone tell Dubai that there is a lot of available land behind them, as exemplified on the map? And if they need to be close to water, why build on the water when you can bring the water inland?

SLO
Feb 7, 2008, 11:30 PM
Can someone tell Dubai that there is a lot of available land behind them, as exemplified on the map? And if they need to be close to water, why build on the water when you can bring the water inland?

You know I was thinking the same thing, let some water into that desert....
Canal it....

DJM19
Feb 9, 2008, 8:14 AM
Im sure Dubai will try to recreate Venice at some point. :\

smussuw
Feb 14, 2008, 3:10 PM
Can someone tell Dubai that there is a lot of available land behind them, as exemplified on the map? And if they need to be close to water, why build on the water when you can bring the water inland?Can't u see on the first picture that they are already doing that?

austin242
Apr 11, 2008, 7:48 AM
Have you seen the vid when they go up one of the canals into desert and back to the ocean.

MistyMountainHop
Apr 16, 2008, 4:55 AM
Rem Koolhaas design for Ras al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre

http://arkimia.nireblog.com/blogs/arkimia/files/sky-bar-night-with-death-star-updated.jpg
http://arkimia.nireblog.com/blogs/arkimia/files/sky-bar-night-with-death-star-updated.jpg

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/deathstar.jpg
http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/deathstar.jpgDeath star and space elevator? Careful what you wish for.

Nakheel - Masterplanners of The Universe

"Masterplanners of The Universe"? No wonder they're building a fuckin' death star! :borg:

sammysonny1
May 27, 2008, 2:41 AM
Dubai is so gross! Why go to a Paris themed island 16+ hours away when its only 9+ hours to go to the real thing and go to a place with real cultre and one that accpets and views all sorts of peoples equally?