[Aleks]

Designboom.com

new york based asymptote architecture is nearing completion of their yas hotel project,
in abu dhabi, uae. the yas hotel is a 500-room, 85,000-square-meter complex which is
due to open on october 30, 2009 to coincide with the formula 1 etihad airways,
abu dhabi grand prix.

the yas hotel is part of the ambitious 36-billion-dollar yas marina development
and accompanying formula 1 raceway circuit, which is also near completion.

the main feature of the project's design is a 217-meter expanse of sweeping, curvilinear
forms constructed of steel and 5,800 pivoting diamond-shaped glass panels. this grid
shell component affords the building an architecture comprised of an atmospheric
like veil that contains two hotel towers and a link bridge constructed as a monocoque
sculpted steel object passing above the formula 1 track that makes its way through
the building complex. the grid-shell visually connects and fuses the entire complex
together while producing optical effects and spectral reflections that play against the
surrounding sky, sea and desert landscape. the architecture as a whole 'performs' as
both an environmentallyresponsive solution as well as an architecture of spectacle
and event.

Construction:



















All images from here and here.