Groundbreaking held for Dh1.7b The Opus

DUBAI — Omniyat Properties announced yesterday that it has broken ground on the commercial development, 'The Opus', located in the heart of Business Bay.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 17 Oct 2007, 9:05 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 11:27 PM

Designed by world renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, the project is valued at over Dh1.7 billion and will enhance the skyline of Dubai's Business Bay with an iconic and artistic architectural design.

Since its launch in London over the summer, The Opus is already over sixty per cent sold out. At a ground breaking ceremony held during the opening day of Dubai Cityscape 2007, the 85,000 square metres luxury project was inaugurated by Mohammed Binbrek, CEO of Dubai Properties, Mehdi Amjad, President and CEO of Omniyat Properties and Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Zaha Hadid at the Omniyat Properties Pavilion. The Opus is projected to be completed by early 2010.

"We are building something exclusive in one of the best locations at Business Bay. The Opus is a symbiotic mix of technology and art, creating a structure that has been designed to resemble a cube with a fluid form "void" in the middle. It will consist of three individual towers that are fused to create the illusion of one single structure," said Amjad.

Amjad unveiled an intricately constructed scale model of The Opus project, highlighting its design and facilities. Situated on an "island" plot in Dubai's Business Bay, The Opus has a waterfront location .

"This is a building that challenges traditional concepts of office space," commented Ms. Zaha Hadid. "Not only will it be visually appealing, it will also be a workable space, and a place that allows every occupant to experience a better quality working environment. All facets of the project have been meticulously designed to provide optimal use of the space, with materials sourced to provide durability and efficiency."

The "Void" is a distinctive feature of The Opus and is treated as a volume in its own right. It creates the illusion of extending past the physical boundaries of the structure, and is clad with fully engineered curved glass curtain wall systems, allowing stunning views into its centre.

The glass façade is made up of reflective patterns in the form of pixelated striations to provide a degree of reflectivity and materiality, while assisting in the reduction of solar heat inside the building.