Finding a cool, shady and green place to sit, relax or enjoy amidst the hustle and bustle of a metropolis seems like an imagination. And in the warming streets of Abu Dhabi, having such place seems like a dream only. But the international architecture and design firm Mask Architects has not only visualised this but also designed ‘Oasys’- a real oasis in the middle of the city. Mask Architects"s founders Öznur Pinar ÇER and Danilo PETTA have designed  "the artificial breathing palm modular structure system", " Oasys + System"  has one of ten winners of the ‘Cool Abu Dhabi Challenge ’, a global design competition between more than 1,570 participants from 67 countries.The contest was to propose cooling architectural solutions for Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in some of the warmer areas of Abu Dhabi. Mask Architects shared all about their strategy, visualisation and plan in detail with SURFACES REPORTER (SR). Have an interesting read:

Design Concept

The “Oasis” design concept has been influenced by the need to create a greener city as well as creating a real oasis in the middle of the city. The Oasis is designed not only for today, but for the future in mind too. Mask Architects also offer to distribute the “The Oasys design concept” around Abu Dhabi to make the city greener.

Promote Sustainable and Healthy Life

To Cooling down Abu Dhabi, Mask Architects has designed The “Oasys” as an Oasis that is located in the middle of the city to protect Abu Dhabi residents and to make their lives more environmentally sustainable and healthy so that to allow them to use outdoor spaces more effectively in their daily routines.

To keep the residents socially and physically engaged with their surroundings by increasing their desire to interact with outdoor spaces, the firm has designed a multi-use space in which it will act as a refuge from the surrounding areas that are overheated. There can be temporary pop up stands, cafes, sitting areas, exhibitions sites, nature retreats etc.The Oasis is firm’s answer to all the issues of modern urban and social space development that people face in such environments in the region. Its design stands as a barrier from heat, UV rays, noise and wind.

As per the architects, “We see and realise the need for such measures to be taken to create such spaces in our developing societies. As Abu Dhabi seeks to grow its vibrant and diverse city, it can be seen that it has growing industries in tourism, education, finance and culture that allows Abu Dhabi to thrive. So we agree that outdoor thermal comfort instalments are important to public and private spaces as well as the sectors that will see an ease of threat from climate change to urban development and society.”

Inspired by Palm Leaves

The Artificial Breathing Palm modular structure system, “Oasys” is inspired by palm leaves to create a real oasis. You can see that already it has a unique aesthetic look from the surrounding areas as well as keeping in touch with the local cultural heritage and landscape of historical and modern design.

Check Out the Project Animation Here

A Flexible and Replaceable Design

Besides the flexible and replaceable design line, any outdoor functions are adapted easily into “Oasys” concept-A mechanism that can be replicated easily to form a network of hubs and centre points in which they act as islands of rest places, socialising and sociable communal for the collective and community.

The modular design allows groupings of the palm structures that can be implemented in various and multiple spaces of all scales and environments as each module is scalable to need. And the process of setting up the system is very easy and quick as the firm will already have foundations that house all the water storage, electric and vital structure equipment will be set up first to the appointed land where cooling is required. These installation modules can be temporary as well as permanent and serve numerous amenities such as sitting area, cafes, temporary pop-ups, exhibitions, playground, open reading zone and much more. So the design will provide any requirements with the option of flexibility, expand-ability, development and open design solution.

How The Artificial Palm Canopies Will Cool the Environment

The palm canopies are underlined with nozzles that spray mist into the air to create a cooler environment. This in return will keep the temperature low and controllable in the Oasis area. The architects wanted to create cool and breathable outdoor spaces. They will collect and harvest solar energy with solar panels placed on the roofs of the palms. With the foundation housing storage units, the firm will be able to store electricity as well as able to distribute it at outlet points.

With the palms and branches of the structure, it allows protection from wind and sound. To block out all external effects from the surrounding area and stop it entering the space, as wind and noise. This allows creating a calm and peaceful environment. They will have trees surrounding the structure to create an extra-eco space. This will also help with deflecting wind and sound and creating fresh air and creating a habitat and sanctuary for birds.

Lighting in the Artificial Palms

Fitted under the palms are lights that will be interactive. They will be used to create a mood setting environment for each and any occasion. When it turns dark, the lights come on. Blue lights on the modules will resemble the Sky, as the yellow lights represent the Sun and green is also a reflection on the Ecology.

Add Branches to Extend the Modular System

The firm has Modular branch pieces with different dimensions and scales based on 5 modules, which are A, B, C, D and E.

These modules are to create a different height requirements on an outdoor comfort conditions. Inside of the branch will have a space to keep technical equipment and to provide a clear and order construction technique and modifying.

With this in mind, the structure can be set up to any variation needed and necessary for the space it is intended for. All the modules can connect together with their different scales to create unique spaces.

Each module can be grouped in different variations and each design layout can be customised. With this function, the design and setup is scalable to any area size required. This allows it to be mobile in any space or land of Abu Dhabi in which this cooling system is required. 

The Structure Formation

The main body of the steel structure is connected with the concrete foundation at basement level. Each Oasys system has a main steel structure in the middle of the body. Interconnecting beams that are joined through the main steel structure are all run through the middle. Therefore, all loads which are dead and live are transferring with the main steel structure of the body centrally.

Mask Architects designed a double layered surface to create a gap between the main steel structure and the finished cladding material. The gap will provide exterior dote lighting equipment requirements, it will be illuminated by lighting.

Exterior cladding material is 30% glossed-transparency material, with the double layered gap that will provide a deepness perception.

The foundation has all required equipment for the mist cooling system and steel construction elements of the Oasys structure.

The foundation also provides housing for the water tank and solar energy collector which comes from the solar panels located on the roof.

Custom Designed Cooling Nebulizing Nozzle with Fun System.

When you look at the bottom surfaces, it has 26 pieces of the custom-patterned-perforated and illuminated metal surfaces that have a custom designed cooling nebulizing nozzle with fun system. The nozzles and lighting circles are mixed randomly together to provide different variation. High-pressure misting fans on the land are extremely effective in lowering the temperature on an outdoor patio by up to 30 degrees.

These misting fans are equipped with nozzle that releases a fine mist of water into the air. The water mist evaporates when contacting the air to provide maximum cooling without the residual effects of moisture or wetting the ground. These misting fans will enable citizens to spend countless hours outside, even amidst extreme heat and humidity. High pressure systems can more effectively control odours and dust.

Mist can also clean the surrounding area away from dust, smoke, and other common pollutants. High-pressure systems will bring immense relief to pets suffering from oppressive heat. Battery powered and self-powering water timers, ACP Controller, flow meter, time, pressure and  temperature sensors are also available in our Oasys system. Through the smart temperature sensor, it can provide different high-pressures according to the requirement of the outdoor comfort conditions. All systems will be adjustable and controllable by technological advancement (Smartphone applications and arduino electronic cards).

As all the metropolitan cities in India are victims of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, SURFACES REPORTER (SR) wishes that similar concept is implemented in India too to overcome the sweltering city’s heat. SR feels proud and glad to share such innovative, sustainable and climate-proof architecture that would lead to a better tomorrow for all. If you know of or want to share any more such projects, do write to us at press@surfacesreporter.com.

Project Details

About the Firm

Founded by young award-winning architect and designer Öznur Pinar Çer in 2014, Mask Architects and Design is a global architecture and design firm in Istanbul, Germany and Italy with more than 5 years of expertise in the fields of primarily public and cultural projects as well as workspaces ,mix-use projects, luxury industrial design, medical design equipment and health, education, living space, yacht and watch design along with production and master planning across the world.

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