Description from L.E.F.T:
The Three Crescents: Water is the material of the new Jumeirah Cultural Centre. It gives it its form, but is also formed by it. Following on the tradition of the desert nomad; the Centre is an oasis for the modern nomadic jetsetter, for the 21st Century. Conceived as a crescent overlap of the circular pond with the circular park, the Centre becomes a negotiation between architecture and landscape, sitting at the edge of both, literally and metaphorically. It is neither architecture nor landscape, but both at the same time. The Crescent of the Cultural Centre, that of the Lake and that of the Central Park become a subtle yet powerful center of gravity for the whole Jumeirah village development.
The Cultural Centre sits at the intersection between two landscapes, the remodeled Lake rising up to reflect the sky, and the new Park seeping down to create the entry to the Centre. The perimeter of the Crescent extends this intersection between the two landscapes along the length of the arc, with the building covering more than 400m length façade that opens to both landscapes, in plan and in section. Within the Crescent, a Canal pierces the building linking the Pond to the context beyond.
For the Lake landscape, with water as the main feature, the building’s façade becomes a gentle waterfall trickling water down, and pumping it back up in a continuous looped movement. Along this façade, glass openings behind the water, and smaller openings for localized waterfalls articulate the different programs along the edge. These openings glow at night while blending during the day with the muteness of the façade.
The Orientation of the Centre is articulated to maximize the exposure to the remodeled Lake, but also to create a constant shadow area for the Park activities. Facing north, the Centre creates a permanently cooled zone below and beyond the building that is ideal for the summer heat of Dubai. Water running along the south slant of the building acts as Thermal Insulation for the Centre, with its constantly flowing surface along the length of the building.
Inspired by Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror, The Centre’s Crescent shape creates a double exposure of its context. Its concave bend at the Lake level reflects through its water surface the blue of the Emirates sky, while its convex morphology, with its reflective metal surface facing north (semi-polished Aluminum), at the Park level reflects the green of the trees and the Park beyond. The materiality of the building becomes a function of its context, changing with the breeze on the water, with the seasons on the trees, and adapting to the colors of the setting sun.
images courtesy of L.E.F.T
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