ONE ZA'ABEEL

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70THE LINK CONNECTS TWO SITES DIVIDED BY A HIGHWAYMr. Galadari: It was our vision to seamlessly connect the two iconic towers of One Za’abeel, spanning over the highway that runs between them. The solution was to construct THE LINK, and engineering marvel and masterpiece in its own right. This unique bridge, suspended 100 meters above ground, is a luxurious destination offering elevated experiences for visitors to enjoy such as Michelin-starred restaurants, the longest suspended infinity pool, and 360 unobstructed views.Ms. Nakamura: THE LINK is a large, linear space that extends approximately 230 meters in length, with a diagrid-like tube structure on four sides, creating a large, column-free space. From here, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the old and new cityscape.Dr. Jabri: The design of THE LINK feature and graceful twin towers are good reflections of the Nikken Sekkei ‘culture of we.’ That is to say, they show the power of the collective wisdom of the firm’s experience and cross-cultural expertise, and Nakamura san played a pivotal role to embrace the collective experience with her beautiful minimalistic touch. At the same time, we were fortunate that the appetite for risk, ambition, and challenging new things matched the aspiration of leadership and owners of the land.Mr. Obika: We had to think deeply about how to suspend this structure above a live highway. Ultimately, it took nine months to construct and hoist THE LINK into position from ground level. The diamond-pattern framework is state-of-the-art, uses less steel than traditional designs, and resists wind-induced torsion effects. It goes without saying that Japanese legal restrictions, such as the requirement that structures above a road cannot have any functions other than those of a passageway, would make THE LINK a practical impossibility in Japan.Dr. Jabri: If you allow me here to mention a casual anecdote, the city of Dubai and Sheikh Zayed Road have only been shut down three times in the nation’s history. The first was during a state visit by US President George W. Bush (January 2008). The second was during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020). The third partial shutdown by us during THE LINK’s methodical two-stage hoisting maneuver (August 2020 and October 2020).Participants:Issam Galadari, Director, One Za’abeel Holdings Tadao Kamei, Chairman of the Board of Directors, NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD Fadi Jabri, CEO, Nikken Sekkei Dubai (NIKKEN SEKKEI FZ-LLC) Kazushi Obika, Deputy Project Director, NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD Koko Nakamura, Chief Architect, NIKKEN SEKKEI LTDDUBAI’S NEW SKYLINEOne Za’abeel, undertaken by Nikken Sekkei on behalf of ICD (Investment Corporation of Dubai), represents one of the most ambitious overseas projects in the company’s 124-year design history. Its striking twin skyscrapers and 100-meter high cantilevered skybridge are unmistakable for visitors to Dubai. The project includes two luxury hotels, residences, offices, and retail spaces, and the world record-breaking, award-winning design has been hailed as both an engineering triumph and a symbolic architectural icon for Dubai. Nikken won an international design competition for the project in 2014; the development officially opened in January 2024. In an informal roundtable discussion, the principal Nikken Sekkei executives responsible for the project share their memories, along with One Za’abeel Executive Issam Galadari.Ms. Nakamura: One Za’abeel started with the idea that “simplicity makes the difference.” This represents a departure from the Burj Khalifa -- the world’s tallest building -- and many other uniquely designed buildings in Dubai. The design consists of two asymmetrical towers on two sites separated by a highway and connected by THE LINK, which is 230 meters long. The development is located between Dubai’s historic “Old Town” and the rapidly developing new Dubai, and is positioned as a “gateway” to the city.Mr. Kamei: Nikken Sekkei’s track record in the region includes the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Islamic Development Bank Headquarters in Saudi Arabia. We approached these projects logically, considering the context of the site and the program. They were never conceived to look ostentatious. One Za’abeel was to be a mixed-use project consisting of hospitality, residences, offices, and retail spaces, with the site divided by a highway. Despite these complexities, we felt that the building should have a simple, yet distinctive appearance. Some people call the architecture “very Japanese.”Mr. Galadari: With One Za’abeel, our aim was to create an architectural icon that not only redefines Dubai’s skyline but also cements its place as a global symbol of innovation and ambition.(At 230-meters in length and 9,400 tons, THE LINK’s span nearly rivals the London Bridge. Its 67.277-meter cantilevered portion has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the ‘Longest Cantilevered Building’ in the world.)One Za’abeel: Looking Back