Hotel Cobra - The Gateway of Ras Al Khaimah
"Ras Al-Khaimah Gateway Project"
Ras Al Khaimah - UAE

Sheik Saud and Rakeen of Ras Al-Khaimah has appointed the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta (http://www.snoarc.no/) (famous from Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Oslo
Opera House) the prestigious task of creating an iconic gateway building for the new capital city of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. The
approx. 300,000 m2 complex will contain a Congress Center, Exhibition Halls, Shopping Center, 5+ Star Hotel, 5 Star Hotel, and a 4 Star Hotel.
Construction will start in 2008/2009 with completion in 2011.

From Snøhetta's website:
Snøhetta has been commissioned by the Ras Al Khaimah investment Authority and RAKEEN to undertake the architectural design for the Gateway
project in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Situated in the desert 150 km to the east of Dubai this landmark project will mark the gateway to the
emirate and form the entrance to the new planned capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.

The urban master plan for the city is currently being under taken by the Netherlands based architectural practice OMA. The Gateway project is
situated at the entrance to the city and will form a landmark for the city entrance.

The architectural expression for our proposal is inspired by the surrounding desert and mountain landscape. This concept provides for an infinite
variety of naturally shaded, intimate and protected spaces, around which the multiple uses associated with the development are woven. The
undulating architectural landscape is resolved in a dramatic landmark tower marking the main gateway plaza. This 200 m high tower will be the
setting for a 5 star plus hotel affording panoramic views across the emirate, to the gulf and mountains beyond.

The programme calls for a mixed-use development comprising a conference centre, exhibition centre, hotels and retail space. In total it is
expected to be 270 000m2 of build area. In addition there will be substantial areas of associated garden and landscape. Externally the building
will be clad in ceramic panels, this will be developed together with Ras Al Khaimah ceramics, one of the world leading producers of ceramic
products.

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8093/rakoversikt3editcopysma.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/7770/rakoversiktsbilderkenfi.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/7770/rakoversiktsbilderkenfi.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2662/raknattmir4small.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1049/rakuttrykkmir5small.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/7681/toweroasisrevidertmirco.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9292/interir2small.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1061/interir1small.jpg
Illustration by MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3508/5plx.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3508/5plx.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3508/5plx.jpg

Concept illustrations from when the project was first announced.
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/8663/cobrahotelthegatewayofr.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8663/cobrahotelthegatewayofr.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8663/cobrahotelthegatewayofr.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8663/cobrahotelthegatewayofr.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9886/cobrahotelthegatewayofru.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/8663/cobrahotelthegatewayofr.jpg
Illustration by Snøhetta (http://snoarc.no/)

We prefer block capitals for the city.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=517125

Why is it that virtually everyone who starts threads here is unable to use the correct format?

We prefer block capitals for the city.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=517125

Why is it that virtually everyone who starts threads here is unable to use the correct format?

Sorry mate, but im sure that most people just block capitals for the first letter in any word, its a pure response of what we've learned, even though i've read the rules a few times. So im afraid its going to take a long time to see everyone doing it 100% correctly!

A concept facade study that turned out to be too expensive hence not in the final renderings.

Description: (Source (http://www.potentialarchitecture.net/#/projects/view/122))
A facade study investigating cladding concepts for the shell-surface of The Gateway Project in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

The shell-surface is populated by a generative component. (2x2m) This component is driven by a set of rules. Each instance of the generative
component analyses its own global orientation and position on the overall geometry of the structure and changes accordingly.

The component has two variables; its aperture (view and daylight) and its depth (shading). The aperture and depth of the component
decreases towards the edge of the structure to facilitate a clean cut. Maximum aperture occurs when the component is vertical and facing
north. Minimum aperture occurs at edges and when the component is horizontal, reflecting the more intense solar heating. The size of the
aperture is also driven by program requirements. The aperture is gradually changing across the surface between these extremes creating subtle
changes and interesting micro contextual variations of the pattern.

As this is an associative parametric model, all the instances of the generative component change, in real-time, according to changes made to
the overall geometry. The rules driving the generative component can also be changed or adjusted at any given time resulting in a real-time
feedback in the viewport. When the model is properly set up, one can easily investigate an array of different options without doing any
additional modeling.

Due to a high degree of complexity, (all instances of the generative component are unique) this cladding concept turned out to be too
expensive to implement in the project.

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6773/rakfacades1x1000.jpg

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/8295/rakfacades3x1000.jpg

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/639/rakfacades2x1000.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7507/rakfacades5x1000.jpg

A very nice video is avaliable at the architects homepage now. Can't link you directly there since its been previewed in flash, but go to this site: http://www.snoarc.no/ (Then; Projects > Location > Ras Al Khaimah > Gateway Project > Videos) :)

Facade showen in the video is different than the previous facande studies. Looks good though!

Video screenshots:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/cityq/Projects%20and%20developments/HotelCobra8.jpg

Incredible Project!

This must be built!

indeed. spectacular

WOW

when it is going to be started??

What the city in back ground ?
No way thats Ras Al Khaimah !

:eek: WOW. Finest architecture I've seen.. Beautiful.

when it is going to be started??

Not sure when as its not mentioned anything about that in any articles or the architects page. But UAE and RAK forumers, know anything about it?

Btw, i see that Snøhetta sais the tower has been increased to 200m. Its mentioned on their homepage.

The sheik has my approval. I mean it's amazing.

i don't like it

mbuildings, you don't like any different thing jaja

It look more like a piece of art rather than a tower. I hope they'll build it soon. )

What the city in back ground ?
No way thats Ras Al Khaimah !

I saw a documentary a year or two ago about RAK and an architectural design competition, I believe the show was produced/broadcast by a Canadian station, I found it somewhere on the internet. The synopsis is RAK is building a new capital city in the desert and they held an international competition for the master-plan of the new 545km2 city, which Rem Koolhaas & OMA are said to be conceptualizing and developing after winning the competition. The "Gateway City" is the square plot with all the buildings visible behind the Hotel & Convention Center.

Norwegian firm Snohetta won the Hotel & Convention Center component with their "Cobra" design concept which has been posted above.

For reference... this is a render of OMA's Hotel & Convention Center concept which was ultimately not selected:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9936/oma2020ras20convention2zp8.jpg

and another angle including an overview of OMA's masterplanned city:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3627/rotationhshort0001rdeatjw5.jpg

You can read more about the master-plan by OMA here: http://www.oma.eu/index.php?option=com_projects&view=portal&Itemid=10&id=712

Just updated the first post with brand new and bigger renderings. The tower has also increased to 200m in height! :banana:

edit: moved to the first post.

stunning..
but the desert around the buildings will be still left as it is now?

stunning..
but the desert around the buildings will be still left as it is now?

I guess for now, thats what makes it special, both the building and the entire new city. Green lungs in the middel of the dryest deserts.

Will look really special with a white building like that pupping up! Not sure about the future though, but i guess there are other masterplanns been developed close by as well.

Looks like a alien mothership....sweet!

New renderings updated in the first post.

Here you have the large renderings, enjoy!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/RAK_Natt_MIR4Medium.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/RAK_Natt_MIR4Medium2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/RAK_oversiktsbilde_rken_FINALE_MIRM.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/RAKoversikt3_editcopyMedium.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/RAK_Uttrykk_MIR5Medium.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/Tower_Oasis_revidert_MIRcopyMedium.jpg

Two interior renderings by Norwegian MIR (http://www.mir.no/).

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/interir1small.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/cityw/Architecture/interir2small.jpg

wow!! wonderful facade !!

U/C??? :?

U/C??? :?

Probably cancelled. :(