Architect upset over Dubai Frame design
by Katie Buckley | 06 Jun 2014
New Dubai frame design
Dubai city officials and architect Fernando Donis are at loggerheads following the unveiling of plans for a unique new attraction in Dubai.
Donis, a Mexican architect, won the Dubai Municipality competition to design a new public monument in 2009 and now, five years later, new images have been released of the redesigned structure.
The “Dubai Frame” will be 150m (492ft) tall and 100m (328ft) wide, with a walkway between the two sides of the structure. It will reportedly cost AED120m (US$32.6m, €24m, £19.5m).
In response to new images of the giant frame, Donis wrote an open letter to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, claiming that the new designs are in breach of the competition rules.
Abu Dhabi’s The National reported that Donis’ open letter was written with the intention to go the public and maybe spark an intervention. “The project is being transformed from being non-figurative architecture to an overscale figurative photo frame. That is, from being a modern, public monument to a postmodern pastiche,” said Donis reportedly.
Set to be completed some time in 2016, whether or not the building will be constructed to the original design or the new one from Dubai Municipality remains to be seen. It is hoped that the attraction will attract two-million tourists a year when open.
Dubai city officials and architect Fernando Donis are at loggerheads following the unveiling of plans for a unique new attraction in Dubai. Donis, a Mexican architect, won the Dubai Municipality competition to design a new public monument in 2009 and now, five years later, new images have been released of the redesigned structure. The “Dubai Frame” will be 150m (492ft) tall and 100m (328ft) wide, with a walkway between the
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