DUBAI GOES GREEN

THE CHIMNEY EFFFECT
The space between the perforated façade and the window wall enclosure creates a chimney effect where hot air rises and draws cooling air along the glass surface. This contributes to the cooling-system efficiency for O-14, thus reducing energy consumption and costs. Reiser points out that mitigating the use of air conditioning for O-14 was a fortuitous byproduct of the design.

“In the development we realized we could generate a chimney effect, so we worked toward it,” says Reiser. “Essentially, there are slabs attached to the shell through little tabs or tongues. Even though the shell stands free of the slabs, the voids between those tongues allow an open zone to the ground, so that allows for that chimney effect. Reiser notes that passive cooling will ease the work of Dubai’s district cooling system, which is often overstressed by the extreme heat.- Building's Designer Shubab Lufti