Dubai’s Park Gate is a Solar-Powered Desert Oasis

Just because a building is in the desert doesn't mean it has to be hot - at least that's what <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/22/asgg-hatch-massive-plan-to-decarbonize-chicago/" target="_blank">Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill</a> thought when designing their mixed-use development, Park Gate. The project is composed of six curving towers covered in a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/01/18/serpentine-solar-roof-rises-over-perugia-italy/" target="_blank">solar-powered canopy</a>, with hanging gardens and reflecting pools below which act as thermal sinks. Inspired by the Middle East’s ancient and modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souq">souks</a>, Park Gate will serve as a place to rest, socialize and do business in the heart of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/10/10-mw-skyscraper-generates-renewable-energy-from-the-wind-and-sun/" target="_blank">Dubai</a>.

Park Gate will create a cool and shady spot for people to come to rest and do their business. Most notably, the mixed-use development is characterized by its hanging gardens and cool pools.

The structure consists of a series of 6 towers placed in pairs and covered with a canopy.

The canopy above provides structure for the solar panels as well as the hanging gardens and trellises and also shades the ground below reducing the temperature by 10-15 degrees.

The development is located right next to the water and oriented to minimize solar gain and maximize the onshore coastal breezes.

Included in the development are offices, retail spaces, a hotel and the reflecting pools and gardens protected by the buildings.

Here is top down view of the canopy arches that will stretch across the towers.

From below the canopies are semi-permeable (70 percent closed, 30 percent open) to allow dappled light through to ground level.

The towers on one side of the development are 37 stories tall, while the others are 34 stories tall, creating an asymmetrical effect.

A cross section of the floor layout for the towers.

A diagram describing the cooling elements of the Park Gate towers.

Exploded view of the towers and their construction.

A model cross section of Park Gate and its floors.