Emirates Palace Hotel

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Emirates Palace Hotel combines three major functions: a guest palace to entertain up to 22 heads of state, a state-of-the-art conference centre and banqueting facility, and a luxury hotel to accommodate the delegations to international conferences. At the very centre of the complex a huge dome-covered atrium acts as a giant plenum, containing cooled air and facilitating circulation. Climatic conditions and energy-management requirements had a significant impact on the design. The highly insulated external envelope is penetrated by deep shaded openings and balconies, which are in turn screened by cast-glass panels giving layers of heat deflection and micro-zone cooling.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture