Hello, A+D Community!
It's my first time here so I would like to say "Hello" to this beautiful community. It's been a while that I'd like to share some of the beautiful architecture here in Abu Dhabi and finally I am making it happen. I would like to start with something very familiar to me -- almost like home - since I came here on a daily basis for almost two years.
The World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi
The World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi, is a 2-tower complex developed by Aldar Properties which was completed in 2014. It is also connected to two malls - The Mall and Souk Central Market, and a hotel - The Courtyard by Marriott.
The two towers as can be seen in the photo above are The Offices (right) located in Hamdan Street, and Burj Mohammed bin Rashid (left), the residential tower and now the tallest building in Abu Dhabi, located in Khalifa Street.
The Offices
My first impression on my first day here was -- it was huge! The whole floor must be occupied by only one tenant so our office was basically like going around the whole building. I remember the night after my first day reporting here, I could not sleep due to leg cramps. I just came back from maternity leave that time and I guess my body was still recuperating.
It's good for adding numbers into that pedometer though. I could easily complete 10k steps in the office every day.
Anyhow, since we occupied the whole floor, we get a 360 degrees view.
This one below is my view from my seat, overlooking the Qasr Al Hosn which was still being constructed at that time (2016).
From The Offices, we also get a view of some of the outdoor seating of the restaurants and coffee shops of The Mall. Yes, they seem to have run out of "creative" ideas on how to name these towers. LOL.
That glass building is the residential tower, Burj Mohammed bin Rashid.
Burj Mohammed bin Rashid
Burj Mohammed bin Rashid is currently the tallest building in Abu Dhabi at 382 meters [1]. Adjacent to The Offices, it is closer to Khalifa Street and it also connects to the Souk Central Market.
These are all interconnected and also have a huge multi-level basement parking which could be daunting especially to new visitors. It took me a while to get familiar with the parking space as well.
I remember avoiding going here before because I always end up getting lost in the parking lot.
The Mall
The Mall is a mix of both modern and traditional Arab vibe. Inside the Mall is the HUB, which gives a variety of dining experiences.
Meanwhile, below is a photo from the Souk, which has preserved the traditional Arabic market.
So whether you are looking for luxury, modern shopping, or just in need of some traditional Arabian spices and goods, The Mall and The Souk have got you covered.
WTC in View
You'll find below a photo of the WTC from near the Mall entrance.
Already a renowned landmark, it still never fails to surprise the passers-by from time to time.
Below is from last December 2020, on a foggy morning. Isn't it just magnificent as it shimmers from the rays of the sun?
Another red light moment! Yey!
Talk about great timing. You wouldn't mind getting stopped by the red light if you get this view, right?
The buildings there are really quite something
I remember watching fireworks on New Year's Eve from The Burj - it was mind blowing
Oh yes! NYE at The Burj! We never really go there coz traffic and parking is a nightmare, especially with my small kids. We just always watch it via live stream. haha
Oh no no!
We didn't go
We just watched from my brother's balcony hehe
Well done @arrliinn! We're happy to inform you that this publication was specially curated and awarded RUNNER-UP in Architecture Brew #46. Congratulations!
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Whoah! What a pleasure. Thank you very much for appreciating my debut post in this community. 😊
You're most welcome @arrliinn. It's our great pleasure to host your fantastic content in our beloved community. We're truly excited to experience the next ones. Cheers! 😊
Those cityscapes almost look fake to me, especially after three years in Suriname, the tallest thing in the country is seven stories, and I've only seen the unfinished building twice. The pictures are beautiful, but an urban environment like this is a nightmare for me. I can't even stand next to tall buildings because I start to get dizzy. I've never seen pictures of life in the countryside there, what's it like, just curious?
Oh, I can't blame you for feeling that way. The rural, countryside appeals more to me too.
Since Abu Dhabi is a coastal city, most farms are located inwards into the middle of the desert. Here's one from our trip last year when we spent a night and a day at a farm about 55kms from the city. They grew rockmelons, gourds, watermelons, string beans, and m many more! It was late November and the melons were almost completely harvested.
A Day At The Farm | Al Rahba Entertainment Sports Club
This is great timing indeed as the sunrays reflect from the building itself.
Yup! Timing na timing. Di ko na-resist mag take ng picture. hehe
The United Arab Emirates is indeed a treasure chest of architectural marvels. And Abu Dhabi, being the capital of that country, has likewise leveled up with Dubai's prestige in terms of its remarkable buildings. Because you have been residing among these outstanding built environments for many years already, I'm truly glad that you've finally shared the constructed gems of your second-home city. The World Trade Centre is simply one of the epic edifices you'll be amazed at in that vibrant metropolis. Hope you can showcase more exquisite landmarks like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Hotel, plus other architectural highlights our world needs to experience.
Hello there @arrliinn, and a warm welcome to the Architecture+Design Community! 😊
Thank you Erne! I've been planning to post here but I somehow didn't know how to present it coz I really am not that well versed with architecture. I can just be so amazed but won't be able to explain the archi side of things. Hehe. So instead in this post, I just tried to share what I know and my thoughts about it.
To tell you honestly, we've not been to the louvre. Such a shame. Haha. My youngest was too small then and I was afraid he would just run around the place (and break things!) . Now that he is bigger, we are constrained by restrictions and I'm not too mobile now without a car. Hopefully soon, we can visit the Louvre and when we do, I will definitely share it here.
Hello Arlyn. No need to be intimidated by the technical aspects of architecture. Just remember this simple formula the next time you publish your stories here. One-half of your content must cover the fundamental architectural descriptions, backgrounds, and details (reliable online/offline sources can help you with this) of your featured built environments while the other half highlights your personal impressions, emotions, and experiences about those specific buildings. I hope this basic guideline would make your community experience more seamless.
No pressure with the Louvre in Abu Dhabi at all. Though this is one of the most spectacular landmarks you could visit, there are still other amazing works of architecture in that city that would surely captivate us. You can start with the smaller destinations, as long as the trip going there would be convenient for you and your family. I'm truly excited to experience your next architectural feature as I also hold plenty of cherished memories there. So, go ahead and surprise me! Have fun! 😊
OMG, now I'm more pressured. haha. I'm up for the challenge though so expect to see me here every now and then. 😉
Excellent! Let the games begin, lol 🤣
Dubai is my highest dream :D so expensive!
Put that in the bucketlist! ❤️
Abu Dhabi is a bit cheaper than Dubai, but yeah, still a lot expensive than it is in PH and perhaps there in Indonesia too.
I previously wrote about the cost of living here:
1 USD = AED 3.68
It really is a great show of the country's power to see this metropolis of skyscrapers with very modern designs.
From some of the images it looks like a model of how beautiful the blue skies and the glittering glass facades look.
Good work @arrliinn and thank you very much for sharing.
Have a great Sunday 😊
Thank you! Yes, the glass facade of the building complements the sky and light really well. :)
Fantastic shots of such an amazing city
Thank you! It really is amazing.
👍🙂👍
Most welcome
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Thank you!
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