The "Officers'Club" complex, which has been the object of an intemafional competition, is implanted on a 60 ha site on the island of Abu-Dhabi along the main access road to the city of Abu-Dhabi.


The importance of this program where receptions, lodging of the hosts, different sports, cultural activities, and technical arrangements indispensable to the working of this complex represents a unit probably unique in the world. A lot of local and international companies participated in this project. Nearly 2.500 workmen have worked for it for several years.


The Club House

To make the largest " modem tent ", with 85,000 m² of floors on a covered an area of 25,000 m² which is based upon six peripheral abutments, was a technical challenge that both architect and engineering had to take up. The adjunction of 700 reception units in the form of a hotel where nature took a large part and answered the functional demand of such a complex where junior and major suites have been made in this capacity. This reception unit, even being part and parcel of the Club, is divided into two symmetrical wings of four levels. An inner way with a large size full of vegetation and walkways agreably greeted the eyes of any visitor or resident.


The natural light largely illuminates the whole inner garden. Trie vast outer garden developed inside the two wings and forming the hotel part has been arranged to receive covered promenades with lawns, alleys, hedges, alleys covered with marble gravels and huge fountains which will make this place, sheltered from the winds, a relaxation one for the residents.

The access of the club through its plant promenade where palm-trees and flowers define on a mineral geometry coming from the foundations of the architecture of the Club completed by granite steles bearing all the poles, flags and lighting finish off the monumental aspect of an entrance which is due to be majestic.


30 ha of gardens and approaches will complete this outlying environment. A lot of parkings will be developed, a golf and a marina will be built on the available surface. If architecture defines this space with very large volumes meeting the requirements of the climate, the natural light will be one of the prevailing factors of this building. With the communion of the shapes, the sea and the close desert, this place is favorable to the actions of a large community.


Functional concept

Lower level :
On the lower level are to be found the technical installations : electric transformers, air conditioning, Kitchen for 2.000 guests, stores, etc...

Level of the sports activities :

• olympic swimming-pool,
• swimming-pool for children,
• competition gymnasium,
• bowling,
• table-tennis,
• squash, judo, canoe, kayak,
• hammam,
• shooting-ranges,
• shops,
• nursery.

Level of the reception :

• gardens with fountains,
• theater with 700 seats,
• conference room with 200 seats,
• bar / cafeteria / lounges / majlis,
• dinning-room for 700 persons,
• several galleries and terraces for receptions, exhibitions,
• presidential majlis,
• gaming-room / billards / etc...,
• library, an information-processing room,
• civil and military administration units.

The lodgings

The lodgings offer 700 units, including junior and major suites. They are grouped in two symmetrical four-stories ensembles ; each one of those ensembles comprises two curvilinear rows of apartments with an inner garden between them, under a translucent canopy ; the access to the suites is through alley-ways running at each level, along that inner space of green and dry gardens, fountains, hedges. They offer a relaxing atmosphere, defying the sometimes harsh conditions of weather in summer and winter.


Technical building

In that building are to be found all the equipments for refrigeration and fire-fighting, from which pipes irradiate in culverts to all the buildings. Important technical galleries distribute pipes along kilometers.


Technical conditions :

The size of the works may be stressed with a few figures :

• foundations :
• 55,000 1.m. of foundation piles, driven to 20 m. under the Club, the lodgings and the technical building ;
• 6 giant caissons supporting the arches of the Club building ;


• structures :
• 11,000 tons of steel tube scaffoldings have been necessary for the centering of the arches ;
• 28,000 tons of re-bars have been used in the complex ;
• 200,000 cubic m. of concrete have been used for the structures of all these works ;


• finishing :
• 65,000 sq.m. of marble facings have been imported from Carrara (Italy) ;
• 30,000 sq.m. of mosaic ;


• façades :
• 8,000 sq.m. of glass facades have been erected, with an hinged structure allowing for thermal movements :


• backfill :
• 2,000,000 cubic m, of backfill.

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