“The Monster” is a prototype that combines several thermodynamic concepts in one single entity. It is a response to site, program, and climate.  A conceptual architectural confrontation with Dubai combined with a strong thermodynamic approach form the driving concepts behind The Monster. Dubai is an immediately challenging site due to its scale, discontinuity, and overall indulgence. Finding contextual references as a source of identity is absent as Dubai’s growth has been exponential. 

 

Programmatically, The Monster houses 200 hotel rooms, gymnasium areas, pool amenities, and service areas. The 50 by 37 meter site is placed along Sheik Zayad Road, a main infrastructural artery. Furthermore, the site is roughly 2.5 kilometers from the Persian Gulf. The adjacency to both of these forces plays a role as multiple design strategies. Formally, a corrugated massing is implemented to provide self-shading from the harsh southern and western sun while giving the northern and eastern surfaces opportunities for exposure and outdoor spaces. In order to compete with many of Dubai’s monolithic forms, the facade is divided modularly and then aggregated based on program components. This division and aggregation allows for a contrasted articulation of the facade within the immediate context. 

 

Thermodynamically, strategies begin at the programmatic level as typically warmer areas, such as the thermal baths, are placed above the atrium to take advantage of hot air rising from the cooler areas below. This process of convection is facilitated by a temperature difference caused by the cool wind entering from the Persian Gulf.  Coral stone panels are used as a basic facade material to provide minimal solar gain through its high solar reflectance property. These methods along with an intelligent building form are the elements used to create The Monster.