Two projects by FXFOWLE Architects receive Architectural Review awards at Cityscape Dubai

Two projects by FXFOWLE Architects have received Architectural Review Awards at this year's Cityscape Dubai. The firm's India Tower, a new 60-story Park Hyatt and residential tower currently under construction in South Mumbai won the Award's Residential-Future Category; and the master plan for a 198-hectare site in Dubai for Nakheel Properties won Special Recognition in the Master Planning Category. The awards reward excellence in architecture and design from the emerging regions of the Gulf States, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America and South and East Asia (excluding Japan, New Zealand & Australia) and Latin America. Additionally, the awards recognize architects and other industry professionals who have shown outstanding designs, performance, vision, and achievement in key emerging market and project areas. This year's international jury, included Paul Finch, editor of The Architectural Review; Dr. Fatih Rifki, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design, American University of Sharjah, UAE; Dr. Suha Ozkan, chairman, World Architecture Community, Switzerland and Nabyl Chenaf, associate professor, American University in Dubai, UAE. "We are very pleased that India Tower and the master plan for Nakheel Properties have been recognized both for their design excellence and vision," said Sudhir Jambhekar, AIA, LEED, design principal at FXFOWLE. "Being honored by such a distinguished international jury allows these projects to set a high standard for future architecture and design projects in their respective countries as well as other emerging regions." India Tower is a new 60-story (301 meters) world-class Park Hyatt, retail, and residential tower located in South Mumbai, India. Developed by D B Hospitality Private Limited, India Tower combines architectural design excellence, environmental responsibility, and high-end shopping, dining, and entertainment options to create a dynamic new destination for local residents and international business and leisure travelers. The developer is committed to making the tower a United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold-rated project. The design concept for India Tower was informed by Mumbai's climate, the site, and the desire to create distinctive indoor and outdoor spaces with optimum views, inspirational settings, and personalized contemporary accommodations for all users. Designed to have the least possible impact on the environment, the tower will integrate current innovative sustainable systems and technologies throughout the building - solar shading, natural ventilation, daylighting, rainwater harvesting, and green interior finishes and materials - to make it one of the greenest skyscrapers in India. India Tower is currently under construction, and is expected to be completed in 2010. FXFOWLE's master plan for Nakheel Properties is a conceived vision plan that outlines a sustainable and culturally integrated development of approximately 198-hectares of land within a much larger mixed-use development along the Persian Gulf in Dubai, UAE. By stitching together the three phases of the vision plan, a systematic approach to pedestrian and vehicular circulation was taken and density was dispersed based on a reinterpretation of historical climatic, urbanistic, and architectural ideas. Responsive architectural massing was used to define the diverse building types. Along the water's edge, the visual fabric expands and is strongly articulated. The master plan is currently in detail design and key walls for waterways are under construction.