Calatrava Looks East
Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava has been selected to design the pavillion of the United Arab Emirates for the Universal Expo of 2020 to be held in Dubai.
The shape of the buiing is inspired by the falcon, and like the falcon is to be self-sufficient in energy, relying on solar panels for its energy needs.
Covering an area of 15,000 metres, with 4 floors, the first stone was laid in December 2017 and the building should be ready at the end of 2019.
At the same time Calatrava is workingon a tower in Dubai Creek Harbour, shaped like a lily and worth a thousand million dollars, which will be built in the same area where the highest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, is located, and will be higher still.
Tom Cruise is apparently already planning on using it for Mission Impossible 2020.
Calatrava continues to push back the boundaries, and the Chinese are also enjoying his curves, with three bridges, called Xihu, Xianbi and Licong, which form part of the expansion of the city of Huashan, situated approximately 20 kilometres east of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in central China spanning a new canal, which is part of the River Yangtze,
These three steel bridges will span 1.5 kilometers of the new Yangtze River canal, will facilitate vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians between the two sides and along the banks of the rapidly developing city. The construction of these bridges is central to the development of Huashan’s new urban center.
The Xianbi Bridge, the middle of the three bridges, is 129 meters long with an arch extending 42.3 meters high with two traffic lanes with a support structure in the centre.
The westernmost Xihu Bridge is designed with a single and is 102.7 meters long. The easternmost Lincong Bridge, is 118 meters long and 26.1 meters high.
All three bridges have a pedestrian pathway, allowing pedestrians to cross the channel
Construction is expected to begin in late 2016.
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