Creative or utter iLousy?

Earlier this month Omniyat Properties previewed their planned 230 apartment development, ‘The Pad’. Models of the building, to be designed to look like an iPod MP3 player, were on display at Dubai’s International Property Show 0n 3-5 April.

As an intelligent building the Pad will demonstrate prime specialisms of Omniyat Properties ultimate parent, Almasa Holdings, namely IT and real estate. Also known as ‘iPad’ the building will include lofts, studios and one and two-bedroom apartments. According to Bloomberg (25th April), apartments will cost up to AED 9m ($2.5m). The smallest units start at 581 sq. feet.
Starting prices according to Dubai based realtors GoWealthy.com are as follows:
Studio US$343,6881 Bedroom US$362,3722 Bedroom US$901,158

Currently two-bedroom apartments in the more conventional West Wharf development (also in the Business Bay area) are being sold for around US$550,000. This is a development by Corporate Finance House scheduled for completion about a year ahead of the Pad.
Futuristic intelligent features of the Pad will include the following:
• Rotating living and dinning rooms so as to enjoy views on either side of the waterfront building

• Virtual panoramas from other parts of the world projecting on windows (iReality)• Video-conferencing in the dinning room

• Reactive lighting able to respond to your mood or even to telephone calls (iAmbiance)

• Bathroom health monitoring equipment

The purpose of room rotation is aesthetic rather than the space-saving device developed by Luigi Colani in Germany in recent years. The 360 degree views referred to in the Omniyat Property press release are not clearly reflected in all of the floor plans but the feature will certainly allow for the flexible use of the accommodation. Some apartments appear from floor plans to also include rotating double beds.

At the time of its launch Omniyat made clear that it hopes to incorporate robotic features into its developments such as robot vacuum cleaning but that seems to be some way in the future.

Facilities for residents will include a retail area, parking, the iClub, swimming deck, media Jacuzzi, underwater concert, media deck chairs, aerobics section, lap pool, half basketball court, running track, barbeque & gathering Area.

My iTake : I think iTs purely iWeird. iT may sound iHi-tech but to me, iT has nil iArchitectural value.

Steve Jobs: Let's see whether iTunes can go iPhysical here.

A disturbed iJunihaoni