Mick McConnell

The Iconic Greenhouse project resulted from Leeser’s winning proposal in an invited competition for production based greenhouse in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The greenhouse is sited in the extreme desert climate and challenges the difficult task of housing three separate biomes under one roof. The internal climates, drastically different than the local conditions, are contained within an ETFE membrane.

Three separate biomes (Mediterranean, Tropical, and Vernalized) are housed under one… Show more

The Iconic Greenhouse project resulted from Leeser’s winning proposal in an invited competition for production based greenhouse in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The greenhouse is sited in the extreme desert climate and challenges the difficult task of housing three separate biomes under one roof. The internal climates, drastically different than the local conditions, are contained within an ETFE membrane.

Three separate biomes (Mediterranean, Tropical, and Vernalized) are housed under one undulating roof. A continuous ramp circling each biome and a central atrium leading to the roof terrace allows for students and visitors to experience all climates in a single path.

The use of the polymer Ethylene tetraflouroethylene (ETFE) across the enclosure and interior of the building has allowed us to achieve maximum efficiency and minimum cost, while gaining flexibility in form and transparency.

The biosphere opened in 2015. Show less

Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi is located within the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. The hotel, designed by Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, principals of New York based Asymptote Architecture, consists of two 12 storey hotel towers, one set within the race circuit and another placed in the Marina itself, linked together by a monocoque steel and glass bridge and Grid Shell structure that both cross above and over the Yas Marina Circuit F1 race track.

Asymptote designed the building as an… Show more

Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi is located within the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. The hotel, designed by Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, principals of New York based Asymptote Architecture, consists of two 12 storey hotel towers, one set within the race circuit and another placed in the Marina itself, linked together by a monocoque steel and glass bridge and Grid Shell structure that both cross above and over the Yas Marina Circuit F1 race track.

Asymptote designed the building as an architectural landmark that embodies key influences and local as well as global inspirations that range from the aesthetics and forms associated with speed and spectacle to the artistry and geometries that form the basis of ancient Islamic art and craft traditions.

Of architectural and engineering significance is the main feature of the hotelʼs design: a 217-meter expanse of sweeping, curvilinear glass and steel facade known as the Grid Shell: it features an LED lighting system that illuminates all 5,389 glass elements individually, with an integrated control system that updates color and brightness of each glass pane 20 times per second. The Grid Shell is a key feature of the overall architectural design and significance of the project. It creates an atmospheric-like veil that is visible from miles away.

Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi was designed by Asymptote to become a significant and important landmark for Abu Dhabi. For the dynamic facade lighting design, the architects collaborated with Rogier van der Heide and his team at Arup Lighting. The lighting design was recognized with an AL Lighting Design Award for Outstanding Achievement and a "Highly Commended" Middle East Lighting Design Award, as well as a special "Citation for Achievement in Technical Artistry at the 2010 IES Lumen Awards Ceremony in New York City. Show less