Semi Annual Report 2023, Issue 3

RM CREATING SINCE 1956

JM VALUE 1956 .

Table of Content

A word from the CEO

We are oversaturated with choice, even as it becomes clear that our world cannot sustain our demand for its resources. At RMJM, since 1956, we believe in bringing value into our projects rather than focusing on the quantity of built buildings. We believe in designing award-winning projects of various scales and complexity which withstand time and changing environments.

At this 3rd issue of RMJM’s Semi-Annual report, we elaborated on our Group’s achievements over the last six months and are proud to share that our teams across the globe keep delivering exceptional results and working on some of the iconic projects in the GCC region and beyond.

In times of various crises, our approach became more mature and serious in our pursuit of a design ethic that takes full cognisance of the unique nature of every project; that remains sensitive to the brief - and brings life to it. We want to work with our clients to imagine the very best architecture we can. In 67 years, our commitment to the principles of modernism, and our belief in the human dimension has never wavered.

PeterMorrison, CEO,MorrisonConsultingGroup

June 2023

Iamproudoftheteamworkacross all our different divisions that when comingtogethercreatestheheartof everyRMJMsuccess.

PeterMorrison, CEO,MorrisonConsultingGroup

Founded by Sir Robert Matthew and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall in 1956, RMJM Group is one of the largest, most geographically and culturally diverse architecture firms in the world. With studios across five continents, the RMJM family can share knowledge, expertise and design talent, enabling them to think quicker and act faster. Working stronger together, they are global enough to make a difference while still being local enough to be personal. Through their shared vision of success, RMJM has spent more than 67 years creating a legacy of world-class design.

Innovation

Abu Dhabi,

Innovation Hub, Dhabi, UAE.

Ningbo Yongjiang Innovation Centre: Sketches

Innovation Hub, designed by RMJM Dubai is successfully completed.

Hub, RMJM successfully

The Innovation Hub is strategically located and easily accessible in the heart of Masdar City’s tech and R&D cluster. The building offers a total of 4000 square meters (sqm) of leasable office space across three floors with the open-plan office space allowing for various fit-out options.

The offices follow a modular design, giving occupants the ultimate flexibility to decide on the area that best fits their needs.

An ideal location for any business, the building includes a dedicated lobby and a separate R&D service entrance. A parking area of 127 spaces is available for both tenants and visitors.

The unique design of the Innovation Hub presents a reimagined modern office. The space also offers a physical presence where flexible workplace and supporting services can be provided, acting as an educational facility where clients’ pioneering services can be showcased, and allowing for additional elements such as training rooms, test labs, or R&D spaces to be easily added. The first and second floor are fitted out to CAT A standard, and the offices are ready for occupancy and can be easily customized to meet the needs of your business.

Designed to be highly efficient, the building uses 40 percent less energy and water compared to similar conventional buildings. It also uses-low carbon and ecofriendly materials.

Access to daylight was an integral part of the design, which has created a connection to the local environment and reduces reliance on artificial lighting. Occupants will enjoy natural daylight and direct access to a courtyard that allows for drone delivery. The building also demonstrates innovation in flexible space, sustainable design, and technology, and can be adjusted to different programmatic functions. A sense of well-being is set from the entrance to the Innovation Hub as users and visitors are greeted at reception by a “living” green wall.

Innovation hub: Sketches

Zoning and programmatic massing on site as per the project requirements.

Building is split into two zones allocating research and development on the grouWnd.

Massing and program studied as per site Volumes reshuffled open corner front.

program distribution site context. reshuffled to achieve front.

Final massing restructured as per the requirements of the program.

Light wells are introduced creating two courtyards and naturally well-lit spaces around them following upon the principles of Sustainability.

Victory Gardens, Cukarica,

Gardens, Cukarica, Serbia.

RMJM Serbia shared design for the striking future-forward residential development Victory Gardens.

shared their striking residential Victory

RMJM SERBIA

Situated in a well-connected and accessible area of BelgradeCukarica municipality and located a few minutes’ drive from Gazela and the Ada Bridge - Victory Gardens serves an example of urban living in Belgrade. The prominent 3-stages KADENA Properties development spans across more than 210,800 m² of GFA and is surrounded by open views overseeing the generous vegetation of Cukarica municipality with a focus on various aspects of serving the community, promoting intergenerational co-living and connecting with nature.

The main facade comprises a smart geometry with optimal glazing areas and structural support requirements. The design choice of the balconies and terraces results in a playful exterior finish that also incorporates environmental considerations,

as light absorption and heat loss are meticulously controlled. Each balcony or terrace has been designed to capture a ‘contained view’ of the landscape and the apartments are configured in such a way that privacy is assured, yet natural light, views and external space are optimised. Total underground parking constitutes of over 1700 places and is placed below ground to create space for a large communal public realm, landscaped with trees, playgrounds, cafeterias and seating areas.

The façade lighting provides an after-dark identity for the residents and visitors of the Victory Gardens. Subtle, understated and elegant lighting enhances the key architectural features and structure of the building.

RMJM Serbia shared their design for the striking future-forward residential development Victory Gardens, located in a constantly evolving Cukarica municipality.

The façade lighting provides an after-dark identity for the residents and visitors of the Victory Gardens. Subtle, understated and elegant lighting enhances the key architectural features and structure of the building. The building elements will be addressed by varying layers of light. Each of these contributing to the overall lighting design and correlating with each other to create a wellilluminated building exterior.

With the driving philosophy of creating the healthiest and future forward development, the new buildings of Victory Gardens are designed to achieve ambitious sustainability goals.

RMJM SERBIA

The space is designed to promote mobility, encouraging walking, biking and alternative transportation, as well as offering close access to high schools, colleges, kindergartens, health centers, private clinics, banks, pharmacies, and more.

As residents and visitors walk through the site, they are surrounded by denser green spaces offering a sense of escape into an urban oasis.

piece: Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle.

Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle: Extending the Lifecycle of Purposebuilt Architecture

Below is just one example of the fleeting life some purpose-built structures have; The Rio Olympic Aquatics Stadium began construction in the second half of 2014 and opened in April 2016 (in time for the 2016 Olympics). Just seven months after Rio hosted the first Olympic Games in South America, on March 18, 2017, we see brown water fill the once practice pool, and weeds grow in front of an abandoned and already decomposing Olympic Aquatics stadium located at what was once the official Olympic Park, which has also faced the same desolate fate.

Purpose-built structures are constructed with specific events and purposes in mind, and as these buildings are often designed to cater to the unique needs of an event and as such their longevity isn’t typically a primary design consideration. This, in turn, means that after the event is over, the building’s fate is often uncertain. As shown above, it is not uncommon for purpose-built structures such as Olympic stadiums or EXPO buildings to be left unused, abandoned or even demolished, which is a significant waste of resources.

In recent years a plethora of articles have been published, investigating the unsustainable nature of purpose built architecture. This is for a variety of reasons including the aforementioned waste of resources, but also now more than ever, designing for longevity is one of the biggest steps in sustainable design we can take.

Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Designers and architects today are working as part of a society that is aware of the long-term repercussions of short-term decisions and at RMJM we are taking steps to strategically extend the life cycle of our projects. whether it is a purpose built olympic stadium or a mixed-use skyscraper. Repurposing purpose-built sites is an excellent way of extending the building’s life cycle while maximising the use of the resources that have gone into building them.

And as such, it is good news that research conducted by the IOC, following the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, found that 85% of all permanent venues used at the Olympic Games (from Athens in 1896 to PyeongChang in 2018) - as well as 92% of permanent venues used in the 21st century, including EXPOs and other similar sites- remain in use, long after the various Games editions finished, bringing social and economic benefits to local communities

Beijing Olympic Village, Beijing, China, RMJM Red

Repurposing as a method of implementing environmentally sustainable practices is one of the primary benefits of the practice. Constructing new buildings from scratch requires an enormous amount of resources, including energy, materials, and manpower. Repurposing an existing building significantly reduces the amount of waste and environmental impact that would be generated during the construction of a new site. Rather, the costs saved can be channelled into green features to further the sustainability of the site, such as solar panels, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting systems.

Furthermore, if in fact the site is unable to be fully repurposed, then the materials used in constructing the original building can also be recycled or repurposed if necessary. This would further reduce the carbon footprint of the project by lowering the need to produce fresh steel and other high CO2 construction materials. Alongside this, the environmental impact of transporting building materials to the site is minimised when using this alternative version of ‘locally sourced materials’.

In a wider perspective, there is also an abundance of local and global socioeconomic benefits when choosing to repurpose and extend the life cycle of purpose-built architecture. Firstly, structures such as Olympic stadiums are often located in areas that are in need of development and investment. Repurposing purpose-built buildings can revitalise the surrounding areas and provide economic opportunities for the local community. The repurposed building can attract new businesses, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the local economy- turning these sites into valuable community assets that continue to benefit society for years to come.

“Repurposing an existing building significantly reduces the amount of waste and environmental impact that would be generated during the construction of a new site.”

Olympic infrastructure has been transformed into public parks, museums, and convention centres, providing the community with valuable resources and attractions that bring people together and encourage community engagement while also creating opportunities for investment and development. A key example of this is the 2008 Beijing Olympic Village, first designed to comfortably accommodate over 16,000 athletes, which has since been redesigned as an expansive residential area (2).

Re-purposing purpose-built sites such as Olympic stadiums and EXPOs is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible way to extend a building’s life cycle. By transforming these facilities into valuable community assets, we can create new opportunities for economic growth, community engagement, and environmental sustainability, while also extending the legacy of the sites and what they represent. Ultimately, re-purposing these purpose-built buildings is a winwin situation for everyone involved, providing tangible benefits for the community and the environment while preserving valuable resources and assets for future generations.

Another prime example would be the UAE Pavilion which was project managed by RMJM Dubai for the Dubai Expo 2020, located close to the Al Wasl Plaza in central Dubai, UAE (3).

A true amalgamation of tradition and innovation, the pavilion is inspired by the falcon- the country’s national bird. This energy efficient building has 28 movable wings in the roof, which can spread to harvest energy through integrated photovoltaic panels (which convert solar radiation into electricity). The intricately designed site consists of 8,000 square metres of exhibition space and continues to host a variety of large events since it was first constructed.

UAE Pavilion, Dubai Expo 2020, UAE, RMJM Dubai

Yongjiang Innovation Centre, China.

Currently under construction the Yongjiang Innovation Centre spans across plots of land

the Ningbo Innovation across two

Currently under construction the Ningbo Yongjiang Innovation Centre spans across two plots of land and serves as a second phase extension of the built Yongjiang Talent Innovation Centre directly to the south of the site.

Currently under construction the Ningbo Yongjiang Innovation Centre spans across two plots of land and serves as a second phase extension of the built Yongjiang Talent Innovation Centre directly to the south of the site. As one of the important landmarks in the area, the project will work in conjunction with the completed Phase I of Yongjiang Talent Innovation Centre and the Ming Lake development to the east to form an exciting urban master planning framework for the future.

We envisaged the development as an archipelago of islands from which towers rise. This was a response the water network that is characteristic of Ningbo and the abundance of adjacent green spaces.

This approach reflects the flow of energy and interaction that makes a place and is essential to innovation and vitality. The planning of these islands created a high level of permeability at the ground level and a unique street level experience as the people meander through the development.

The sites are framed on three sides by landscaped parks, rivers and canals. These lush surroundings are allowed to flow uninterrupted into the site. The experience for occupants and shoppers is akin to a garden setting.

The masterplan is organised as an urban oasis with communal spaces nestled between the North and South buildings. Along the East-West axis of the development, public spaces and parks become the focal point for the buildings. All the elements are tied together by a feature platform on the second level which provides a vehicle-free connection between the towers and offers access to elevated views out towards the Houtang River, Ming Lake and surrounding parks. The placement of the functions in the MLP was in direct response to the dual characteristic of site being contrasting urban conditions being sandwiched between a primary city road and a scenic river.

RMJM Red proposed an integrated 3 tower office complex to the south facing onto the major road of Zhongshan road. The office towers have heights ranging from 33 to 69 metres tall. The 9 residential towers are placed around the other edges and address the Houtang river and surrounding green parks. With their heights ranging from 44 to 70 metres. There are also 2 retail pavilions that face the Houtang River. The proposed arrangement satisfied the various functional requirements and created communal spaces that add value to the residential component of the development.

“The proposed scheme has an organic architectural language which relates well to the phase 1 development. This creates cohesion between the three plots.”

The two plots are connected through an elevated landscape feature connected to the secondfloor platform.

Landscape elements extend into the towers through a series of open green platforms and sky gardens, forming a dynamic humanistic green social network that intertwines with the complex.

The challenge was to find the balance between privacy and permeability, between creating a development that sat harmoniously in its context and the desire to make the development a landmark. The design had to project a sense of urbanity but was made to be human and natural in scale and form. This was inspired by the position of the project being to the east of the New Financial District and being set within the natural surroundings of the nearby Ming Lake.

The brief called for 50% of the overall area to be residential and the remaining area to be allocated to offices and some supporting retail facilities.

The office functions are intended to serve small to medium-sized science, technology and innovation focused companies. The office design had to be adaptable and versatile to cater to the needs of growing companies. The residential units range from 90m² to 160m² with primarily saleable units and 20% units earmarked for rental to professionals working within the complex. There are 2 storeys of underground parking.

“The two taller office towers are also linked by bridges at different levels over the road with spans over 35 meters.”

At the ground level there are lobbies to the towers and retail units. At level 2 there is a landscape platform that ties all the buildings together forming a network of covered walkways at ground floor. This landscape platform connects the two sites allowing end-users to move freely throughout the development without interacting with the vehicular traffic. The proposal’s seamless connectivity between plots and connection to the surroundings sat well with all the project stakeholders.

The level 2 platform provides an extensive network of covered walkways at the ground level. The level 2 platform extends across the entire site and span over 35 meters across the road.

The second level platform provides cover for the retail on ground level and creates a separation between the open to public ground level circulation and the occupants of the buildings to ensure the privacy of the residential and office spaces. Various public and service facilities are located on the second floor as supporting facilities for the residential and office workers, including F&B, leisure activities and multipurpose spaces for startup businesses.

The two taller office towers are also linked by bridges at different levels over the road with spans over 35 meters. These are single level bridges that are placed in opposing diagonal orientations to one another. These were structurally challenging to resolve whilst maintaining the architectural expression. The office towers and the bridges frame the road and create a gateway gesture that welcomes people from the urbanity of the south through to the riverside setting to the north.

A VRV air-conditioning system is used for the office towers, and this allows for much greater control of conditioned spaces and a higher energy efficiency.

The VRV stack is placed on the west or east face of the towers to reduce low level solar penetration. The ventilation openings are integrated into the façade with glass louvres to create a seamless façade expression.

The suitable range for building orientation in Ningbo is 30° to the east and 15° to the west from true south. Within this range, the buildings can avoid the dominant wind direction in the winter and the harsh western sun in the summer. All residential towers within the project fall within this range which helps to ensure comfort and reduce the need for mechanical cooling and heating. Furthermore, the residential tower plans place the cores to the north, open to natural lighting and natural ventilation.

Construction is expected to be completed in early 2024.

Ningbo Yongjiang

Innovation Centre:

Sketches

Red Knote

Bridge, Zhejiang,

Knote Pedestrian

Zhejiang, China.

RMJM Milano’s Pedestrian Bridge China was shortlisted International Competition.

Milano’s design for the Bridge project in shortlisted for the

Concept Design

Ancient Chinese literature refers to the Zhaozhou Bridge as a “crescent moon rising from the clouds” or a “rainbow in the sky.” The Zhaozhou Bridge, with a span of 37 metres, is the world’s oldest open-spandrel arch bridge. The bridge remains in use today, and the ornamental posts and railings have had to be replaced every 300 to 500 years.

Located in Jiaxing, in the Zhejiang province, RMJM Milano’s proposal for the footbridge is based on a simple concept: to create a link between the south lake international and the central axis of the ancient city, crossing the Huancheng river and the railway. Integrating the newly designed bridge successfully and harmoniously into the landscape was a foremost concern. The main aspiration was to produce a contemporary yet timeless design. This mix of confidence and harmony is reflected in the rugged landscape and the fragile historical remains.

The bridge is a 300-metre-long, 5-metre-wide sculpture. Due to its undulating shape created from Chinese knots and confined landing space, it is pedestrian-friendly owing to its central axis. Despite its modern approach to design, the contemporary design maintains the tradition. Crossing the bridge is a new experience for visitors, as it shows the city from different angles due to its variable path. Pedestrians and cyclists share the same landing, so there is no disturbance to their regular route.

The bridge is at the height of 15 metres and 8 metres over the railway and the river, respectively.

It is made of flexible steel hollow pipe sections and 3D-printed ceramic panels on the outside. The goal was to demonstrate how a responsible approach to design can be used to address challenges facing the engineering, construction, and architecture fields. 3D printing will simplify the process. It is an efficient process that lets architects innovate designs and work more accurately and efficiently. It is possible to dismantle the blocks and rebuild the bridge at a different location since the structure does not require mortar. Afterwards, the components can be reused or recycled if they are no longer needed.

To decrease the site’s footprint, RMJM Milano created a flexible and adjustable steel structure that is easy and fast to install. The bridge’s basic skeleton is a triangular steel truss with pipes and the major axial load will be distributed evenly to a pile foundation. The rectangular steel hollow sections installed on the triangular truss operate as a supplementary component that helps to stabilise the building and provides pedestrian foot support. The external 3D-printed ceramic panels are merged with circular hollow pieces, which in turn are connected to the major and secondary structures.

In addition to preserving the ancient history and culture of historic China, the bridge also meets all the requirements of the Zhejiang province’s happy river system. By bringing together the ancient city centre and modern city centre, Jiaxing aims to create a central urban axis, the old city’s main central axis. This axis will incorporate pedestrian streets to connect the past and present. By landing on this bridge, the major urban axis will become more integrated.

This footbridge will improve the quality of life in Jiaxing’s Downtown Area. It will also enhance the image of Jiaxing’s central cultural axis. It will also provide the Jiaxing Section of The Grand Canal with walking, sightseeing, travel, and view appreciation opportunities.

By doing so, it will complement the ancient city and its surroundings, while seamlessly integrating modernity and adapting to changes in the future.

The proposed footbridge will further enhance the slow traffic system between Jiaxing’s historic town and South Lake by connecting both of them. It will promote the development of urban areas and improve the lives of the citizens.

The Pedestrian Bridge: Masterplan

The Pedestrian bridge: Models

Interviews: Young Architects RMJM

Young Architects at RMJM

Judy Jabbour: I think new technologies are interesting tools to explore and realize ideas, as well as fasten the design thinking process. But I also think there’s a huge exaggeration in the expectations we have of AI replacing human designers. As the design progress requires critical thinking, innovation, and specific solutions for specific situations, oftentimes architecture should also be considerate of the cultural and historical context of the location, which, in my opinion, is way too sophisticated to be translated into a simple, direct, and clear set of words or commands.

Hrishikesh Borse: I believe these new upcoming technologies are an extra benefit to architects. It has allowed us to explore new possibilities, enhance the way we design, ease the way we communicate, and help us collaborate better.

Sima Mounla: I think these tools will help architects improve their designs, but in my personal opinion, I don’t think they can replace the need for human architects. For that to happen, clients need to know exactly what they want, which never happens.

Amina Meslem: I agree with Sima that using these tools will become an essential skill rather than a replacement for architects to leverage in order to facilitate data-driven design decisions and allow for more time to explore design possibilities in a faster manner.

Noor Al Ashkar: I don’t think that AI is exaggerated, as it is still in its amateur phase. At the current time, it can only be used to bring different ideas to the table, whereas architects are the ones that are able to read the client and present accordingly. As mentioned by my colleague, plugging in a few commands into an AI-generated chat does not produce cultivated results, but in the future we can use these technologies to our advantage by learning how to program and control the AI to bring our vision to life in a shorter amount of time.

Q1. With all the technologies in place, what would be the future of architecture, in your opinion

Q2. What is the most important issue facing architects today ?

Amina Meslem: Architects have always been expected to be jacks of all trades, needing to possess diverse knowledge in many various fields and skill sets, but with today’s rapidly evolving world, the challenge comes in keeping up with all the latest tools and constantly staying up to date with all the advancements in different fields, including cultural considerations, Given the constant heavy workload and lack of time, it is often challenging to retain that status.

Hrishikesh Borse: Integration with the built environment is one of the issues we face when it comes to achieving contextual harmony. With limitations arising from factors like local regulations, client requirements, development frameworks, etc., it is often a complex task to maintain a sense of coherence with the surrounding built environment and simultaneously propose an innovative solution.

Sima Mounla: I think with the mass production of work, architects are expected to produce work in very short periods of time, which limits creativity and quality. It also creates a massive sense of “burn out”. Architecture in general is a very complex discipline with a lot of factors that need to be considered, and with those squeezed timelines, it’s pretty difficult to actually focus on every aspect while still thinking realistically outside the box.

Judy Jabbour: I believe architects are in a constant state of confusion because of the vague outlines that define our roles and tasks. That’s why we usually find ourselves working on tasks and developing skills that are of minor importance in the long run instead of learning about the new tools and technologies and spending the required time to develop our designs in a way that’s innovative, not only creative.

Noor Al Ashkar: Architects face different challenges depending on the location of their practice, but I believe what we might all face in common is that most clients don’t truly understand what the role of an architect really is, which results in devaluing the architect when it comes to building a new project. That is one of the factors that pushes the client to then provide tight deadlines and unrealistic expectations. Meanwhile, architects are the ones truly orchestrating most of the work.

Amina Meslem: Since RMJM has a history of breaking records, such as with Capital Gate, perhaps it could push boundaries with a mobile skyscraper, an innovative structure capable of changing its location to adapt to various needs and environments that would feature advanced engineering systems that enable it to move and reposition itself, allowing it to respond to urban development, changing city dynamics, and environmental considerations.

Noor Al Ashkar: Something unique, such as a high-profile, interesting landmark for the newfound world of technology.

Sima Mounla: I think it would be something high-tech, either a virtual reality museum or a tech company campus. Something iconic, basically.

Hrishikesh Borse: RMJM has a history of building iconic buildings; sixty years from now, based on the technological advancement happening today, it could be a fully self-sustainable district or a new futuristic city built on the principles of sustainability and advanced technologies.

Judy Jabbour: Since technology is developing rapidly, it’s difficult to predict what the architectural scene will be like in 60 years. However, I believe architecture will be more experimental, and our definition of spaces and buildings will be redefined. I imagine the projects will be dedicated to how we choose to deal with climate change.

Q3. Given RMJM’s 67 years of design history of iconic buildings, what building do you imagine RMJM will be designing in 60 years from now?