dhk Architects have been commissioned to work with a team of South African consulting engineers in the design of a hi-tech Ozone Treatment Centre at Abu Dhabi. This is the fourth project to be handled by dhk beyond South Africa's borders this year. The new building, says dhk Director Paul Krynauw , will cost in the region of R100 million and will have some 13 000 m2 of internal space. It will, he says, be equipped with a range of exceptionally sophisticated medical equipment that embraces both mainline and alternative treatments. Most of these facilities, he said, will be duplicated because the local culture does not permit men and women to share medical facilities of this kind. In addition, an ultra-luxurious separate section will cater for the extensive royal family.

Krynauw said that much of the planning had already been completed by the time that dhk became involved: the siting of most of the facilities and the flow between these, he said, had already been worked out, but dhk's task was to streamline these and to ensure that the interiors reflected the rich Islamic artistic tradition while the exteriors bore witness to the sophisticated hi-tech nature of the centre.

This, he said , was essential because very few cities in the world have buildings as modern and as well-designed as those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai , almost all of which, he said, reflect a commitment to 21st Century technology.

"The big challenge facing any architect working in Abu Dhabi," added Krynauw , "is the climate. Temperatures in summer can go as high as 50° C and even in spring, when I was last there, the evening temperatures were above 30° C."

To counter these on the new building, where the East/West orientation exposes it to considerable sunlight, the facade will be protected by motorised aluminium louvres, adjusting automatically to sun angles. Almost no direct sunlight will ever be allowed to penetrate to the windows which, will be either double or triple glazed. The insulated reinforced concrete roof will be further protected by a floating louvred roof, keeping direct solar exposure to a minimum

Krynauw indicated that a start would probably be made on the new building by the end of September and completion can be expected by October 2005.

Asked to explain how it is that dhk is able to secure commissions of this nature beyond South Africa's borders, Krynauw said that the practice had built up a reputation for being sympathetic to and appreciative of a wide range of cultures and for being able to interpret client requirements quickly, correctly and efficiently.

"The South African engineers Kwezi V3, with whom dhk are working on this project, have proved extremely efficient and co-operative," said Krynauw. "Their permanent Abu Dhabi base is run by Bertie Vorster and is gradually winning contracts throughout the Middle East on account of the high standard of the their work."