Yas Hotel
Asymptote Architecture

May 25, 2009 /

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Photo courtesy Asymptote

The Yas Hotel is built over an F1 race circuit. The hotel is made up of two twelve story towers, one being set within the race circuit, and another placed in the Marina itself, physically linked by a sculpted steel monocoque bridge construction that passes above the Formula 1 track.

The hotel's exterior surface is designed as an environmentally responsive skin that by day reflects the sky and surroundings and by night is lit by a full color changing LED lighting system that incorporate video feeds that are transmitted over the entire surface of the building.

The main feature is a 217-meter expanse of sweeping, curvilinear glass and steel covering that is made up of 5,800 pivoting diamond-shaped glass panels. This Grid-Shell component is a key aspect of the overall architectural design and significance of the project by producing an atmospheric-like veil visible from miles away. The Grid-Shell along with the bridge visually connect and fuse the entire Yas Hotel complex.

Photo courtesy Asymptote

Asymptote created and conceived of the building as an architectural landmark embodying key influences and local and global inspirations ranging 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.

Photo courtesy Asymptote

The hotel embodies various key influences and inspirations ranging from the aesthetics and forms associated with speed, movement and spectacle to the artistry and geometries forming the basis of ancient Islamic art and craft traditions, a perfect union and harmonious interplay between elegance and spectacle. The search here was inspired by what one could call the 'art' and poetics of motor racing, specifically Formula 1, coupled with the making of a place that celebrates Abu Dhabi as a cultural and technological tour de force./Asymptote

Photo courtesy Asymptote