Kenshington Krystal

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High performance materials chosen for malleability.

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High performance materials chosen for malleability.

P&T designs the gem of Dubai Maritime City.

Dubai Maritime City (DMC), the 450-hectare reclaimed peninsula located between Palm Deira and The World, will be the world's largest purpose-built centre for maritime commerce and business.

DMC will provide the full spectrum of maritime business including commerce, management, retail & recreation, maritime education/research and shipyard repair and maintenance.

The development is zoned to include six interdependent districts including Harbour Offices, Maritime Centre, DMC Marina, Harbour Residences, Industrial Precinct and the Academic Quarter.

In fact, Jadaf Dubai, the oldest ship repair and industrial marine yard in the Persian Gulf, will be housed within DMC's industrial section.

These districts combine to create one of Dubai's most dynamic mixed-use urban locations, built specifically for the living, working and playing of the emirate's maritime community.

Snaking its way up from the mainland and around the peninsula is Ahmed Bin Majid Road, which is a highway that circumnavigates the development and offers travellers-depending on direction-a seaside view on one side, and an urban landscape on the other.

Situated at the entrance to the Harbour Office district, the Kensington Krystal is the first visible structure one sees upon entering DMC. Financed by Kensington Real Estate (KRE) and designed by P&T Architects and Engineers, the 37-storey Kensington Krystal aims to replicate the unblemished beauty of a natural crystal.

"When looking at the building from the city, you're eyes are drawn to a crystallised object rising from the ground," says William Yuen, lead architect and director of P&T. "But when you consider the view from the water, it looks as if this massive crystal is rising from the water."

"The whole idea evolved from the idea of a raw black crystal. Black crystals exist but they are very rare," says Sawan Ravani, CEO of KRE. "We wanted something that wasn't polished to a shiny finish, but instead, something very raw; we wanted something very fresh."

According to specifications set forth by KRE, the form of the building was inspired by the Kensington 'K', which P&T then gently modulated into a series of faceted triangle planes.

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