Dubai Opera: automatic swing doors in maritime architecture
Theatre, concert hall, exhibition area and meeting point: Dubai Opera is setting culture lovers' hearts racing as the first multifunctional cultural landmark in the heart of Dubai. Functional GEZE swing doors fit perfectly into this unique building’s post-modern architecture.
Traditional shapes, futuristic design, state-of-the-art building technology
Like a gigantic glass ship, the Dubai Opera towers over downtown Dubai, in close proximity to the Burj Khalifa Complex and the Dubai Fountains, the world's largest fountains. Janus Rostock from the internationally active engineering and architecture group Atkins designed the spectacular building in a shape based on a dhow. The traditional Arabian ship shape honours the history of the Emirates, and combines tradition with contemporary design and functionality needs. This is also demonstrated by the automatic swing doors with Powerturn drives, which fit harmoniously into the post-modern architecture.
Dubai Opera: automatic swing doors in maritime architecture
State-of-the-art architecture and building technology in perfect harmony – Dubai Opera. © Nicolas Tohme / GEZE GmbH
Dubai Opera: automatic swing doors in maritime architecture
Dubai’s new cultural landmark: a 'glass ship' between skyscrapers. © Nicolas Tohme / GEZE GmbH
Dubai Opera: automatic swing doors in maritime architecture
Dubai Opera towers over downtown Dubai like a gigantic glass ship. © Nicolas Tohme / GEZE GmbH
Creative freedom thanks to GEZE swing doors with Powerturn drive
It is absolutely imperative for the Dubai Opera to entertain and enrich both the indigenous population, the international community who live and work here, and visitors from across the globe with first-class performances. With a 2,000-seat auditorium and banqueting facilities for up to 1,000 guests, flexibility, convenience and safety take maximum priority with regard to door solutions. GEZE Powerturn swing door drives combine a variety of functions, a discreet design and maximum door design flexibility in a wide variety of structural surroundings. They are the perfect door solution for the inclined glass façades, which are also based on the curved shape of the dhow.
Powerturn swing door systems by GEZE
Swing doors with GEZE Powerturn side-hung leaf drives fit harmoniously into the glass façade. © Nicolas Thome / GEZE GmbH
Powerturn swing door systems by GEZE
Swing doors with GEZE Powerturn side-hung leaf drives fit harmoniously into the glass façade. © Nicolas Thome / GEZE GmbH
Swing doors in the façade: Convenience and security
A total of 13 double-leaf swing door systems guarantee visitors barrier-free access to the interior of the Dubai Opera. The Powerturn side-hung leaf drives move the large and heavy glass leaves quietly, lightly and safely. Their unique Smart swing function enables Powerturn doors to be easily opened manually from the inside. The typical GEZE drive design, only 7 cm high, is as discreet as it is functional. The wide-opening emergency exits enable everyone to evacuate the building as quickly as possible in the event of a danger such as a fire – even if there is a power failure.
Secure emergency exits thanks to GEZE FTV 320 emergency exit lock
If the façade swing doors are not operated in automatic mode, they are kept shut by the FTV 320 emergency exit lock. The compact emergency exit lock occupies only minimal space in the very slim door sections. When the opening push button inside the building is activated, or if a signal is received from the fire detector central unit, the emergency exit lock is released and the Powerturn drives open the door leaves. With a total of three lock latches, the door lock offers an especially strong hold and safe unlocking even under high preloads - when escaping people are pushing against the door in a panic situation, for example.
Double award: Buildings and GEZE side-hung leaf drives
With two Plus X Awards to their credit, the Powerturn drives are the flagships of GEZE's range of swing door drives. Their award-winning quality could have played a part in the Dubai Opera also being singled out as an extraordinary building. The architecture and design magazine identity selected the Dubai Opera as 'Project of the Year' and 'Best Public Building' at the 'Identity Design Awards' at the end of 2016.
GEZE hold-open systems: Flexibility and security in building interiors
The numerous manual double-leaf swing doors which lead from the staircase hallways to the three upper storeys are required to provide barrier-free ease of access, fire protection and discreet design. GEZE hold-open systems were chosen as a door solution so that the doors can be left open, but shut automatically in the event of a fire. They electrically hold the doors open until they are closed either manually or by the triggering of a fire detector.
GEZE hold-open systems: Flexibility and security in building interiors
Security and convenience in building interiors: Hold-open systems with the TS 5000 E-ISM door closer systems and TS 5000 door closers. © Nicolas Thoma / GEZE GmbH
GEZE hold-open systems: Flexibility and security in building interiors
Security and convenience in building interiors: Hold-open systems with the TS 5000 E-ISM door closer systems and TS 5000 door closers.
Swing doors that can be held-open individually - GEZE door closer systems
Discreet design for contemporary swing doors: the GEZE TS 5000 door closer. © Nicolas Thome / GEZE GmbH
The GEZE TS 5000 E-ISM door closer system enables electromechanical hold-open with variable adjustment on both swing door leaves in the interior area. The hold-open angle for the door leaves can be individually set within in a range of 80 to 130 degrees, allowing the doors to be adapted to differing structural circumstances. The E-ISM guide rail, which is visible only when the door is open, ensures a continuous, discreet door design. It houses the electromagnetic (E)-hold-open function for both door leaves and an integrated closing sequence control, which can be set at various closing forces up to EN 6. If the door leaves' hold-open function is automatically triggered in the event of a fire, the closing sequence control guarantees reliable, secure closure. Naturally, all GEZE products in the Dubai Opera meet the current European standards and safety standards. This means that the TS 5000 E-ISM systems is also authorised for fire and smoke protection doors.
GEZE products in the Dubai Opera
- GEZE Powerturn swing door drive
- FTV 320 emergency exit lock
- Hold-open systems with GEZE TS 5000 E-ISM door closer systems
- GEZE TS 5000 door closer
