Al Ain desert learning centre is shortlisted for international green award

Part of the expansion of Al Ain Zoo, the centre uses eco-friendly technology and is due to open to the public next year.

A family watches a white tiger at the Al Ain Zoo yesterday. The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre  at the zoo is in the running for an international award for sustainability. Delores Johnson / The National
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The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is in the running for an international award for sustainability.

Part of the expansion of Al Ain Zoo, the centre uses eco-friendly technology and is due to open to the public next year.

It has been shortlisted for the World Architecture News Sustainable Building of the Year Award, the zoo announced on Tuesday.

The architectural awards programme is the largest in the world, according to its website.

The centre will feature interactive exhibits celebrating the contributions of the founding President, Sheikh Zayed, towards the environment and will educate visitors about wildlife and desert traditions.

World Architecture News narrowed down 33 entries for the award to six, including hospitals and historic landmarks.

The organisation commented on the Sheikh Zayed centre’s “snakeskin-like aesthetic” and “really well thought-out material selection”.

Writing on its website, the group said: “What really stood out in the end was the overall simplistic incorporation of ancient techniques and authentic design to make this a truly sustainable building ... A great solution to the problem of sustainability in the harsh landscape of this area.”

Al Ain Zoo called the building the “crown jewel” of the expansion project. Designed by Chalabi Architects and Partners, a company based in Austria, it uses energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies such as solar panels and recycled water.

“The design is unique for the use of the environment,” said Muna Al Dhaheri, chief conservation and education officer at the zoo. “The design takes the full benefit of the sun’s movement, so we don’t use a lot of lighting.”

The building’s location was chosen because it was where Sheikh Zayed decided to open the first breeding programme for the Arabian oryx, a threatened desert species, Ms Al Dhaheri said.

The centre will also have a library focusing on the history of the people, plants, animals and environment issues connected with desert areas.

A project is under way to use the space surrounding the building to display animals native to the UAE, she added.

The zoo said the centre was applying for LEED platinum certification, a rating that evaluates the design, construction and operation of high-performance “green” buildings. It was also the first government development to receive a five-pearl rating through Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s Estidama system.

Ghanim Al Hajeri, director general of the zoo, described the centre as a national icon that “celebrates the history of the desert environment and how people can and have adapted to it”.

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