Tabreed has converted its Al Maryah Island plant into a 3D mural showcasing Arabian oryx and Arabian sand gazelle
Tabreed has taken a unique step by transforming its plant on Al Maryah Island into a 3D mural. This artwork, featuring Arabian oryx and Arabian sand gazelle, not only reflects the beauty of nature in the UAE but also showcases Tabreed’s innovative approach to district cooling.
Tabreed’s Al Maryah Island plant supplies a roster of clients, such as Cleveland Clinic, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Four Seasons, Galleria Mall, and Abu Dhabi Global Market, with essential district cooling services. The plant was suggested to be an ideal canvas for a new artwork; Abu Dhabi has been building an enviable global reputation in recent years.
Tabreed’s Strategic Communications department, in a collaborative effort, engaged with several local artists to seek design proposals. This led to the selection of the renowned, self-taught Emirati artist, Saggaf Alhashmi, for his 3D concept featuring two of the UAE’s most famous residents: the Arabian Oryx and Arabian Sand Gazelle.
Khaled Al Qubaisi, Tabreed Chairman, acknowledged the challenges faced in the project. He said: “The result is, I’m sure everyone will agree, extraordinary. We have transformed what was previously an unremarkable, utilitarian building into a thing of profound beauty that will bring residents and visitors joy for many years to come. Saggaf’s concept has been faithfully transferred to functional surfaces and designed to aid in the district cooling process, which was a Herculean challenge for everyone involved, but the efforts have been well worth it.”
Saggaf Alhashmi said: “Al Maryah is named after a famous oasis region in Abu Dhabi, Al Mariyah, named after the species of Arabian deer which live there. It struck me that we could use the mural to bring the Al Mariyah deer to Al Maryah Island, celebrating the link between the life-giving oasis and how Tabreed uses air and water to cool the island today.”
Work was completed on 20 April, carried out by six artists using three boom cranes at 35 metres above ground to access the 7,140 louvred panels being painted. By the time the area had been cleaned, prepared and painted, a total of 7.2 sq km had been worked on. Fifty-two different colours were used to recreate Alhashmi’s vision, with more than 4,800 litres of paint applied over 47 working days.
Khaled Al Qubaisi said: “Tabreed has a well-deserved reputation for environmental protection through its sustainability-led energy efficiencies, preventing millions of tonnes of carbon emissions. Yet there is more to environmentalism than mitigating climate change and improving air quality – architecture and urban design are also important to our quality of life. And, as Tabreed’s Chairman, I am proud to see the company setting itself apart from its competitors, embracing change, accepting challenges and overcoming them to retain its position as the world’s leader in district cooling.”