Dubai - boomtown for extravagant architecture

Extravagant architecture and futuristic urban planning characterize the face of Dubai, one of the world's most dynamic metropoles. Dubai has the only seven-star hotel in the world, the biggest gold market in the Middle East, a bustling economy and an abundance of leisure opportunities. And the latest futuristic project - Palm Islands - is already being celebrated as the Eighth Wonder of the World. In order to lengthen the emirate's current 70-kilometer coastline, two 10-kilometer long islands are being built in the shape of palm trees which will increase Dubai's shoreline by 120 kilometers. This Monaco of the Orient will be ready in the course of 2004 to welcome wealthy visitors with beautiful sandy beaches and noble villas, luxury hotels and leisure areas. And this emirate of unlimited possibilities will attract attention in the near future with an even more spectacular alternative. Hydropolis, a luxury underwater hotel, is due to be opened in late 2006 at a depth of 20 meters around 300 meters off Dubai's Jumeirah coastline.

This is what makes Dubai the pearl of the United Arab Emirates. It is cosmopolitan and dynamic, yet also picturesque with its unique blend of modernity and tradition. This is why the city has rapidly developed into the choice destination for an exclusive class of tourist. The prognosis is for 15 million holidaymakers in 2010. And an end to the construction boom is nowhere in sight, since the emirate is also working at full speed to advance its status as an international centre for business, commerce and banking.

New representative office opens on 1st May

It is against this background that the world's leading technical weaving mill GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG, Düren/Germany will open its own representative office in Dubai on 1st May 2004. GKD Middle East Ltd., run by the architect Wasim Kudsi in the German Centre, will form a further international outpost of the German parent company. Founded in 1925, the owner-managed technical weaving mill has seven works - two in Germany, the rest in England, Ireland, Spain, the USA and South Africa - as well as branches in France and China and agents all over the world thus ensuring local presence in the most important markets worldwide. Technological leadership and the consistent definition of new business areas are the reasons for the leading international position of the company's three business units: filtration and separation; process belt technology; and metallic fabrics for architecture and design.

GKD has already accomplished numerous prestige projects in the United Arab Emirates with its architectural wire mesh CreativeWEAVE®. The staircase cladding of the grandstand at the Nad Al Sheba camel race track was created using the mesh type Tigris, as were the "Jewel Boxes" of the suspended ceiling at the Dubai Convention Centre. The façade of the International Hotel at Dubai International Airport is veiled by a shimmering metallic curtain made of Sambesi mesh. On Palm Island, the semitransparent ceiling made of the metallic mesh Lago gives the representative office an exclusive, spacious atmosphere. Filigree Mandarin mesh made of bronze adorns the walls in the Equestrian Club of the Royal Family Abu Dhabi. The woven metallic carpeting Tatami, named after the Japanese straw matting which inspired it, lends a subtle design note to the Health Club in Abu Dhabi.

CreativeWEAVE®: brilliant aesthetics, convincing functionality

The textile-like structure of GKD architectural wire mesh - supple, flexible, reflective, transparent or opaque - provides endless design scope for planners. Furthermore, the material is fire-resistant, maintenance-free, practically unlimited in its service life, insensitive to impact and easy to clean. Even the salty sea air, the sandstorms or the glaring heat of the Persian Gulf can do nothing to impair the eternal beauty of the metallic fabric. Wire mesh also offers special qualities when it comes to acoustic insulation, the reduction of draughts and the construction of sunscreen elements.

At the Hotel Show in Dubai from 17th to 19th May, 2004, GKD will be presenting the company's latest development: Crystal Weave, a metallic mesh with Swarovski crystals woven into it. With accentuated lighting, this unique material combination - used as wall cladding, partition screens or ceiling elements - gives rooms a fascinating visual note which is transformed from one moment to the next into something completely new.

Architectural wire mesh leads the way

"With the new representative office, we are now showing our colours after years of presence in the Arabic countries", says GKD Managing Director Dr. Stephan Kufferath, explaining the strategy behind the opening of the new representative office. Closeness to the customer has always been the company's motto. "We believe that there will also be sustained growth in the architectural sector in Arabic countries." he continues. "The second step will then be to see whether, in the long run, our two other business units can also be successfully positioned here."