absorbent sandstorm skyscrapers envisioned to echo dubai's skyline while cleaning up its air

kalbod design studio envisions dust-collecting skyscrapers

Kalbod Design Studio’s Absorbent Sandstorm Skyscraper seeks to unite the patterns of the UAE’s tropical desert climate with its ambitious urban and architectural developments. Providing a sustainable structural solution to Dubai’s naturally occurring sandstorms by integrating creativity and technology, the Tehran-based studio conceptualizes a series of monumental towers that echo the city’s soaring skyline while cleaning up its air.

Led by a sustainable approach from design to functionality, the project proposes an area along Dubai’s main route lined with organically curving glass structures that capture harmful dust particles from the air and neutralize them. In addition to improving weather conditions, the project will play a vital role in reducing wider energy consumption, while becoming a research base to study the storms and provide better functioning solutions for the future.

Absorbent Sandstorm Skyscrapers clean up Dubai’s air | all images courtesy of Kalbod Design Studio

deep cavities absorb and neutralize soil particles

The Absorbent Sandstorm Skyscraper project consists of 25 towers along Dubai’s main route which will overlap and enhance each other’s functionality. With the key function to deal with the sandstorms in the region, the towers’ design process is inspired by their functionality. Their main structures consist of two deep cavities to absorb soil particles via magnetism, removing their electrical charges. As sand particles enter the cavities, they become attached to the smart particles inside the holes, which will open to a certain extent according to the storm’s intensity. Ensuring that all particles are neutralized, all their electric charge is absorbed in two different stages. Due to the larger diameter of the soil particles at a lower height, the lower cavity has a larger opening.

In a sustainable approach, the design team has also envisioned the installation of sand batteries in the tower’s facilities, enabling them to store energy for several months and be used even in other regional buildings. ‘Our ultimate goal is to create a multi-functional area centered on scientific research, and each tower will be dedicated to a specific position. The zoning will include residential use and research institutes for physics, aerospace, technology, biology, and medicine,’ notes the team at Kalbod Design Studio.

their main structures consist of two deep cavities to absorb soil particles via magnetism

the towers unite the UAE’s tropical desert climate patterns with its soaring architecture

25 towers will be lined along Dubai’s main route, overlapping and enhancing each other’s functionality

Kalbod Design Studio installs sand batteries, enabling the towers to store energy for several months

structural sequence

plans depicting the multi-use zones and programs

concept sketch

design sketch

project info:

name: Absorbent Sandstorm Skyscraper
architecture: Kalbod Design Studio

design team: Mohamad Rahimizadeh, Shaghayegh Nemati, Zahra Tavasoli, Fateme Shaerzadeh

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom