Our competition proposal for this scheme seeks to draw together a diverse range of facilities into a single, coherent building which is unmistakably architecture of the Gulf region.The site is in an industrial area to the south east of Abu Dhabi island and lies on both the aerial and vehicular routes between the island and Abu Dhabi airport; it can be accessed via the street or from the rooftop helipad.

Consequently it is important that the building has a recognisable identity from both the ground and the air - despite a relatively limited built-up area in relation to the overall site area.We aimed to balance the desire for an open civic identity with the need to provide high security protection for both staff and data, by covering the entire site with a spaceframe roof interlaced with cream, ochre and bronze-coloured anodised aluminium panels.

The buildings are also separated from the surrounding streets by a 30m wide buffer zone, while maintaining visual continuity through the use of a perimeter Ha-Ha. The roof provides shading across the site and offers sustainability benefits by reducing cooling loads. Additionally it presents a clear identity from the air and creates a temperate environment for landscaping, planting, staff cycling and amenity facilities - enhancing social cohesion and communication within the department.