We all thought that Dubai’s mind-blowing architecture had reached its apogee with its iconic skyscraper – the Burj Khalifa.

But the impeccable architects in Dubai never fail to surprise us! According to the latest scoop, a Dubai-based architectural firm is planning an all-new construction project.

This new project would technically be a giant ring – built 550 meters up in the sky. As per our received details, this new project will circumvent the existing Burj Khalifa tower.

Built-in 2004, Burj Khalifa is the tallest building globally, with a height of 828 meters.

It is one of the main tourist attractions in the exotic city of Dubai. If we put it this way, Dubai is synonymous with Burj Khalifa.

You think about Dubai, and Burj Khalifa pops up in your mind instantly, and vice versa!

This archetypal skyscraper is truly a site that you should visit at least once in your lifetime by getting a UAE visit visa.

However, it seems like we are about to have another attraction in the city known for its fascinating architectural landmarks. 

The project (which is still in its conception stage) is none other than Downtown Circle.

It has already created a lot of buzz in the minds of architecture-loving individuals who found out about this offbeat project through the world wide web, just like we did!

What is the Downtown Circle project in Dubai?

As per a piece published on Luxury Launches website, Dubai will soon get to see another exceptional architectural site called “Downtown Circle.”

While Dubai is mainly known for its soaring skyscrapers, the Downtown Circle is said to have more of a round center with a large ring hanging right above the city’s streets, defying all laws of physics!

This tall building, with a splendid look from the outside and the inside as well, will have a circumference of 3000 meters (somewhere around 9800 feet and approximately 3 kilometers area) which 5 gigantic pillars from all sides will support. 

The building’s 5-floored interior structure will encompass several innovative spaces, including office spaces, a SkyPark, commercial spaces, and living spaces, i.e., housing.

It is being designed by an architecture firm named Znera Space in collaboration with Pictown Architectural Visualizations.

They are the creators of the concept images of this building that are going viral on the internet.

In a media statement, the founders of Znera Spaces – Najamus Chowdhry and Nils Rams said that they wanted to explore the fundamentals of how restricted communities develop in a horizontal environment.

Since the whole urban area of Dubai is already so crowded with the “concrete jungle” as some call it, the only ideal way to execute this concept was through the Downtown Circle project. 

Znera Spaces took to Instagram to reveal the concept visualizations of the project to the world, captioned, “As a response to the dilemma of how to build densely while retaining liveability, the downtown circle project establishes a sustainable and self-sufficient vertical urbanism.

As a singular mega building complex, it aims to create a hyper-efficient urban center that gives back to the environment.

The proposed 550-meter tall megastructure offers an alternative to the singular and unconnected high-rises found in most metropolitan areas.”

Talking about the origin of the idea behind this project, the founders said, “When COVID-19 hit all of us hard, we thought a lot about ways to adapt to our new situation and how we can create better urban planning,”

“We examined garbage disposal, food production, traffic problems, and pollution. We put all these things together and came up with the concept.” They further added. 

The founder-duo also mentioned that with this project, they aim to create an efficient (more like self-sufficient) urban hub that gives back to our mother nature.

We believe that the concept of sustainability and being good to the environment will be the core values of this proposed project in Dubai.

Once this project becomes a reality, it might inspire many other architectural firms to adopt the same sustainable approaches toward building modern-day architecture projects.

It will bring a positive change in how we see Dubai as an improbable green city in its present condition. 

As for the Skypark between the two rings, which would be a “green lung” of the city, the founders are planning to make it a natural landmark where people can enter and come in contact with nature.

The Skypark will have a series of research and activities centers, offices, and cultural, science, and education zones.

This hybrid space would form a new type of contemporary symbol for the city of Dubai that would attract visitors worldwide. 

All the visitors of Downtown Circle will be able to move around the 3 kilometers long space with some railway system where the trains will travel at up to 100 km/hr.

For sustainability measures, the architects are planning to install solar panels that will generate electricity for the whole building, reduce the power load on the grids, and install rainwater harvesting systems to collect, recycle and save water. 

When will the Downtown Circle Project in Dubai be ready?

Right now, the Downtown Circle project is not government-backed and is still very much in the ideation and conceptualization stage.

However, with the concept visuals we have seen on the internet, we are now all ears to receive new developments about this project.

Its stellar architecture would make this site the next Burj Khalifa of Dubai – but in a more environmentally-friendly way!

The founders of its architectural firm Znera Spaces, have not revealed any specific details yet regarding the launch timeline of the Downtown Circle project.

According to an online portal, World Buildings Directory, the construction of Downtown Circle may be completed around 2040. 

Znera Spaces might have a hard time bringing this project to reality if the government of UAE doesn’t back this project up. Either way, we are totally elevated to see this project coming alive.

About The Author

Robeena Brown is a travel blogger & destination expert living in UAE and works for local tourism companies like Arabiers.

If you have been looking forward to touring Dubai, getting a visa, extending stay, and exploring the city, you can follow her on social media.