This article was originally published on Domus 1077, March 2023.

The architectural language of Zaha Hadid Architects, with its dynamic forms and expressive curves, once again inhabits the United Arab Emirates, this time among the dunes of Sharjah and not in the sprawling and ultra-dense Dubai, where the two towers of the Opus hotel were the final major work by the Iranian architect. 

In 2013, the studio won the international competition to build the new HQ of the Beeah Group. The main goal was to design a building that would have net zero emissions and be complemented with cutting-edge technologies to achieve a new standard in employee comfort and collaboration. 

The studio was acknowledged for its ability to integrate the iconic forms of the design into the natural landscape of the Emirates thanks to complex artificial systems. These were conceived starting with the application of the latest construction technologies and by creating a sustainability model that represents the group, which works in the field of renewable energy. 

The building covers a surface area of 9,000 m2 and includes two central structures that blend in with the desert landscape. The interior design was entrusted to ACPV Architects. Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel adopted a holistic vision of the space and gave preference to fluid and dynamic solutions.

“The innovation lies in the details, in designing particular furnishing elements for the Beeah HQ,” says Citterio. “The workspaces were custom-designed down to the smallest details, so as to adapt the characteristics of the furniture to the needs of each person.” 

Sustainable furniture and finishes were chosen that satisfy the standards for LEED and WELL certifications and Cradle to Cradle criteria for the entire lifecycle of the furnishings: the ID Chair by Vitra designed by Citterio, intended to favour the use of the body’s central muscles, and the customised desks designed by UniFor that allow the greatest flexibility. In addition, circular workstations in the distinctive “butterfly” shape dialogue with the building’s organic architecture. Acoustic micro-perforated partitions ensure privacy.