They use ice cubes to work the concrete
Guest blogger and architectural photographer Gerry O Leary writes about the first time he set foot in Dubai
It is exactly one year now since I first set foot in Dubai, I had heard all the talk and reasons as to why I should visit and how much work I would get there etc. So I just went. Eight hours of Aer Lingus (who no longer fly to Dubai) later, I arrived in Dubai International Airport and was struck by its enormous size. Protected from the elements by the ever-running air conditioning, it really hit me that I was in Dubai when I was greeted by the wall of ‘oven-like’ searing heat on exiting the airport. The taxi driver assured me that 36 (at this ungodly hour of 3am) was not really hot saying, “it reaches 50 in July & August”
Next morning as I walked Sheikh Zayed Road (the Champs Élysées of Dubai) and so impressed was I that my chin was on the pavement at the sheer size and design of the numerous towers that delineated the street, one more impressive than the next. I took the day to look around the city with the assistance of a local resident. The place is rather disjointed with a number of what I called sub-cities such as The Marina, Burj Dubai, Bur Dubai (Oldtown) Jumeirah and Deira to name but some.
I had heard that one quarter of the world’s construction tower cranes were in Dubai; I had my doubts about this. But to my amazement, in every direction I turned the skyline was spiked with cranes too numerous to count. The entire city is one huge construction site. It just had to be seen to be believed. It is just phenomenal!
They work round the clock too, usually pouring concrete at night, to avoid concrete setting in the mixers during the hot daylight hours. One engineer in Dubai told me they use ice cubes of various size in the mix instead of water to prolong the workable time of the concrete – an ingenious idea.
I went to Dubai not just to have a look and be amazed but also to seek international assignments photographing beautiful architecture. As with any business venture I did my market research and came up with a target audience. I was aiming high and looked for the top tier of architects. I had the right product to sell and once I got passed the bureaucracy of the first few levels of marketers and assistants I got quality assignments.
Now I travel to Dubai for approximately one week per month (except for July and August) and photograph their most iconic buildings. It is dream territory for me, great weather, fabulous buildings and the money is not bad either!
To view Gerry's unique architectural images visit his website http://www.gerryoleary.com/
Visit our Middle East construction jobs page to find the latest construction jobs and engineering jobs in Dubai.
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