[custom_adv] Earlier this year, Polish architect Krystztof Kotala, Founder of 8+8 Concept Studio, proposed to build an underwater complex situated offshore in the Persian Gulf, between the Burj al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah islands in the United Arab Emirates. The proposed structure will house seven courts, each with rooftop coral reef designed to build an illusion of a natural atoll. [custom_adv] While the innovative idea drew much interest from potential spectators, it also raised many technical concerns for engineers and developers. Sara Fray, Director of Engineering and Technical Services at the Institution of Structural Engineers in London, reportedly pointed out to MailOnline that the transparent ceiling would require a continuous pane of glass measuring at least 108 feet-wide and weigh “possibly a hundred tons” to accommodate the court and spectators. [custom_adv] Beyond these technical issues, the development is also extremely expensive to build. Estimated to cost a whooping $1.7 -$2.5 billion, according to Kotala in an interview with CNN, the architect believes the project to be a “combination of ecology, technology and sport” with strong commercial potential. Yet, there was no investor as of May. [custom_adv] In regards to the technical issues, the Polish architect noted that the curvature of the glass is not a problem. “It's a matter of using the right mullions (vertical bars between the panes of glasses) to build an airtight glass case.” The architect does not consider the refraction to be a major issue, as the variety of light or refractions is prevalent in the whole environment, not just under water. [custom_adv] Like the tennis court atop the Burj al Arab Hotel, this underwater version may also be perfect for a lighthearted exhibition match. But for a Grand Slam, the tennis fanatic in me would rather watch Rafael Nadal playing like a shark on court than the real live ones lurking around the ceiling. [custom_adv] Plans for an underwater tennis stadium off the coast of Dubai are set to move a step closer to reality this year, according to the Polish architect behind the much-hyped project. [custom_adv] This should be somewhere where there is the tradition of tennis. Dubai is perfect for this idea,” Kotala said in April 2015, referring to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which has been staged in the emirate since 1993. [custom_adv] This is high cost construction as once you are in a marine environment you also have to match corrosion… So you need high quality construction and high accuracy levels.
