Project overview
This page covers two villa projects on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, referenced PJFRK070 and PJFRK072. Both are G+1+R villas, meaning a ground floor, one upper floor and a roof level. On each, Wrenze Steel carried out the engineering for a villa extension and strengthening, working for Orient Crown Architectural Consultants as client and consultant.
The renders show modern villas with wide glazed walls, roof terraces and pools facing the water.
Our scope
Our scope on both villas was extension and strengthening of an existing building. This kind of work combines two tasks.
Assessing the existing structure. Before anything is added, we need to know what the existing villa can carry. That means reviewing the available drawings, inspecting the structure on site and checking the members that will receive new loads. Our team visits sites for this kind of work.
Designing the new work. The extension is designed together with any strengthening the existing structure needs to carry it, so that the old and new parts work as one building.
For projects in Dubai, we also handle Dubai Municipality (DM) approvals, which alteration work on an existing villa normally requires.
The structure
Extending a finished villa is different from building a new one. Every new load has to find a path down to the foundations through a structure that was designed without it.
Adding a floor area or a roof structure puts extra load on existing columns, beams and footings. Where those members do not have enough spare capacity, they need strengthening. Common methods include adding steel members alongside existing ones, bonding steel plates to concrete members, or enlarging sections. The right choice depends on the member, the load and how much disruption the owner can accept.
Steel is often the preferred material for villa extensions. It is light, which keeps added load on the existing structure low, and it can be fabricated off site and erected quickly with little wet work.
Connections between new steel and existing concrete need particular care. Anchors must be placed to avoid existing reinforcement and must suit the actual concrete strength.
Read about our structural assessment service and our work in Dubai, or request a quote for a villa extension.
