UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways recently opened its Etihad Eco Residence, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-built, sustainable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) Platinum-rated cabin crew accommodation.

The project - the result of a partnership between the airline and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar - comprises 500 apartments in 11 buildings at the pioneering Masdar City development.

The residence reflects Masdar’s commitment to the three pillars of social, economic and environmental sustainability and is designed to promote biodiversity while minimising the use of ‘high embodied energy’ materials, explains Mana Mohamed Saeed Al Mulla, the chief group support services officer.

The use of local suppliers has also helped to reduce transport-related carbon emissions. At least 20 per cent of materials were either sourced or manufactured within 800 km of the project, she adds.

Mark Scoble, the head of in-flight performance and operations at Etihad Airways, says: “Our brief to the architects and designers of the Etihad Eco Residence was to create a development that is in line with the airline’s environmental principles as well as a safe, secure and commercially viable residential precinct that embraces our acclaimed cabin crew community, who hail from over 120 countries around the world.”

Officials inaugurate the Etihad Eco Residence

An enhanced microclimate, he states, has been created around each of the buildings using sustainable landscaping methods and massing the shape and size of the buildings, which captures the breeze for natural ventilation while offering protection from wind and dust. These features complement the urban environment and contribute to overall energy saving.

Each of the Etihad Eco Residence’s buildings has been designed using low environmental impact construction materials, which aid the reduction of strong sunlight yet maximise available natural daylight, says Scoble.

Solar hot water systems provide 76 per cent of the community’s water demand and the buildings’ design encourages greater water efficiency and the reduction of potable water usage, as well as smart waste management.

“This new residence offers high quality homes and a desirable cosmopolitan lifestyle in a sustainable urban environment. We are proud that this has now been made a reality for our flying family here in Abu Dhabi,” he adds.

The project was recently awarded ‘Sustainable Design of the Year’ at the 2017 Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) Mena Green Awards, and ‘Sustainable Construction Project of the Year’ at the Big Projects Middle East Awards 2017, says the Abu Dhabi carrier.

The complex offers comfortable, high-specification one- and two-bedroom apartments which include furniture and white goods provided by Etihad Airways.

Al Mulla comments: “The opening of the landmark Etihad Eco Residence underscores not only the importance we place on providing superior housing to our valued cabin crew, but also our responsibility, as part of the greater Abu Dhabi vision, to play a part in transforming the capital into a global leader in smart urban planning, clean energy and sustainability.”

Yousef Baselaib, the executive director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar, says: “This new development demonstrates how early project involvement by key stakeholders, including the end-user, developer, design team and contractor, results in a highly desirable end-product.”

“We hope Etihad Airways’ cabin crew enjoy the amenities at their new buildings, as well as those at Masdar City,” he adds.

Etihad Airways employs over 5,800 Abu Dhabi-based cabin crew. The opening of the Etihad Eco Residence reflects the airline’s crew accommodation strategy of providing superior, environment-friendly homes with recreational, dining, health and lifestyle facilities, conveniently located close to the capital’s international airport for ease of transport and operational efficiency.