The World starts to take shape
We speak to Kleindienst Group chief executive Josef Kleindienst after the developer became the first to break ground on Dubai’s The World development, last month, with the start of construction on Germany
Kleindienst Group paired with engineering contractor Foundation Construction Group Ltd (FCG) last month to start work on The World’s Germany Island in Dubai, which makes up part of the developers’ Heart of Europe project. The developer was the first to break ground on the Nakheel-owned development, having started the soil-improvement operation; vibrocompaction.
The process involves the use of electric depth vibrators that mechanically agitate and lock sand particles together at seabed level (18- 20m deep), to ensure construction on the island is stable and sound. “Once vibro-compaction — a standard procedure in the densification of reclaimed land — is complete and the next step in soil testing has been conducted, foundation work for villa construction will begin,” Kleindienst chief executive Josef Kleindienst told The Big Project.
“While we are the first developer to begin construction, we are aware of several more that are not far behind us. The World project is very real, it is taking shape as we speak and I firmly believe that when complete it will become the most expensive property in the emirate of Dubai,” he added. Furthermore, Kleindienst said: “We will be announcing the development of our next island soon, and construction of this particular island — which is a totally different concept to Germany island — is scheduled to begin before the end of Q1. Since the launch of The Heart of Europe project in December, we have met every deadline set for the project and we hope to continue doing so until its completion in 2015”. In fact, Kleindienst said he expected to be living in a villa on Germany by the end of the year.
“We have 11 investors who have already bought villas on the island and there is a healthy level of interest for the remaining nine,” he added.
The Heart of Europe is a six-island, 12-site luxury holiday development situated on the islands of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, St Petersburg and Sweden. When complete it will house 75 holiday homes, six apartment buildings, hotels, lighthouses and floating palaces.
