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Al Hamra & Firdous Tower Kuwait : Skyscraper

Al Hamra & Firdous Tower - design by SOM

Al Hamra & Firdous Tower Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP 2011 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait 20 Jan 2012 Named by CTBUH as one of the The three tallest buildings to complete in 2011: Skyscrapers Kuwait City Tower images © Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Kuwait City Tower Rising 412 meters in the center of Kuwait City, Al Hamra & Firdous tower is a landmark tower of iconic sculptural form that offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf. The purity of its form, expressed by a simple operation of removal, will be a timeless, elegant marker in the heart of Kuwait. With the aim of maximizing views and minimizing solar heat gain on the office floors, a quarter of each floor plate is chiseled out of the south side, shifting from west to east over the height of the tower. The result reveals a rich, monolithic stone at the south wall framed by the graceful, twisting ribbons of torqued walls, defining the iconic form of the tower. The building’s appearance resembles a subtle, elegant modern sculpture or an enshrouded figure with its delicate glass veil reflecting the profile of the peninsula. The resultant form will provide transparency on the north, east and west sides towards the Gulf and near-complete opacity side against the severe desert sun to the south. The solid south wall is generated in order to decrease the solar radiation. Openings are based on the relationship of the envelope and its position in relation to the sun. The geometry of the interior wall is generated and responds to the need to minimize solar heat gain. This wall not only protects the building from critical environmental conditions, but also takes on the role of the structural spine of the building. The point at the apex of the tower not only resolves this complex geometry of the carved flared walls but also implies the continuation of the sculptural form infinitely upwards. On each floor of the tower a skybridge connects the two wings and presents a dramatic spatial experience with deep sculpted windows in the south wall providing dramatic views south towards the city, the peninsula and the infinite desert beyond. The tower will welcome tenants with a soaring 20-meter tall lobby featuring a high articulated lamella structure which supports the tower above and articulates the space below. The geometry of the lobby area is generated by applying the principles of lamella structures. The structure provides continuity from the building to its footing and acts as a strengthening component while being completely integrated with the structure. Al Hamra & Firdous Tower Kuwait - Building Information Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Status: on site Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Size: 195,000 gross square meters (approx. 2.1 million gross square feet) Height: 412 meters (1,381 feet) - 74 storeys Completion Date: 2011 Al Hamra & Firdous Tower - Key People Client/Developer: Al Hamra Real Estate Co. Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Gary Haney, AIA Design Partner Peter Magill, AIA Managing Partner Carl Galioto, FAIA Technical Partner Donald R. Williams, AIA Project Manager Aybars Asci, AIA Senior Designer Mark Igou, AIA Senior Technical Coordinator Dean MacKenzie Designer Samuel Ness Technical Coordinator, Eric Van Epps Technical Coordinator, James Mallory, Noppon Pisutharnon, Yasemin Kologlu, Souraya Daouk, Tobias Schwinn Associate Architect: Al-Jazera Consultants Structural Engineer: Skidmore Owings & Merrill LL Mark Sarkisian, Structural Partner Neville Mathais Aarom Mazeika, Senior Structural Engineer MEP Engineer: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Roger Frechette, PE, LEED AP Director, MEP Engineering Philip Sawyer, Senior Mechanical Engineer Ermenegildo Di Iorio, Senior Electrical Engineer Michael Scotter, Mechanical Engineer Project Manager: Turner Construction Co., International General Contractor: Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Co. Telecom, Acoustics, Security, IT: Shen Milsom & Wilke Vertical Transportation: Van Deusen & Associates Lighting: OVI (Office for Visual Interaction) Façade Maintenance: Entek Engineering Renderer: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Al Hamra & Firdous Tower Architect : Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

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Al Hamra & Firdous Tower - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

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