Named One of the Best Inventions of 2011 by Time Magazine, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s (SOM) Al Hamra Firdous Tower will be the tallest building in Kuwait. The iconic structure appears to fold into itself, creating an efficient form designed to maximize views and minimize solar heat gain. The commercial complex will be complete early this year and is comprised of offices, a health club and a high-end shopping mall with theaters and a food court. Continue reading for the architect’s project description.

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Client / Developer: Al Hamra Real Estate and Entertainment Co., Mr. Abdulaziz Alhumaidhi

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

Site Area: 10,000 m2

Size: 195,000 m2

Height: 412 m (74 stories)

Completion Year: 2011

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.

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Design Partner: Gary Haney, AIA

Managing Partner: Peter Magill, AIA

Technical Partner: Carl Galioto, FAIA

Project Manager: Donald R. Williams, AIA

Senior Designer: Aybars Asci, AIA

Senior Technical Coordinator: Mark Igou, AIA

Designer: Dean MacKenzie

Technical Coordinators: Samuel Ness, Eric Van Epps, James Mallory, Noppon Pisutharnon, Yasemin Kologlu, Souraya Daouk, Tobias Schwinn

Associate Architect: Al-Jazera Consultants

Structural Engineer: Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP

Structural Partner: Mark Sarkisian, Neville Mathais

Senior Structural Engineer: Aarom Mazeika

MEP Engineer: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Director, MEP Engineering: Roger Frechette, PE, LEED AP

Senior Mechanical Engineer: Philip Sawyer

Senior Electrical Engineer: Ermenegildo Di Iorio

Mechanical Engineer: Michael Scotter

Project Manager: Turner Construction Co., International

General Contractor: Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Co.

Telecom, Acoustics, Security, IT: Shen Milsom & Wilke

Vertical Transportation: Van Deusen & Associates

Facade Maintenance: Entek Engineering

Fire Protection: Arup

Geotechnical: Consultancy Group Company

Landscape: Francis Landscapes

Lighting: OVI (Office for Visual Interaction)

Traffic: Parsons Brinkerhoff