Crystal Towers KAFD, Riyadh Building, King Abdullah Financial District Design

Crystal Towers Riyadh, Saudi Arabia : KAFD Development

KAFD Buildings Development – design by Henning Larsen Architects

23 Apr 2012

Crystal Towers Riyadh

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Design: Henning Larsen Architects

Crystal Towers Riyadh KAFD Development

Within a new financial district in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, the Crystal Towers are located in a unique location between the Financial Plaza – the financial centre of the masterplan – and the Wadi – a verdant pedestrian thoroughfare.

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images : Henning Larsen Architects

The orientation of the two 18 and 26-storey Crystal Towers creates a visual and physical link between these elements which feature prime office and retail facilities.

The two towers are connected through a raised podium that allow direct passage between the Financial Plaza and the Wadi, creating a clear and dramatic entrance to the lobbies and providing a shaded outdoor meeting area. As the two towers have separate lift cores, the building is well-suited to accommodate two flagship tenants and a number of additional tenants.

Due to massive solar exposure in the desert climate, recessed, scaled, crystalline apertures are calculated to minimise solar heat gain and associated cooling requirements while optimising views to the surrounding plaza and landscape. To root the building in the region and contribute to a sustainable approach, a light local stone cladding with a long lifetime and low maintenance costs has been used. The project is designed to achieve LEED Certification upon completion of construction.

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images : Henning Larsen Architects

Crystal Towers Riyadh KAFD – Building Information

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Client: Saudi Binladen Group
Gross floor area: 93,000 m2
Year of construction: 2009-13
Type of assignment: Commission
Structural Engineers: Thornton Tomasetti
MEP: Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers
Quantity Surveyors: Geoffrey Barnett Associates

Address: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Height: 135/98 m
Foundation: Concrete
Supporting Structure: Base + roof: Steel, Main: Concrete
Floors: 26/18
Standard Elevators: 4 office, 4 retail, 4 residential
Earthquake Protection Systems: None
Illustrations / drawings : Henning Larsen Architects

Crystal Towers Riyadh images / information from Henning Larsen Architects

Henning Larsen Architects

Location: KAFD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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