SSH collaborated with Foster+Partners to design the building in the heart of Kuwait City. The structure stands 300 m tall, covering a total floor area of 127,000 sqm and its construction was based on energy-saving and environment preservation designs.
Design for gold
The tower design concept originated from an oyster shell, as pearls played a key role in Kuwait’s history, heritage, and economy. The main construction comprises composite concrete and steel, while the cladding on the fins and glass façades have predominantly glass-reinforced concrete. The tower has been built with an intentional lean to compensate for its intentionally offset centre of gravity.
SSH acted as lead consultant for construction supervision, in association with Foster + Partners and BuroHappold. The tower was built in line with LEED Gold requirements, making it one of the first with such high certification in Kuwait and the region.
NBK’s design combines structural innovation with an efficient passive form, shielding the offices from the extremes of Kuwait’s climate, where temperatures average 40 degrees in the summer months.
Structural support
The tower’s cylindrical form opens like a shell to the north to avoid solar gain, while revealing views of the Arabian Gulf. The southern façade is shaded by a series of concrete fins, which extend the full height of the tower to provide structural support. As well as contributing to the environmental strategy, these ribs help to evoke a sense of place in echoing the form of the dhow sailing boat, a reference to the city’s roots in international trade.
By tapering towards the base, the design maximises floor space in the upper levels and promotes self-shading, as the overhanging floor plates shelter the offices below.
The whole project was drafted targeting a LEED gold rating, which has now been awarded.