’Villas in the Sky’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Henning Larsen Architects

Article source: Henning Larsen Architects
More projects by Henning Larsen Architects

’Villas in the Sky’ is a mixed-use 34-storey tower placed at a unique location in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Situated as one of the last buildings in the green thoroughfare, the Wadi, and in a transition zone between the public square and the Wadi, the tower will become a strong local landmark. The form imitates the structural ideal of a high-rise building. It is a polygon with four equal sides allowing for very flexible spaces. The shifted upper plates create a jagged facade that visually differentiates the various programmes in the mixed-use building.

Villas in the Sky

• Architect: Henning Larsen Architects
• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Client: Saudi Binladen Group
• Gross floor area: 41,000 m2
• Year of construction: 2009 – 2013
• Type of assignment: Commission
• Structural Engineers: Thornton Tomasetti
• MEP: Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers
• Quantity Surveyors: Geoffrey Barnett Associates

Villas in the Sky

The first three stories are dedicated to retail and connected to the Wadi, ground level and the footbridges, the Skywalks, for easy access and optimal connection for users. The next 14 stories are programmed as office space and the top 12 floors house 22 residential units.

Villas in the Sky - Interior

The curtain wall glass facade has angled panels to allow the use of more transparent glazing oriented towards the ground, while a sloping light-coloured cladding provides a shaded interior and reduces the energy consumption of the building. The building is designed to achieve a LEED Certification upon completion.

Villas in the Sky

Villas in the Sky - Looking up

Villas in the Sky

Villas in the Sky

Tags: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Categories: Commercial Building, Henning Larsen, Mixed use

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