Global firm Wiel Arets Architects revealed its plans for a 558-foot tower in Manama, Bahrain. According to ArchDaily, the tower will be called Bahrain Bay Tower, and will consist of two residential towers connected “by a plinth of retail, office, parking, and public park space.”
Housing options in the residential sections range from one- to three-bedroom units. Throughout the two towers, glazed and operable windows allow access to light and air in each living space.
"Due to the extensive amounts of glazing on the tower’s façade, a panel-like system of sliding aluminum louvers serves as an additional layer of privacy and shading—in tandem with the façade’s treated glass, and the covered exterior terraces,” the firm explains in a release. “Together, these elements protect the tower’s interior from passive solar gain, while the louvers lend to the tower, an ever changing and thus chameleon-like appearance, due to the reflections they catch from direct sunlight."
The ground floor is designed to be publicly accessible, composed mostly of retail and public lobby space.
About the ground level design, the firm says: "Due to a division of these ground floor spaces, along the site’s southern edge, a breezeway was created that allows the public to traverse the tower’s entire site—without entering its interior—which serves to infuse the tower’s immediate context with pedestrian life. In this way, the ground level frontages of the tower’s retail spaces are maximized."
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jul 12, 2017
7 noteworthy multifamily projects: posh amenities, healthy living, plugged-in lifestyle
Zen meditation gardens, bocce courts, saltwater pools, and free drinks highlight the niceties at these new multifamily developments.
Mixed-Use | Jul 7, 2017
ZHA’s Mandarin Oriental hotel and residences employs ‘stacked vases’ design approach
The mixed-use tower will rise 185 meters and be located in Melbourne's Central Business District.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 28, 2017
Renters don’t just want nice apartments; they want communities packed with amenities
Based on a survey from the National Apartment Association, the most popular amenities are the ones that bring the community together.
Fire and Life Safety | Jun 22, 2017
After testing, seven tower blocks found to have similar cladding as Grenfell Tower
These blocks will undergo further testing to determine if they are safe.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 20, 2017
Coliving apartments look to fill affordability and availability gaps for urban workers
One provider, Common, emphasizes community in its buildings.
Market Data | Jun 16, 2017
Residential construction was strong, but not enough, in 2016
The Joint Center for Housing Studies’ latest report expects minorities and millennials to account for the lion’s share of household formations through 2035.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 7, 2017
Jersey Strong: Local suppliers step in to help renovate a homeless shelter in the Garden State
American Standard and Philips Lighting donate products and manpower.
Resiliency | Jun 7, 2017
New disaster-resilient infrastructure building and upgrades hope to keep Haven Plaza up and running
The affordable housing complex was hit hard during Hurricane Sandy, leaving residents without electricity or water.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 7, 2017
Multifamily visionary: The life and work of architect David Baker
For 35 years, architect David Baker has been a spirited voice for affordable housing, in San Francisco and beyond.