The massive 245,000m2 mixed-use Al Faisaliah development in Riyadh is without doubt one of the most striking buildings in the Middle East. Taller than Canary Wharf in London, its landmark office tower rises some 270 metres over the city, soaring to a tapered point in one smooth giant arc. At its pinnacle, the tower narrows to a brightly lit lantern topped with a decorative stainless steel finial.
Everything about Al Faisaliah is vast in scale. In addition to its 30 floors of office space, the complex contains a 224 bedroom five-star hotel, residential accommodation, a shopping centre with 120 stores, a banqueting/exhibition hall for 4,000 guests, two levels of underground car parking for 1,700 cars, and the highest restaurant in the Kingdom.
At ground level, a five-storey lobby with a petal roof links the hotel to the apartments and shopping mall. The lobby features a spectacular coloured glass wall which is the largest artwork of its kind ever created. The wall design is intended to reflect the natural environment of Saudi Arabia.
The harsh climate in Riyadh presented a major challenge, which was met with innovative yet practical solutions that adhered to a strict environmental agenda. In particular there was a sharp focus on energy conservation. The final design made extensive use of passive energy control methods: a combination of carefully chosen glass in the facade, various external shading systems and an air conditioning plant ,that uses ice in the cooling process, serve to minimise the amount of energy drawn from the supply grid.
A Building Management System controls all engineering processes, monitoring and adjusting individual elements to enhance operating efficiency and living conditions. All these design elements have meant that the building has a high level of performance and is considerably cheaper to run than similar large developments in the Kingdom. Al Faisaliah represents an exciting approach to commercial and architectural development in Saudi Arabia and proves that growth and economic success doesn't have to come with a huge environmental price tag.
Date: 1994 - 2000