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Architect: Henning Larsen
Location: Riyadh
The project
This project is one of eight that architecture firm Henning Larsen has designed at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
The Gem consists of three separate buildings - one residential, one office and a multi-purpose podium overlooking a garden, which is linked to the green pedestrian thoroughfare of the district.
Designed for client Saudi Bin Laden, the 33,500 m2 project is due to be completed in 2013.
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The site
The 160 hectare KAFD site in central Riyadh has been master-planned by Henning Larsen to ensure everything meets strict sustainable targets. The firm has also designed the sky-bridges that will link all of the buildings at the site.
The concept
The concept is of a cluster of gems, and the layout of the project is intended to create spaces for fluid circulation around and through the buildings. The form and intimate scale of the building make it a small-scale icon for the KAFD.
Wrapping the faceted exterior, a high quality metal mesh fabric provides solar protection and weather-resistance to local sandstorms. In addition, the geometry and location of the building creates shade between the volumes.
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