Al Bahr Towers ... Combining Originality and
Landmarks Modernity
Al Bahr Towers are one of
brella-like glass elements
designed in an independ-
the unique architectural land-
that automatically open and
ent frame. Each triangle is
marks in Abu Dhabi, as they
close depending on the in-
coated with glass fiber and
combined originality and
tensity of sunlight. Mashrabi-
depending on the intensity
modernity. Inspired by the
ya contributes to protect the
of sunlight. At night, the um-
`mashrabiya' that have been
brellas remain folded to al-
used to fill windows of tradi-
low the building's basic glass
tional Arabic architecture
facade to appear. When
since the 14th century.
the sun shines in the
Such intelligent en-
early morning in the
gineering design of
eastern part of the
mashrabiya pro-
building, umbrel-
vides both shade
las in the eastern
and privacy. In
area open and as
the meantime, it
the sun moves to
allows the exter-
cover the other
nal view all time.
areas of the build-
Glass buildings in
ing followed by um-
hot areas require
brellas and open ac-
more air conditioning
cording to the sunlight
and thus the cost of en-
Al Bahr Towers was
ergy increases, but that will
ranked second in the 2012
change if the glass towers
Emporium
Skyscraper
are built in a smart and so-
building from sunlight and
Award for the world's highest
phisticated way, as in Abu
reduces the energy con-
residential building projects.
Dhabi's Al Bahr Towers.
sumption by around 50%
In 2013, The Council on Tall
The distinguishing feature
due to lack of full reliance
Buildings and Urban Habitat
of the two 29-storey, 145m­
on the colored thick glass.
(CTBUH) selected them to be
high towers is the Islamic
The external structure is
the best architectural design
shading system, mashrabi-
two-meter far away from the
in terms of innovation and
ya, consisting of 2000 um-
glass structure, which was
environmental
standards.
Milestones
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