Solar-Powered Crystalline Towers Unveiled for Abu Dhabi

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/02/02/first-leed-certified-nfl-stadium-ever-set-to-be-in-la/" target="_blank">Aedas</a>, one of the world's largest architectural practices, joined up with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/24/beijing-water-cube-reopens-as-happy-magic-water-park/" target="_blank">Arup</a> to design the Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters Towers, a set of twin towers outfitted with a crystalline honeycomb shell that protects the buildings from the sun. The Investment Council Headquarters will be located near Al Qurum Beach in the eastern district of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/12/07/worlds-largest-led-project-completed-over-racetrack-in-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank">Abu Dhabi</a>, and the two towers are separated by a lake and a palm reserve. The 25-story skyscrapers will house 2,000 employees and feature sky gardens and photovoltaic systems.

The twin towers feature an innovative crystalline honeycomb facade designed to reduce solar heat gain in the buildings.

The top of each tower features a double-height reception area and a south-sloping roof with a solar photovoltaic system installed on it.

The facade was inspired by traditional Islamic architecture. It creates a dynamic 'Mashrabiya' that acts as a sun screen and opens and closes according to the position of the sun.

The Mashrabiya will comprise a series of components, each of which will open and close in response to the sun’s movements, ensuring that solar gain is minimized at all times and reducing glare.

The twin towers are each 25 stories tall and will house 1,000 employees who work for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council.

Each tower will stand about 140 meters tall with an area of 32,000 sq meters. The project includes office space, cafes, restaurants, an auditorium and a conference space.

Aedas and Arup collaborated on the design for the twin towers and won the competition to design them.

Aedas Joint Managing Director, Peter Oborn said, “A key feature of the design is the application of a diaphanous screen that envelopes the most exposed aspect of the building in the form of a dynamic ‘Mashrabiya’, opening and closing in response to the sun’s path, significantly reducing the solar heat gain and providing a more comfortable internal environment."

The buildings’ crystalline, honeycombed structure is based on an underlying geometric pattern that has results in highly efficient load paths and a structural solution that is stable, flexible and economical.

The roof of each tower includes a solar system that will generate at least 5% of the building's demand.

The towers will be separated by water features and a plantation of indigenous palm trees.

The project was conceived using principles of Islamic architecture, sustainability and biomimicry.

Sky gardens will also be placed throughout the building to help reduce solar heat gain and provide a cooler space for employees.