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Crystal Bay

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Crystal Bay

  • Location

    Manama, Bahrain

  • Area

    63,000 sqm

  • Scope

    Architecture

  • Year

    2016 – Current

  • Status

    Feasibility

Situated in the most prestigious mixed use development in Manama, Bahrain Bay, the tower rises above the waters in the heart of Bahrain. With a relatively young high rise culture in Bahrain, at 40 stories the tower would be the eight tallest skyscraper in the kingdom. The site is located on a prominent future highway link between Bahrain’s historic twin cities Manama and Muharraq with expansive sea views.

Although the plot enjoys a prime waterfront location at the moment, development pressure to expand and reclaim further into the sea and the systematic loss of waterfrontage in Bahrain pose significant challenges to the site.

To future proof the development, the tower form is stretched to the maximum allowable height. The building orientation is biased towards the northwest which would still maintain sea views through a permanent sea channel. Different building forms are explored to optimize views, provide shade, and break the dense and large gross floor area into slender, elegant proportions that appeal to the human scale. The parking levels are concealed in four underground stories in order to create an interesting and active streetscape unmarred by unsightly parking facades. A retail podium embraces the active pedestrian street experience championed by the Bahrain Bay masterplan. The podium itself is designed as an extension of the tower, not as a separate architecturally detached bulk, and the tower itself comes down to the ground floor to greet users immediately.

  • Client

    Confidential

  • Team

    Omar Al Omari, Deena Fakhro, Christopher Yah, Simona Sabackova, Lucas Ler, Belle Tung, Huida Xia, Laura Alvarez