National Bank of Kuwait by Foster + Partners

Foster And Partners National Bank Of Kuwait Architecture Yellowtrace 01

Detail interior view.

Foster And Partners National Bank Of Kuwait Architecture Yellowtrace 03

The chairman’s club is located in a dramatic, soaring volume at the tower’s apex, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space, offering panoramic views of the city and coastline.

UK-based architecture firm Foster + Partners have contributed to the Kuwait skyline in a big way with a curved 300-metre-tall skyscraper for the new headquarters of the National Bank of Kuwait. The distinct landmark combines sustainable features and structural innovation in an energy-efficient design, shielding the offices from Kuwait’s extreme climate.

To the north, the curved façade reveals the panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. A series of concrete fins along the sun path extend the full height of the tower, providing structural support while contributing to the environmental strategy through shading. By tapering the floorplates inwards towards the base, the design maximises floor space at the upper levels and provides self-shading as the overhanging floorplates shelter the offices below. Utilising both passive and active measures to reduce water consumption, energy use is minimised and the indoor air quality improved.

The chairman’s club is located in a dramatic, soaring volume at the tower’s apex, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space.

Night time detail view of facade

Detail interior view

Chairman's club at the top of the building

Chairman's club

The chairman’s club is located in a dramatic, soaring volume at the tower’s apex, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space.

The boardroom features distinctive lighting installations comprising several elegant blown-glass pendent lights – designed by the practice’s industrial design team – which form a cloud-like cluster above a grand 13-metre board table.

Detail interior view

Exterior view of the National Bank of Kuwait. The design combines sustainable features and structural innovation, providing an energy efficient passive form, shielding the offices from the extremes of Kuwait's climate.

Night time exterior view of the National Bank of Kuwait. A series of concrete fins along the sun path extend the full height of the tower, providing structural support while contributing to the environmental strategy through shading.

Night time exterior view of the National Bank of Kuwait. Located on a prominent site in Kuwait City, the 300-meter skyscraper has a distinctive presence among the buildings of Sharq, the city’s growing financial district.

Documentation: Site Plan

Documentation: Lobby on Level 1

Typical office level drawing

Documentation: Ballroom on level 38

Documentation: Restaurant on Level 18

Documentation: Boardroom on Level 48

Documentation: Crown, Level 59

Documentation: North and South Elevation

Documentation: Short and Long section

The building’s unique shape creates wider floorplates towards the top that allows for more expansive views across the city while the towers sixty-three floors are all punctuated by sky lobbies. At the base of the tower, an 18-metre-high lobby greets employees and visitors. As you travel up the levels a double-height restaurant, panoramic auditorium and triple-height ballroom all follow. These communal areas are complemented by the chairman’s club in the dramatic, soaring volume at the apex of the tower, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space, offering further panoramic views of the city and coastline. An innovative twin-lift strategy minimises the size of the cores to increase the net usable floor plate area.

The practice also worked on the interior with bespoke furniture and lighting designed for key spaces within the tower. In the boardroom, several blown-glass pendant lights, designed by the in-house industrial design team form a cloud-like cluster above the grand 13-metre table.

Foster And Partners National Bank Of Kuwait Architecture Yellowtrace 05

Meeting space in the Chairman’s club.

Foster And Partners National Bank Of Kuwait Architecture Yellowtrace 14

The design combines sustainable features and structural innovation, providing an energy-efficient passive form, shielding the offices from the extremes of Kuwait’s climate.

[Images courtesy of Foster + Partners. Photography by Nigel Young.]