The lively, luxurious and ultramodern city of Dubai will once again house a world’s first: the Wasl Tower. Construction began in 2016 and, once completed, it will become the world’s tallest building to feature a ceramic facade, reaching 300 meters high.
Commissioned by the Wasl Asset Management Group, UNStudio collaborated with the Werner Sorbek Group on the tower, which will be placed in the heart of Dubai’s transportation hub and network.
The design of the tower artistically mimics the human figure’s contrapposto, or natural asymmetrical stance, with an off-axis weight on top. The sustainable tower features facade fins developed by Arup Lighting and powered by energy cube PV panels. The fins provide shade, but also reflect daylight deep into the tower’s interior.
The contemporary high-rise will be operated by luxury hotel brand Mandarin Oriental, but will remain open to visitors and guests on its proposed completion in 2020.
Read more about hotel design in recent issues of ArchiExpo e-Magazine.
