Sculpting the Skyline

The article explores the architectural concepts and structural strategies behind Kuwait City's tallest building and discusses the construction methods used to build it. Click here to read about it»

Parametric Process The geometry of SOM's Al Hamra Firdous Tower is based on a set of criteria that took into account the clients' leasing strategy as well as environmental factors such as solar exposure and wind loading.

Photo © SOM/Pawel Sulima

 

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Learning Objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

Explain how evaluation of programmatic requirements and environmental conditions helped designers generate the form of Kuwait City's Al Hamra Firdous Tower. Describe the key structural elements of the tower and its foundations. Explain the structural and construction challenges presented by the tower's geometry. Describe how construction methods were adapted for the harsh desert environment.

Course Outline:

This course is a presentation designed to earn you 1.00 AIA/CES Learning Unit. Use the onscreen controls to pace the presentation to your liking, and then click "Take the Course Test" to take the exam for this course and earn your credit.

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