AMBS architects unveils a vertical city for basra, iraq

AMBS architects unveils a vertical city for basra, iraq
all images courtesy of AMBS architects

AMBS architects was commissioned with a highly confidential project — due to security reasons until recently — in basra, iraq. home to a bulk of iraq’s oil reserves, the province is becoming one of the fastest-growing business centres in the world (and most precious per square meter). the new downtown master plan was assigned by the basra governorate with an aim of maximizing the city’s capacity by 2025. avoiding urban sprawl was the top priority in order to protect the environment, thus posing the preference to build vertically, rather than outwards. the scheme for the downtown area will feature a one of a kind landmark to match its importance called ‘the bride’ tower.

the new downtown master plan aims to maximize the city’s capacity by 2025

the brief developed into four conjoined towers creating a more logical and stable structure with multiple access and escape routes via horizontal and vertical circulations. tower 1, located on the south side, is the tallest, and is shaded by a glazed canopy known as ‘the veil’. the towers are connected at many levels creating ‘sky gardens’ and ‘sky squares’.

the city of basra and its surrounding lands are fertile and capable of producing vegetation and agricultural crops

‘the bride’ will be the first vertical city in the world. it will also be the tallest structure there is and will break new ground in all disciplines of engineering: from structures to vertical transportation and services. it will keep a constant typical section from top to bottom, that gives maximum space efficiency and repetition, reducing the costs. furthermore, it’s designed to be a ‘round the clock’ city, with offices, hotels, whole neighbourhoods, commercial centres, sky-squares, parks, gardens and its own rail network. 

‘the bride’ has offices, hotels, neighbourhoods, commercial centres, sky-squares, parks, gardens and a rail network

the design responds to the external environment strategically positioning the structures in a way that they can shade one another. the south façade of tower 1 will be almost completely cloaked by a canopy that extends over 600,000 sqm, covering low-rise buildings, public areas and the first floors of the high-rise. apart from shading and cooling for the south façade of tower 1, the ‘veil’ will integrate hybrid solar cooling PVT panels (a photovoltaic-thermal combined system). the water heated within these panels will be used to increase the performance of the photovoltaics, and which will subsequently be fed to absorption chillers. the heat provided to the generator will drive a cycle that produces chilled water for cooling.

‘the bride’ will be conceived as a city itself both vertically, but also horizontally from the ground

the city of basra and its surrounding lands have been historically fertile and capable of producing abundant vegetation and agricultural crops. this reputation earned it the name ‘the bride of the gulf’ by local people. the ‘bride tower’ project takes its name to reference this saying and aims to convey the idea at many levels.

the brief developed into four conjoined towers creating a more logical and stable structure 

‘the bride’ will be the first vertical city in the world

the towers are connected at many levels creating sky gardens and sky squares

the proposed development will consist of commercial office space, retail, leisure facilities, a hotel + residential units

the four connected towers offer several alternative access and escape routes via horizontal and vertical circulation

‘the bride’ will be a place that may be enjoyed by all, not only the owners but also the public

project info:

project name: the bride vertical city

location: basra, iraq

dates: 2014 – ongoing

size: 1,550,000 sqm

services provided: architectural design

tower 1

241 storey, 964m high+188m antenna = 1,152m

= 1x lower section, 6x mid-sections, 1x top section

total area: 650,206 sqm

tower 2

181 storey, 724m high

= 1x lower section 4x mid-sections, 1x top section

total area: 475,220 sqm

tower 3

121 storey, 484m high

= 1x lower section, 2x mid-sections, 1x top section

total area: 300,234 sqm

tower 4

61 storey, 244m high

= 1x lower section, 0x mid-sections, 1x top section

total area: 125,248 sqm

area of all 4 towers

total area: 1,550,908 sqm

canopy

590,000 sqm ‘horizontal’ at ground
79,000 sqm ‘vertical’ on tower’s south façade
total area: 669,000 sqm

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom