WAA clads mixed-use towers in bahrain with louvered panels

zurich-based firm wiel arets architects (WAA) have proposed their dynamic scheme sited on north of manama and on the emerging district of bahrain bay. rising at a height of 49-storeys and composed of two towers, the project will host housing, offices, retail and public amenities. designed to be adaptable to the fast-pace and evolving environment of the its location, the tower will strengthen the character and support the community needs, while becoming a destination for locals and tourists.

the circulation of each housing unit occurs along its glazed edges, rather than at the interior corridor
all images © WAA

the plinth’s ground floor is publicly accessible and is mostly composed of retail and public lobby space. encouraging pedestrians and locals to meander through, there would be common areas accessible to all residents–such as cafés and wellness centers– dispersed throughout the tower. topped with a sprawling roof garden on the tenth floor, there are four types of housing occupying both components of the tower, ranging from studio flats, one, two, and three-bedroom residences. floor-to-ceiling operated windows provide a constant stream of light and air into each living space. the circulation of each housing unit occurs along its glazed edges, rather than through a corridor at its core. blurring the transition between inside and outside and encouraging a uninterrupted flow between the interior and exterior spaces.

the flats will have floor to ceiling windows with a panel-like system of sliding aluminum louvers

the tower’s façade features an innovative a panel-like system of sliding aluminum louvers serving as an additional layer of privacy and shading–in tandem with the façade’s treated glass, and the covered exterior terraces. together, these elements protect the tower’s interior from passive solar gain, and providing a constantly changing aspect to the structure due to the reflections they catch from direct sunlight. through reinterpreting its historic context while retaining essential cultural characteristics, the vast scheme will inevitably make a mark within the up-and-coming bahrain bay address.

there are common areas dispersed throughout the tower and accessible to all residents–such as cafés and gyms