Samba Bank 245
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In addition to providing access to nature, the
Samba Bank headquarters creates a gently
large vertical garden ventilates the tower by
Height: 540 feet / 165 meters
rotating, crystalline mass rising from the
acting as a thermal fl ue that draws the cool
37 stories
financial plaza in Riyadh's new King Abdullah
desert air through the structure during non-
Financial District.
summer nights.
Samba Tower’s form is shaped for
The tower plan organizes each individual
accessibility and transparency, recalling
building orientation to support the urban
the symbolic form of Saudi desert crystals.
setting, including the tower's position on
The generally square plan is made up of two
the plaza, relationship to adjacent streets
individual triangular masses rotating gently
and views to the city center. This responds
around a central garden atrium.
to each unique solar orientation, defining
Competition: 2009
the core strategy for load reduction and The tower’s garden atrium, or "vertical
energy efficiency.
wadi," is an extension of the wadi concept expressed in the financial plaza. Hanging
The energy-efficient design includes
gardens within the atrium flow between
monumental screens protecting the tower’s
floors, creating vertical connections while
east and west facades. These screens
inviting the landscape into the heart of
filter intense sunlight like a traditional
the building. The atrium and core create a
mashrabiya while preserving views to the
social center for floors connecting people,
financial district and urban landscape. The
floors and departments. Lounges, stairs and
tower form and finely tuned shade cladding
elevator lobbies encourage interaction.
respond to Riyadh’s hot, arid climate and define a culturally relevant icon representing a powerful new presence for Samba Bank.
◄ street view rendering
tall buildings
The design for the proposed 37-story
1 million sq. ft. / 98,300 sq. m.