Foster + Partners completes National Bank of Kuwait HQ in Kuwait City

Foster + Partners has completed the new headquarters for the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Located in Kuwait City’s growing financial district of Sharq, the 300-metre skyscraper has a distinctive presence on the skyline. The new building brings together all of the bank’s corporate employees in a single location, promoting synergy and enhancing well-being. Combining sustainable features and structural innovation, the energy-efficient passive form of the building protects offices from the extremes of Kuwait's climate.

The building features a curved façade to the north, revealing panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. Concrete fins extend the full height of the tower, providing structural support and contributing to the environmental strategy through shading. By tapering the floorplates inwards towards the base, the design maximises floor space at the upper levels and provides self-shading as the overhanging floorplates shelter the offices below. The use of passive and active measures minimises water consumption and energy use, while also improving indoor air quality.

The tower’s distinctive shape creates wider floorplates towards the top, offering expansive views out to a greater number of people. The tower’s 63 floors are punctuated by sky lobbies, which provide a social focus and meeting facilities for staff. At the base of the tower, an 18-metre-high lobby greets employees and visitors. Level 18 features a double-height restaurant, followed by a state-of-the-art gym at level 19, a unique ballroom and auditorium on level 38 with panoramic views out to the bay and the rest of the city, and a triple-height boardroom on level 48. These communal areas are complemented by the chairman’s club in the dramatic, soaring volume at the tower’s apex, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space, offering panoramic views of the city and coastline.

The innovative twin-lift strategy minimises the size of the cores to increase the net usable floorplate area. Foster + Partners has also designed the interior fit-out with bespoke furniture and lighting for key spaces within the tower. The boardroom features elegant blown-glass pendant lights, designed by the practice’s industrial design team, which form a cloud-like cluster above a grand 13-metre board table.

Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The new headquarters for the National Bank of Kuwait represents the coming together of an innovative environmental strategy and a diverse programme as a distinctive landmark that stands out on the Kuwaiti skyline. The building incorporates a sustainable, functional, and iconic design that signifies NBK’s unique presence and identity in the city.”

Nikolai Malsch, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “The form we’ve developed for the tower is driven by the needs of the bank and the internal spatial arrangement is tailored to its organisational requirements, whilst providing flexibility for future change and growth. We have created a customised working environment where everybody has their own unique space.”

 

Photos: ©Nigel Young / Foster + Partners