The Al Bahar Towers are a pair of impressive high-rise (approximately 145 meters tall) office buildings designed by Aedas Architects (formerly Aedas UK, now part of AHR) and completed in 2013. The 25-storey skyscrapers are located at the eastern entrance of Abu Dhabi City, collectively covering 70,000 sqm. One tower houses the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, and the other serves as the headquarters for Al Hilal Bank.
The project stands as a landmark example of how modern architecture can honour cultural heritage, leverage advanced technology, and achieve genuine sustainability. The towers derive their notable form from Islamic geometric principles, particularly the circle, a symbol of unity and harmony. The plan geometry is articulated from intersecting circles and tangential arcs. It results in a sculpted form that reduces solar exposure and achieves an elegant silhouette as well as efficient structural performance.
The Towers’ most distinctive feature is a computer-controlled, kinetic second-skin. It is a contemporary reimagining of the mashrabiya, a traditional Islamic lattice screen designed for passive cooling and privacy. The façade comprises about 2,098 umbrella-like triangular units, which are mounted on an independent steel frame 2 meters from the main curtain wall.
Driven by the building management system, these shading devices open and close in response to the sun’s movement. This significantly reduces solar heat gain by approximately 50% while allowing for more natural daylight penetration and clearer glazing. The innovative façade reduces reliance on tinted glass, artificial lighting, and mechanical cooling. It helps the towers achieve LEED Silver certification, making them among the region’s earliest certified high-rises.
The design also incorporates photovoltaic panels atop the towers to harness solar energy and create a synergy with the responsive shading system. Collectively, these features reduce the building’s environmental impact, including a reported reduction of over 1,750 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
The Al Bahar Towers have garnered significant acclaim. The project has received several awards, such as the Middle East Architect Awards (2013) in two categories (Best Overall Project in the Middle East and Commercial Project of the Year) and the International Architecture Award (The Chicago Athenaeum 2014), to name a few.
For more details about the Al Bahar Towers, please visit the official web page of the project.
If you’re interested in related innovations, you may also explore the Sandstorm Absorbent Skyscraper by Kalbod Design Studio and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.
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