The design for the Wafra Tower, a residential tower in the Hessa Al Mubarak District along the Kuwait City Waterfront, has been revealed by OMA / Iyad Alsaka and Reinier de Graaf in collaboration with Kuwait-based and local partner consultant Pace. OMA’s proposal was selected from three design entries in a competition organized by the Wafra Real Estate Company.
OMA’s design consists of five residential blocks forming a stepped sequence, which modulates from an L-shaped volume to a slab. This structure maximizes occupancy on the lower floors and optimizes views along the vertical axis of the building. The apartment blocks themselves offer views on both the seafront and the city which are connected by an exposed, monolithic core.
The tower holds a wide array of apartment typologies including one, two and three bedroom apartments and large penthouses. Because of the unique geometry of the tower, all apartments have sweeping, frameless views across the gulf, and the corner apartments have multiple orientations.
The stepped blocks generate lush terraces which provide spaces for recreation, such as swimming pools and diwaniyas. The façade is marked by a rational, rectangular grid that enhances the visual effect of the skewed volumes of the tower blocks. On street level, the plinth accommodates a raised lobby with lounge areas and co-working spaces with seaside views.
The development of the masterplan for the Hessa Al Mubarak District is part of a current construction boom in Kuwait, with projects worth over 460 billion USD currently active in the construction sector.
The project is led by Iyad Alsaka, Reinier de Graaf, Jad Semaan and Adrianne Fisher and construction is expected to start at the end of 2020. Upon completion the Wafra Tower will be OMA’s first built project in Kuwait.