Architects: Aedas
Year: 2012
Photographs: Aedas
City: Abu Dhabi
Country: United Arab Emirates
Al Bahar Towers, designed by Aedas in Abu Dhabi, features a responsive facade inspired by the traditional Islamic mashrabiya to reduce solar gain and glare in the region’s extreme climate. Completed in June 2012, the 145-meter twin towers incorporate a dynamic shading system that adjusts facade panels based on sun exposure, reducing heat by over 50%. Positioned two meters outside the exterior, the fiberglass-coated triangular panels track the sun’s movement and fully close at night. Peter Oborn, deputy chairman of Aedas, noted that the system enhances energy efficiency, allowing for naturally tinted glass to improve daylight while reducing artificial lighting. The project won the 2012 Tall Building Innovation Award, with awards juror Chris Wilkinson recognizing its adaptive facade as a first at this scale, seamlessly integrating form, structure, and sustainability.
A look at Abu Dhabi’s weather forecast reveals a week of intense sunshine, with temperatures consistently exceeding 100°F (38°C) and no chance of rain. In such harsh climatic conditions, even architects prioritizing environmental design face significant challenges. Beyond the risk of sand affecting structural integrity, the extreme heat and glare can make maintaining a comfortable indoor environment nearly impossible without effective solutions. To address this, Aedas Architects designed a responsive facade for Abu Dhabi’s Al Bahar Towers, drawing inspiration from the mashrabiya, a traditional Islamic lattice shading device. Completed in June 2012, the 145-meter towers feature a Mashrabiya-inspired shading system, developed by Aedas’ computational design team. By utilizing a parametric model to define the geometry of the actuated facade panels, the team simulated their movement and response to sun exposure and varying incidence angles throughout the year.
The screen functions as a curtain wall, positioned two meters outside the building’s exterior on an independent frame. Each triangular panel, coated with fiberglass, is programmed to adjust according to the sun’s movement, minimizing solar gain and glare. In the evening, all screens fully close. Peter Oborn, deputy chairman of Aedas, explained that at night, all screens fold and close, revealing more of the building’s facade. As the sun rises in the east, the mashrabiya panels on that side begin to close, gradually adjusting vertically along the building’s exterior to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day.
The screen is estimated to reduce solar gain by over 50%, significantly lowering the building’s reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning. Moreover, its light-filtering capability has allowed architects to be more selective in glass finishes. Peter Oborn noted that the system enables the use of naturally tinted glass, which increases daylight penetration, enhances views, and reduces the need for artificial lighting. He emphasized that this approach modernizes a traditional technique while aligning with the emirate’s ambition to lead in sustainable design.
The towers were awarded the 2012 Tall Building Innovation Award by the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat for their sustainable engineering and thoughtful integration of cultural and urban considerations. Awards juror Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre Architects stated that the computer-controlled facade of Al Bahar Towers, designed to optimize solar and light conditions, is unprecedented at this scale. Moreover, he emphasized that the expression of the outer skin firmly connects the building to its cultural context.
The award recognizes the critical integration of architectural form, structure, systems, and sustainable design strategies in the project.
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Address: FC42+C9X, Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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