For a short time now, the lush Corniche of Abu Dhabi, the “garden of the Gulf”, has been home to the highest building of the Arabian metropolis. The sweeping shape of the new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is a true eye-catcher on the skyline of the Persian Gulf designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.
The design of the architects was inspired both by traditional Arabian architecture and the situation of the building in the green coastal area of the city. The ensemble consists of two slender glass towers which rise up to 185 metres. Their shape reminds you of sails in the wind and sand dunes. The lower of the two wings fits in perfectly to the existing urban pattern. The higher of the two opens up the building towards the sea and points towards Mecca. A central atrium, based on the designs of traditional oriental gardens, links the two office towers. In this way, the surrounding green seems to be actually drawn right into the building.
