AGi architects, Cemal Emden · Wafra Wind Tower

Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden

In the Salmiya area of Kuwait City, the 13-storey building contains 12 duplex apartments and a rooftop penthouse. Conceived by the architects as a wind tower, it features a central, vertical courtyard that provides natural ventilation to each apartment unit. Circulation stairs and elevators are located on the southern side of the tower and provide insulation against solar penetration; the other façades are designed to provide natural lighting, cross ventilation and good views, especially those on the north that face the sea. Each apartment is provided with shaded balconies, and all of them give onto the central courtyard. The tower rises from a plinth that contains public areas, including a pool and a gym.