OMA, a leading international practice operating in architecture and urbanism, has unveiled the design for the Wafra residential tower in the Hessa Al Mubarak District along the Kuwait City waterfront - in collaboration with Kuwait-based consultant Pace as a local partner.

The OMA proposal, designed by its partners Iyad Alsaka and Reinier de Graaf, was selected from among three competitors in a competition organised by the Wafra Real Estate Company, said a statement from the company based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

This is OMA's debut project in Kuwait. Its design consists of five residential blocks forming a stepped sequence, which modulates from a L-shaped volume to slab.

This structure maximises occupancy on the lower floors and optimises views along the vertical axis of the building. The apartment blocks offer views on both the seafront and the city and are connected by an exposed, monolithic core, said the Dutch firm in its statement.

The tower holds a wide array of apartment typologies including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and vast penthouses. Because of the unique geometry of the tower, all apartments have sweeping frameless views across the Gulf. Corner apartments have multiple orientations.

The emblematic stepped blocks generate lush terraces that provide space for sports amenities, a swimming pool 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, said the statement.

According to OMA, 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 currently active in the construction sector.

The project was led by project architect Jad Semaan and director-in-charge Adrianne Fisher. The
construction work is expected to start by the end of next year.-TradeArabia News Service