Bay Tower | OAOA Architects

Situated in the most prestigious mixed use masterplan in the country, Bahrain Bay, the tower rises above the waters in the heart of Manama. At 40 stories the tower would be the eighth tallest skyscraper in the kingdom and a grand addition to its skyline. The site is located on a prominent future highway link between Bahrain’s historic twin cities Manama and Muharraq with expansive sea views. Although the plot enjoys a prime waterfront location at the moment, development pressure to reclaim further into the sea and the systematic loss of waterfrontage in Bahrain pose significant challenges.

The building orientation is biased towards the northwest which would still maintain sea views through a permanent sea channel. Different building forms are explored to optimize views, provide shade, and break the dense and large gross floor area into slender, elegant proportions that appeal to the human scale. The parking levels are concealed in four underground stories to maintain an active streetscape unmarred by unsightly parking facades. A retail podium embraces the active pedestrian street experience championed by Bahrain Bay. The podium is designed as an extension of the tower, not as a separate architecturally detached bulk, and the tower itself comes down to the ground floor to greet users directly.