Like a crystalline form in the state of expansion, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center's Research and Office Complex (ROC) will rise from the desert in dramatic fashion, with a network of bright-white, six-sided cells combining to form an angular, shell-like façade.
The project's design architect, Zaha Hadid Architects, released construction photos of the job site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The steel framework for the 216,500-sf complex is complete, and work on the exterior is well under way (as images from SkyscraperCity.com show below).
The ROC will feature a series of shaded outdoor spaces, courtyards, entrances, meeting areas, indoor gardens, corridors, underground tunnels, and roof terraces. It's part of a larger petroleum research complex that also includes a residential community (191 townhouses) and leisure and sports facilities, such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gymnasiums, aerobics rooms, a bowling alley, and sports grounds, as well as a library, restaurant, and supermarket.
The design team from Zaha Hadid Architects, led by Hadid, Patrik Schumacher, and DaeWha Kang, describe their design approach for the ROC: "The center is inherently forward-looking; its architecture also looks to the future, embracing a formal language capable of continual expansions or transformation with no compromise in visual integrity."
"The center emerges from the desert landscape as a cellular structure of crystalline forms, shifting and evolving in response to environmental conditions and functional requirements. Consistent organizational, spatial strategies drive an adaptive approach, with each component, each individual building, fitted to the purpose it serves."
"Protective from without, porous within, the structure’s strong, hard shell conceals a softer environment – sheltered courtyards, bringing natural daylight into all spaces; buffer zones creating smooth transitions from a hot, glaring exterior to a cool, filtered interior."
IMAGES AND RENDERINGS: ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
IMAGES: SKYSCRAPERCITY.COM/HAMADX
Related Stories
Architects | Sep 6, 2018
S/L/A/M Collaborative completes merger with L.A.-based firm
The healthcare sector is one of Frank Webb Architects’ strengths.
Giants 400 | Sep 6, 2018
What's happening at 89 design firms
The latest developments at 89 of the nation's largest architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms.
Architects | Sep 6, 2018
Little details, big questions: Occupancy planning 101 for healthcare facilities
Transitioning into a new hospital is no easy feat and daily tasks can have a huge impact.
Architects | Aug 14, 2018
AIA takes a firmer stand on making schools safer with better design
The Institute urges the formation of a federal clearinghouse for best practices, and wants security-related design to be eligible for grants.
Architects | Aug 9, 2018
The convergence of product design and architecture
Great design is born out of simplicity, purity, timelessness, unobtrusiveness and intuitiveness.
Architects | Aug 1, 2018
Client experience as competitive advantage for AEC firms
Clients are looking for solutions to their business problems from collaborative advisors. They’ve come to expect a higher level of service and detail than what was provided in the past.
AEC Tech | Jul 24, 2018
Weidt Group’s Net Energy Optimizer now available as software as a service
The proprietary energy analysis tool is open for use by the public.
Building Owners | Jul 17, 2018
Are we facing a new era in Foreign Direct Investment?
The construction industry is already feeling the effects of the recent tariffs, not only with higher steel and aluminum prices, but with higher prices on Canadian lumber.
Codes and Standards | Jul 17, 2018
NIMBYism, generational divide threaten plan for net-zero village in St. Paul, Minn.
The ambitious redevelopment proposal for a former Ford automotive plant creates tension.
