Home to Omrania and several other companies, the Waha Office Building in Riyadh demonstrates the firm’s commitment to contextual, green, and functional design.
The 3.5-level building sits on a triangular 3,136-square-meter site near the old airport in Riyadh. The shape of the site, the mix of adjacent land uses, and the need to maintain the privacy of nearby residential properties all proved to be important design considerations. The building’s massing conforms to the surroundings and its service core provides a visual barrier to the adjacent villas.
The Waha building’s energy-efficient facades are unique in the Capital city. Omrania conducted extensive modeling studies of thermal energy, solar exposure, and glare, as well as visual sightlines and privacy to develop the envelope design. It is transparent yet screened by an external layer of fins and perforated panels that provide shade and privacy. The shading devices are oriented to minimize solar gain and internal cooling loads thereby saving on the size of the HVAC installation and reducing energy costs.
This high-performance facade transmits a controlled amount of daylighting for occupant comfort and convenience. A variety of planted areas, such as garden courts and a green roof edge, further enhance the work environment.
Omrania served as architect, engineer, landscape architect, and interior designer.
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