Sharq, Kuwait City, Kuwait

“The new headquarters for the National Bank of Kuwait represents the coming together of an innovative environmental strategy and a diverse program as a distinctive landmark that stands out on the Kuwaiti skyline,” says Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners.

American Prize for Architecture Laureate Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and Townshend Landscape Architects have erected the new headquarters for the National Bank of Kuwait, creating an iconic 300-meter skyscraper that has a distinctive cylindrical silhouette combining sustainable features and structural innovation, providing an energy-efficient passive form, shielding the offices from the extreme climate of Kuwait.

The building is distinguished by its rounded form and a series of vertical concrete fins on the southern façade – which extends the full height of the tower.

The architects have designed a new building to bring all of the bank’s corporate employees together under one roof, promoting synergy and enhancing wellbeing. 

The 2,800-capacity skyscraper has 63 floors and draws a cylindrical form that opens up itself like “a shell” to the north to avoid solar gain. 

According to the studio, “The building incorporates a sustainable, functional, and iconic design that signifies NBK s unique presence and identity in the city.”

The design of the ribs takes cues from the form of a dhow sailing boat – which is a reference to the city’s roots in international trade – and this helps to evoke a sense of place, as the firm explained.

On the north side, the curved façade provides panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, while a series of concrete fins along the sun path extends the full height of the tower – to both provide structural support and contribute to the environmental strategy through shading. 

“By tapering the floorplates inwards towards the base, the design maximizes floor space at the upper levels and provides self-shading as the overhanging floorplates shelter the offices below,” says the office. 

“Utilising both passive and active measures to reduce water consumption, energy use is minimized and the indoor air quality improved.”

The tower has a distinctive shape that creates wider floor plates towards the top, offering expansive views out to a greater number of people. 

The tower’s sixty-three floors are enhanced by sky lobbies, aiming to provide a social focus and meeting facilities for employees and staff.

At the base of the tower, there is an 18-meter-high lobby that welcomes employees and visitors. 

On the 18th level, there is a double-height restaurant, followed by a state-of-the-art gym at the 19th level.

A unique ballroom and auditorium are placed on the 38th floor with panoramic views out to the bay and the rest of the city, and a triple-height boardroom is designed on the 48th level. 

These communal areas are complemented by the chairman’s club in the dramatic, soaring volume at the tower’s apex, lit by a distinctive skylight that traces an arc through the space, offering panoramic views of the city and coastline.

“The form we’ve developed for the tower is driven by the needs of the bank and the internal spatial arrangement is tailored to its organizational requirements, whilst providing flexibility for future change and growth,” explains Nikolai Malsch, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners.

“We have created a customized working environment where everybody has their own unique space,” Malsch adds.

As the studio explains, “the innovative twin-lift strategy minimizes the size of the cores to increase the net usable floor plate area.” 

The Foster + Partners team is also responsible for designing bespoke furniture and lighting for key spaces of the skyscraper.

The boardroom features distinctive lighting installations comprising several elegant blown-glass pendant lights, designed by the practice’s industrial design team – which form a cloud-like cluster above a grand 13-meter board table.

Project: National Bank of Kuwait Headquarters
Architects: Foster + Partners
Lead Architect: Norman Foster
Design Team: Stefan Behling, Nikolai Malsch, Stuart Latham, Simon Windebank and Gordon Seiles
Landscape Architects: Townshend Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
Lighting Engineer: Claude Engle
Collaborating Architect: SSH International
Client: National Bank of Kuwait
Photographers: Nigel Young, Foster + Partners