Kingdom Centre
Encyclopedia
Kingdom Centre also called Al Mamlaka Tower is a skyscraper
located in the city of Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
. It is currently the second tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia
with a height of 302.3 m (992 ft). It's also the third tallest building with a hole in the world (after Shanghai World Financial Center
and Tuntex Sky Tower
). AL-Mamlka Tower contains a total of 41 floors and 2 basement levels. AL-Mamlka Tower is owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal
, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company
. The total cost of the project was US$
400 million and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian Al-Seif and The Italian Impregilo.
AL-Mamlka Tower is situated on Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road in the growing business district of Olaya in Riyadh
. AL-Mamlka Tower was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award
, selected as the "Best skyscraper of the world for design". A five-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the eastern tube. The large opening reddens when filled by workers and changes in hue throughout the month.
Besides the shopping mall
, AL-Mamlka Tower contains the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh and state-of-the-art apartments. The 56 m (184 ft) long skybridge
atop the skyscraper, at a height of 290.4 m (953 ft) top floor, contains a public observation deck
and a view of the entire city of Riyadh
. The ellipse motif taken from the tower's footprint appears also in the light fixtures, ceiling panels, entrance canopy, wastebins, and furniture. AL-Mamlka Tower is in direct axis with Riyadh
's other skyscraper
the Al Faisaliyah Center
.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located in the city of Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. It is currently the second tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
with a height of 302.3 m (992 ft). It's also the third tallest building with a hole in the world (after Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai World Financial Center
The most distinctive feature in the design of the building is an aperture at the peak. The original design specified a circular aperture, in diameter, to reduce the stresses of wind pressure, as well as serve as a subtext for the design, since "Chinese mythology represents the earth with a square...
and Tuntex Sky Tower
Tuntex Sky Tower
Tuntex Sky Tower, or the T & C Tower or 85 SKYTOWER , is an 85-floor skyscraper located in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The structure is high. An antenna pushes the building height to...
). AL-Mamlka Tower contains a total of 41 floors and 2 basement levels. AL-Mamlka Tower is owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal
Al-Waleed bin Talal
Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is a Saudi Arabian billionaire and member of the Saudi royal family. He is the nephew of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. An entrepreneur and international investor he has amassed a fortune through investments in real estate and the stock market.He is founder and CEO of...
, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company
Kingdom Holding Company
Kingdom Holding Company is a public holding company headquartered in Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is the largest company in Saudi Arabia. It is controlled by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz, and is headquartered in the city of Riyadh...
. The total cost of the project was US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
400 million and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian Al-Seif and The Italian Impregilo.
AL-Mamlka Tower is situated on Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road in the growing business district of Olaya in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
. AL-Mamlka Tower was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award
Emporis Skyscraper Award
The Emporis Skyscraper Award is an award for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality.The award is presented annually by Emporis to the building representing the "Best new skyscraper for design and functionality". To qualify, nominated buildings must have...
, selected as the "Best skyscraper of the world for design". A five-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the eastern tube. The large opening reddens when filled by workers and changes in hue throughout the month.
Besides the shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, AL-Mamlka Tower contains the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh and state-of-the-art apartments. The 56 m (184 ft) long skybridge
Skybridge
Skybridge may refer to:* an alternate term for skyway.* The bridge named Skybridge in Vancouver, Canada.* The bridge named Skye Bridge in Britain.* The bridge named Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia.* The Skybridge Building in Chicago, United States....
atop the skyscraper, at a height of 290.4 m (953 ft) top floor, contains a public observation deck
Observation deck
__FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower...
and a view of the entire city of Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
. The ellipse motif taken from the tower's footprint appears also in the light fixtures, ceiling panels, entrance canopy, wastebins, and furniture. AL-Mamlka Tower is in direct axis with Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
's other skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
the Al Faisaliyah Center
Al Faisaliyah Center
The Al Faisaliyah Center is a commercial skyscraper located in the business district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the second tallest building in Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom Centre. Immediately below it an outside viewing deck; at ground level, there is a shopping center with major world brands...
.
See also
- Kingdom Tower
- Emporis Skyscraper AwardEmporis Skyscraper AwardThe Emporis Skyscraper Award is an award for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality.The award is presented annually by Emporis to the building representing the "Best new skyscraper for design and functionality". To qualify, nominated buildings must have...
- Abraj Al Bait TowersAbraj Al Bait TowersThe Abraj Al-Bait Towers, also known as the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower, is a building complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The complex holds several world records, including the tallest hotel in the world, the tallest clock tower in the world, the world's largest clock face, and the world's largest...
- Al Faisaliyah CenterAl Faisaliyah CenterThe Al Faisaliyah Center is a commercial skyscraper located in the business district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the second tallest building in Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom Centre. Immediately below it an outside viewing deck; at ground level, there is a shopping center with major world brands...
External links
- Kingdom Centre official website
- Omrania official website
- CTBUH - Kingdom Centre
- EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....
- Kingdom Centre - SkyscraperPage - Kingdom Centre
- EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....
- 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award winners