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Hamzah & Yeang: mixed-use tower, Kuwait City, Kuwait.


Ken Yeang Dr. Ken Yeang (Chinese: 杨经文/楊經文; pinyin: Yáng Jīngwén) is a prolific Malaysian architect and writer best known for developing environmental design solutions for high-rise buildings in the tropics.  brings his bioclimatic bi·o·cli·ma·tol·o·gy  
n.
The study of the effects of climatic conditions on living organisms.



bi
 skyscraper concept to the Middle East, a region in some need of more sustainable models of development. The 40-storey tower on a prominent waterfront site in Kuwait City mixes commercial and retail spaces together with a business centre and conference rooms, nine hotel floors, a swimming pool and the obligatory helipad hel·i·pad  
n.
See heliport.


A prepared area designated and used for takeoff and landing of helicopters. (Includes touchdown or hover point.)
. The Baroquely twisting form, like a warped breadstick, is split into two served and serviced zones, punctuated at intervals coming or happening with intervals between; now and then.

See also: Interval
 by sky courts filled with vegetation and water to mitigate the hot, arid desert climate.

Yeang intends the tower to be a paradigm for passive environmental control, providing an alternative to the more conventional energy guzzling Middle East model of sealed and air-conditioned glass stumps. An atrium on the tower's north face provides evaporative cooling Evaporative cooling is a physical phenomenon in which evaporation of a liquid, typically into surrounding air, cools an object or a liquid in contact with it. Latent heat describes the amount of heat that is needed to evaporate the liquid; this heat comes from the liquid itself and  which tempers conditions in the sky courts, lobbies and viewing platforms. The layered facade cuts air-conditioning load and the narrow plan encourages daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting. External louvres and grilles control solar gain and protect against sand storms. Though Yeang's repertoire is familiar, it will be interesting to see if his particular brand of eco-evangelism can adapt to and flourish in Kuwait's climate and culture. C. S.

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Publication:The Architectural Review
Article Type:Brief Article
Geographic Code:7KUWA
Date:Apr 1, 2005
Words:202
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