Client:

IRES-Group, Egypt

Location:

Smart Village, Egypt

Citadel Capital Building

In collaboration with ZAHA HADID Architects

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In this prestigious project, ECG was keen to seize the opportunity to liaise with some the world's top consultants, notably Zaha Hadid Architects, to develop the new Citadel Capital Building located in Smart Village, Cairo-Alexandria Road, Cairo, Egypt.

Based on a deconstruction philosophy, the project aimed to sculpt a pyramid via a sunken two-block building emerging from luxuriant landscapes enriched by an artificial lake. As the two building blocks wrapped around an open-air courtyard, the building's base was parametered by a extended, sloped/perforated slab. The slab functioned as an efficient ventilation cavity for the multi-storey underground car parkings serving each building block. It also featured a skylight system to naturally light up recreation areas concentrated in the ground floor area. Recreation areas included an entrance lobby, a visitors' lounge, a cafeteria and dining areas, and a health club.

With a total built-up area of 42,280 m², the two building blocks could operate independently of one another and accordingly had independent entrances and exits. Once inside, offices could be operated flexibly either as open plan spaces or partitioned offices. All floors' grand interiors were designed to maximize the amount of light entering the space whilst taking full advantage of the landscaped views witnessed from the interior. To facilitate access to all floors, panoramic lifts with dramatic courtyard views were provided. Meanwhile, top floors enjoyed a blue, star-shaped skylight roof system admitting filtered sunlight throughout the whole building.