Media Headquarters in the Middle East
There is a lot to say about Bjarke Ingels’ competition entry for a media headquarters building in the Middle East. But the first think I feel like mentioning is … the canopy. The giant, tessellated, tensile canopy. Positioned between two cuboid towers, the canopy completely changes the face of the structure, transforming it into the object of architectural fantasy. It connects the modules in an unique way, and also created playful alternations between shaded and lighted, through its alteration of caped and variously pierced triangular elements.
courtesy of © Bjarke Ingels Group
Returning to more traditional design elements, the building is meant to offer a place for international broadcasting, while maintaining the existing specific aesthetic vibe. The 650 000 square meter structure is a place of interaction, where newsrooms and broadcast studios and their staff are brought together with visitors.
The podium the and the first floors above it are informal spaces, created for recreational activities by everyone, while the staff working higher up the building can use the private roof terraces. Everybody can also take advantage of restaurants, a gym, a bank and an auditorium. Additionally, all passers can enjoy projections on the building’s façade from the street.
courtesy of © Bjarke Ingels Group
Internal functions are, however, positioned in a manner that ensures a level of privacy. Large studios are positioned closely to vehicle access lanes, while functions that have a lower level of unusual space display are located in the higher part of the towers, where the repetitive floor plates “allow for a greater degree of flexibility”.
courtesy of © Bjarke Ingels Group
By:Lidia Ratoi
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.