T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd - Jabal Omar Towers

T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd
Jabal Omar Towers
Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd

Seven 35-storey apartment towers
Two 50-storey hotel towers
Four 15-storey hotel blocks
4 storeys Retail concourse

The proposed development at Jabal Omar uses the mountain crest to define the site into 2 parts, one facing al-Haram and the other sloping away from al-Haram. The parts of the development facing al-Haram contains the concourse and pedestrian links to al-Haram. Hotel and apartment towers are situated over the mountain crest, limited by our new “rim” height for maximum views. The Western side of the development is for car parking and vehicular access.

Drawing courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd

The Haram is surrounded by five mountains that forms an existing “rim” to the Al-Haram area. Our urban design strategy is to build the inevitable high-rises fixed by a height-limit that will create a new “protective rim” around al-Haram. This will avoid a rampant disorganized skyline around the holy area. A new benchmark building height is thus derived from the average height of the five mountains (450 meter) as the new height limit for future development of the sites surrounding al-Haram. Only one or two exceptional towers at preselected locations may exceed this height limit to give some diversity to the skyline resembling the minarets of the traditional mosque.

The towers have single rooms or apartments that are shaped for maximum facade area with views towards al-Haram, using a number of tower topologies (i.e. the ‘A’, ‘V’, ‘H’, ‘M’ and composite shapes).

Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd

The concourse, a central promenade, at level 2 acts as a “collector” to collect pilgrims from all the towers, who are directed to the 2 “chutes” to al-Haram. A combination of elevators, escalators, travelators and pedestrian routes is used for reducing the travel time. Travel time analyses have been studied to verify the time needed to reach the Haram from the rooms of each tower. Alternative prayer zones are also provided. The hotel towers have ramps within the central atrium that connects to prayer rooms located at every 5 floors. A prayer terrace on the roof of the concourse offers an alternative prayer zone: a public, open area shaded by buildings and palms planted around it with a view to al-Haram.

Tower built forms with single-loaded rooms or apartments are shaped for maximum facade area with views towards al-Haram, using a number of tower topologies (i.e. the ‘A’, ‘V’, ‘H’, ‘M’ and composite shapes).

As a passive low-energy air-conditioning design, “evaporative cooling shafts” are located within the towers to provide cool air to the circulation spaces and to supplement the air conditioning of the rooms and to the green gardens below.

Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd

A green park environment is created for pilgrims, by landscaping of the car parking block roofs and the concourse roof. These are connected via landscaped bridges. The water supply for greening of the development comes from the recycled “gray” water of the development. The concept seeks to create a balanced “ecosystem” on the site of both organic and inorganic aspects of the ecological environment. At its simplistic level of sustainable design, the landscaping over the roofs literally provides a “green” scheme. By covering the parking areas with earth and greenery the parking can be excluded from the plot ratio calculation; thereby increasing the Developer’s permitted commercial area.

Areas:
Gross 878,880 square meters
Net: 565,650 square meters
Prayer Terraces and landscaped gardens: 94,000 square meters
Parking: 309,000 square feet
Site Area: 232,000 square meters

Dates: Start of construction 2001

Client:
Makkah Construction and Development Company

T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd
(Company Nº. 41743A)
No. 8 Jalan 1, Taman Sri Ukay, 68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: 03-457 1966 Fax: 603-456 9330/456 1005

Project Team:
Principal-in-charge: Dr Ken Yeang
Project Architect: Andy Chong
Design Director: Ridzwa Fathan
Design Architects: Portia Reynolds, Kenneth Cheong
Design Team:
Ong Eng Huat
Ng Chee Hui
Lena Ng
Peter Fajak
Loh Hock Jin
Shahrul Kamaruddin
Maulud Tawang
Wong Yee Wah
Celine Verissimo
Drafting:
Mah Lek
Loh Mun Chee
Margaret Ng

C&S and M&E: Saudi Consulting Services (Riyadh)
Bioclimatic Consultant: Battle McCarthy Consulting Engineers (London) Dr Baruch Givoni (California) Perspectives Illustrator: Peter Edgeley (Melbourne) Landscape Consultant: Simon Saw Landscape & Planning (KL)
Photography: K. L. Ng Photography
Model Maker: Technibuilt Sdn Mhd

August 26, 2001

T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd
Under construction

Hamzah & Yeang arcspace features





				Features
		T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd Jabal Omar Towers Mecca, Saudi Arabia Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd Seven 35-storey apartment towers Two 50-storey hotel towers Four 15-storey hotel blocks 4 storeys Retail concourse The proposed development at Jabal Omar uses the mountain crest to define the site into 2 parts, one facing al-Haram and the other sloping away from al-Haram. The parts of the development facing al-Haram contains the concourse and pedestrian links to al-Haram. Hotel and apartment towers are situated over the mountain crest, limited by our new “rim” height for maximum views. The Western side of the development is for car parking and vehicular access. Drawing courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd The Haram is surrounded by five mountains that forms an existing “rim” to the Al-Haram area. Our urban design strategy is to build the inevitable high-rises fixed by a height-limit that will create a new “protective rim” around al-Haram. This will avoid a rampant disorganized skyline around the holy area. A new benchmark building height is thus derived from the average height of the five mountains (450 meter) as the new height limit for future development of the sites surrounding al-Haram. Only one or two exceptional towers at preselected locations may exceed this height limit to give some diversity to the skyline resembling the minarets of the traditional mosque. The towers have single rooms or apartments that are shaped for maximum facade area with views towards al-Haram, using a number of tower topologies (i.e. the ‘A’, ‘V’, ‘H’, ‘M’ and composite shapes). Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd The concourse, a central promenade, at level 2 acts as a “collector” to collect pilgrims from all the towers, who are directed to the 2 “chutes” to al-Haram. A combination of elevators, escalators, travelators and pedestrian routes is used for reducing the travel time. Travel time analyses have been studied to verify the time needed to reach the Haram from the rooms of each tower. Alternative prayer zones are also provided. The hotel towers have ramps within the central atrium that connects to prayer rooms located at every 5 floors. A prayer terrace on the roof of the concourse offers an alternative prayer zone: a public, open area shaded by buildings and palms planted around it with a view to al-Haram. Tower built forms with single-loaded rooms or apartments are shaped for maximum facade area with views towards al-Haram, using a number of tower topologies (i.e. the ‘A’, ‘V’, ‘H’, ‘M’ and composite shapes). As a passive low-energy air-conditioning design, “evaporative cooling shafts” are located within the towers to provide cool air to the circulation spaces and to supplement the air conditioning of the rooms and to the green gardens below. Photo courtesy T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd A green park environment is created for pilgrims, by landscaping of the car parking block roofs and the concourse roof. These are connected via landscaped bridges. The water supply for greening of the development comes from the recycled “gray” water of the development. The concept seeks to create a balanced “ecosystem” on the site of both organic and inorganic aspects of the ecological environment. At its simplistic level of sustainable design, the landscaping over the roofs literally provides a “green” scheme. By covering the parking areas with earth and greenery the parking can be excluded from the plot ratio calculation; thereby increasing the Developer’s permitted commercial area. Areas: Gross 878,880 square meters Net: 565,650 square meters Prayer Terraces and landscaped gardens: 94,000 square meters Parking: 309,000 square feet Site Area: 232,000 square meters Dates: Start of construction 2001 Client: Makkah Construction and Development Company T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd (Company Nº. 41743A) No. 8 Jalan 1, Taman Sri Ukay, 68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 03-457 1966 Fax: 603-456 9330/456 1005 Project Team: Principal-in-charge: Dr Ken Yeang Project Architect: Andy Chong Design Director: Ridzwa Fathan Design Architects: Portia Reynolds, Kenneth Cheong Design Team: Ong Eng Huat Ng Chee Hui Lena Ng Peter Fajak Loh Hock Jin Shahrul Kamaruddin Maulud Tawang Wong Yee Wah Celine Verissimo Drafting: Mah Lek Loh Mun Chee Margaret Ng C&S and M&E: Saudi Consulting Services (Riyadh) Bioclimatic Consultant: Battle McCarthy Consulting Engineers (London) Dr Baruch Givoni (California) Perspectives Illustrator: Peter Edgeley (Melbourne) Landscape Consultant: Simon Saw Landscape & Planning (KL) Photography: K. L. Ng Photography Model Maker: Technibuilt Sdn Mhd August 26, 2001 T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd Under construction Hamzah & Yeang arcspace features