Arcapita, a leading financial company in Bahrain, is situated within the Bahrain Bay district that has recently arisen from the Persian Gulf. The design for the Arcapita landscape explores the rich history of Islamic patterns found in the region and how they inform the organization of the Arcapita landscape through geometric principles, subtle level changes, and the use of water for passive cooling and aesthetic purposes.
The design process examined historic patterns from the region to see how these geometric systems would respond to scale shifts and the evolution from a two-dimensional system to a three-dimensional space. This creates a surface for the building to set on while offering an array of spatial configurations that people could enjoy while experiencing the surrounding landscape.
There are several layers the landscape is comprised of, the first layer is the paved areas directly adjacent to the building. This area creates a flat plane for the building to rest on serving as a plinth for the new headquarters. As you move further away from the building into the landscape this plane begins to fragment and lift up to form a new spatial and organizational sequence. This is defined by parterres of paving, planting, and water. The parterres offer opportunities for seating near under the shade of Acacia trees and the cooling effects of water. Theodore Hoerr led the design of this project while at AECOM. Images courtesy of AECOM & SOM.