Taking inspiration from regional elements such as billowing sails and shifting sand dunes, the dramatic form of the new corporate headquarters for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) transforms the city’s waterfront skyline.
Seeking a building form that symbolized the bank’s mission and values, the design of the new facility emphasizes transparency and openness. In folding the structure’s vertical plane three times to create two outstretched “arms” in an inviting gesture. Designed to represent contemporary commerce and culture in Abu Dhabi, the ADIA Headquarters building also subtly echoes themes found in age-old Islamic architecture. Its slim stair tower creates a dialogue with the slender minarets of the adjacent mosque: an intriguing juxtaposition of modernity and tradition.