REALISATION

2020-2021

BAUHERRSCHAFT

Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities

ARCHITEKTEN

Christian Kerez Zürich AG

AUFGABE

The public square measures 30 by 30 metres with a height of 23 metres. In most buildings, columns and beams denote boundaries and articulate architectural spaces horizontally and vertically; but here, columns unfathomably sprawl in all directions. They penetrate the walls and ceiling, protruding from the facade. In relation to their dimensions, the walls are thin, built from 14-centimetre profile frames. Likewise, the slender Steel columns are only 11 centimetres in diameter. The way that the slanted columns meet repeatedly in the voluminous space create a stiff structure.
While the 126 columns appear extremely dense in overview, it is surprising how light and sparingly placed they feel upon walking through the built space. At first glance, the supporting structure seems evenly distributed, but myriad vistas open up throughout the expanse. Areas of densely spaced columns alternate with open areas that are completely free of supports.
The placement of the windows, and their angle within the thin envelope of the structure, are a pure consequence of the geometrical arrongement of the columns. Intense light from outside is made soft an playful as it filters through from all planes, changing throughout the day in unexpected and irregular ways.

Christian Kerez