Twin Supertalls Planned In Jeddah

Asian developer Keppel Land is starting work on what will be their first project in Saudi Arabia, twin 300 metre tall residential towers to stand in the rapidly liberalising city of Jeddah.

Whilst most of the country is still under strict Islamic law the city is more liberally ruled and unlike most of the population centres in the Kingdom, it has both a cosmopolitan population and a long international trading history that has established its position as the leading commercial centre of the country.

The scheme is a joint venture between Kepel and the state owned Saudi Economic and Development Company. The Nawras Residential Towers occupy a prime part of residential waterfront and will offer approximately 1000 new apartments in an area that is already dotted with leading luxury hotels and a short car journey from Tahlia Street, Jeddah's answer to Bond Street.

The designs for the buildings feature three egg shaped wings located off a central core, much like the defunct skyhouse concept floated by Marks Barfield in the United Kingdom.

The central cores will offer the developer a chance to accommodate sky gardens at various intervals up them whilst three sky gardens will also feature in the two shorter wings of each building.

At ground level will be a complexly landscaped garden for residents to enjoy complete with an oasis, palm trees, open-air sports facilities and driveways running through it to the tower bases to save you ever having to walk.

Although this may sound like it is perfect for the supremely lazy, Saudi Arabia gets so hot in the summer the air-conditioned interiors of cars are a must to travel around, and even a few minutes in the desert heat will wear out all but the most experienced Bedouin.

Despite the economic climate, Jeddah has a massive need for housing that can accommodate its increasing upper middle class and thus, financing is already in place. The developers aim on beginning construction in the first half of 2010 with completion of the project sometime in 2013.