Dhaka Tower by OMA, Bangladesh skyscraper building, South Asian high-rise architecture images

Dhaka Tower in Bangladesh

9 October 2023

Architects: OMA

Location: Bangladesh, South Asia

Dhaka Tower, OMA’s First Project in Bangladesh, Breaks Ground

September 29, 2023, Dhaka – Dhaka Tower, a 150-meter-tall, 180,000-square-meter office high-rise set to become one of the country’s tallest buildings, has broken ground. The design has been led by OMA Partner Iyad Alsaka and developed by Dhaka-based real estate developer Shanta Holdings.

Bangladesh’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. Fifty years after independence, Bangladesh is the second largest economy in South Asia. In the wake of this rapid economic growth, Bangladesh’s capital is changing equally quickly. Dhaka Tower is the first landmark building of this scale in a new commercial district located at the edge of Tejgaon. Once a center of industrial activity in the city, Tejgaon is now home to some of the leading local and multinational corporations.

Standing on the shore of Hatirjheel Lake, Dhaka Tower is shaped by simple extruded, abstracted shapes. Two triangular floor plates are connected by a rectangular core with panoramic lifts overlooking the lake. The configuration allows for extensive views and natural daylight, controlled through the building orientation and fritted glass. Rather than conforming to a standard zoning envelope of a tower on a podium, the base is pyramidal, providing soaring atriums with direct connection to landscaped exterior spaces.

Retail and dining spaces flank the triple height lobbies, which double as venues for banquet dinners and presentations. A bespoke pattern inspired by Dhaka’s waterscape forms the backdrop for both atriums. The base includes an exhibition space extending to a maximum height of 40 meters. On the top level of the building, a restaurant offers both interior and exterior seating. Adjacent to it, a publicly accessible two-tier observation deck provides expansive views of the metropolis.

“Our design for Dhaka Tower is inspired by the spirit of Bangladesh’s thriving economy. Its shape expresses the aspirations of a dynamic nation, making a bold statement on the city’s skyline.” – Iyad Alsaka, OMA Partner
A complete presentation of the project will take place in Dhaka in early 2024.

Dhaka Tower, Bangladesh – Building Information

Status: Construction
Client: Shanta Holdings Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh Surface Area: 180,000 sqm Program: Offices
Partner: Iyad Alsaka

Project Director: Carol Patterson
Project Architect: Jonathan Telkamp
Team: Shatha Altoyan, Margarida Amial, Anita Ernodi, Marco Gambare, Lucien Glass, Alicja Krzywinska, Titouan Pierre Loup Chapouly, Adrianne Fisher, Lucien Emile Glass, Davide Masserini, Roza Matveeva, Bart Nicolaas, Jozef Olsavsky, Daan Ooievaar, Michael den Otter, Ana Otelea, Margarida Preza Amial, Saskia Simon, Iason Stathatos, Anahita Tabrizi, Timothy Jerrie Tse, Karolina Szczygiel, Camilla Busk Wisborg, Michele Zambetti, Yushang Zhang

COLLABORATORS
Local Architect: DWm4 Architects
Structure: Meinhardt Group
MEP: Meinhardt Group
Façade Engineer: Meinhardt Façade Technology Landscape: One Landscape
Lighting: Lightbox
Fire: IGnesis Consultants

OMA

OMA is an international practice operating within the traditional boundaries of architecture and urbanism. AMO, a research and design studio, applies architectural thinking to domains beyond. OMA is led by eight partners – Rem Koolhaas, Reinier de Graaf, Ellen van Loon, Shohei Shigematsu, Iyad Alsaka, Chris van Duijn, Jason Long, and Managing Partner- Architect David Gianotten – and maintains offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong,

Doha, and Australia. OMA-designed buildings currently under construction are the renovation of Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) in Berlin, Hangzhou Prism in Hangzhou, Palais de Justice in Lille, and the Simone Veil Bridge in Bordeaux.

OMA’s completed projects include Aviva Studios (formerly Factory International) in Manchester (2023), Toranomon Hills Station Tower in Tokyo (2023), Buffalo AKG Art Museum (2023), Taipei Performing Arts Centre (2022), Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles (2020), Norra Tornen in Stockholm (2020), Axel Springer Campus in Berlin (2020), MEETT Toulouse Exhibition and Convention Centre (2020), Galleria in Gwanggyo (2020), WA Museum Boola Bardip (2020), nhow RAI Hotel in Amsterdam (2020). Earlier buildings include Fondazione Prada in Milan (2018), De Rotterdam (2013), CCTV Headquarters in Beijing (2012), Casa da Música in Porto (2005), and the Seattle Central Library (2004).

Iyad Alsaka

Iyad Alsaka joined OMA as a director in 2007 and became partner in 2011. Responsible for OMA’s work in the Middle East and Africa, Iyad has led projects including the acclaimed masterplan for Waterfront City in Dubai, the HIA Airport City masterplan in Doha, Concrete at Alserkal Avenue, a new public venue for Dubai’s cultural district, and the Qatar National Library in Doha. Iyad’s current projects include the Wafra Tower in Kuwait City and Dhaka Tower in Dhaka. Born in 1969 in Syria, Iyad holds a degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Aleppo.

Shanta Holdings

Shanta Holdings is a leading real estate developer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 2005, Shanta has built a portfolio of Bangladesh’s most distinctive and selective developments, garnering a reputation for innovation, quality and trust. Over the years Shanta has completed 46 projects, comprising luxury residential and iconic commercial buildings, offering clients a touch of global standards in terms of design, quality and service.

Since its inception, Shanta has taken the challenge to develop some milestone projects in order to change the skyline of Dhaka and establish a new standard in the sector. Some key projects are: ‘Shanta Western Tower’(2011) – the first state-of-the-art and international standard commercial building, ‘Digonto’ (2012) – the first true 150 unit condominium, ‘The Glass House’ (2016) – the first high-rise steel structure building, ‘Skymark’ (2018) – the first building with a fully Unitized curtain wall system, “Forum’ (2022) – the first twin towers, and “Pinnacle” (2024) – en route to become the first 40-storied skyscraper of the country.

Images: Filippo Bolognese, d room studio and OMA

Dhaka Tower, Bangladesh images / information received 091023 from OMA

Location: Bangladesh, Asia

Bangladeshi Building Developments

Bengali Architectural Projects

Bangladesh Architecture Designs – chronological list

Community Spaces in Rohingya Refugee Response, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar District, Division of Chittagong
Architects: Rizvi Hassan, Khwaja Fatma, Saad Ben Mostafa

photo : Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Asif Salman (photographer)
Community Spaces in Rohingya Refugee Response

Community-driven project public realm in Jhenaidah
Architect: Co.Creation Architects / Khondaker Hasibul Kabir

photo : Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Asif Salman (photographer)
Urban River Spaces in Jhenaidah

Sustainable Inner-City Campus and Public Park, Dhaka
Architects: WOHA

Sustainable Inner-City Campus Dhaka Bangladesh
image courtesy of architects practice
Arcadia Education Project in South Kanarchor

Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, Dhaka

photo : AKTC / Rajesh Vora
Bait Ur Rouf Mosque Dhaka Building

Friendship Centre, Gaibandha

photo : AKTC / Rajesh Vora
Friendship Centre Building in Bangladesh

Dhaka Buildings
Dhaka Buildings

Infrastructure System for Dhaka Bangladesh

Architecture in India

Indian Architecture Designs – chronological list

New Delhi Architecture Tours by e-architect

Three Trees House in New Delhi
Design: DADA & Partners, architects

photograph : Ranjan Sharma / Lightzone India
Three Trees House in New Delhi

Indian Architect : contact details

Comments / photos for the Dhaka Tower Bangladesh building design by OMA Architects page welcome.