Kingdom Centre also called
Burj Al-Mamlaka ( ) is a supertall skyscraper
located in the city of Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
. It is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia
and the 45th tallest building in
the world with a height of 311 m (1,020 ft). It is also
host to the highest mosque in the world. The Tower Contains a total
of 43 floors excluding the 4 levels of basement. The Kingdom Centre
is owned by
Alwaleed bin Talal bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, a prince of the
Saudi royal family. It is also the
headquarters of his holding company:
Kingdom Holding Company. The total
cost of the project was
US$ 1 billion and the contract
was taken by Saudi Arabian Al-Saif and The Italian Impregilo.
Kingdom
Centre is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road in the growing
business district of Olaya in Riyadh
.
Kingdom Centre was the winner of the 2002
Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected
as the "Best skyscraper of the world for design". A five-level
shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the
east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in
continuously changing colors.
Besides the
shopping mall, the Centre
includes the
Four Seasons
Hotel Riyadh and state-of-the-art apartments.
The 100 meter long
skybridge atop the skyscraper, at a height
of 297 meters, contains a public observation deck and a view of the
entire city of Riyadh
. The
ellipse motif taken from the tower's footprint appears also in the
light fixtures, ceiling panels, entrance canopy, wastebins, and
furniture.
Kingdom centre is in direct axis with
Riyadh
's other skyscraper the
Al Faisaliyah
Center
. It creates a silhouetted skyline in the
evening.
External links