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Dhaka tower breaks ground to become OMA's first project in Bangladesh

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

Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) | Architect Magazine

The OMA is a leading international partnership practicing architecture, urbanism, and cultural analysis. OMA's buildings and masterplans around the world insist on intelligent forms while inventing new possibilities for content and everyday use.


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visualizations by Filippo Bolognese © OMA

September 29, 2023

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.

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visualizations: Filippo Bolognese | @filippobolognese.images © OMA

"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.

OMA TAKES TO THE CAPITAL CITY OF DHAKA

Dhaka, the vibrant capital of Bangladesh, is about to see a transformative addition to its skyline by renowned studio OMA. Once built, this 180,000-square-meter office high-rise will rise 150 meters (490 feet), and will become one of the country’s tallest buildings. Leading the charge in its design is OMA Partner Iyad Alsaka, while its development is steered by Dhaka-based real estate developer Shanta Holdings. The Dhaka Tower has officially broken ground, and will soon represent the nation’s role as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

A BEACON IN BANGLADESH’S ECONOMIC SURGE​

The architects at OMA will introduce its Dhaka Tower in Bangladesh after the nation had recently secured its position as the second-largest economy in South Asia — just 50 years after achieving independence. This surge has led to an era of rapid transformation in the heart of Bangladesh, particularly in its capital, Dhaka. This newly unveiled tower will stand at the forefront of this urban transformation and will redefine the city’s skyline. Sited within a growing commercial district on the fringes of Tejgaon, the tower will emerge as the first skyscraper of its height in this neighborhood. Tejgaon, once an industrial epicenter within the city, now serves as the headquarters for a plethora of both local and multinational corporations, setting the stage for Dhaka Tower’s significance in this evolving landscape.

DESIGNED WITH ABSTRACTED GEOMETRIES​

The OMA-designed Dhaka Tower will stand along the shores of Hatirjheel Lake in Bangladesh. It is designed as a simple volume of extruded, abstracted shapes. The tower features two triangular floor plates interconnected by a rectangular core with panoramic lifts that open to sweeping vistas of the picturesque lake. This layout maximizes the infusion of natural daylight and grants uninterrupted views of the surroundings. The building’s orientation, together with strategically employed fritted glass, balances the play of light within.

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visualizations by Filippo Bolognese © OMA

Rather than adhering to the conventional zoning envelope of a tower atop a podium, Dhaka Tower defies norms with its pyramidal base. This innovative approach creates grand atriums that merge with beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. As visitors step into these triple-height lobbies, they are greeted with a lofty and versatile space suitable for banquet dinners and presentations. The atmosphere of Dhaka’s waterscape inspires a bespoke pattern adorning both atriums. What’s more, the base houses an expansive exhibition space, reaching a towering height of 40 meters (130 feet). A restaurant at the top of the building will offer visitors both indoor and outdoor seating while a publicly accessible two-tier observation deck will open out toward panoramic views of the city below.

project info:

project title:
Dhaka Tower

architecture: OMA | @oma.eu

location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

developer, client: Shanta Holdings | @shantaholdings

status: Construction

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, MEP: Meinhardt Group
facade engineer: Meinhardt Façade Technology
landscape: One Landscape
lighting: Lightbox
fire: IGnesis Consultants

As stated - local architectural partner will be DWm4 Architects, here is their rather new portfolio.


They also have an interior design division

 
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A captivating and modern looking design :-)

Thanks. :-)

Yes - the Shanta team is outdoing their previous projects every time they embark on a new one. They are by far the most pleasing commercial and residential builder in Dhaka right now, but their stuff per square foot is also the most expensive. 8-)

This is their "Forum" project in Tejgaon Commercial area below (locally architected, designed and built) - which was their last one finished recently and I can say it is aesthetically very pleasing and world class. This new "Dhaka Tower" above is not too far from the "Forum" project, and will of course become a nice landmark for the Hatirjheel lakefront.

Happy to admit that there are at least half a dozen well-funded and technically excelling developers of Shanta's level in Dhaka now.

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Thanks. :-)

Yes - the Shanta team is outdoing their previous projects every time they embark on a new one. They are by far the most pleasing commercial and residential builder in Dhaka right now, but their stuff per square foot is also the most expensive. 8-)

This is their "Forum" project in Tejgaon Commercial area below (locally architected, designed and built) - which was their last one finished recently and I can say it is aesthetically very pleasing and world class. This new "Dhaka Tower" above is not too far from the "Forum" project, and will of course become a nice landmark for the Hatirjheel lakefront.

Happy to admit that there are at least half a dozen well-funded and technically excelling developers of Shanta's level in Dhaka now.

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Then there is the 40 storied ICON tower being built by Shanta right next to this, with itself was built next to another Shanta project. Shanta is building one icon after another in Tejgaon / Hatirzil area. The old Tejgaon industrial area is going to be a incredible CBD area in the next decade or so.
 
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Whats inside the tower? Chaddi making factory or pole vault training facility?
 
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This guy opened a thread for one stupid building in Dhaka which is still in renders. Lol
Let them cebebrate its a big deal for the Lungis, they have passed chimp level and building towers now..reminds me of India when i was growing up in early 2000s and malls had just come about. All rickshaw drivers will enter the building to get free air conditioning and all Lungi lafangas will take their girlphrainds there to take photos

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Then there is the 40 storied ICON tower being built by Shanta right next to this, with itself was built next to another Shanta project. Shanta is building one icon after another in Tejgaon / Hatirzil area. The old Tejgaon industrial area is going to be a incredible CBD area in the next decade or so.

I haven't seen renderings of the ICON tower - but Shanta is building two more on the right and left hand sides of the "Forum" project.

One is the the "Pinnacle" and the other is the "Western Tower". Don't know the status of the Pinnacle tower right now (Shanta site says ETA is December 2026). Will be a sight to behold for the Dhaka skyline once completed.

Pinnacle (CGI - render)
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"Western Tower" - Built
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All three Shanta Projects in that spot together (CGI render)
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Whats inside the tower? Chaddi making factory or pole vault training facility?
No, We are building a 'how to use toilet' training centre for the illegal Indians who defecate in the open and drink cow cola.
 
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