Archinect - News

Zero-carbon Forbes International Tower, designed by AS+GG Architecture, proposed for Egypt's new capital

2023-02-02T15:34:00-05:00

Forbes and Egyptian real estate development company Magnom Properties have announced plans to construct a 55-story zero-carbon commercial tower in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital outside of Cairo. Called the Forbes International Tower, this marks the first time the media giant has branded a commercial tower. Its design is led by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

The partnership was announced on the concluding day of the recent Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, where world leaders and experts discussed the need for sustainable climate solutions in urban development. A Memorandum of Understanding to develop the project was signed by the Group Chairman of Rawabi Holding and Chairman of Magnom Properties, Abdulaziz Al Turki, and Forbes CEO, Mike Federle.

“Cities play a critical role in our race to reach net zero and buildings, which are responsible for up t...

Africa's tallest building completes concrete structure

2021-06-23T15:25:00-04:00

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) celebrated the completion of the concrete structure of Iconic Tower in the Central Business District of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital last week on 17 June. Now the tallest tower in Africa, Iconic Tower’s concrete structure is 373.2m while its highest point is 385.8m, CSCEC Egypt said.

The 78-story Iconic Tower is the centerpiece in an ambitious mega-development of several planned skyscrapers in Egypt's New Administrative Capital outside of Cairo.

#WitnessHappiness The landmark tower of Egypt's new capital CBD project, the tallest building in Africa, has officially sealed the roof, becoming a new urban landmark. It covers a building area of 262,000 ㎡ and its highest point reaches 385.8 meters.#BuildTheFuture #CSCEC pic.twitter.com/AIguKBXpk3
— China State Construction (@CSCECNEWS) June 22, 2021

The booming business of building cities from scratch

2019-07-10T15:22:00-04:00

“We’re in the midst of new cities fever,” says Prof Sarah Moser. The head of the new cities lab at McGill University has documented more than 100 cities that have sprung up across Asia and Africa since the early 2000s for her forthcoming Atlas of New Cities.

The Guardian kicks off its new Cities from scratch series with an overview of noteworthy planned metropolises that are replacing big swaths of desert, jungle, or sea across Asia and Africa.

While some new cities started out ambitiously but had to eventually give up on key features, others took some years to overcome the 'ghost city' label. And there's no shortage of prominent newcomers.

The race is on for Africa's new tallest building

2019-01-21T13:55:00-05:00

The foundations for what could become Africa’s tallest building, a 390 metre tall tower in Egypt's new administrative capital, will be poured within days, according to the country's prime minister. "Iconic Tower" is one of several Dubai-style mega projects being built in Egypt’s new administrative capital 45 kilometres east of Cairo. It is hoped that when completed it will stand as the tallest building in Africa [...].

The title of tallest building in Africa has not been successfully challenged since the 732-ft Carlton Centre opened in Johannesburg in 1973.

Other African nations have vowed to bring home the crown with new tall buildings proposed or underway, like the 820-ft Bank of Africa Tower in Morocco, the 900-ft Pinnacle Towers in Kenya, and this preliminary concept for the megatall Oblisco Capitale Tower in Egypt's New Administrative Capital.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli recently visited the site of the Dubai-style megaproject which will include the supertall Iconic Tower.

Preliminary details unveiled for (could-be) megatall skyscraper in Egypt

2018-10-25T13:53:00-04:00

Idia Designs, an architectural design firm, has revealed some preliminary details on the chosen design of its New Administrative Capital’s landmark, the “Oblisco Capitale Tower,” which is deemed to surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in stature, Invest-Gate reports. “It is still a concept,” according to the company’s statement. However, some photos and videos were released, showcasing the tower’s features. Idia notes that state-run El Nasr Housing and Development is the project’s developer.

Not many specifics are known so far about the obelisk-shaped megatall tower concept Oblisco Capitale Tower by Cairo/Dubai-based firm IDIA.Design, but the promotional material hints at a structure taller than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world's tallest building.

View this post on Instagram We're already imagining The Oblisco Capitale Tower coming to life...Here's a glimpse of what it will look like once developed. #architecture #archdaily
A post shared by IDIA.Design (@idia.design) on Aug 30, 2018 at 6:19am PDT

The design description explains how the tower's architecture was inspired from Pharaonic and Art Deco styles, incorporating original obelisk proportions, lotus-flower themes, and the underlying theme of the Nile River as a connecting element.

Image: IDIA.Design

H/T CTBUH

Egypt's challenges to build its new capital city

2015-11-09T17:38:00-05:00

Cairo is an unruly urban sprawl that has spun out of control. Now, officials want to build a new capital in the desert -- a potent symbol of President Sisi's regime. But will it ever happen? [...] The old Cairo is an ugly city, an affront to the senses. [...] a city of contradictions, created from the bottom up, even though that had never been the intention. It has been growing wildly since the 1960s -- from 3.5 million back then to 18 million now -- against the will of the country's rulers.

Previously in the Archinect News:

A New "Capital" for Cairo?

2015-03-24T18:01:00-04:00

...last week at an economic development conference, the Egyptian government announced it was planning a giant new building project to the east of Cairo. The new city, which could eventually cover 700 km sq, doesn't currently have a name, and is being referred to simply as "The Capital"...If all goes to plan, the city will serve as the new administrative and financial capital of Egypt.