Office of the Heir Apparent

Notes

Located in an arid mineral landscape, the outer appearance of the complex is that of a unitary massive volume, projecting the character of desertic Islamic fortifications.
In effect, the low-rise volume is H-shaped and completed with gateways, defining two courtyards. The public courtyard is accessible from the main gateway, and is delineated by the majlis (audience hall), a domed mosque, banqueting hall, and administrative offices in the center. The second courtyard is reserved for services, parking and delivery access, and is flanked by service facilities and departmental offices. 
The courtyard plan was specifically requested by the Heir Apparent Sheikh Hamad Bin Eissa Al-Khalifa. This configuration of spaces allows for optimal natural ventilation. Combined with water pools, the natural breezes create a micro-climate that modulates extreme desert temperatures. Makiya uses thin vertical openings in the thick envelope, a language similar to that of the regional earthen architecture, corroborating both the relation to the natural elements and the image of the fort.
Makiya uses concrete blocks for the walls of the complex, topped with a steel structure supporting a concrete roof. The exterior treatment is off-white plaster, while the interior walls and ceilings are mainly of carved wood.

Sources

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