A tower of earth emerges from the ground of Riyadh, the great capital city of the desert. Its colors are shades of the earth, from light sand to dark red. A brick facade, like a lace or a veil shades every surface of inner glass skin to protect the office floors from the continuous sun exposure. On the ground floor, a circular oasis with Doum palms and occasional water greet the visitor in an ambulatory experience that disconnects from the asphalted or the paved of the urban, at least for the time of this transition. On this ground floor, internally, rammed earth boxes create a modern version of an archaic village, like an excavation with high-level ceilings that starts the office programs through co-working spaces and other leisurely activities.

A second tower, slimmer and more edged made of rusted metal houses a panoramic elevator to look towards KAFD on the way up to your office space, gym, or rooftop venue. The brick skin is occasionally cut through in large rectangular openings, catching views towards the northwest to the airport, northwest to Diriyah and south to the financial district towers.

The tower is a square in plan. It is reminiscent of the Al Khalaf mud towers both in color, materiality, but also in its very slight tapering, in shape. On the roof of the tower is an eccentric box and a Zen garden. It is made of red glass, like looking towards the sun through contemporary sunglasses, and houses a special program like an art venue with fine-dining. The tower of earth is an opportunity to revisit contemporary urban working life in Riyadh, for the pleasures of catching it in under a new light, an earthy color, and an always changing shadow.