BURJ ZANZIBAR

World’s tallest timber apartment tower to be built in Zanzibar

28-storey Burj Zanzibar would be highest green building in the world.

CPS, the developer behind Burj Zanzibar focuses on designing and creating large scale urban developments to supply safe and equitable homes for thousands of families in Tanzania and East Africa.

The Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar is planning the highest green building in the world, a 28-storey apartment tower designed in hybrid timber technology.

Named Burj Zanzibar - “burj” meaning tower in Arabic - the spectacular high-rise is designed to reach 96 metres in height. Dubbed “vertical green village”, it would represent an iconic landmark not only for the island but for the whole of Africa and a global environmental milestone, being the first timber structure worldwide of such proportions.

The design of the mixed-use apartment and commercial building, in a playful beehive style with breathtaking ocean views, was unveiled to the public in Muscat, Oman on 1 October. Dutch-born architect Leander Moons, responsible for the concept, said: “Burj Zanzibar is not just an outstanding building but a new ecosystem for the future of living”.

TIMBER ICON

In the heart of Fumba Town, one of the fast-growing urban developments around Zanzibar City, a remarkable new hybrid-timber tower is about to be constructed. Within this dynamic urban context and directly at the Indian Ocean, the residential tower will be highly visible and stand out through its distinctive architecture.

Representing a young, vibrant and most of all sustainable lifestyle, the building will allocate a mixture of studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and penthouses with extraordinary views towards ocean, city and island. The green and sustainable design concept combined with a well-balanced apartment mix and amenity spaces contribute to an ever-evolving character of the tower, combining mundane trends with local culture. ‘BURJ zanzibar’ will become one of the island’s iconic new addresses.

STYLISH IN GREEN

The design of ‘BURJ zanzibar’ aims to combine the local green surrounding with a modern African lifestyle. The apartment tower is placed on a terraced podium allowing for shared and private gardens and outdoor spaces on the lower levels. Green pockets integrated in the facade create the impression of plants growing up towards the rejuvenating top of the tower. The setbacks on the upper most floors enhance the green experience whilst also contributing to the elegant silhouette of the building. The green roof gardens and planted balconies allow for the integration of nature to reflect a sustainable lifestyle and help, together with the construction of the tower in timber, to reduce the carbon footprint of the building.

The remarkable and vivid architecture will establish ‘BURJ zanzibar’ as one of Zanzibar City’s new landmarks. The expressive yet playful design of the facade contributes to a greater level of privacy on the interior as most high-rise residential projects. The possibilities to set an individual note by the integration of room extension, planters or even a panorama window truly sets ‘BURJ zanzibar’ apart. This individual and alternating facade concept will represent the vibrant character of the residents and Zanzibar as one of the most beloved destinations in the World. Most importantly this Icon will create flexible and sustainable living qualities to the highest standards for its residents.

‘BURJ zanzibar’ is planned as a hybrid-timber tower. The conventional concrete core allows for fire and life safety standards to meet all code requirements. The structure around the central core is assembled with glue laminated timber columns and beams as well as cross laminated timber slabs. The interior of the apartments benefits from the natural look of exposed timber elements to add to the living quality. The timber building will promote the local available wood as the building material of the future and draw attention towards a more sustainable construction while offering living conditions to the highest standards. Following the world-wide trend to construct large buildings in timber, the ‘BURJ zanzibar’ will be the tallest hybrid-timber building in Africa.

MODULAR FLEXIBILITY

The innovative layout of the tower allows for highly flexible and adaptable apartment solutions. All apartments, reaching from small studios to the vast penthouses, are based on the same modular layout. Through this design approach apartments of different layouts and sizes can be allocated throughout all floors with maximum flexibility. In addition to the increased flexibility this concept will also contribute to an optimized construction time and enhanced finished qualities.

A similar modular approach has been applied to the design of the shell of the building. Utilizing only three types of modules a playful facade has been created by alternating and changing module depth and function. At the same time the facade addresses the local climate by providing permanent sun shading. The enclosed loggias and balconies contribute to the private character of the apartment’s interior. These outdoor spaces can be transformed into planter boxes but could also be included in the apartment by implementing a panorama window. This innovative and flexible architectural concept allows for individual solutions to accommodate the resident’s lifestyle related to their cultural backgrounds, family sizes and different stages of life. The design will create diversity in use and occupation: ‘BURJ zanzibar’ as a vertical green village.