Unstudio'S Wasl Tower In Dubai Draws From Classical Art With Sinuous Contrapposto Pose

Set to become one of Dubai’s most impressive new landmarks, UNStudio‘s Wasl Tower is nearing completion and continues to transform the city’s skyline with its sinuous form and advanced facade of ceramic fins. With structural design by Werner Sobek, the supertall tower rises 302 meters and draws on classical art’s ‘contrapposto’ stance — its twisted form suggesting a figure mid-stride. Currently in the final stages of construction, the project has been photographed by Nils Koenning, offering a unique glimpse into the next generation of mixed-use skyscrapers in the UAE.

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the project sits at a critical urban intersection in Dubai, linking the world-famous Burj Khalifa with the newer City Walk development. Its prominent placement along Sheikh Zayed Road ensures high visibility, especially as it stands opposite the Burj Khalifa without any other tall structures to compete with. A new pedestrian bridge connects the building to the Burj Khalifa metro station, extending accessibility while reinforcing its role as a node within Dubai’s ever-evolving infrastructure network.

images © Nils Koenning

With one of the tallest ceramic facades in the world, the Wasl Tower in Dubai pushes the limits of facade design by blending tradition with performance. The architects at UNStudio and engineers at Werner Sobek cloak the tower in a lace-like grid of ceramic fins, crafted from low-tech glazed clay. This surface works to both reduce heat gain and enhance interior daylighting. Each fin is precisely angled at 12.8 degrees, a figure determined through parametric modeling to optimize shading and light diffusion. This outer skin is thus a passive cooling system which responds to the desert climate and offers a tactile visual identity that reads as both futuristic and traditional.

The Wasl Tower in Dubai introduces an unusual vertical seam that functions as a ‘vertical boulevard’ — a stacked procession of outdoor balconies and green terraces that run up the spine of the building. Crowned by a series of rooftop infinity pools, this seam brings a new level of permeability to high-rise living in a desert context. It also forms a crucial axis for public engagement, with programmatically rich zones that house dining, entertainment, and hospitality functions suspended far above the city.

Dubai’s Wasl Tower is a 302 meter skyscraper designed by UNStudio with structure by Werner Sobek

With its Wasl Tower in Dubai, UNStudio draws inspiration from classical sculpture, rotating along its vertical axis in a dynamic contrapposto pose. Its complex geometry is supported by three massive 300-meter shear walls, which are linked by four strategic outriggers. This structural system enables an open and adaptable floorplate, meeting the demands of its mixed-use program — including office spaces, apartments, and a hotel — while allowing the building to gracefully twist and face multiple directions.

The project becomes a living element within the nightscape through its responsive lighting system designed by Arup. Hidden behind the ceramic fins, the system pulses with light patterns that mimic the tempo of urban life. During the day, the same ceramic system moderates solar exposure. At night, the tower becomes a glowing presence powered in part by PV panels integrated into the adjacent car park structure. The lighting concept flows from exterior to interior, especially in the tower’s public areas and sky lobby.

the building’s sculptural form is based on contrapposto and rotates along its vertical axis

To navigate its complex, multi-functional interior, UNStudio and Werner Sobek employ a layered vertical transport strategy. A total of seventeen elevators — including five for services — support the distinct programs within the tower. Express lifts connect major hubs like the ground floor, spa, sky lobby, and rooftop, while separate lift groups serve office workers, hotel guests, and residents. While streamlining circulation, this system enhances user experience by lending direct, efficient access between public and private zones.

As the Wasl Tower nears its anticipated completion later this year, Dubai prepares to welcome a new icon which actively engages with its climate, culture, and infrastructure. With its ceramic cloak, kinetic silhouette, and environmentally responsive features, the tower signals a forward-thinking future for high-rise design in the desert metropolis.

it features one of the world’s tallest ceramic facades made from low-tech glazed clay

ceramic fins provide shading and reflect light deep into the building