On the banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, construction work is progressing on the Central Bank, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in 2010, specifically by Zaha Hadid and Patrick Schumacher. The skyscraper’s exoskeleton, which will contain 90,000 square meters of space, has already been completed and reaches a height of 170 meters.

The reinforced concrete structure rises from a narrow base on a large podium with terraces and gardens, then slightly widens toward the center before narrowing again at the top. The structural exoskeleton is designed to mimic the light reflecting off the river’s waves while also providing shade to the glass facades. A grand atrium will allow natural light to enter the interior and will open up towards the river.