engineering.
Above Batumi’s marina, Silk Towers redefines the waterfront with three high-rise forms and low-rise podiums. Phase 1 introduces a 51-storey mixed-use tower and two podiums, creating a lively public edge where residents and visitors gather and engage with the sea.
A landmark Black Sea scheme integrating tall towers, flexible podiums, bioclimatic design and vibrant public space.
Environmental thinking informs the design from the outset. Green roofs, infiltration basins, wind-calibrated forms and façade setbacks moderate wind, heat and water, improving comfort and supporting biodiversity. A continuous canopy extends the usability of the public realm, softening exposure to sun, wind and rain while creating a walkable, human-scaled waterfront. Prefabrication and low-carbon materials further reduce waste and embodied energy.
Developed with Kengo Kuma and Associates, the tower’s slender, modulated form responds directly to Batumi’s marine climate. Calibrated setbacks and façade depth shape wind, sunlight and views, creating a building that is both expressive and environmentally responsive. Glass Reinforced Concrete panels, timber-aluminium composites and aluminium framing form a durable external system. Balcony planters and canopies introduce planting at height, offering shade, privacy and localised cooling. Thermal and acoustic performance are fine-tuned through simulation, with low-emissivity coatings and Silent PVB interlayers enhancing indoor comfort.
The podiums create an active and adaptable base for everyday life. Structurally independent, they accommodate retail, leisure, residential and parking uses within flexible grids that can evolve over time. Movement joints manage differential settlement, while long-span structures, including a swimming pool roof and landscaped terraces, enable generous and usable spaces. The MEP Hill consolidates plant and below-ground systems into a standalone structure, reducing excavation.
The tower combines residential, commercial and sports uses within a carefully engineered form that responds to seismic and wind demands. An elongated reinforced concrete core works with an outrigger system and stiff perimeter columns to enhance lateral resistance. Reinforced concrete is used throughout for durability, cost efficiency and long-term resilience. This approach maximises floor area, reduces core wall thickness and material demand, and allows for future adaptability.
AKT II’s integrated role across bioclimatic, infrastructure, façade and structural engineering shapes a waterfront where the sound of the sea meets a sheltered promenade, supporting social exchange and wellbeing along Batumi’s Black Sea edge.
