Abraj Al Lulu

The three, US$ 252 million, 180 m high-rise towers – known as the Gold, Silver and Black Pearls – currently under construction in Manama, Bahrain, promise a high level of residential comfort. Sharing a common podium and basement area they will provide luxury one to three bedroom apartments, while exclusive penthouses will occupy the top floors.

The different room layouts of each floor required an easy-to-use and handle formwork, which is easily adaptable to the different requirements, said a spokesman for main contractors Al Hamad Construction and Development Company.

To meet these demands 3350 m² of Meva's MevaDec system has been used for the 44 storey Gold and Silver and 40 storey Black Pearl Towers. All 860 luxury apartments have to be ready for occupation in 2007. The tight schedule has seen the stair towers and lift shafts constructed first followed by the floor slabs and walls. An exact workflow and material handling schedule has been needed.

The MevaDec's drop-head system means stripping the panels and beams is possible in just three days. They can also be re-used for the next cycle, which has reduced the number required for a project of this size by -40%.

The drop-head drops 190 mm giving enough room to disassemble the panels and beams. These can then be re-used without delay thanks to their alkus full-plastic facing.