Dubai’s striking Index Building, by Foster + Partners, incorporates three joined urban-scaled water-walls beneath its ninety stories of mixed-use functions. The concept calls for entering the architecture from under the tower, where shade and water greet and cool visitors before they move into airconditioned lobbies. Around the building, lapped, sloped stone panels flow with waters which are subsequently captured in a vast reflection pool. The tower touches the ground only at three lift lobbies and eight structural fins, all of which repose in the pools. The lift lobbies are accessed via bridges. The sloped water panels, which frame three sides of the urban-scaled space, are designed to be attractive with active water flows or dry.