Summary
Project: Al Deyafa Planning Development (Deyafa Cultural Complex)
Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Year: 2008
Client: Al Deyafa Saudi Real EstateType: Urban design/Mixed-use development
Scope of involvement: Designed as an external design architect [collaborator] for 'OMRAN Architects' in collaboration with Ebtissam Farid
Contribution/Responsibilities: Main role in concept development and schematic design. Assisting in modeling.
Seeking to ensure sustainability and generate new revenue, the design concept for this urban complex was to create a new civic destination in the city that would attract, and cater to, all types of its inhabitants, especially the youth, to gather and enjoy a wide range of different commercial, social and cultural activities. The design aspires to achieve this by transforming the urban setting of this development project, which already accommodates an aging, under-performing shopping mall in the middle, into a new vibrant mixed-use urban nucleus of a distinctive space configuration that would place a new emphasis on creating community and connection.
To reinvent itself as a civic destination as well as a commercial one, the proposed development supports mixing retail spaces with new uses and brings in new experiences. It features complementary cultural uses, office spaces, housing, entertainment and dining in addition to retail. Distributed within the complex, these added activities would stimulate constant movement and encourage retail consumers to repeat their visit, not only to shop, but also to socialize and spend some time.
The urban setting before the proposed development (from Google Earth)
The design seeks to transform a retail-only place, which is losing its appeal, into an integrated, mixed-use hub for community and connection through a distinctive space configuration that expresses the local environment in a contemporary way. It works to create permeability and open up visual connections by breaking up the block-based mall and reconfiguring the site with dynamic, flexible spaces of public gathering and other programmable public-private zones. Sharp boundaries between inside and outside are blurred to reduce the separative impact of the conventional inward-looking mall and to connect with its surroundings, including the proposed new buildings.
Preliminary sketches
The design employs some of the main elements of the Islamic architecture, yet in a contemporary spirit. These elements include: geometric shapes/patterns, integrated grids, axial entrances visually connected with landmarks, and open courtyards surrounded by shaded semi-open arcades. The design also integrates some of the basic natural and traditional local elements (e.g. palm trees, water and tents) with elements, and uses, related to digital technology and communications (e.g. plasma screens and computer markets).
All elements of the complex are connected by a shaded passageway with all different uses distributed along, echoing the old 'Kassaba' of the traditional market of Arab cities. The design also places an emphasis on the diversity of urban spaces in terms of size, features and levels, not only to fit the various proposed activities and their different functional needs (e.g. privacy, continuity, movement separation and visual connection), but also to adds a contemporary dynamic spirit to the space configuration.
