Unaizah in Saudi Arabia by Erick van Egeraat

Article source: Erick van Egeraat  

Erick van Egeraat is commissioned to further elaborate the master plan and a series of buildings for the city centre of the City of Unaizah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The approved concept design provides attractive solutions for a series of challenges that the city centre is currently facing. This master plan will contribute to the continued growth and development of the City of Unaizah, with long-term benefits for the citizens of Unaizah and its visitors.

Image Courtesy © Erick van Egeraat

• Architects: Erick van Egeraat
• Project: Unaizah
• Location: Unaizah, Saudi Arabia

Image Courtesy © Erick van Egeraat

The 58 Ha central area is surrounded by beautiful date palm plantations which provide the city of Unaizah with a strong identity. The central area currently consists of large open spaces that are mainly used for parking and a series of retail buildings, residential buildings, Mosques and a centrally placed large shopping mall.

The proposal that Erick van Egeraat and his team are currently developing further will be implemented during the next ten years:

The first component will be a new, one way ring road with 4 lanes circling a clearly defined city centre oval with a diameter of 800 meters (East-West) by 920 meters (North-South). In addition, a North-South main thoroughfare crosses the development underground. Both roads link to parking garages under the new centre. This new and efficient traffic and parking system improves the accessibility of the city centre, and completely relieves it of above ground traffic. The ring road is currently under construction.

This allows all above ground public spaces within the new ring road to be redeveloped into pedestrian areas. Different street widths and organically designed transitions between alleys, streets and squares create pedestrian areas with an appealing human scale. Generous amounts of date palms and urban furniture will provide the necessary sun shading.

Existing structures will be integrated into the new overall master plan concept and Erick van Egeraat will design the envelopes for additional buildings. Works on the architectural design of approximately 70.000 m2 of men’s and women’s shopping areas, the gold market, apartments and offices are also ongoing. These buildings will frame the main square in front of the mosque, marking it as the very center of the development.

The façade of the dominant existing mall in the center of the project will receive a complete overhaul with vertical vegetated green surfaces and waterfalls. To ensure a unified identity throughout the city centre, the contemporary facades and compositions of the buildings will share their roots with traditional architecture.

Following Oosterdokseiland (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Bratislava River Park (Bratislava, Slovakia) and Milanofiori Business Park North (Milan, Italy), this project continues Erick van Egeraat’s goal to improve our cities. It transforms the city centre of Unaizah into a contemporary, comfortable and vibrant mixed-use area that is attractive and accessible for all.

Image Courtesy © Erick van Egeraat

Tags: Saudi Arabia

Category: City Center

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