Riyadh
The Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| Name | Diplomatic Quarter | |
| Place | Riyadh | |
| Country | Saudi Arabia | |
| Topic | please enter the topic here | |
| Author(s) | Christoph Dankers | |
| Completion | Please enter the date of completion | |
| Client | Please enter the client | |
| Project costs | Please enter the costs (if known) | |
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| <googlemap version="0.9" lat="24.749326" lon="46.661682" type="satellite" zoom="11" width="300" height="250">
24.839857, 46.344955 </googlemap> | ||
Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?
- Please summarise:- e.g. Design Innovation? Planning Exemplar? Theoretical Insights? Lessons learned from its failure? [It doesn’t have to have been successful]
- Think about it from the view of another educator/student in a different country. Why should I use this case study in my teaching/education?
The Diplomatic Quarter was one of the first developments in Riyadh which features an extensive pedestrian route network including parks, outdoor sports facilities and other public open spaces. Until today the 'DQ' is one of the few places in Riyadh where locals and visitors can enjoy outdoor activities in a pleasant environment.
Why is this project interesting? 1. Richard Boedeker (german landscape architect) introduced the concept of 'extensive landscaping' in the late 1970s. His way of transforming an unfriendly, dry and overwhelmingly hot piece of land on the edge of the Wadi Hanifah (a canyon and stream network running through the city of Riyadh) inspired many of the later developments in the area. Instead of trying to ban the harsh environment out of the public open spaces of the Diplomatic Quarter, Boedeker decided to translate the spectacular forms of the local desert into a network of parks. The result is a development which blends in with its natural environment and at the same time offers high quality open spaces using local plants and stone.
2. The 'DQ' acts as a role model for other projects. Most of the plants successfully used in many designs in the area were first introduced and tested during the construction of the Diplomatic Quarter.
3. Until today the Diplomatic Quarter is the only place in Riyadh where people (men and women) meet freely for sports and recreation. It is a strong example how landscape design can improve general quality of a city and the social life of it's citizens.
Author's perspective
- What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study?
I was a site supervisor during the construction of a part of the 'Earthberm Park' which surrounds the Diplomatic Quarter. I lived in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter for six months in 2006.
Landscape and/or urban context
- Biogeography, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics
1. Overall Character Unlike other areas in the city of Riyadh, the design of the Diplomatic Quarter supports pedestrian as much as vehicular routes. The designs of parks and sports flields placed within the residential developments in the precinct encourage people to meet for different activities. The overall landscape design blends in with the natural environment, using mainly local 'Riyadh Limestone' and desert trees. The most important element using this design approach is the 'Earthberm Park' an up to 20m high berm with walkways, playgrounds and sports facilities that surrounds the Diplomatic Quarter and creates it's micro climate that is slightly cooler than the surrounding area. Besides that a network of pedestrian routes, the so called 'green fingers' conncet residential areas with shops, sports club and restaurants.
2. Cultural Features Due to the unique mix of nationalities and the 'DQ' being one of the very few areas in Riyadh where men and women can meet and talk in public, the precinct with it's restaurants and public open spaces supports the dialogue between the different cultures.
3. History and Dynamics The first masterplan for the Diplomatic Quarter was drawn up 1977. Since then the design has been modified and improved after each construction phase. To the present day the construction goes on. After the first opening of the 'DQ' in the 1980s the area became one of the most popular destinations for locals and visitors. The parks were overcrowded and access had to be restricted for certain times. After the events of the of September 11 2001, security check points and 24hour police patrols were introduced. Since then the popularity decreased drastically.
Cultural/social/political context
- Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework
Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes The project is situated on the outskirts of Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, home to Mecca and Medina, the two holy cities of the arab world is one of the biggest oil exporters world wide. The country maintains close business relations to the USA and Europe. It also uses a large foreign work force which includes workers from other islamic countries like Pakistan or Indonesia as well as the Philippines. Besides that Engineers and designers from the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe often work on contract basis in Saudi Arabia. The main religion practiced is a very strict Islam. Often hard to understand for europeans, the social life in the kingdom mainly takes place in private homes and mostly involves family members. This is reflected in the local architecture with it's high boundary walls, small windows and big properties ensuring a maximum of privacy. Public open spaces are almost non existent in most of the cities. Public transport and pedestrian route networks are in general extremely poor. In Riyadh the High Commission for Development of Arriyadh (ADA) works closely with various international designers and engineers to improve the overall quality of the city. The projects include large recreational areas such as Wadi Hanifah as well as modern parks and public open spaces in the city centre.
History
- How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?
Illustration: Table or time line
Spatial analysis of area/project/plan
- What are the main structural features?
- How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Main structural features
1. The Earthberm Park This park surrounds the Diplomatic Quarter and offers trim trails, view points, amphy theatres and seating areas. The levels of the area vary between 0 and 25m. The park is partly still under construction, but approximately 80% of the area has been handed over to the public. Unfortunately the park has been partly closed due to security reasons. Besides the recreational aspect of the park the berms also protect the 'DQ' from the often strong winds and help create a micro climate that is slightly cooler within the berms.
2. Green Fingers
A pedestrian network, designed to connect the embassies and residential areas with all facilities. Shaded walkways, strategically places drinking fountains and seating areas are the main features of the green fingers.
3. Extensive Landscaping Area The so called 'Extensive' area is located along the edge of the Wadi Hanifah Canyon. The aim of the design was to blend in with the natural environment as much as possible. A trail along the Wadi edge built from local 'Riyadh Limestone' and a number of Rock Art features along the way built from the same material are the main features of this area. The 'Extensive' area connects to the 'Earthberm Park' and ends at the Diplomatic Quarter's own Tree Nursery.
4. The Nursery The 'DQ' Nursery located within the Wadi Hanifah canyon is the main supplier of local and imported plants to projects inside and outside the Diplomatic Quarter.
Analysis of program/function
- What are the main functional characteristics?
- How have they been expressed or incorporated?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Main functional Characteristics
1. Encouragement of pedestrian movement, throughout the Diplomatic Quarter by introducing a network of pedestrian routes usable even during the hot season with more then 50 degreece celsius. This was achieved through the intensive use of large canopy evergreen trees such as acaia, Albizia and Delonix along the walkways as well as the placement of drinking fountains and shaded seating areas.
2. Introduction of outdoor sports Especially the numerous parks within the Diplomatic Quarter provide many different sports facilities all over the 'DQ'. Since sport and fitness is not a common recreational activity in Saudi Arabia due to the often harsh weather conditions, public sports facilities were a completely new aspect of Landscape Architecture in Saudi Arabia at the time. The combination with large shade trees proved to be successful, The sports fields and trim trails are popular with locals and visitors. The placement of the sports fields within enclosed parks makes them very safe for children and gives families the chance to enjoy different aspects of the of the public open spaces without being separated from each other.
3. Design with low visual impact The overall philosophy of the landscape design is to blend in as good as possible with the natural environment. Inspired by the shapes and colors of the desert the designers created berms, canyons, amphy theaters, viewing towers and water canals out of local lime stone. The result is a dramatic and usable landscape which has a minimal viual impact on its surroundings.
Analysis of design/planning process
- How was the area/project/plan formulated and implemented?
- Were there any important consultations/collaborations?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
The masterplan for the Diplomatic Quarter was established by a consortium of town planners, landscape architects and engineers mostly from Europe in 1977. The concept for the public open spaces was mainly developed by 'Boedeker, Wagenfeld and Partners' together with 'Albert Speer and Partners'. These two offices worked closely with Riyadh's High Commission for Development to establish the principles mentioned above. The concepts and general detail drawings as well as numerous reports were used by the site management to create the open spaces within the area. The landscape Architects of BW+P introduced the concept of 'Design on Site' mainly in the 'Extensive' areas and the 'Earthberm Park'. They only drawings used were rough layout plans for the general setting out of the project. After that every feature was designed during construction by choosing and placing boulders and shaping the natural ground.
Analysis of use/users
- How is the area/project/plan used and by whom?
- Is the use changing? Are there any issues?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Future development directions
- How is the area/project/plan evolving?
- Are there any future goals?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Peer reviews or critique
- Has the area/ project/plan been reviewed by academic or professional reviewers?
- What were their main evaluations?
Pleas add references, quotes...
Points of success and limitations
- What do you see as the main points of success and limitations of the area/project/plan?
Illustration: Summary table
What can be generalized from this case study?
- Are there any important theoretical insights?
Short statement plus background notes
Which research questions does it generate?
Short statement plus background notes
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References
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