Reverie

NEIGHBORHOOD
ARE 341 The Built Environment
Assignment 3 Hussa Almadhi 151241
Dr. Aliaa Elabd Maryam Azim 171063
INTRODUCTION

basic data
Location: Malaz, Riyadh
Area taken: 0.7 km2
Landmarks present: King Abdullah Park, Malaz Stadium
INTRODUCTION
site & site analysis
Site. Analysis of the site and surrounding area.
ANALYSIS
problems
1. Malaz, a district made of mostly low-rise residential units, has had an organic growth throughout the history of Riyadh,
spreading its fingers through the urban fabric slowly – though, more recently, at a faster rate.

2. First some sprawl had been experienced, but lately new development in Malaz has been going on by building new
buildings in the empty lots between older buildings. This is decreasing the area for land that could be used for vegetation,
and increasing the area of the built environment, which will lead to a steady increase in the urban heat island effect.

3. Malaz is an old district, one of the original ones from when Riyadh was first established. As such, it has some very narrow
streets. This congests traffic, and frequently, in parts of Malaz, the width of these alleys is only one-car wide. If cars in
opposite directions meet in these alleys, this creates traffic problems.

4. It’s also close to an old military air base that’s no longer in use. This air base is one of the main reasons why Malaz is a low-
rise district. While low-rise creates a very comfortable, human-scaled edge to streets, low-rise also decreases density – in
fact, below the ideal density we need in the cities of today.

5. Additionally, there is an unequal distribution of services, functions and house typologies throughout the district, which
means it takes a long walk/short drive to the function you may want to get. In today’s busy, time-run world, the more
practical option will always be the short drive, especially since there are no activities along the destination, nothing
captivating to see.
PROPOSALS I
steps taken: masterplan
• First, we aligned the streets according to a clear grid, and
clarifying the difference between major roads, streets, and
alleys. We opened up the streets and alleys, with alleys being a
minimum of 5m wide, and streets being from 10-15m wide.

• Second, we opened up almost every lot, so the building

footprint decreases, allowing more space for semi-enclosed
courtyards, pocket gardens, and so on. As we have a huge
central park (King Abdullah Park), and the stadium with its
surrounding playgrounds for children, we did not add large
parks to our design, instead focusing on the smaller moments
in closer proximity to everyone, no matter where they could be
or what they might be doing.

• Third, we took into account the metro station that will be

ready soon in the future, referring to the ADA development
map.
PROPOSALS I
steps taken: masterplan
PROPOSALS I
steps taken: masterplan
REASONING BEHIND THE SOLUTION
steps taken: built environment
The Garden City
The elements of the Garden City Movement that we
extracted and integrated into our neighborhood:

1. The central garden – we made use of the King Abdullah

Park as the center of our neighborhood.
2. The central ‘park’, as a radian connected to the garden,
we used as the stadium, with its adjacent playground.
3. The main roads go around this garden and park, then
reach farther beyond into residential areas, schools, and
so forth.
4. At the very edge of the neighborhood we have our
‘railway’ station equivalent – the Metro station.
5. This Movement also believed in continuous, repeated
strips of greenery every few blocks of buildings. The
purpose was for everyone to be able to interact with,
live in and experience this facet of the ‘countryside’. As
such, we have a fragmented strip of greenery along
almost every street, where each lot has its own large
area of greenery, allowing occupants to feel free.
Figure 1. A plan of part of a neighborhood.1
REASONING BEHIND THE SOLUTION
steps taken: built environment
Islamic Urban Design

Figure 2. Urban fabric of Old Algiers (Casbah).2

The elements of the Islamic built environment that we extracted and integrated
into our neighborhood:

1. The concept of courtyards – which we have modified into semi-enclosed

courtyards, and enlarged to encompass not just single family housing units,
but entire apartment buildings, commercial centers, and office buildings.
Figure 3. Plan of the proposed neighborhood for comparison.

2. We also have a hierarchy of streets – the center of the neighborhood has the
widest roads surrounding it, leading to the outside of the district, and the
roads get narrower the farther away from the center they get.

3. There is also a hierarchy of place, with the masjid, public buildings and
services taking up the central strip of the district, accessible by the main
roads, and the residential units farther away, accessible by narrower streets
and alleys.
REASONING BEHIND THE SOLUTION
steps taken: built environment
TOD
The elements of the Islamic built environment that we
extracted and integrated into our neighborhood:

1. First and foremost, we have made sure that the

community is walkable. Wider sidewalks, closer
proximities of functions.

2. It followed that this ensured that our design provided

a variety of functions and buildings in each tight-knit
block, making sure that most, if not all, needs are met
within a walking distance.

3. This walkability leads to alternative modes of

transport – less dependency on the automobile, and
close proximity, ensure it’s more practical to just take
a walk or bike to another place. If not that, then
there are bus lines and a metro station in reach of a
20 minute walk from anywhere in the neighborhood. Figure 4. A map showing future bus and metro routes through this part of Malaz. 3
REASONING BEHIND THE SOLUTION
steps taken: built environment
TOD

Figure 5. Buses en route in the neighborhood.

PROPOSALS II
steps taken: strengthening the urban fabric
ACTIVITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
To increase walkability, we must give residents:

1. Safety, in the form of wide, walkable sidewalks/paving

2. Exciting destinations
a) That are feasible to walk to

It was therefore in our interest to create experiences and activities for the residents that
would keep them walking, jogging, and feeling real joy and interest in what life has to offer.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: strengthening the urban fabric
DESTINATION 1. THE PARK & STADIUM
The park and stadium, adjacent to each other, can be reached by a good 15 minute walk from anywhere in this
community. If the walk is deemed too long or people are just not in the mood, there is always the feeder line bus that will
go through the park and drops people off there.

The park will have more exciting activities than it does now – apart from being the spot for occasional celebratory
fireworks and a regular picnic spot haven, we will introduce sustainably-built restaurants and cafes (from renovated
shipping containers) along the main pathways, ensuring more spontaneous social interaction, and providing more
occasions for a warmer, more intimate atmosphere.
Figure 6. Buses stopping over at the park.
 PROPOSALS II
steps taken: strengthening the urban fabric

Figure 7. Proposal for green edges throughout the city in all commercial and Figure 8. Further illustration of
official areas.4 proposal.5

DESTINATION 2. THE STREET

For the streets with commercial areas and apartment buildings lining the residential zone that have shops on the ground floor, we propose green
edges along the streets, with shading elements, welcoming street furniture, windows that allow interest in the products for sale as well as
security for passers by who may decide to pause and rest and chat for a while on the street furniture. Planters, trees, and a wide sidewalk for
shade and safety complete the cohesive, whole environment.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: strengthening the urban fabric

Figure 9. Buses at nearing the community center.

DESTINATION 3. C0MMUNITY CENTER, FARMER’S MARKET

The community center and farmer’s market are located across the street from the Jami’a masjid of the community, which
in turn is across the street from the King Abdullah Park and the Malaz Stadium. It’s a prime location for public hustle and
bustle, establishing interest and clientele for the local business of the farmer’s market, as well as activity and a positive
experience for people visiting the community center for all its services – restaurants, games, gym, library, and so on.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements
TYPOLOGIES AND DISTRIBUTION
As can be seen in the masterplan – shown here once again
for reference (please refer back to this slide for the
legend), we have an even and well-distributed range of
typologies for housing:
• Apartment buildings lining the neighborhood, closer to
amenities and work places, prioritizing privacy less.
• Duplexes, a little farther away from amenities, more
private.
• Villas, farthest from the hub-bub of the community,
prioritizing privacy highest.

In addition, we have small low-rise commercial areas and

office buildings lining each portion surrounded by main
roads, encasing each in their own self-sufficient mini-
community.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements
GREEN ROOFS

Figure 10. Green roofs and solar panels on commercial buildings facing the park.
Vegetated roofs clean polluted air during the day,
use the heat from the sun to grow, and therefore
reduce the effect of pollution, as well as the urban
heat island effect.

Green roofs in apartment buildings could also

evolve into small community gardens, where
residents take care of shared plots. This would
reduce money and potential fuel spent on getting
groceries, as well as provide a calming and social
experience for many.

SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels can reduce the usage of the amount of
electricity generated from nonrenewable
resources, and lower electricity costs.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements

Figure 12. A smart duplex unit.

Figure 11. A windtower.

MALKHAF SMART HOUSES

A house that operates on an IoT, reducing electricity costs
A modern take on the windtower in commercial
by turning off lights and appliances when sensors detect
and official buildings, providing natural ventilation that there is no need for them to be on. A smart house
and reducing HVAC and electricity costs by a large can also adjust its electricity inflow to AI-studied data of
percentage, as well as ensuring a more sustainable previous house use, further reducing energy usage,
lifestyle. carbon footprint, and cost.
 PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements
XERISCAPING
The use of native plants in the landscaping of the community
gives an edge to the local economy – there is less energy, time
and money required for native plants as they are already
adapted to the climate. No extra effort, water or finances have
to be spent on these plants for them to grow.

Figure 13. The Jami’a masjid in the community.

PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements
WASTE MANAGEMENT

An ENVAC waste management

Figure 14. By the waterside in the park.

system would ensure a ready
way of recycling, given that
waste is already organized into
different, optimizable lots.

Then, by installing smart waste cans that notify the management center
when they need to be emptied, we would be decreasing the amount of
fuel needed to travel to each spot regularly, because we would only be
working on a smart, dynamic route, and emptying trash cans less often.
PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements
WATER MANAGEMENT & IRRIGATION

Figure 15.A look near the pond, in the park.

PROPOSALS II
steps taken: urban elements

Figure 16. Proposal for pervious sidewalk.8

WATER MANAGEMENT & IRRIGATION
1. Graywater in housing units can be partially directed towards the pocket
gardens and semi-enclosed courtyards that are adjacent to the housing
units, and partially treated and used again for domestic washing needs.

2. Graywater in the park from restrooms can be reused in maintaining the

plants.

3. Graywater from the nearby commercial and official buildings can furnish
enough water not only for their own vegetation but also be directed
through an underground piping system to the park, maintaining a large
percentage of the greenery in the park with a decrease in active money,
energy and water spent by the community for upkeep.

4. Proper rainwater management throughout the community, and

especially in the park, can help reduce eutrophication, and increase
growth of plants.
PERSPECTIVES
REFERENCES

1. Garden Cities of Tomorrow, Ebenezer Howard. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46134/46134-

h/46134-h.htm
2. Islamic Principles for Cities, Iram Aziz. https://www.slideshare.net/iramaziz/islamic-principles-for-cities
3. Ar-Riyadh Metro Map. http://riyadhmetro.sa/en/interactivemap/#
4. Design Proposal for 2309 S Jackson St., Seattle. Vulcan, Hewitt, Runberg.
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3022791AgendaID6381.pdf
5. Rendering of Main Street in Wynford. http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2017/10/updated-wynford-green-
master-plan-presented-design-review
6. Windtower in Vancouver.
http://www.solaripedia.com/13/205/2088/wind_tower_modern_in_ubc_vancouver.html
7. Amazon’s Pre-Fabricated Smart Houses. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/amazon-pre-fab-smart-
homes-263055
8. Fort Collins Streetscape. http://chriscountsstudio.com/phone/fort-coliins-streetscape.html
Thank you