Futurecity’s Post

Wonderful article - a must read for all architects in the Middle East! It's inspiring that Gensler is leading the way in the right direction. ..."A place like Qatar’s Msheireb Downtown will feel like a breath of fresh air after all the sameness. It’s ideal for a place to be conversant with its cultures or respond to local tastes and preferences."... #Urbaninnovation #CityPlanning #MiddleEastArchitecture #DesignDiversity #SmartCities #FutureOfUrbanLiving #SustainableDevelopment #ModernArchitecture #MiddleEastIdentity #ResilientCities

Adapting to the New Urban Landscape: The Future of Luxury Architecture ? As urbanisation rapidly accelerates across the Middle East, particularly in cities like Riyadh, the architecture and design industry is evolving to meet the demands of growing urban populations. Over the past months, collaborating with visionary real estate leaders, I’ve observed a profound transformation in how luxury architecture is adapting to this dynamic urban landscape. The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) exemplifies the evolution of urban development, offering a forward-looking vision of urban life and work. Developed with real estate huge players like The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Riyadh Development Company, with renowned architectural firms such as Henning Larsen Architects and Omrania, KAFD seamlessly blends luxury, sustainability, and modern design. This expansive project sets a new standard for urban environments in the region, tailored to the needs of a rapidly urbanising city, and it is a prime example of what international collaboration looks like. What truly sets KAFD apart is its comprehensive approach to urban design. By incorporating residential, commercial, and leisure spaces within a meticulously planned urban setting, the district embodies connectivity, sustainability, and luxury. It’s a powerful example of how luxury can be woven into the very fabric of a bustling urban context, offering high-end experiences that redefine city living. I'm proud to be part of this transformative journey through OPUS. Engaging with projects that are reshaping urban life challenges us to think creatively and develop solutions that align with the future needs of our rapidly growing cities. Exciting times are ahead for the industry! 🚀 How do you see urbanisation shaping the future of luxury architecture? #construction #building #futureofliving #opus #architecture #urbanisation

Able Partners has unveiled the design for a remarkable 75-metre pedestrian footbridge in Riyadh! This initiative showcases the potential of thoughtful urban design to enhance mobility and foster community engagement. Here are some noteworthy aspects of the project: - **Modern Aesthetic**: The footbridge is designed with a contemporary look that complements its surroundings, emphasizing the importance of visual harmony in urban spaces. - **Focus on Safety**: With pedestrian safety as a top priority, the design includes features that ensure a secure experience for walkers, promoting healthier and more active lifestyles. - **Sustainability**: The use of eco-friendly materials reflects a growing trend in urban infrastructure, aiming to reduce environmental impact while serving community needs. - **Enhancing Connectivity**: This footbridge will create vital links between different areas, making it easier for residents to navigate the city and connect with one another. It's inspiring to see such innovative approaches to urban mobility and community design. Projects like this remind us of the importance of integrating sustainability and accessibility into our cities. Looking forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on Riyadh! #UrbanDesign #SustainableInfrastructure #PedestrianMobility #Riyadh #CommunityEngagement #Innovation

Fantastic to see Glasgow City Council's A Vision for Glasgow Golden Z announced as the winner in this year's Scottish Design Awards masterplanning category.   Threesixty Architecture Ltd and a team that included Stantec and Kevin Murray Associates supported Glasgow City Council in creating this 20/30 year Vision for the traditional retail core of Glasgow city centre, known as the Golden Z. Comprising Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, the ‘Z’ is the architectural, cultural and employment epicentre of a region that serves 35% of Scotland’s population- over two million citizens. This vision is a roadmap demonstrating the key moves to ensure the city centre is relevant and meets the needs of the whole community to create place that leverages the authenticity derived from its rich heritage, culture and shared stories to fulfil the real promise of a city centre - to create opportunity and distraction.     In scope, depth and detail, this is the only study of its type in the UK and is an exemplar of how to embed greater socio-economic resilience and sustainability in a city core. More than a statement of ambition and reiteration of policy, the masterplan vision is an in-depth, granular analysis of the health of the city core and a detailed ‘care plan’ to create a vibrant, resilient city centre. The opportunity for physical and spatial interventions is shown in carefully considered volumetric studies with proposals based on a deep-dive townscape analysis and embodying the shared values and ambitions of a city for scale and quality. You can read the full document here: https://lnkd.in/ef5uPSvF

Reviving Bab Al Louq Market: The Power of Context in Urban Renewal During my Semester 8 project under Dr. Randa's guidance, our team tackled the redevelopment of the historic Bab Al Louq Market in Downtown Cairo. A year later, I revisited our proposal, reflecting on our initial vision and refining our approach. This experience reinforced a crucial lesson: understanding the context is paramount to effective urban renewal. Our initial site analysis revealed a stark contrast. Downtown Cairo, once a vibrant hub of social and cultural activity—from bustling cafes to lively street games—had experienced a decline in public interaction. This observation became the cornerstone of our vision: to reignite the spirit of community and revive the lost vibrancy of the area. Our design concept directly responded to this context. We used the interplay of "solid" and "void" forms to represent: Void: The fading social activities and diminishing community spirit. Solid: The enduring cultural core and rich history of Downtown Cairo. By deeply understanding the historical and social context, we were able to develop a design that not only preserved the market's resilient structure but also aimed to revitalize its role as a social and cultural catalyst. This approach highlights the critical importance of contextual analysis in urban renewal projects. It allows us to move beyond simply renovating buildings and instead focus on creating spaces that resonate with the community and contribute to the revitalization of the surrounding area. This project underscores the power of context-driven design. By understanding the past, we can create a more vibrant and meaningful future for our urban spaces. The re-visualized board below showcases the site analysis, which helped in our vision and concept. #UrbanRenewal #CulturalHeritage #Architecture #DowntownCairo #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDesign #ContextualDesign #placemaking #Cairo #Egypt

🔹 Featured in CTBUH’s Vertical Urbanism Issue I 🔹 Explore "Tower Power," a thought-provoking article in CTBUH's Vertical Urbanism Issue I, covering Haptic Architects and Ramboll's modular timber high-rise concept. Originally modelled for Oslo, Norway, this sustainable and regenerative tower model showcased its adaptability in high-rise structures, envisioning a flexible, approach to urban development. Our original model progressively inspired its application across diverse climates as well, such as China and the UAE, which were also featured within the article. 🏗️ Ramboll’s collaboration with Haptic Architects showcases our combined expertise in sustainable design. Key design features include a combination of permanent hard structural decks and flexible soft decks to reduce construction waste, a flexible kit of parts that enables adaptability, and a building service hierarchy that balances centralised and decentralised systems. Emphasising passive sustainability measures—such as reducing air conditioning demands to lower operational carbon—the design prioritises longevity, allowing buildings to evolve without demolition. ♻️ Our model of urban resilience subsequently earned us an Award of Excellence in the Innovation category at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Annual Awards 2024 earlier this September. Want to find out more? Secure your copy of in CTBUH’s Vertical Urbanism Issue I here - https://lnkd.in/gneyz3Q4 #CTBUH24 #Ramboll #RegenerativeHighRise

From GenAI prototypes to new governance models: Apolitical provides an overview of a recent project we developed in Dubai where national and local governmental agencies collaborated to develop new practices introduce #ParticipatoryAI into the urban planning process.

PROXIMUS TOWERS - STUDY PUBLICATION We're pleased to see our study for the Proximus towers republished on the Bouwmeester Maître Architecte's website. Don't hesitate to download the full study and discover the research we did. The study explores transforming an office tower into residential space in Brussels North Quarter's Proximus Towers. It delves into designing residential typologies, focusing on shared and private spaces in both the tower and plinth. The research emphasizes collective living, suggesting collaboration between designers and end-users to create functional shared spaces. The study concludes with recommendations for a sustainable and cohesive living environment. BMA's publication: https://lnkd.in/d2STHqYG More about the study: https://lnkd.in/dPFrtbNB Project team: MULTIPLE architecture & urbanism, a2o, ARCHITECT KOEN VAN SYNGHEL Client: Immobel #study #proximus #publication #architecture #ubanism #housing #offices #rehabilitation #adaptive #reuse

Lyon's La Confluence district is undergoing a groundbreaking transformation, setting a new benchmark for sustainable urban development. 🌆🌿 Led by renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron and David Chipperfield, this project is turning a former industrial area into a thriving, mixed-use urban quarter. The development prioritizes both social and environmental sustainability, addressing Lyon's population growth while creating a model for revitalizing post-industrial spaces. Key highlights of the La Confluence project: 1. Masterplan focused on sustainability and community integration 2. Three distinct building types: social housing, offices, and mixed-use high-rise 3. Strict energy regulations and limited parking to promote eco-friendly living 4. Innovative designs featuring transparent ground floors and garden courtyards 5. Integration of public spaces, commercial venues, and essential services This collaborative effort involving the city, clients, and consultants demonstrates how urban planning can evolve to meet the diverse needs of growing populations while prioritizing sustainability. What are your thoughts on this approach to urban transformation? How can other cities learn from Lyon's example? #SustainableUrbanDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #GreenArchitecture #LyonConfluence Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dckSrdin

Urban design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about creating better lives. 🌍 At the inaugural Urban Design Roundtable in Singapore, we were delighted to learn more from leading master planner Joe Berridge from Toronto, urban designer Wataru Tanaka from Tokyo, and architect Dr Christopher Lee from London/Singapore on the important role of urban design in creating more high-density, #LiveableCities. Did you know that City of Toronto (2016) and Tokyo (2018) were recognised with the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize Special Mention? These global cities continue to captivate with their urban magic, from Toronto's diverse tapestry to Tokyo's seamless transit-oriented experiences. As these cities continue to harness the transformative power of #UrbanDesign, we share some key ideas from the three speakers to inspire other urban planners, architects, and designers out here. Moderated by Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) Chief Urban Designer Siew Leng Fun and the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize Secretary Lay Bee Yap, the roundtable will become a regular edition that brings together key experts and practitioners to discuss and exchange ideas and insights on urban design. P.S. More info on the speakers in the comments below ⬇️ Photo credits: Urban Redevelopment Authority #LKYWCP