Category: insights

Omrania’s outdoor sculpture “Mashlah” complements architecture

. Installed at the entrance to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Riyhadh, the looping abstract artwork expresses the notion of infinity. Here art merges with architecture, interior design, and landscape.   Art is everywhere at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, a luxury establishment in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. When Omrania was commissioned to handle the…

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3D Printing Comes of Age: Robotic Construction Is Becoming Reality in the Middle East

. As 3D printing begins to disrupt the construction industry, the Middle East could become a global leader in pioneering new technology and applying the latest innovations to building fabrication and construction.   Additive manufacturing, known as 3D printing, is transforming many industries. 3D printers now appear everywhere, from the medical sector to the tech…

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Why Healthy Buildings Matter to Global Real Estate Investors — and to Architects

. A recent report seeks to quantify the extent to which global real estate investors are focusing on health and wellness as an investment strategy across office, residential, retail, and other building types. Reflecting the views of transnational industry groups with USD $5.75 trillion total assets under management, the report serves as an inspiration to…

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Smart Cities Need Culture and Community, Not Just Data

. Urban development can benefit tremendously from new information and computing technologies, but smart cities can underperform if they lack strong human and cultural connections.   The advent of big data and massive computing power in the 21st century has inspired a wave of data-driven urban planning and “smart city” development. In some ways, the…

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Four Key Factors Will Shape the Future of the Saudi Hospitality Industry

. In discussing the future of the Saudi hospitality industry, Omrania’s Chief Interior Designer, Oleg Cosneanu, emphasizes the importance of four elements: local context, people, uniqueness, and Saudi Vision.   When Oleg Cosneanu, Omrania’s Chief Interior Designer, was invited to participate in a prestigious panel discussion on the future of hospitality — as part of…

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Award Video Calls KAFD Grand Mosque “an architectural masterpiece”

. Omrania’s design for the Grand Mosque of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh is featured in a short video that highlights the balance of heritage and innovation.   In December 2021, the KAFD Grand Mosque was selected as a winner of the third cycle of the Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture.…

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How to Grow a Forest in the Desert

. Plans for King Salman Park, the future largest urban park in the world, include planting an emerald-green forest of a million trees. Omrania is working with our client and collaborators to transform the former desert airport site into a lush urban forest.   According to the project’s evolving design, the first step will be…

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Toward a Green Future: the Story of Riyadh’s Salam Park

. A popular gathering place in the heart of Riyadh, Salam Park combines urban planning with landscape architecture and infrastructure engineering to create an inviting and sustainable urban oasis. The mixed-use, 25 ha green space offers visitors a variety of places for leisure and social activities or quiet reflection.   Located within the historic center…

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How the Granada Business Park Connects to Its Urban Surroundings

. Omrania designed the Granada Business Park to provide a desirable work environment and seamless connections to shopping, leisure, residential, and hospitality facilities as well as convenient transit and road systems.   Granadia is a fast-growing community to the north of Riyadh’s historic center, easily accessible from both the city and the international airport. Omrania…

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5 Ways AR and VR Tech Can Improve Collaboration in the Office

. With the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology, companies are starting to see the benefits of transitioning to a partially remote office operation that won’t hinder company culture and cross-team collaboration.   When companies were forced to shut their physical offices in 2020, both employers and employees showed resilience in…

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The office is dead; long live the office

. This is part 4 in a series on the global development of office design. In this post we explore how offices migrated from the city to the suburbs and back again to the city. Modulating the interface between the office and its urban or environmental context remains a crucial factor for employees and employers…

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“Mashlah,” an artwork of continuity

. Omrania designs a unique sculptural installation at entrance of Radisson Blu Hotel, expressing the concept of infinity and respect for local culture.   Art and architecture have long enhanced one another. When Omrania was commissioned to design the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, the design concept called for incorporating a…

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