Tag: featured

    The transition from architectural school to the workforce can be jarring for many architects who aren’t trained to balance design aspirations with practical considerations. By Mahmoud Abughazal, LEED AP. Head of Architecture and Interior Design   A typical architectural student spends five years or more learning how to create design concepts with the…

Salam Park, the landmark 25-hectare public space designed by Omrania with Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, offers a compelling case study in the role of urban context and heritage issues in landscape architecture.   Salam Park is not just a “green space” in the center of Riyadh, but a reservoir of history and a catalyst for urban…

  Omrania has always strived to push boundaries in our work, and we’ve been quick to embrace new technologies in order to explore new possibilities.   When the Kingdom Centre was completed in 2002, it was not only the tallest building in Saudi Arabia; it was also the most advanced, featuring state-of-the-art engineering and building…

As the spiritual center of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, the design of the KAFD Grand Mosque reflects its modern context, the desert environment of Saudi Arabia, and the traditions of Islam.   Since the foundation of Islam in the seventh century, mosque architecture has evolved to reflect various civic and sacred…

  A facade shouldn’t just dictate how a building looks, but how it works — especially in the harsh climate of Saudi Arabia By Meshal AlButhie, Architect   With every project, Omrania strives to design unique, high-performance building envelopes that are appropriate for their context. The envelope must be able to withstand the forces of…

 . The 5-star hotel and apartments complex offers the best in contemporary living. Designed with today’s cosmopolitan clients in mind, the new Hilton Riyadh is refined, understated, and sophisticated. It comprises 645 hotel rooms and 221 furnished apartment units with exclusive access to upscale amenities. The architectural design was developed in a joint venture of…

 . When Omrania won an international competition to design the Arriyadh Metro Western Station, we focused on making it a more than just a useful and comfortable place for commuters and travelers. It is a civic landmark with mixed-use attractions and public spaces.   The Western Station is a signature multi-modal hub for the new…

. Sustainable building practices require an understanding of each material’s embodied energy and expected energy performance over the life of the building.   Picking up on our recent post “Sustainable Materials — Building with Earth and Stone,” here we expand the discussion to include other types of building facade materials commonly used in contemporary architecture.…

. A catalyst of Riyadh’s spectacular growth, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters, designed by Omrania, was completed in 1983.   The eight-story office building is composed of glass-enclosed cantilevered volumes set within a granite-clad frame. Although the design is clearly modern, the square plan, central atria, prominent use of stone, and symmetrical facades…

 . Omrania’s proposed design for the National Architectural Heritage Museum reflects our belief in the importance of learning from the past to design for the future.   We are dedicated to creating architecture that is both innovative and contextual. This is particularly important when building in Saudi Arabia, where we strive to design in a…