Tag: featured

Machines for work: Technology as a determinant of office design

. This is part 3 of 4 in a series on the global development of office design. In the previous post we reviewed the historical evolution of regional types. In this post we explore how changing technologies have affected the design of the workplace, disrupting and reshaping spatial configurations.   By: Marcus Leyland – Chief…

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From Idea to Construction: the Design of Tuwaiq Palace

. A new documentary by KSA’s Ministry of Culture reveals insights on the design of the award-winning Tuwaiq Palace, featuring an exclusive interview with Basem Al-Shihabi, the Managing Director of Omrania.   In a 10-minute documentary produced by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, Omrania founder and Managing Director Basem Al-Shihabi discusses the genesis…

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How a Lush Park in the Desert Conserves and Recycles Water

. In Riyadh, water is too precious to use only once. The secret to designing a public river promenade in a desert valley? High-tech water systems that recapture and treat municipal water for a variety of purposes—including creating a scenic recreational environment.   Prince Sattam Park is a passive-leisure landscape currently under construction on the…

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The global office: historic evolution and regional variations

. This is part 2 of 4 in a series on the global development of office design. Previously we observed that the typical modern office building should not be seen as a universally applicable solution, but rather as a historically specific response to late-19th and early-20th century administration in northern Europe and North America. In…

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The Incredible Vision for King Salman Park

. Envisioned as the new heart of Riyadh, King Salman Park will increase the city’s open green space by 70 percent. This 9.3-square-kilometer urban oasis is not just a sanctuary of nature, but also a hub for culture, work and life.   Designed principally by Omrania, King Salman Park park will be “a man-made oasis…

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The global office: an archetype stretched to its limits?

. This is part 1 of 4 in a series on the global development of office design. Office architecture is synonymous with the modern urban landscape, yet traditional office buildings and layouts do not always meet the needs of a site or an organization. New planning and design models incorporate local character, environmental responsibility, urban…

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Omrania Rated as Highly Capable Urban Service Provider

. As part of the Municipal Transformation Program administered by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Omrania was classified as a city service provider with highly rated financial, technical, administrative and executive capabilities.   The four-year Municipal Transformation Program (MTP) aims to create and maintain the growth of sustainable cities and communities across…

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Picturing A New Year

. As 2020 comes to a close, we express our gratitude toward our community and our hope for a better year ahead.   We at Omrania believe that architecture is inherently an optimistic endeavor. Behind all the practical necessities of design and construction, our ultimate aim is to build a better world, together with our…

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Sunlit SEC Atrium Lobbies Promote Employee Wellness

. Employee health, well-being and job satisfaction are central to the future of workplace design. The Omrania-designed Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) Headquarters campus in Riyadh is designed to increase the quality of life of the people who work there, simultaneously fostering employee satisfaction and productivity. The four sunlit, plant-filled atriums embody this emphasis on wellness…

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Hilton Riyadh Wins Three Hospitality Awards

. Omrania-designed project named best luxury new hotel in the Middle East, and best businesses hotel in the Middle East and in Riyadh.   The Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences, a 5-star hotel and residential complex designed by Omrania and Goettsch Partners, was recently recognized with three highly competitive hospitality awards for 2020. The World…

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KAFD Grand Mosque Receives International Architecture Award

. Urban mosque designed by Omrania recognized in prestigious global award program   Omrania’s design for the KAFD Grand Mosque, the spiritual heart of the mixed-use King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, was named a winner of the 2020 International Architecture Awards in the category of religious architecture. As noted by the awards jury,…

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King Salman Park Wins International Architecture Award

. Green district and public park designed by Omrania receive global recognition   Omrania’s design for King Salman Park, a 13.3 square-kilometer green space in Riyadh that will be the largest urban park in the world, was named a winner of the 2020 International Architecture Awards in the category of urban planning / landscape architecture.…

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