Redesigning the Malaz District: The Reverie Neighborhood

Reverie NEIGHBORHOOD ARE 341 The Built Environment Assignment 3 Dr. Aliaa Elabd

Hussa Almadhi 151241 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 lowrise 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

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

Islamic Urban Design 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 official areas.4

Figure 8. Further illustration of 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 minicommunity.

steps taken: urban elements

GREEN ROOFS 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.

Figure 10. Green roofs and solar panels on commercial buildings facing the park.

PROPOSALS II

steps taken: urban elements Figure 12. A smart duplex unit.

PROPOSALS II

MALKHAF

Figure 11. A windtower.

A modern take on the windtower in commercial and official buildings, providing natural ventilation and reducing HVAC and electricity costs by a large percentage, as well as ensuring a more sustainable lifestyle.

SMART HOUSES A house that operates on an IoT, reducing electricity costs by turning off lights and appliances when sensors detect that there is no need for them to be on. A smart house can also adjust its electricity inflow to AI-studied data of previous house use, further reducing energy usage, 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

An ENVAC waste management 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.

Figure 14. By the waterside in the park.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

PROPOSALS II

steps taken: urban elements

WATER MANAGEMENT & IRRIGATION

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

steps taken: urban elements

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.

Figure 16. Proposal for pervious sidewalk.8

PROPOSALS II

PERSPECTIVES

REFERENCES 1. Garden Cities of Tomorrow, Ebenezer Howard. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46134/46134h/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-greenmaster-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-smarthomes-263055 8. Fort Collins Streetscape. http://chriscountsstudio.com/phone/fort-coliins-streetscape.html

Thank you