First Prize, Competition.

The project takes its starting point from A Vibrant Society, one of the pillars of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, positioning itself as a sustainable design district intended to serve as an inspiration point. Sited in Khobar, along one of the region's most promising stretches of seafront, the project benefits from easy access to the main road and uninterrupted views toward the sea.

At its core, the project is conceived to promote a healthy and safe environment where families can spend quality time together, structured around three main strands of activity.

The first is leisure. F&B outlets range from small cafes and healthy product kiosks to restaurants designed with a distinct creative twist, set alongside a retail experience built around concept stores from local and international designers, complemented by a small number of flagship stores. All of this is connected by human scale walkways and landscape.

The second is wellness. An existing walkway is drawn into the plan and extended, connecting to the project and forming a natural node along the coast. Alongside it sits a state of the art sport facility, comprising a gym and an open air pool, together with a spa.

The third is culture. Dedicated areas are set aside for children and adults to take part in art and craft classes, spanning painting, drawing, and fashion, while landscaped walkways double as exhibition spaces for local and international artists. Specially designed areas are allocated for outdoor performances, anchored by a central community space conceived to be genuinely inspiring, capable of stimulating imagination.

Sustainable design principles are woven throughout the scheme, and the project places particular emphasis on hiring a predominantly female workforce, in direct alignment with the goals of Vision 2030. In doing so, the project looks beyond its own footprint, stimulating the local economy, integrating more women into the workforce, contributing to the community through skills building, and upholding safe and environmentally responsible practices throughout.