Jeddah’s Airport City Masterplan wins Cityscape Intelligence KSA Real Estate Award
Chapman Taylor’s masterplan for Airport City, an innovative new urban district adjacent to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has won “Best Commercial Office” at the Cityscape Intelligence KSA Real Estate Awards.
These awards celebrate the ambitious strides being made to transform Saudi Arabia into an investment and tourism hub, with a focus on projects that show architectural excellence while also speaking to the changing and challenging climate.
Airport City will be a world-class, mixed-use development which will become a leading destination for visitors from across Saudi Arabia and the GCC region. The 1.91 million m² GBA masterplan for Airport City introduces an innovative mixed-use community concept to the region, creating diverse tourism and business opportunities while also providing a dynamic lifestyle and family entertainment venue.
Chapman Taylor is designing this transport-orientated urban development on behalf of client SARH Airport Development and Real Estate Investment, together with AE Prime as a lead consultant and project manager.
The scheme will deliver a dynamic and sustainable mix of provisions around a central avenue, which links the airport's railway station to the airport's dedicated mosque. Included within the masterplan are shops, leisure and entertainment functions, healthcare clinics, private residences, a financial district, an artisans' district, a green food yard and a central artists' district. A "Saudi Dreams" centre will provide an ideal showcase for the Kingdom's culture and ambitions.
The project creates a new hub gateway to Jeddah and beyond at the strategically important meeting point of the airport, high-speed railway station and the motorway junction between central Jeddah and the Northern Expansion Zone.
The masterplan design emphasises plug & play flexibility and high connectivity, with designs inspired by nature, history and traditional local architecture and art, in addition to careful planning, well-curated community spaces and an in-depth understanding of user requirements.
Green spaces and water features are provided throughout the development, along with public squares, a village street, botanic gardens, a family promenade and other beautifully landscaped areas.
Chapman Taylor Director Jan Dijkema says: “Winning this award means a great deal to us because it represents an important recognition of Chapman Taylor’s work in the very exciting and diverse Saudi Arabian market. We are also delighted for Airport City’s developer, SARH Airport Development and Real Estate Investment, and for lead consultant and project manager AE Prime, with whom we are collaborating on realising this ambitious and innovative scheme.”
