JSWD wins RIYMAR Towers design competition in Riyadh

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi developer RIYMAR Real Estate has named German architecture studio JSWD the winner of its international design competition for RIYMAR Towers, a mixed-use development planned where King Fahd Road meets Olaya Street in central Riyadh.

JSWD came out ahead of four other shortlisted practices in the invited contest: Aedas and AtkinsRéalis, both entered from the UAE, Mesura from Spain and ZHA Architects from the UK. Each of the five studios was given an eleven-week period to prepare an initial concept, according to the developer's release.

The process was run on RIYMAR's behalf by Malcolm Reading Consultants, a firm that specialises in finding and selecting architects.

The developer said the winning scheme draws on Saudi Arabia's natural landscape and building heritage. Its tall vertical forms take their cue from the Tuwaiq Mountains, while terrace gardens are meant to recall the oases of the region.

RIYMAR added that the architecture borrows from the old mud-brick adobe structures of Diriyah and At-Turaif. In its release, the company described Diriyah as the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia and said the towers allude to it through their geometry and material texture.

The site sits beside the Riyadh Gallery complex, which RIYMAR also owns, and close to a metro station, giving it links to two of the capital's main roads, the developer said. It expects the towers to become one of Riyadh's most sought-after addresses and calls them the jewel of its investment portfolio.

Funding for the scheme comes through a real estate fund run by Tatimah Capital, according to RIYMAR.

Dr. Bassam Boodai, Chief Executive Officer of RIYMAR Real Estate, said: “Choosing a winner of our international architectural competition is a major milestone for RIYMAR Real Estate.

“JSWD have embraced our ambitions for RIYMAR Towers – a distinctive landmark connected to Riyadh’s story and identity.”

He added: “All five finalists brought energy and creativity to the competition, for which we are very grateful. Now, we look forward to working with JSWD to develop the concept design and create a spectacular new development for future generations.”

Malcolm Reading, Competition Director of Malcolm Reading Consultants, said: “We are grateful to all the shortlisted teams for their hard work and their creativity.

“We searched globally for the best talent for RIYMAR’s landmark initiative and the JSWD team rose to RIYMAR’s ambitions.”

JSWD’s competition team brought in LAND for landscape design, NAME Architecture for interior design, schlaich bergermann partner for structural design and Buro Happold for MEP and sustainability. JLL was cost consultant and Egis | Omrania architect of record, with priedemann advising on the façade and Licht Kunst Licht on lighting.

The studio was set up in Cologne in 2000 and has offices in Cologne, Berlin, Tampa, Vienna and Barcelona.

RIYMAR described the towers as part of a wider portfolio of its projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme. According to the developer, the scheme will support culture, hospitality and tourism, help raise homeownership among Saudis and contribute to making the capital a world-leading city.

The next step under the contract is for JSWD and RIYMAR Real Estate to work together on the initial design.