Resilient Jeddah - White Lands as a Transformation Tool Towards Sustainability in Jeddah

Abstract

The urban quality of a city is directly reflected in the environment and the health of its residents, and it is the spine of all sustainable urban developments. As part of the continuous efforts of Saudi Arabia to improve the urban environment, this project aims to investigate the existing urban situation in Jeddah on the West Coast of Saudi Arabia and understand its underlying issues that affect the quality of life in the city. Addressing issues of density, vacant lands, urban pattern, and high car dependency, the project aims to identify the problems and propose urban and architectural solutions that can make Jeddah a resilient sustainable city. Focusing on an urban area in a central strategic location, characterized by the widespread presence of vacant land and an important railway station, the thesis experiences a transit-oriented approach, capable of enhancing the existing railway accessibility and proposing a dense and mix-land-use development, according to sustainable principles inspired from the traditional city, to be an exemplar for future Jeddah.