New Riyadh megaproject treasures luxury hotel

A new 7 billion riyal mixed use development with a gemstone theme in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will feature a luxury hotel onsite.

Developed by shopping mall operator Abdullah Al-Othaim Investment Company, the Konoz ‘Box of Treasures’ project will embody visual and architectural representation of gems in its various zones.

World class hotel

The site will include what is described as a ‘world-class’ luxury hotel with 250 rooms. It has not yet been revealed whether an independent or international brand will operate the property.

Overall the project encompasses 50,000 sq m of commercial office spaces and a 20,000 sq m entertainment city.

In addition, the Konoz project will feature 15,000 sq m of green areas, parking for 5,500 vehicles, a 120,000 sq m commercial centre, 120 serviced residential apartments, and an additional 135,000 sq m residential apartment complex which includes 700 apartments.

24-hour destination

The new scheme works as part of the wider ‘Vision 2030’, positioning Riyadh as a 24-hour destination to live, work, and shop.

Architecture firm Benoy is providing the designs, bringing together old and new parts of the city in a new leisure destination on Riyadh’s Golden Strip.

Design concept

Benoy’s design concept centres around creating an attractive walkable district and neighbourhood, where people would be able to enjoy a variety of culture and leisure activities. Four key districts will reflect the different experiences of Riyadh. Within each district, visitors can experience shopping, dining and leisure, with multi-levelled event spaces and entertainment offers.

The project also saw Benoy partner with its sister wayfinding, landscape architecture and commercial consulting businesses within parent company Handley House as part of the scheme development. Pragma Consulting provided input on the commercial strategy and planning to help inform the customer experience and retail plan. This involved a comprehensive primary research study undertaken with residents of Riyadh, to obtain strategic insights on fast-evolving consumer behaviours, along with a detailed evaluation of global retail and development trends, to provide data-driven insights to optimise the design vision.

Holmes Wood worked on a placemaking strategy for Konoz. Working closely with the rest of the Handley House team, it established and applied a set of principles that sought to shape the identity of the new development. Its strategic approach saw the company identify opportunities and locations for architecture, landscape, lighting, events programming, art and digital that together would create both a quality visitor experience and commercial value for the Abdullah Al Othaim Development Authority.

Uncommon Land designed all the landscape spaces including ground level and roofscapes.

Unparalleled offering

Jamie Webb, head of EMEA at Benoy commented: “It has been a pleasure to work on the design for a development that will truly transform the face of Riyadh—and bring an unparalleled mixed-use offering to the city. Our design aims to forge destinations where people want to live and spend time with their family and friends.”

Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Othaim, chairman of the board of directors of the Abdullah Al-Othaim Investment Company, stated that the Konoz project underscores the company’s expansion strategy to solidify its status as a leader in large-scale development initiatives. The developer’s group CEO, Meshaal Bin Omairh, emphasised that the project aligns with the company’s vision of developing modern and innovative projects in a strategic location in Riyadh to create a premier destination, enhance the quality of life in the city and to create jobs.

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