Riyadh - School of Architecture

Assignment 2 – Case studies - Center of the Diplomatic QuarterWONG YEE MAN, OPHENIA 1155003126COMMENTS AND EVALUATIONCOMMENTS1. Climative responding measures like shaded area, fountains and greeneries arecarefulling placed with the site.2. Refrencing the urban architecture, Najd, in generating new idea and principle is agood approach in designing modern architecture. It is a good way to respect the localand implementing new idea into the society.3. Workable performance created by the uniform and continous envelop.4. According to the report, the complex perform its function so well as becoming apride place for the local users.DRAWBACK1.Improvement can be made in the material selection. As most of the materials are imported from other countries, which consists of high carbon value which inthus not environmentally friendly. Local materials can be considered, such as mud wall treatment.It is an archievable local craftmentship.2.Though atrium space is designed to be well ventilated, the ceiling is treated with metal framing system and allows light to penetrate, it is thought that not as coolas expected. It is not an effective resting space.3.Lack of open public space. Other than the Midan is a open public space, similar size of space does not exsit in this complex. What happen here is a lot ofshaded circulation,but people are mobile in this kind of area. Also, under a hot sunny day, Midan is not a good place for people to stay or chat. Therefore, shadedpublic space with cover for communication is necessary but it is lack here.4.Interior space is majorly air-conditioned. Natural ventilation may be considered for a better design arrangement.5.There is not much consideration of the open market, including the facilitators, spacial arrangement. It is important since it is one of the major activities for theresidents living nearby. Programmes now are putting more focus on the tourists and prayers but not the residents which is not suitable for the design of a communityhub.Notes and Bibliography-Courtesy of architect. “Architect’s record of Hayy Assafarat: Landscaping and Al-Kindi Plaza” Time,http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=725(accessed 1989).-Courtesy of architect. “Drawings of Hayy Assafarat: Landscaping and Al-Kindi Plaza ” Time,http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=725(accessed 1989).-Al-Radi, Selma. 1994. Al-Kindi Plaza. In Architecture for Islamic Societies Today. James Steele, ed. London: Adademy Editions.-AlShaikh, Abdullatif, Zahir Othman and George Ward. 1985. The Diplomatic Quarter and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Housing Project, Riyadh. In Large Housing Projects: Design, Technology, and Logistics. MargaretBentley Sevcenko, (ed). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture.-Al-Radi, Selma. 1994. Hayy Assafarat Landscaping. In Architecture for Islamic Societies Today. James Steele, ed. London: Adademy Editions