Originally planned as tower sites, Parcels 1.13 and 3.03 in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) were re-envisioned as a unified park to address the district’s growing need for open space. Straddling KAFD’s central pedestrian corridor and fronting the Conference Center, the park offers a richly layered, pedestrian-focused environment supporting nearby businesses and residential zones with a mix of active and passive uses.

The site presented a complex set of constraints: an 8-meter grade change between the street level and the Wadi, exposure to intense summer heat exceeding 43°C, fragmented connectivity, and minimal vegetation.

The park’s vision is to create a lush, climate-responsive urban oasis—a daily destination for rest, recreation, and social connection. A new pedestrian bridge unites the parcels, while shaded seating, play areas, and water features enhance comfort and activity. A continuous canopy of large trees, complemented by shade structures and layered vegetation, improves climate comfort. Diverse plantings, including native species, support ecological resilience and biodiversity.

The design integrates high-performance strategies aligned with KAFD’s sustainability goals, surpassing benchmarks in water conservation, energy efficiency, and user well-being—including air quality, lighting, and acoustics. The result is a multi-level, climate-adapted space that supports vibrant daily life and long-term resilience.

Client: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
Gross Area: 3 acres
Status: Completed 2026
Award: Sites Gold Certification

TEAM:
Executive Landscape Architect
and Team Lead: Landworks Studio, Inc.
Shade Structures: CBT Architects
Water Features: CMS
Sustainability: Egis
Lighting: HLB
Engineering: WSP
Plant Specialist: Peter Thompson
Irrigation: Evergreen
Signage: Professional Signs

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The park offers a variety of activity zones that support recreation, learning, and social interaction, while advancing sustainability, ecological awareness, and thermal comfort. Each area is thoughtfully designed to meet user needs and respond to the climate.

Leisure Garden: A family-friendly zone with seating, large trees, and smaller plantings for a relaxing environment. Includes an enclosed dog park for socializing.
Adventure Garden: Tailored for youth with play equipment, rubber paving for safety, and shaded seating under a canopy of trees.
Discovery Trail: Located near the Green Spine, this trail provides educational insights into the ecological and cultural value of plants.
Active Garden: A series of terraced spaces designed for adults, offering trampolines, swings, game tables, and shaded seating areas for relaxation and play.
Market Plaza: A welcoming gathering spot with outdoor seating, shade trees, and views across the park.
Event Lawn: A flexible open area for events and everyday activities, enhanced by shaded seating, trees, and a sculptural wall that doubles as a digital art canvas and water feature.
Wadi: A key circulation route through KAFD, built with durable surfaces to handle foot traffic and service vehicles. Water features and large trees provide cooling and visual interest.