Riyadh's Urban Catalyst: 
Unbuild properties as a lever for sustainable neighbourhood transformation

Like many cities in Saudi-Arabia and the Middle East, Riyadh has gone through a rapid urbanization process, which led to the production of urban footprint that is spacious but overall generic. The unprecedented demographic and urban growth were met with supply-oriented urban development schemes, embedded in top-down and technocratic processes. Siloed planning approaches and regulations led to the production of urban environments where roads and buildings have not been designed together in an integrated way. The result is an urban fabric that lacks human scale, with car-oriented, mono-functional neighbourhoods without a sense of belonging. It also led to fast horizontal growth, with low-density developments and the multiple public white lands, which are vacant municipal properties designated for community support within the city borders.

The last decade, spurred by Vision 2030, Riyadh and all its planning institutions commenced investments in urban transformation programs, such as 'Green Riyadh' and the '100 Parks' program. They have the potential to develop innovative, consistent, methodological approaches for the integrated planning of neighbourhoods and for community engagement. Amidst the ongoing development of mega-projects and large infrastructure projects, Riyadh can develop a complementary place-based portfolio of neighbourhood level development investments, that went through a community-driven, agile process of programmatic definition and urban design, so to cater to the needs of the future generations and that leverage neighbourhoods as healthy and safe places for all. 

Vision 2030 has included the dimension of "Humanisation", so to empower citizens in the creation of vibrant environment for both local and international investments. Riyadh has engaged in learning networks and leadership training that focus on people-centred design and human development, such as the Urban 95 Academy, the C40 and ICLEI network. During the ISOCARP conference, other urban innovation planning practices will be promoted, such as the Young Planning Professionals workshop focusing on walkability and the Roundtable on Placemaking. ISOCARP, through its Congress and ongoing collaboration with the city of Riyadh, can assist in strengthening the needed capacities amongst the city's Deputyships, practitioners and communities in Riyadh to collaborate in the design, implementation and management of the new human scale urban fabric. 

The Specials Session has three parts, spread over three days: a walkshop to visit, experience and understand together the urban condition, opportunities and challenges of one or more sites; a workshop to assess, discuss and define urban development options and strategies; a public presentation and panel session, to present and conclude an action plan and recommendation for the Riyadh Regional Municipality also called Amanah). Participants will be partly pre-identified, partly selected based on applications through an open call.  The session targets 20 participants (excl. organisers), with a mix of local experts working in the Amanah and of international expert members from ISOCARP. The closing session will be public, where conclusions from the workshop will be presented, to be commented by invited panellists.

This session has limited capacity and registration is required. Please complete the registration form, which can be accessed HERE.